Our clients trust us with day-to-day compliance as well as tough business decisions.
They know that, in us, they have a fantastic range of skills at their fingertips, from brilliant CFOs and tax experts who can hit the ground running to highly-qualified bookkeepers with an eye on every detail. In short, we’ve a wealth of diverse talent and experience here, not to mention our own vast network of contacts to draw on. It’s the team of switched-on, creative smart thinkers you need - alongside you at every step.
Meet the team
Since acquiring Davis & Co in 2012, Chris Staples and Phil Abood have been the driving force behind the firm’s growth and success. Our unique brand of accountancy and business advice has attracted a diverse team of strategists, accountants, advisors, bookkeepers and admin stars, as impressive in person as they are on the page.
Chris Staples
Director
Co-director and business leader, Chris prides himself on his bespoke CFO service. He uses his 30+ years in finance, accounting, taxation and business consulting, corporate and private, to optimise profits and business sales value for our clients.
Work
His wealth of experience includes senior financial roles with major multinationals in Australia and overseas. Complemented by a passion for business creation and value maximisation, this makes Chris a high-impact ally, much more than a chartered accountant with a degree in business.
Life
Since 2012, Chris has also been a director of the charity White Cloud Foundation, providing practical support to people living with and at risk of depression and anxiety. He’s also a busy, hands-on dad of three school-aged children, with a zest for running and fitness. Think a light 50K at the weekend.
Phil Abood
Director
Co-director and business leader, Phil’s the highly sought-after taxation specialist every business needs. With 20+ years in finance, accounting and taxation, across corporate and public sectors, he’s the eagle eye and incisive mind behind thousands of successful outcomes for our clients.
Work
Renowned for his superior taxation expertise and precision, Phil’s attention to detail and deep taxation knowledge is an advantage appreciated by many happy businesses over the years. He has a degree in business and is also a certified practicing accountant.
Life
Phil’s a loving dad to his two daughters. He spends what little free time he has, perfecting his golf swing, making his handicap stack up too.
Belinda Eldridge
SMSF Compliance Manager
30+ years in superannuation taxation, insolvency, business consulting and family law property settlement, across corporate and public sectors, in Australia and Hong Kong. Belinda’s impressive experience and personal qualities make her an excellent superannuation advisor, helping clients plan for retirement and estate tax- effectively.
Work
Adding to degrees in Commerce and Law and her Chartered Accountancy qualification, Belinda’s also a Limited Authorised Representative for Merit Wealth Pty Ltd and an Accredited SMSF Association Specialist. An expert in Self-Managed Superannuation Funds, her passion, she works with clients, their lawyers, brokers and financial planners to make informed, family-friendly SMSF investment choices. She’s also the founder of Divide – Simple Financial Separation, helping couples financially separate cost-effectively without lawyers.
Life
Belinda’s a proud single mum of two exceptional young men. Her youngest son has severe autism and she’s involved in creating positive opportunities for him and others with disabilities. She also enjoys time with her large extended family, a good laugh and drinking quality coffee.
Trudy Lennox
Business Advisory Manager
Trudy’s a Chartered Accountant with an MBA and Commerce & Economics degree. With 20+ years in professional services and the corporate world, her experience internationally, as CFO, COO and Finance Manager, gives her a unique perspective as an advisor.
Work
Having worked at the coalface, Trudy’s a
pragmatist with extensive experience of distressed and stressed businesses. She supports owners to sell and set up new entities as well as formulating growth strategies and implementing new systems. A whizz with financial models and forecasting, she helps owners analyse business performance with useful data to inform important decisions.
Life
Trudy and her husband have three school-aged children so home life’s busy. Centre manager for her local Little Athletics Association, she enjoys getting involved in her family’s many sporting activities. She also likes to travel, hike, read and keep fit.
Jane Bird
Accountant
& Business Advisor
Work
Jane’s a Chartered Accountant with 10+ years’ experience in professional accounting as well as banking and commercial accounting roles in the UK and Australia. Her expertise ranges from privately-held start-ups to large enterprises and everything in-between.
Life
Jane enjoys tennis, barre classes and cheering for her husband and two boys on the sports field.
Therese Patten Accountant
Work
Therese is a Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce, RG146 qualification and tax agent registration. She has 16 years’ accountancy experience, specialising in self-managed superannuation funds, and 10 years in self-managed superannuation fund audits.
