MEET DJCA
We’re rather unstuffy. We hope you don’t mind.
Dave Jessep was never quite like other accountants. And back in 2006, he founded an accounting firm that was never quite like other accounting firms.
We’ve always been a forwards-looking company, helping customers see where they’re going rather than giving them a backwards-looking summary of where they’ve already been. Our clients love that we speak their language and make an effort to really ‘get’ what their business is about.
Plus we won’t look at you sternly over the tops of our glasses if you’ve accidentally lost a receipt.
We’re technology-minded, recommending new software and services that make business easier. DJCA is leading the revolution in cloud computing for accounting – we’re the world’s number one provider and fastest growing partner for the highly regarded Xero accounting software.
And when the Next Big Thing comes along, we’ll be leaders in that too.
DJCA is at your side with the advice you need, when and where you need it. At the end of the day what we do is pretty simple – you tell us your business goals, and we help you get there.
Accountants & Business Advisors
David Jessep Sidekick Accountant (‘The Boss’)
Dave’s spent over 15 years in accounting and he still loves coming to work every day. He founded the company back in 2006, and his infectious enthusiasm has helped him build a company of talented staff who are excited to be part of DJCA.
As you’d expect, Dave is a member of the NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants. He’s also a Mentor with the Business Mentors of NZ program, and is especially skilled at advising clients from all kinds of industries in strategy, planning, goal setting, and implementing business structures.
Dave played hooker for Marlborough Boys’ College and won the Matthews Cup for Most Outstanding Player (ahead of Anton Oliver, who was maybe 14 at the time). He now enjoys running and biking with his kids.
Aaron Collins Sidekick Accountant
What do you call an accountant who’s also a chef? Aaron.
A truly multi-talented guy, Aaron looks after his own portfolio of clients whilst managing the performance of DJCA’s accounting staff. He also makes a mean crème brulée.
A registered Chartered Accountant, Aaron’s clocked up over 10 years in the accountancy industry and has specialist knowledge in amalgamations, financials projections, liquidations, benchmarking, systems reviews and business plans.
Prior to his accounting career Aaron earned his Professional Cookery, Catering and Service qualifications to become a qualified and experienced Catering Manager and then Head Chef.
His accounting acumen combined with his hospitality background affords unique business insight for DJCA’s hospitality clients.
Andrew Palmer Sidekick Accountant
Andrew's been a full-time Accountant since 2005 and an Accounting Business Consultant prior to that. A qualified Chartered Accountant with a B.Com under his belt, he's happy to chat about accounting processes and procedures, budgets, forecasting, strategy and planning.
Andrew's industries of expertise include the health and medical sector (especially retail and dispensary pharmacies), as well as rental properties and the education sector.
An aficionado of the 'paperless office', Andrew loves helping our Sidekick clients move their records and processes online in the transition to cloud computing.
He's also got lots of customer service experience – which means he knows a thing or two about delivering an excellent service to his own clients. Win!
Paul Russell Sidekick Accountant
Paul’s a crack accountant who comes from a varied career background, including stints working for Adecco Personnel, CourierPost and PlaceMakers.
Paul’s got specialist knowledge in the areas of construction, hospitality and retail property investments – which means if you want to invest in building a hotel, he’s the guy you want on your team.
Paul manages a wide portfolio of Sidekick clients for DJCA, the majority of which are local Christchurch businesses. He loves catching up regularly with clients, getting to know how their businesses work and helping them achieve their goals.
He’s also partial to a round of golf and wouldn’t say no to a meeting on the green.
Richard Brittenden Sidekick Accountant
Gaining his B.Com way back in the1970s, Richard spent 17 years working in the construction industry before successfully running his own accounting firm for two decades.
Richard merged his practice with DJCA in 2009, claiming that the vibrant team at DJCA would help him stay young. It must be true because he’s been spotted mountain biking on the Port Hills.
At DJCA Richard is responsible for a portfolio of clients, including many valued clients that came across with him from Brittenden Accounting Services. He’s an expert in compliance, particularly as it pertains to the construction industry.
Ben Shore Sidekick Accountant
Ben's got close to a decade of experience in the accounting industry, having worked for Chartered Accounting firms in both New Zealand and Canada.
Ben loves to help small and medium sized businesses to grow. He's particularly adept at helping folks make business processes more efficient to achieve better returns and a richer lifestyle - something his Sidekick clients really appreciate.
Ben's industries of expertise include retail, hospitality, property development and small operator trades. He's also an expert in keeping up with youngsters, with twins at home who keep him on his toes.
Ben's a fan of the social atmosphere at DJCA, and he loves that his job has the scope to help clients out more than average accountants do - 'cos he's just that kind of guy.
