Parkhill Accounting, Queanbeyan, NSW

"Regular Weekly Golf is Part of the Plan!"

The well known established practice of France Harrison & Associates is situated in Queanbeyan, reportedly the largest growing city in southern NSW, now that the new Defence Joint Headquarters is being established there.

France Harrison & Associates has been a long term partnership of more than thirty years between two highly accredited accountants, Keith France and Wal Harrison, and their reputation has resulted in the practice growing around ten percent each year over the last decade.

With an eye to the future, they implemented their ‘succession plan’ last year by merging with Mike Day of Mike Day & Co., and then amalgamated and formed a new company with the Parkhill Financial Group. 

The accounting section of Parkhill Financial Group is well served by its three Principals, Keith, Wal and Mike who are ably assisted by another three accountants and three support staff, attending to the needs of approximately 4,000 clients.

Parkhill Accounting has a ‘family’ team flavour and their clients notice the friendly relaxed atmosphere.

Keith tells us, “We encourage our staff to take regular breaks to keep refreshed.  Wal and I made an agreement before we went into practice that we would take a regular weekly break – so we both play golf. For the last thirteen years, a group of 16 (some from other practices) go away for a golf week at the beginning of November – simply to recharge the batteries!”

The Parkhill Financial Group clients can have their Insurance, Financial Planning (Investment, Retirement and Superannuation), Accounting and Home & Business lending, all managed by a single organisation.

“It’s a one stop shop!  In the accounting section, we cater for individuals, companies, and self-managed Super funds.” 

Keith advises, “We cover tax advisory and compliance work, new business start-ups, business development, structures for both investment and business, self-managed superannuation and software solutions.”

“We recommend Cashflow Manager software because the other products require accounting skills.  We find that most of our small business clients may not have the computer skills or don’t always understand debits and credits, assets and liabilities, and when they put that information into the other accounting programs, they come out a mess.”

“With Cashflow Manager we find it very easy to explain and it doesn’t require much time to teach the clients the program.  When we sell Cashflow Manager, we also give the clients a free “hands on” first hour to set them up.  Our staff will sit with them and show them how to do it, and most will pick it up in that hour. We don’t have any major problems after that.”

“Cashflow Manager is easy because clients can post the information straight from their bank account to the program. It actually ‘shows’ them what a Receipt or a Payment is. It doesn’t require them to know what an asset or liability is. For instance, if they buy equipment – there is a heading “Equipment”, or buy fuel - they can allocate to the heading of Motor Vehicle expenses.  All the headings are already there for them to use.  It is an easier package in that respect, and very easy for people in small business to understand.  Importantly, they can always return to view a screen for any month during the year, or print a report to show them exactly where and how their money was spent.”

“Generally, the clients find it easy to reconcile to their bank account which in turn makes it a lot easier for us. That’s why we recommend it!”