“The only source of knowledge is experience.”
Albert Einstein

Knowledge is something Mark has in spades, from international multinationals to grandkids and everything in between.

A career accountant, Mark has been in the industry for over 40 years. Kicking off in the 1980s, in Papua New Guinea, Mark worked for multi-national corporations in the plantation sector. He later worked in the electrical wholesale industry before starting his own brand of human-centric accounting at Better Accounting in 1999.

Whether it’s regaling stories of international business, the retelling of tall tales (that get taller with every telling), or your financial affairs, Mark is known for his humility, authenticity, concise communication, and getting things right the first time.

Mark is a verifiable encyclopedia of dad jokes that have been tried and tested on 4 kids, 5 grandchildren and hundreds of clients. Someone once wrote a reference for Mark “not a bad bloke – for an accountant”. That pretty much sums things up.

“The only way to do it is to do it.”
Merce Cunningham

This is how Melissa lives her life and manages to achieve such great results every time.

Graduating with a degree in accounting in 1994, she embarked on a start-up in financial services education. Her knowledge of bookkeeping and accounting was very quickly matched by her experience in sales, marketing, human resource management, and business operations.

Leaving her role as GM, Melissa had a couple of kids, did some more study, qualified as a CPA in 2004, started a retail business with her husband, and then joined Mark, despite his Dad jokes.

Since joining the team in 2006, Melissa has become a specialist in SMSFs (that’s self-managed super funds to the rest of us) offering tax advice, compliance, and auditing services for over 100 funds a year. She also became a partner at Better Accounting and started a second retail business. And, in her spare time, there’s time for design, investing, netball and trivia.

“Love all, trust few, do wrong to none.”
William Shakespeare

We’re privileged to have Elinor sharing her global business operations experience with our part of the world.

Originally from Ireland, Elinor worked in London for way too long before she realised Australia was the best place on Earth 10 years ago.

Her experience in London was largely in Investment Banking Operations and Middle office for Interest rate derivatives, where she was responsible for managing relationships between multiple internal clients including financial control, front office, and settlements.

Qualifications include a Bachelor of Business Studies and an Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting.

Since arriving on our sunny shores, Elinor has worked in Accounting & Audit business services, across multiple industries including farming, construction, real estate, and professional services. But don’t be fooled, she gets her crazy on, riding mountain bikes with her three boys.

“You just can’t beat the person who never gives up.”
Babe Ruth

Julie is our turbocharged engine of efficiency.

The first person you will speak to on the phone, and the last person to farewell our guests is Julie.

Aside from her administrative brilliance, Julie also liaises with the Australian Tax Office on behalf of many of our clients and assists with renewals and registrations of company and business names through the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Without a doubt, Julie is the glue that binds us.

“As long as you live, keep learning how to live.”
Seneca

“When you catch a glimpse of your potential,
that’s when passion is born.”
Zig Ziglar

A very inquisitive mind drives Tom, who brings the ambition and inspiration of the next generation.

A true survivor, Tom developed immunity to Mark’s jokes at a very early age.

Tom is currently studying a Bachelor of Business and Commerce at the University of Southern Queensland. Since joining Better Accounting in 2020, Tom has carved himself a niche role through his customer-centric approach to everything he learns and leverages his IT knowledge to help streamline our day-to-day procedures.

“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.”
Steve Jobs