Sajeil Naiker Sidekick Accountant
Sajeil has joined the Auckland office and brings with him an abundance of experience in supporting small to medium businesses. Starting off working for the family business in the Manufacturing and Hygiene Industry for ten years, Sajeil then moved on to a mid-tier accounting firm for four years where his professional skills developed even further. Over the years, Sajeil has gained a solid foundation of expertise, knowledge and understanding of how New Zealand businesses tick.
Between being a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and holding a Bachelor of Commerce, Sajeil has all the right tools to help business owners achieve their goals. He is excited about joining the DJCA team as he feels we’ve got what it takes to make accounting great. The Sidekick package allows him to interact more with his clients than ever before, which leads to a far better understanding of both the business and the business owners.
In between crunching numbers, Sajeil wouldn’t be one to say no to a game of football. His love of travel over the past few years has also has seen him experience new countries, cultures and foods all over, including some favorites like Brazil and Croatia.
Sales
Ric Thorpe Business Development Manager
The man with the impeccable English accent and the million-dollar smile! Ric helps people to make the right decisions on their business and accounting systems – and he’s is in a unique position to do so with his natural empathy with business owners coupled with extensive knowledge of the technology and IT sector.
Helping his clients make the right decisions saves them significant amounts of time, money and resources – no wonder he’s smiling!
Ric came to DJCA with eight years of solid experience in sales, spanning technology, marketing and web. He’s also been a business owner himself, so he really ‘gets’ the decisions and issues that business owners are faced with.
In 2004 Ric was named ‘Sales Rep of the Year’ at Trader Media Group, singled out from a team of over 100 and also the youngest by five years.
Ric’s interests include being a dad, football, socialising and just pottering in the garage.
He says he loves being part of the DJCA team, and that he considers the people he works with as not just colleagues but true friends. Aw, shucks!
Eva Perrone Business Development Executive
A University of Canterbury graduate (BCom with a focus on marketing), Eva readily admits that her "nerdy side" loves anything to do with business.
Eva spent 2010 working her way around the world doing everything from pouring drinks in an upmarket London wine bar to working on a coffee farm in Hawaii and volunteering in India.
She's now settled into her role at DJCA promoting our Sidekick product, which she describes as "awesome and innovative compared to normal accounting."
Eva has a secret mad passion for circus stunts and acrobatics - did we mention she's done flying trapeze lessons? She muses about running away with the circus
Assistants and Administrators
Julie Whitmore Office Manager
The buck stops with Julie when it comes to the smooth running of the DJCA office. Lucky for us she’s amazing at what she does and keeps everything ticking along like a well-oiled machine.
Like the rest of the DJCA team, Julie’s got a wide ranging set of skills and experience that she brings to her role. She’s got great insight when it comes to money matters as she’s a qualified investment advisor and business/personal lending specialist.
Time spent raising her family while also bookkeeping for several businesses has honed Julie’s fantastic organisational and people management skills, which she gets to put to use now making sure the DJCA team finishes their homework before dinner.
Carol Hinrichsen Office Administrator
Carol moved to New Zealand from KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa in 2008 – we think she brought the African climate with her because she lights up the DJCA office with her sunny personality.
Carol provides office admin and accounting support to the DJCA team, utilising her impressive abilities at office management and tax management.
Before life at DJCA, Carol worked as a personal assistant before moving up to office management. A woman of many talents, she’s also owned a restaurant and completed her real estate exams.
Carol says what she enjoys most about working at DJCA is the feeling of mutual respect amongst the team members.
Geraldine Toman Receptionist/Office Administrator
Geraldine is the first point of contact for clients at our office, providing reception and office administration support for the team.
She’s got a Masters in Business Management with honours in Hospitality, so she’s the perfect person to make sure our clients are well looked after and the DJCA team is kept in line.
Geraldine is mad keen on travelling and to date has ticked Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, America and Canada off her list, although she loves the fun team environment at DJCA so much that she just can’t bear to be away from us for long!
Jess Roberts Office Assistant
Jess is our ‘what would we do without her’ assistant. She makes sure we can find everything we need when we need it, keeping all the filing organised and ensuring no paperwork accidentally goes astray.
Jess is currently studying for her Bachelor of Arts at Canterbury University. She’s also interested in fitness and fashion (and we’re all secretly jealous of how amazing she always looks).
Vanessa Burt Administrator
Vanessa had aspirations in hairdressing, but two years into her salon apprenticeship she cut her hand rather badly, necessitating a tendon graft and a career change.
Now with ten years experience under her belt in finance and tax admin, Vanessa looks after our client payroll and PAYE. She also keeps on top of important IRD paperwork – like making sure our client tax refund cheques are delivered promptly!
Hailing from the West Coast and no stranger to hard work, Vanessa once decided to enter a novice bodybuilding competition only 8 weeks out – and won first place. She still enjoys going to the gym and keeping fit, and when asked if she’d do another bodybuilding competition she smiles and answers with a sly “maybe…”
