Timaru

James Swaney

James is a fully qualified Chartered Accountant and studied at Lincoln University to gain a BCom, majoring in Accounting, Finance and Information Technology.

James spent over four years working in the motor vehicle industry in Timaru, before becoming a Chartered Accountant.
Looking at the big picture, setting goals and helping clients plan to achieve those goals are what James enjoys most about his job.

When James is not in the office he is usually spending time with his family, and sometimes out on the squash court or race track. James is also a big rugby, cricket and motor sport fan.

Richard Wheeler

Richard has over 20 years of experience, in finance including rural banking, and is now a partner in the accounting industry. He holds a BCom in Agriculture majoring in Rural Valuation and Farm Management, and has met the requirements of CAANZ to be a non-member partner of a chartered accountancy firm.

His knowledge of agriculture and business is current and broad. Richard has successfully helped a range of farming systems from large to small, discover and achieve their goals. Hailing from a family sheep and beef station prior to attending Lincoln, his roots are firmly grounded in agriculture. Helping farmers succeed is his passion. With so many challenges facing farming businesses, Richard is uniquely placed to help you optimise your planning and financial needs.

Outside of work, Richard loves swimming and mountain biking with his family and friends, and chairing the finance committee for the successful South Canterbury Rugby Union.

Maggie Harvey

With over a decade of experience, Maggie blends sharp accounting expertise with a refreshingly human touch. A Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce in Taxation, she’s all about making business advice practical, personal, and genuinely useful.

Maggie’s not just here to crunch numbers—she’s here to connect. She builds real relationships, listens closely, and delivers advice that fits your world. As a busy mum of two who still finds time for sprint classes at the gym and sitting on boards, she gets that time is precious and brings that empathy into every client interaction.

Originally from Ikawai and now happily based in Timaru, Maggie brings energy, insight, and just the right amount of quirk to everything she does.

Jess Hampton

Jess has a varied accounting background, having worked in both accounting practices and commercial environments, in NZ and overseas.

Jess graduated from Otago University with an LLB and BCom, and then embarked on her accounting career in Wellington. After gaining her Chartered Accountancy, Jess worked in both Dublin and London, while enjoying life on the other side of the world. She eventually returned to her home province and loves working as part of the Sidekick Timaru team to help local businesses achieve their goals.

Outside of work, Jess loves spending time with her family, watching her three boys playing sport and heading to the beach in beautiful Kakanui.

Olivia Rawson

Olivia joined Sidekick Timaru in 2022 as a Senior Accountant, bringing with her a wealth of experience gained since starting her accounting career in 2006. After moving from Christchurch to Timaru, she began working in the accounting field and studied while working to become a qualified Accounting Technician.

With extensive experience across a range of clients and industries, Olivia enjoys helping people understand their accounts and tax obligations. She values building strong relationships and being a trusted part of her clients’ financial journey.

Outside of work, Olivia enjoys reading, gaming, and practicing karate. She lives in Timaru with her husband, twin boys, and a lively household of cats, dogs, and goats.

Manish Rawat

Manish joined Sidekick in 2018, bringing with him six years of experience in the farming and commercial accounting sectors. He holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in commerce and is currently working towards becoming a qualified Chartered Accountant. 

Originally from Chandigarh in North India, Manish moved to Auckland, New Zealand in 2018. He now resides in Christchurch with his wife and two children and works from Sidekick’s Selwyn office.

In his role at Sidekick Timaru, Manish handles a wide range of compliance tasks for farming and commercial clients, including end-of-year financial statements and GST returns. He particularly enjoys the more analytical aspects of accounting, such as budgeting and forecasting.

Outside of work, Manish is a passionate cricket fan—both watching and playing—and enjoys relaxing watching movies and exploring new places around Canterbury and beyond.

Tom Taiaroa

Tom began his accounting career with Sidekick Timaru in late 2020 after earning his Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Finance, from Otago University. Since joining the team, he has been gaining hands-on experience across a diverse range of businesses and industries, thriving on the variety and challenges that come with working in a dynamic firm.

Working remotely, Tom continues to build his expertise while enjoying the flexibility and independence that comes with his role. He is currently on the path to becoming a fully qualified Chartered Accountant, further strengthening his commitment to the profession.

Outside the office, Tom is a passionate lawn bowler and is well known in New Zealand’s bowling community. He finds time on the green a great way to unwind and stay connected with the sport he loves.

