Waikato born and bred, Debbie asserts that, despite a natural affinity for math, she has never fit the stereotypical profile of an accountant. Torn between a career as a vet or a pilot as a sports-mad teenager at Hamilton Girl’s High and then Putāruru High School, she put her tertiary studies on ice to pursue an OE (overseas experience) first. After working as a farm hand to save up money for a plane ticket, Debbie made her way to London where she explored a range of roles in the hospitality industry. There she met her now husband, Matt, whom she brought back to NZ with her in 1995. It wasn’t until after starting her family and whetting her accountancy appetite through her own successful retail business ventures that Debbie decided to invest in her talent for numbers, studying for a business degree at Massey University, joining Graham Brown & Co and acquiring a series of qualifications through Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), all whilst raising her three young children.

Fast-forward 22+ years and Debbie will tell you the best part of her role today is connecting with people. “Hands-down it’s the people. Accounting at Graham Brown & Co isn’t actually what most people think accounting is; people are our priority and numbers are secondary to that. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing people succeed – whether that’s our clients or our own employees – and to feel like you have had some small part in that. It’s addictive.

In addition to delivering value for clients, Debbie is known for her advocacy of giving back to local communities. “Whether it’s admin services, annual accounts, tax advice, or one of the other pro-bono services we regularly offer to a range of diverse charities and community development initiatives, all of us here at Graham Brown & Co are passionate about supporting our communities to the point where we have literally built this commitment into our business model. In return, we attract purpose-led and people-focussed accountants who feel fulfilled in their roles and with whom our clients love working with. It really is a win-win.”

Beyond her accountancy practice, Debbie is also the Treasurer for the Breast Cancer Research Trust, the Op Shop for Breast Cancer, Tauranga Dance Incorporated, and the South Waikato Dance Festival, and is increasingly using her accounting and business management experience to support clients with strategy building, goal setting, corporate governance and succession planning.

When she’s not working, you’ll find Debbie tending to her garden of perfectly-arranged flowers, or indulging her passion for animals with her beloved golden retriever, Luna. And as for those long-held pilot aspirations… Debbie is in final stages of completing her private pilot’s license.