New Partner and Business Relaunch
Rural Chartered Accountants, a leading accountancy services firm based in Whakatane, is excited to announce the relaunch of the business under its new name, Rural Chartered Accountants (formerly Rural Accountants), along with a comprehensive brand refresh. This relaunch coincides with the official announcement of Juanita Mottram as a Partner.
Juanita Mottram's promotion to Partner (accepted and formalised in 2023) marks a significant milestone in her career, following the completion of her Certificate of Public Practice and Chartered Accountant qualifications. Her journey to partnership has been driven by a deep commitment to professional excellence and a passion for empowering rural businesses.
"Becoming a Partner is a major personal achievement for me," said Juanita Mottram. "As Partner, there is more responsibility, a higher level of trust with clients, and I am more involved in the day-to-day running and strategic direction of the business."
Juanita, who joined the firm in 2018, has been instrumental in Rural Chartered Accountants' recent growth and modernisation. Her leadership was key in the firm becoming a member of The Gap, a business development organisation that has connected the firm with like-minded, non-competing firms and positioned it as a modern, forward-thinking advisory practice.
Partner Shannon Harnett commented on Juanita’s promotion, saying, “Juanita is an excellent accountant with great business acumen. Since making her Partner and joining The Gap last year, we have grown into a more modern firm. We have implemented our strategic plan, cemented our core values, and increased our business development services to provide clients with peace of mind in their businesses and lives.”
In addition to her accounting expertise, Juanita holds a degree in PR and marketing and has a natural aptitude for mastering new software and technology. Her tech-savviness is a significant asset to the firm, as Shannon noted, “We use a range of software tools as part of our service offering. Juanita picks up every new software tool we take on and figures it out very quickly.”
Christine Craig, another Partner at Rural Chartered Accountants, expressed her enthusiasm for the new partnership dynamic. “I am delighted to have Juanita as a Partner. Having a third person to share ideas with to formulate our long-term strategic plan has been fantastic. Also, having a third partner gives us more extensive areas of expertise to help our clients.”
Rural Chartered Accountants is dedicated to working in partnership with farmers, business owners, and rural syndicates nationwide. As rural specialists, they provide services ranging from financial management and planning to high-level outsourced CFO services. The firm’s recent nomination for an award at the upcoming The Gap Re.Union in Auckland underscores their commitment to excellence and innovation.
Juanita is particularly excited about helping clients add value to their businesses, creating financial freedom, and giving clients more ability to enjoy their lives. “Our focus is not solely on compliance or looking backwards as is the case in traditional accounting. We are also interested in looking forward for the business and empowering our clients achieve their goals too,” she said.
Reflecting on her journey, she added, “The accounting industry is changing from where it was, and it makes me so proud to be Partner in a women-led business. I feel proud as a Māori woman and a mother that I have achieved this for myself and am hugely grateful for the incredible support of my family in helping me get here.”
The firm’s relaunch, coupled with the announcement of Juanita’s promotion, signals a bright future for Rural Chartered Accountants as they continue to empower rural businesses to achieve prosperity.