Jessie Brown

Jessie is one of our Accountants, supporting clients across all aspects of their financial reporting and compliance. With a strong background in the rural sector, she brings deep industry knowledge and genuine passion to her work. Her experience is especially valuable to our rural clients, who benefit from having another dedicated expert on the team. When she’s not working with numbers, Jessie loves to cuddle up on the couch with a cup of tea (only Dilmah, do try it) and catch up on Coronation Street. She’s also a proud mum to two daughters who compete in gymnastics competitions around New Zealand—so weekends are often spent cheering them on and helping behind the scenes.

Melissa Williams

Mel is the ultimate multitasker at Sidekick Timaru, seamlessly handling everything from client queries to bookkeeping and payroll. She’s a vital support to the accounting team, bringing versatility and a can-do attitude to every task. With a rich background in customer service, Mel’s superpower lies in building strong, lasting relationships—whether with clients or colleagues.

Outside the office, Mel’s world revolves around her beautiful daughters, cherished family time on the farm in Central Otago, and relaxed coffee catch-ups with friends. 

Michelle Harper

Michelle is a valued member of our Accounting team, currently advancing her expertise by studying towards a Bachelor of Accountancy through Massey University. Her commitment to professional development and her keen eye for detail make her a reliable and driven contributor to our financial operations.

With a strong foundation in accounting principles and a growing academic background, Michelle brings both practical insight and fresh perspective to her role. She’s known for her approachable nature, collaborative spirit, and her ability to juggle multiple responsibilities with grace.

Outside of work and study, Michelle is a proud mum to two energetic boys. Much of her free time is spent cheering them on from the sidelines of their sporting events, sharing in their wins and growth. She also enjoys playing netball, which keeps her active, and catching up with friends over coffee or a good laugh.

Michelle’s blend of professionalism, dedication, and warmth makes her a wonderful part of our team.

Monique Gilbert 

Monique was born and raised in South Canterbury, after a few years in Wanaka at our Wanaka office she is now back and is living locally on a farm and is loving the lifestyle. One of the main things that attracted Monique onto the Accounting path is her passion to help people. She is so passionate about accounting that she completed her degree correspondence while working part-time, and has graduated with a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting.

Letitia Pottle

Letitia (known as Teish) joined Sidekick in 2022 as a Personal Assistant to the Directors, quickly proving herself as a reliable, detail-oriented, and proactive team member. Her natural ability to connect with clients and manage complex tasks led her to transition into the Client Services Manager role, where she now thrives.

She loves meeting new clients and finds genuine joy in helping their business ideas come to life. As the key liaison between our directors and clients, Teish ensures every interaction is smooth, thoughtful, and delivered with care.

Outside of work, Teish is deeply passionate about sports—especially rugby league (go the Penrith Panthers!) and netball.

In addition to her role at Sidekick, Teish runs her own business, bringing the same drive and creativity to her entrepreneurial ventures. Her firsthand experience has given her valuable insight into what clients need when turning their ideas into successful businesses.

In her downtime, Teish enjoys quality time with friends, travelling, and making memories with her daughter.

Zakiaya Gray

Zakiaya discovered her passion for accounting early in her academic journey and has since cultivated a strong foundation in the field. With hands-on experience across a variety of accounting processes, she brings both technical expertise and a genuine commitment to helping clients thrive. She finds fulfilment in supporting business growth and building lasting relationships through thoughtful financial guidance.

Beyond the office, Zakiaya enjoys quality time with loved ones, teeing off on the golf course with her partner, and embracing the outdoors whenever she can.

Katie Westwood

Katie joined Sidekick in 2025 and offers a wealth of knowledge to her clients having been a business owner for 11 years. Katie is a CAANZ Accounting Technician with a New Zealand Applied Diploma in Business and soon to be completed Bachelor’s Degree Business, Accounting.

Being from England Katie appreciates the lifestyle in New Zealand and is passionate about helping clients succeed in this beautiful country.

Katie enjoys travel with her favorite places to date being Laos, France and Japan.

You will always find Katie with her camera and in Winter she will be up the mountain skiing and in summer mountain biking.

Dianne Wills

Di joined our team in 2024 as an administrative assistant, supporting the team in any way possible. As our receptionist, she will greet you with a big smile when you visit our Timaru office or call us on the phone.

Di has 30-plus years of customer service, administration, and management experience behind her.

When Di isn’t working, she is likely to be curled up with a cuppa and a good book, spending time with family and friends, travelling, and having fun while supporting her two adult daughters in their lives beyond the nest.