Perriam & Partners is a Christchurch chartered accounting firm built on a people-first philosophy. What started in 1996 with founder Warren Perriam working from a spare room in his home has grown, nearly thirty years later, into a proudly independent practice of 25 based in Burnside. Oliver Johnston (a director since 2021) and Rachel Vorster (director since 2023) now carry the founding vision forward, offering the personalised service of a boutique firm backed by the capability of a large practice.
The firm handles all the accounting essentials — financial statements, tax returns, tax planning and advice, management accounting and GST — with a stated aim of no jargon and no stress. Its taxation and compliance work covers GST, PAYE and FBT returns, income tax returns, LTC elections and structures, and specialist tax advice for more complex situations.
Beyond compliance, Perriam & Partners acts as a genuine business partner. Advisory services span business plans, benchmarking, coaching, valuations, restructuring, due diligence, feasibility studies, forecasting, KPIs, profitability analysis and strategic planning, alongside property structuring for commercial, industrial and residential investments, software consultancy as a Xero Gold partner (with MYOB support), and HR services including payroll and employment contracts.
Every engagement begins with a free, no-obligation consultation, followed by an engagement letter and fee proposal so costs are clear upfront. The firm is also behind the Make It Happen Charitable Trust, established in 2013, which directs a portion of every client fee into grants helping local children access sports, arts, education and essential medical care — more than $235,000 approved to date.
Nearly thirty years ago, a chartered accountant named Warren Perriam set up shop in the most modest of offices: a spare room in his home. It was 1996, and his vision was simple — a people-first accounting firm where relationships matter as much as results. Today, that seedling has grown into a team of 25 working from Unit 4, 35 Sir William Pickering Drive in Burnside, Christchurch, still proudly independent and still driven by the same purpose.
Growth hasn't changed the firm's character. Oliver Johnston joined the team in 2015 and stepped up as a director in 2021, with Rachel Vorster appointed director in 2023. Together they carry Warren's founding vision forward, blending fresh thinking with deep technical expertise. The result is a practice offering the personalised service you'd expect from a boutique firm, backed by the capability and expertise of a large one.
At its heart, Perriam & Partners is a chartered accounting practice that takes the stress out of managing finances. The team handles the full set of essentials — annual financial statements, income tax returns, tax planning and advice, management accounting, and GST, PAYE and FBT compliance — with a promise of no jargon and no stress. When accounting is done right, the firm believes, it gives business owners something powerful: clarity, confidence, and the freedom to focus on what they do best.
That compliance backbone is complemented by specialist advice for more complex situations, from LTC elections and structures to expert guidance on tricky tax matters, so clients stay compliant and well organised while they get on with running their businesses.
Where Perriam & Partners really earns the "partners" in its name is advisory work. The business advisory team helps owners chase growth, untangle cashflow and seize opportunities through business plans, benchmarking, coaching, strategic planning, valuations, restructuring, due diligence on purchases, feasibility studies, financial forecasting, KPIs and profitability analysis.
Property investors get dedicated support too, with expert guidance on structuring commercial, industrial and residential proposals, plus a practical guide to expenditure claims. For businesses wrestling with their tools, the software consultancy — a Xero Gold partner, with MYOB support as well — helps choose, implement and optimise the right accounting software. An HR arm rounds it out, covering payroll installation and management, employment contracts, wage administration and holiday pay entitlements.
The process is deliberately simple. It starts with a free, no-obligation consultation — a chance to get to know you and your needs, with no charge unless you're seeking formal advice. Next comes an engagement letter and fee proposal summarising your situation, how the firm can help and what it will cost. If you're happy to proceed, the team is officially engaged, and from there you receive ongoing advice and timely support for as long as you need it.
Clients consistently highlight the responsiveness: fast replies, clear answers, no chasing and no waiting.
One of the firm's proudest legacies extends well beyond accounting. In 2013, Warren Perriam and Richard Sprott established the Make It Happen Charitable Trust, which receives a portion of every client fee. The Trust funds grants helping local children access opportunities their families might otherwise not afford — sports, school events, the arts, music, cultural experiences, education and even essential medical care. To date it has approved grants totalling more than $235,000.
The team describes itself as straight shooters, number nerds and business brains who genuinely care about the people behind the spreadsheets, guided by five values: adaptability, passion, empathy, integrity and respect. Long-standing clients — some since 2011 — praise meticulous tax returns, forward-thinking advice and staff who actively work to maximise business gains.
Perriam & Partners is open Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:30pm, closed on public holidays. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, the first step costs nothing: a free chat to see how the team can help your business prosper.