About Us

We’re here to help you succeed.

We are committed to building long-lasting relationships with our clients. With our expert, friendly and cost effective service, we aim to help you succeed financially in both your private and business ventures.

Our small team of professionals, in association with our business partners and associates, are big enough to handle the most complex issues but small and flexible enough to ensure you receive the personal service you deserve.

Meet the team

Colleen Hennequin (Principal)

“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.

Chloe Moody (Business Manager)

Chloe has been working with Colleen Hennequin and Associates for 12 years beginning initially in an administration/bookkeeping role while completing a Bachelor of Psychological Science before quickly deciding that accounting was more for her and completing a Bachelor of Accounting.

Chloe enjoys working in small business accounting and Tax. One of Chloe’s specialties is educating clients in the use of accounting software such as Xero.

Outside of work Chloe enjoys spending time with her husband and kids on their hobby farm, reading, watching AFL particularly her beloved St Kilda and her dream is to one day visit every Pub in Australia.

Chloe’s fun and light-hearted personality ensures that clients that come into to see her leave after having a good laugh, chat and joke whilst getting their work completed to the highest standards.

She treats all staff members with the upmost respect and creates the best environment to work in which means sick days are almost non-existent as we enjoy coming to the office every day for our daily laugh.

Chris Welton (Senior Accountant)

Chris began his accounting journey walking straight off the dairy & beef farm in Port Campbell to a small public practice firm in Melbourne in 2005.

After over 12 years of service working his way from a naive junior accountant to sceptical senior accountant specialising in small/medium businesses & self-managed superfunds, Chris was recruited/ambushed by Colleen during a moment of weakness in the winter of 2017. Within 2 weeks he was working for Colleen Hennequin & Associates.

Patient & Calm, Chris prides himself in working with the client and making their life easier moving forward each year.

Chris has a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting & Business Information Systems) from Deakin University and is an Associate of the Institute of Public Accountants.

What can we say about Chris? He has such a funny side! He has secret notebook where he writes down funny comments, but no one ever sees that notebook! He is also passionate about food.

During the footy season he always puts Collingwood books on Bhavesh’s office shelf.

Workwise he has in depth knowledge of tax systems and is a team player always willing to help. Admin often finds themselves begging Chris to speak to clients that have complex tax questions out of our depth!

Bhavesh Patel (Accountant)

Bhavesh Joined Colleen Hennequin and Associates in July 2021 as a Tax Accountant.

Having been in public practice for more than five years working with small to medium size entities, His depth and understanding of the complex taxation issues impacting business owners is what he prides himself on.

He has used his knowledge of accounting software packages to help many small businesses make the transition to cloud accounting software.

He loves tax! He understands the pressure & complexities that come with being a business owner & strives to be the trusted advisor who can assist clients when they need support.

He uses his experience to deliver advice and services to clients from a range of industries, including automotive, professional services, hospitality, and property and construction.

He has completed his Master of Professional Accounting from the Holmes Institute of Melbourne.

He loves watching & following cricket also loves supporting his colleagues favourite team Collingwood!!

There are many choices one faces in life, but Bhavesh being forced to support Collingwood whole heartedly was not one of them.

When not in the office marvelling at the various forms of nourishment that appear each lunchtime, Bhavesh loves to play cricket, catch up with family & friends, watch cricket, take a long road trip, and also talk cricket. Bhavesh is always the first to help anyone with his extensive Xero and Accounting knowledge. Colleen can often be heard calling out for Bhavesh to help her with her latest xero query!

Laura Sanchez (Accountant)

Laura joined Colleen Hennequin and Associates part time as an accountant in 2011.

She has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) with 20 years of experience in public practice.

Laura is a member of Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA), Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) and Institute of Financial Professionals Australia (IFPA)

During her 20 years’ experience she has worked on a wide variety of businesses and professionals preparing taxation and financial statements. Laura strives to deliver a positive service and be an efficient and reliable accountant to our clients.

With two daughters at home Laura loves to spend time with her family and friends, she also likes pilates and walking

Laura is the sweetest person in the office, which is probably why she is Colleen’s favourite!

She is quiet, an amazing friend with the biggest kindest heart and a great sense of humour. These qualities combined with her vast accounting knowledge makes her a valued member of the CH&A team.

Rebecca Kerslake (Bookkeeper)

Rebecca joined Colleen Hennequin & Associates in 2019 in the role as a bookkeeper.

Rebecca has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Certificate IV in Accounting. She has been in the field of Accounting for over 25 years in various roles and industries.

Rebecca lives locally with her husband and family and outside of work she can be found spending time with her family and friends, walking the family cavoodle and four-wheel driving and camping. Rebecca is a sweet and caring addition to our office who always loves a laugh. Her attention to detail and strong work ethic makes her an invaluable member of the CH&A Team.

Delvene Sliwinski (Office Manager)

Delvene joined Colleen Hennequin & Associates in March 2021 as part of the administration team.

She has had over ten years’ experience in office reception and administration and enjoys interacting and having a laugh with clients whilst making sure they leave the office having had a great experience.

Outside of work, Delvene loves spending time with her husband, two sons and her dogs, friends and supporting her beloved Collingwood Magpies.

Dogs are Delvene’s world, and her ultimate dream is to have a farm where she rescues all abandoned dogs to live out their days happy and loved.

Delvene is our front desk smiley and welcoming face. She lights up an office with her cheerful personality and compassionate nature. Most days you can hear her laugh before you enter the office! Her professionalism and knowledge help to respond to clients’ queries in quickly and efficient manner. She is also our biggest helper!

Barbara Baker (Front of House and Administration)

Barbara started working in the admin team at CH&A in August 2018 in a temporary position for 4 weeks and has never left!

She lives locally with her husband and two teenage sons – who occupy most of her spare time with multiple basketball games and trainings every week.

She is known amongst her family and friends as the “snack queen” and has a knack for creating drool worthy grazing platters and baking fun cake & cookie creations.

When she is not in the kitchen or at a basketball stadium, she also enjoys being curled up in her favourite chair with a good book, watching the NBL and spending time with friends. Barbara is a thoughtful, diligent, inspiring co-worker, who loves to join the fun and laughter of the office. Barbara’s beautiful personality makes her interaction with clients a pleasant, respectful experience, whilst ensuring fast and polite responses to enquiries.

Maz Sokolowski (Accountant)

Maz joined Colleen Hennequin Practice as a senior accountant in 2018.

She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is a member of CPA.

During her 19 years’ experience in public practice, she was responsible for preparation tax returns and financial statements and FBT returns for all entity types, but mainly companies and trusts.

Maz recently semi – retired and works part- time. Outside works she enjoys playing piano, walking, and travelling.

Maz is fun, light-hearted, and always ready to party! She is the creator of the lemon vodka that the office drools over! She loves to travel and splits her time between her Melbourne and Queensland homes. We love a surprise office visit when we think Maz is in Queensland but turns up ready to work in Melbourne.