Accounting for Schools

Accounting For Schools Team

Ben Duflou

Director – CPP, CA, BCA (Hons)

Ben is a qualified Chartered Accountant, having been registered with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants since 1999.

Ben has been working directly with schools and childcare centres since 2008. His strong base of knowledge ensures schools are able to utilise their finances in the best way possible, while meeting Ministry of Education financial reporting requirements.

Ben has provided public practice services for over 20 years, with additional experience through the involvement of management accounting, financial accounting, and International Financial Reporting Standards for large global companies.

In his spare time you’ll find Ben with his wife and four daughters or out on the golf course. He’s also a keen rugby supporter.

Allison Henderson

Business Services Manager – CA, BCA

Allison is our specialist school accounting manager. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant, having registered with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2001.

She is highly-skilled with a deep understanding of the specific requirements for school accounting. Allison is committed to doing everything she can to help NZ schools and provide an exceptional level of service.

Outside the office you’ll find Allison with husband Brendon, and children Ashleigh and Lucas. She also enjoys running and watching her children play sport.

Sarah Toner

Associate Director – AT

Sarah has worked as a Business Advisor within public practice accounting for almost 20 years. She brings valuable practical experience to each of the businesses and schools she supports.

Sarah specialises in translating complex accounting jargon into plain English within the advisory area, and providing general Xero assistance.

Sarah has high-level experience in management accounting and project work. having worked with large and diverse organisations including manny not-for-profits. She’s also been involved in a broad range of industries, including: motel management, restaurants and cafes, unions, rental properties, bakeries, butchers, printing and manufacturing, and consulting agencies.

When she’s not at work, Sarah enjoys spending time with her two kids, travelling and entertaining friends.

Viktor Zgomba

Business Services Manager – CPP, CA, BCA

Viktor has worked as an accountant for more than 12 years. His tax knowledge is exceptional and he is highly skilled with technology, including cloud-based software and apps.

He is one of our team experts within trades and professional services. He also works across a broad range of other industries including property, bakeries, butchers, printing, manufacturing and consulting.

Viktor offers comprehensive advice within all area of business, as well as assistance setting up the latest apps and systems to improve and streamline business processes.

Jocelyn Simpson

Business Services Accountant – BBS, GDBS

Jocelyn has over 20 years of public practice experience. Jocelyn has extensive experience within the non-for-profit sector, particularly early childcare, prior to joining the Accounting For Schools team.

Jocelyn has accountancy experience in a wide range of industries from automotive, farming and Maori Trusts to medical and veterinary clients. She has also spent time auditing, enjoys accounting for investment portfolios and has a passion for not-for-profit organisations after many years doing voluntary work.

Jocelyn enjoys socialising with family and friends, watching sport and researching her family history.

Matt Percy

Business Services Accountant – BBS, BA

Matt joined the Accounting For Schools team in 2016, coming to the firm with experience in financial statement audit at a big four firm.

Matt has a passion for entrepreneurship, as well as looking after the community, by assisting schools throughout the country.

Outside of work Matt enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends.

Adam Forrest

Business Services Accountant

Adam joined the Accounting For Schools team in December 2015, while completing his degree in Commerce, majoring in Accounting and Finance, at Victoria University of Wellington. He has completed this and is now completing his professional studies to become a Chartered Accountant.

He is an expert on Xero and many of our recommended apps, such as Hubdoc and ApprovalMax.

When he’s not working or studying, Adam spends time socialising with friends and family, and is a keen sports fan – following the Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Adam Bennett

Business Services Accountant – BCom

He finds it very interesting seeing what goes into the daily operation of schools and how these are all financially treated. As each school has slight differences in the way the financials are handled, Adam is eager to learn each and every one while developing his accounting knowledge and skills.

Adam’s interests include reading, video games, music and playing golf.

Now that we have 2 Adam’s in the team (Adam Forrest & Adam Bennett), you might need to specify which one you are after if you’re calling the office!

Ben Sarten

Business Services Accountant – BCom

Ben joined the team in early 2020 after completing his Commerce degree, majoring in Accounting and Commercial Law at Victoria University.

Ben is enjoying working with a variety of clients in different areas and is planning to undertake his professional studies to become a Chartered Accountant.

Outside of work Ben spends his time traveling, cooking, reading and spending time with friends and family.

Tom Williams

Business Services Accountant

Tom has recently joined the AFS team and is currently completing his degree in Commerce, majoring in Accounting and Commercial Law.

Tom has an interest in property and investment and enjoys assisting clients in all business areas.

In Tom’s spare time, he enjoys socialising with friends, photography and is a keen sports fan, following the Blackcaps and Chelsea Football Club.

Rulli Magno

Business Services Accountant

Rulli is a certified public accountant with more than 10 years’ of accounting experience and a year’s experience in school accounting.

Rulli is based in the Hawkes Bay and supports many of our Hawkes Bay, Central North Island, Nelson, Tasman & Marlborough schools.

Rulli enjoys watching Netflix, spending time with her children in the park and visiting op shops.

Lisa Ruthven

Office Administrator

With over 15 years’ administration experience in an accounting practice, Lisa joined the team in 2019. Lisa enjoys the client contact offered in the administration role and being able to help our clients.

In her spare time, Lisa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, dining out and going to the movies.

Kirsten Bell

Office & Marketing Manager – BCom

Kirsten joined the team in 2017 and is enjoying helping the business evolve, grow and increase its presence in the market and awareness of our service offerings to clients.

She likes to spend her free time walking in the hills and spending time with her partner. She also enjoys cooking, and drinking good quality coffee – which of course Wellington has in abundance!

Leo Duflou

IT & Compliance Officer

Leo is an experienced IT professional with over 20 years’ experience. Leo provides administration support around Accounting For Schools’ cloud-based solutions.

Outside of the office, Leo enjoys flying model aeroplanes and maintaining the numerous weather stations he has setup around the Wellington region.

Our Story

Accounting for Schools (AFS) was started in 2009, after Director Ben Duflou met with school staff and trustees who were looking for a better accounting and more cost-effective solution. After listening to what schools really wanted, we realised that traditional service providers were not delivering it.

The majority of schools identified that they had limited interaction with the school’s service provider when setting operational budgets, 5YA plans, and 10-year building maintenance plans. We also found that schools using external providers had limited control of invoice payment processes, and were struggling to understand aspects of the financial reporting process.

AFS was specifically set up to address these issues, and more. We began providing schools with accounting services, and understandable financial information, at lower prices, utilising Xero. We pride ourselves on the knowledge and strong relationships we’ve built in the education sector, and our ability to deal with complex issues facing New Zealand schools.

Our schools really appreciate the services we offer – particularly principals, executive officers, trustees, and other support staff. The overwhelming response we receive is that they have much stronger financial understanding and clarity, and our involvement often has a calming influence. Our explanations are always in plain English, we’re always available, and are usually able to resolve queries very quickly.

Success to us is when a school has better insight and control of their finances, and are able to deliver the best for their students.

“I have four young girls of my own, and I’ve enjoyed a close affiliation with their school having been the Home and School Treasurer for four years. I’ve come to understand the trials, difficulties, and challenges that schools face, and the lack of funds they have to provide the resources they want for their students. That’s where we can really help – stretching that dollar a little bit further, so Kiwi kids can get the best education possible.”

– Ben Duflou – Director, Accounting For Schools

Talk to the school accounting experts

If you want the best support to understand your financial position, want to take back control of your school’s finances, and want to plan for the future – all while using time-saving processes – then get in touch with us.

Phone: 04 909 7729

Email: admin@afsl.nz