RightWay to success

RightWay founders (from left) D.J. Shaw, Hamish Edwards, Greg Sheehan and Edwin Read and board member Debbie Haddon

Fresh approach to accounting has local company growing like wildfire

What started out as a handful of people working from flatpack desks in a small Greytown office is fast becoming the accountancy firm of choice for small business owners wanting more than just a number cruncher.

Accounting and advisory firm RightWay was founded by Wairarapa locals Greg Sheehan, Hamish Edwards, Edwin Read and David ‘DJ’ Shaw with Wellington’s Debbie Haddon (now a director) hired as the first key employee nearly four years ago. Since then it’s doubled revenue and head count every year and recently won ‘National Practice of the Year’ at the inaugural Xero NZ Partner Awards.

“With us you get your accountant and business coach rolled into one,” says RightWay CEO Greg Sheehan. “It’s about more than just the numbers, it’s about helping small business owners earn more and stress less so we can boost their business and the New Zealand economy.”

RightWay’s head office is tucked away in Martinborough with a 50-strong team spread throughout New Zealand and in Australia. Greg splits his time between Wellington, Auckland and Sydney.

“With RightWay growing as fast as it is, things can get pretty full on but I’m loving every moment. Coming back to the laid back town of Martinborough to spend time with my family definitely helps recharge the batteries.”

Greg says RightWay is focused on giving the customer what they need, being innovative and embracing technology to keep costs down.

“We believe in flipping the perception people have of their relationship with their accountant,” he says. “Tax and accounting support for a fixed fee was a no brainer and using Xero better than anyone else in the country is also important. But the key thing is having customer-facing advisors that proactively work to help small businesses generate more time to work on their business and make more money along the way.”

Greg says the fresh approach is proving popular with small business owners.

“From plumbers and builders to farmers and rural suppliers, around 100 people are switching to RightWay every month,” he says. “We’ve also brought 15 new staff on board since January so it’s great to see we’re growing a pool of accountants with an entrepreneurial mindset who want to do things differently.”

And is Greg, who’s had a pretty cool career with Air New Zealand, Nike and his own accountancy firm, enjoying his new CEO role? “It’s bloody awesome. It’s fun. It’s hard. But I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”