Colleen Hennequin

"Crunching numbers” has always been Colleen’s calling. It started long before she landed her first job as a bookkeeper with an accounting practice in South Melbourne. As a child, she was constantly trying to get a better deal for her pocket money. As a young adult, it was for concessions on her board and lodgings. Colleen’s first employer recognised her skills in working with figures and her innate business acumen. They encouraged her to further her qualifications by undertaking a degree in accounting. The next six years taxed Colleen’s multi-tasking and burgeoning management skills to the max. She worked a full-time job from 9am to 5pm and then went straight to night school at Swinburne University of Technology. Along the way she and husband Gino parented two young children, Bradley and Chloe. During this period, she also started her own part-time accounting business at home while still holding down her 9-5 daily job. All this honed her skills in being able to juggle multiple balls at the same time. Her professionalism, reliability, boundless enthusiasm, and infectious personality drew more and more clients to her young business. By 2012, Colleen had crunched the vital numbers and was ready to fly solo. She and Gino purchased premises in Beaconsfield and relocated her home office. She was joined in the venture by her daughter Chloe who was also pursuing studies and a career in accounting, and Laura Sanchez. In just a few years, the business expanded its skills set to offer clients advice from bookkeeping to tax, finance and start-up businesses. Staff numbers increased exponentially to nine. It was all a steep learning curve for Colleen and her staff, but they handled it with aplomb. The growing client base is testament to that. Many things have changed since Colleen first sat down with a file full of papers and receipts to balance someone’s book. But some things stayed the same . . . she still delivers a product that has the mark of quality and professionalism which has one primary aim – to get the best outcome for her clients. Colleen - Best described as boss, mentor, friend. She has a wicked sense of humour and an infectious laugh that can be heard throughout the whole office. A kind and caring soul which makes her so loved and well regarded by clients and staff alike.