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hello, i'm hilary combes......and a few years ago, I made a big decision.
After 20+ years as a qualified accountant*, I decided it was time to start passing on the knowledge from my years of training and experience to help business owners find the hidden clues in their accounts and business financials that could make a big difference to their business's performance. MathildaRock was born! |
Numbers and accounting just 'work' for me. As well as enjoying the straightforward processing of transactions, I can see the stories that the results are telling.
Having begun my career in Internal Audit, I am very focused on efficiency and effectiveness and, if it looks like the story has places where improvements can be made, I love digging into the data, gathering as much information as I can and presenting my findings to CEOs, senior manager and business owners to show them where they could be looking in order to improve their business performance - financial and non-financial.
Having begun my career in Internal Audit, I am very focused on efficiency and effectiveness and, if it looks like the story has places where improvements can be made, I love digging into the data, gathering as much information as I can and presenting my findings to CEOs, senior manager and business owners to show them where they could be looking in order to improve their business performance - financial and non-financial.
WHY
Statistics relating to small business (SME) survival in New Zealand make sobering reading.
Management accounting can help all businesses understand more about what is really happening in their companies but specialist/qualified management accountants are in short supply.
Management accounting works alongside financial accounting (with tax) and both parts of accounting combine to create business success. Financial accounts will tell you WHAT happened. I can help businesses see WHY it happened and HOW it happened.
Statistics relating to small business (SME) survival in New Zealand make sobering reading.
Management accounting can help all businesses understand more about what is really happening in their companies but specialist/qualified management accountants are in short supply.
Management accounting works alongside financial accounting (with tax) and both parts of accounting combine to create business success. Financial accounts will tell you WHAT happened. I can help businesses see WHY it happened and HOW it happened.
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As a management accountant*, I have always worked within an organisation, and have held roles in senior management and as being business manager, so I am fully aware of all aspects of running a company, not just its accounts.
I have undertaken roles that have combined the work of a chartered accountant, a business analyst and a business coach. I have been a Business Manager as well as a range of Finance manager roles. |
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With MathildaRock, I want to give SMEs the vital management accounting support that they may be missing and my goal is to help improve business survival rates as a result.
EXPERIENCE
Over the years, I've worked in local government, TV broadcasting, IT, TV/film production, advertising and newspapers. Soon after moving to NZ, I was responsible for the financial reporting of Fairfax Media's NZ operation - including TradeMe at the time - to their ASX listed parent company.
Since 2009, I've worked in much smaller creative/media companies, and have been a freelance production accountant on a number of NZ television series.
I am also the former FM of HITO, the Hairdressing, Barbering and Beauty Industry Training Organisation. As well as experience of incorporated societies, I understand the training of apprentices and the workings of salons.
See Wins and Successes below for more details.
Over the years, I've worked in local government, TV broadcasting, IT, TV/film production, advertising and newspapers. Soon after moving to NZ, I was responsible for the financial reporting of Fairfax Media's NZ operation - including TradeMe at the time - to their ASX listed parent company.
Since 2009, I've worked in much smaller creative/media companies, and have been a freelance production accountant on a number of NZ television series.
I am also the former FM of HITO, the Hairdressing, Barbering and Beauty Industry Training Organisation. As well as experience of incorporated societies, I understand the training of apprentices and the workings of salons.
See Wins and Successes below for more details.
MYOB AND XERO
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Over the years, I have worked with a wide range of accounting and bookkeeping systems.
I have used MYOB since 2009 and XERO since 2015. In 2021, I completed a Diploma course in both software packages. The course comprised:
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why mathildArock?
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The name Mathilda came from an amalgamation of my two grandmothers' names:
Matilda and Hilda. The word Rock comes from my alter-ego of a rock-chick.
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Many accounting practices and companies use a blue colour for their logos.
I've chosen red and gold as MathildaRock is all about excitement, dynamism and looking at things differently! |
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* For over 20 years I was a Chartered Management Accountant (www.cimaglobal.com) and, for three of those, a Fellow of the Institute (FCMA).
From 2012, I was also a Chartered Global Management Accountant (www.cgma.org).
I have an LLB (Hons) English Law degree too.
From 2012, I was also a Chartered Global Management Accountant (www.cgma.org).
I have an LLB (Hons) English Law degree too.
wins and successes
In my career, I have encountered the following situations...
business performance turnaround
Company A was existing day-to-day but had cashflow issues and was missing information to help them see where they needed to make changes and improvements.
After setting up reporting structures and doing substantial analysis using them, I was able to identify the issues, implement changes and train the team.
After setting up reporting structures and doing substantial analysis using them, I was able to identify the issues, implement changes and train the team.
The company was left with good processes, systems and financial knowledge. It was more stable, able to pay its bills and had a good future ahead.
efficiency brings savings
Company B was using Xero for its bookkeeping but the users had no training or experience in bookkeeping.
I was able to determine areas where improvements needed to be made.
By replacing their untrained office staff with a bookkeeper, they were able to reduce mistakes, reduce their accountant's bill and have more accurate accounts. The office staff were also able to spend their time on chargeable work, creating more turnover.
I was able to determine areas where improvements needed to be made.
By replacing their untrained office staff with a bookkeeper, they were able to reduce mistakes, reduce their accountant's bill and have more accurate accounts. The office staff were also able to spend their time on chargeable work, creating more turnover.
fit for purpose - xero review
Organisation C had been using Xero for several years. It had been set up by a previous user.
I went to help upload their budget and undertook a review of their chart of accounts structure while I was there.
In less than a couple of hours, I discovered:
Their Xero system was now much better suited to their requirements.
I went to help upload their budget and undertook a review of their chart of accounts structure while I was there.
In less than a couple of hours, I discovered:
- account codes that weren't necessary and were clogging up bookkeeping and reporting
- miscoded and inconsistently coded transactions
- confusion of entertainment expenses, and over equipment purchases (expenses vs assets)
- new account codes were needed to meet their reporting requirements
- outstanding transactions coded to their suspense account
Their Xero system was now much better suited to their requirements.
hidden information helps to guide decision making
Organisation D was using Xero for its bookkeeping and used its standard reports for financial management.
I discovered it had rich seams of additional data that nobody had previously looked at or analysed.
By mining this data and creating detailed, more focused analysis, the organisation was able to target areas for performance improvement.
I discovered it had rich seams of additional data that nobody had previously looked at or analysed.
By mining this data and creating detailed, more focused analysis, the organisation was able to target areas for performance improvement.
what can i do to help your business?
Ready to ROCK Your accounting?
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Mathilda Rock Ltd
C/- PO Box 24278 Manners Street Wellington 6141 m: +64 211 383 115 hilary@mathildarock.co.nz (C) Copyright Mathilda Rock Ltd 2018 - 2021
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