Sphere Chartered Accountants

One of Warkworth’s best known chartered accountants has a new name and has had a shift in ownership. Macnicol & Co was founded by Paul Macnicol 40 years ago, and he recently handed over the reins to senior team member Abby Brown. Though the firm has changed its name to Sphere Chartered Accountants, Paul will still be part of the management team and is still working closely with many of the company’s long-standing clients. Abby says she has been very lucky to have worked with such a genuine and supportive mentor.

Abby grew up in the area and joined the company straight from Mahurangi College 20 years ago. She has worked her way up the ladder to become a chartered accountant, director and now owner of Sphere. Abby has two children and owns a 32-hectare sheep and beef farm at Tauhoa with her husband, Clifford, and admits she wouldn’t be where she is without his support.

She says the team at Sphere will always take the trouble to customise their service according to clients’ specific needs and can offer business guidance and coaching, as well as traditional accountancy work, such as tax compliance and annual financial accounts.

“We’ve got a pretty tight team here,” she says. “Some staff have been with us for 10 years and over that time have built up great relationships with our clients.”

Sphere is now offering a broader range of services, too.

“We’re growing into business advisory – helping clients create business plans, and coaching to try to make a business more profitable,” she says. “One of the key things is making the client understand their business – talking about where they’re at, and what they want out of their business.”

Abby says one of Sphere’s priorities is to be relaxed and approachable to clients, and to have discussions with clients in a way they can understand.

Abby and the team look forward to continuing to grow relationships with both new and existing clients.