Global wanderer providing world-class service at Bennetts Proactive

Stacey Farrelly

What does having a well-used passport have to do with providing world-class service, you may ask?  “A lot more than you’d imagine,“ laughs Stacey Farrelly, recently appointed Practice Manager at Bennetts Proactive Chartered Accountants.

After travelling the world and living in both Perth and then in London, Stacey Farrelly has finally been lured home, and couldn’t be happier living in Papamoa and working at Bennetts Proactive in Te Puke. “We were lucky enough to visit over 40 countries – including Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, China, Turkey, Japan, the islands… so many. We loved it; experiencing the different cultures, languages, food and architecture was amazing. The experience helps you develop character and strength, and problem-solving becomes second nature.

Stacey and son Cian love spending weekends on Papamoa Beach.

Joining the firm as receptionist, Stacey says it was never her goal to become Practice Manager – rather, it was a natural progression made possible by Bennetts Proactive providing opportunities to develop and learn. 

“When we got back from London, I signed up with a recruitment agency for temp work. The recruitment consultant told me about the job at Bennetts Proactive and I thought it would be a great opportunity to get some more experience at an office in New Zealand. I was initially on reception (doing front desk and administration), but I always like challenging myself, and within 4 months I found I wanted extra work. I asked in a review if I could take on more responsibility. The next thing I knew I was Client Services Administrator. Next, I took on payroll, then there was an opportunity to do workflow planning and debtors, which I asked to take on as well. Through this process I ended up creating my own role. It was quite exciting.

“In 2017 Lance and Michelle did a revamp and I became the Team Leader of Client Services. That’s the great thing about Bennetts Proactive – the business is really flexible and works to fit in with the needs and skills of its people. This flexibility works so well – the team is efficient and happy,” says Stacey.

The flexible approach has clearly worked as Stacey is managing both her new role, and the practice, with her usual unassuming efficiency.

Stacey as part of the Management Team at Bennetts Proactive.

The business’ flexibility does not just pertain to structure, it seems that it is also true of its working arrangements for staff. “Bennetts Proactive is great at understanding that kids get sick and sometimes I have to work from home, or leave early. We do our work, but family comes first,” explains Stacey.

Choosing fresh herbs to add to their garden.

And enjoying family life in the Bay is just what drives Stacey and former travelling companion Matt, now her husband. If it is not time at the beach with their son, it is their new passion for gardening. “We enjoy our time in the garden – it’s therapeutic,” says Stacey. “We also love seeing Cian get into it and understanding the process. We couldn’t be more content.”