Life
Therese has four children, aged 15 to 24, and volunteers as treasurer for a couple of not for profit organisations. She also enjoys travelling, camping, the beach, reading and spending time with family and friends.
Komal Goddard
Accountant
Work
Komal is an Certified Practicing Accountant who joined Davis and Co in 2018. She has worked in Private accounting practices since 2010. Komal holds an Accounting Degree and is a qualified Certified Practising Accountant.
Life
Growing up in Darwin, Komal enjoys most activities outdoors such as camping, hiking and four-wheel driving. Komal and her husband Matt are soon to be expecting their first child.
Thuy Tran
Accountant
Work
Thuy holds a Bachelor of Business (majoring in Accounting) and is a Certified Practicing Accountant. She’s been working in public accounting for more than 10 years, with a focus on taxation.
Life
Thuy has two young children. She enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as regular yoga and volunteering in her local community. Thuy is bilingual in English and Vietnamese.
Maddy Selby Accountant
Work
Maddy is a Chartered Accountant and joined our firm in February 2023. She has over 6 years’ experience working in public accounting and has specialised in taxation and business advisory.
Life
In her spare time, Maddy enjoys catching up with friends and family, trying out new restaurants and cafes and going on outdoors adventures.
Sruthi Samuel Accountant
Work
Sruthi is a Chartered Accountant with over 10 years of experience in public practice, working with small to medium sized businesses to provide all aspects of taxation and business services advice. She is also passionate about process automation and helping clients achieve financial success.
Life
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her three children, travelling, good food and the outdoors.
Katie Shields Bookkeeper & Business Advisor
Work
Katie has a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting with 15 years bookkeeping experience gained in private businesses and bookkeeping firms across diverse industries. She enjoys partnering with clients to plan out goals and alleviate admin.
Life
When she isn’t running around after her two young boys and two bulldogs, Katie loves going to the gym and practicing Kundalini Yoga and meditation.
Catherine Reid Bookkeeper
Work
Catherine joined the industry in 2020. Before this, she worked in Family Law, touching on Agriculture and Wildlife Biology with a Bachelor of Applied Science. She’s now studying for a Diploma in Accounting.
Life
Catherine’s often on the sidelines of her three children’s many extra-curricular or sporting activities. She still has strong ties with the Ag sector having combined her own farm into her family’s cropping business.
Stacey Scott
Bookkeeper
Work
Stacey holds a Cert 4 in bookkeeping. With over 15 years’ payroll and bookkeeping experience, she’s spent 10 years working in the not-for-profit sector.
Life
Stacey loves walking, going to the gym and attending a weekly Pilates class. Her husband runs their family bakery. Together, they have three children and look forward to travelling overseas in the future.
Julie Anderson
Bookkeeper
Work
Julie holds a Diploma of Accounting. With over 20 years’ payroll and bookkeeping experience, she has worked in various private industries, small business, and public practice.
Life
Busy with teens, Julie’s spare time includes family time, dog walks and is excited to get back into her pre-children hobby of golf.
Angela Smart
Office Manager
Work
Angela joined the team in November 2016. With over 15 years’ administrative and bookkeeping experience, she’s worked in various industries, including financial planning, insolvency, and small business.
Life
Angela’s bubbly personality is reflected in her ever changing hair colours and styles. She recently bought her first home and enjoys the gym, hiking, travelling, and being a dog-mum to her puppy.
Jessica Jones
Bookkeeper
Work
Originally joining the team as a receptionist in 2019, Jess has progressed into administrative roles and, more recently, bookkeeping.
Life
Living on the Sunshine Coast definitely has its perks. In her spare time, Jess enjoys going to the beach, spending time with friends and family and going to the gym.
Britney Mitaros
Administrator
Work
Britney joined our team in May 2023. With over 3 years’ experience in administration across Property Investment, Wealth Management, Mining and Commercial law. In her short career she has also had the opportunity to have lived and worked in QLD, WA & NSW.
Life
In her spare time Britney likes to spend time with friends and family. She also enjoys going on weekend getaways and day trips to the beach or country, appreciating good food and drinks.
Jamie Wood
Undergraduate
Jamie joined our team in May 2023. He is currently studying a dual degree at UQ - Accounting & Chemistry.
