Oak Park is a boutique chartered accounting firm based in Wellington, New Zealand, offering tax, accounting and business advisory services with a strong emphasis on customer care. The firm describes itself as attracting clients who have been let down by previous accountants and who want a conscientious, trustworthy team to handle their financial affairs.
Oak Park brings together over 50 years of collective tax, business and accounting experience across its team, led by Hugh Lopdell, an experienced tax and business adviser and former tax auditor. Because of his background, the firm says it understands exactly what Inland Revenue looks for during audits and works to keep clients well within the rules, which it credits for attracting very few tax audits among its client base. The team also includes Lauren Candy, who runs the office and is qualified in marketing, and Cezanne Wanders, who brings more than 15 years of accounting experience.
The firm is particularly well known as one of New Zealand's highest-profile pharmacy-specialist accounting firms, with staff trained to understand the unique funding, staffing, software and regulatory aspects of running a community pharmacy, and Hugh Lopdell recognised in the industry for his educational videos and expertise.
Oak Park is Xero-certified and tech-focused, offering discounted Xero subscription pricing, Xero setup and training, paperless record-keeping through Dropbox, and electronic signing of tax returns and paperwork. Clients are offered a choice of fixed monthly-fee plans, ranging from a do-it-yourself option through to a more hands-on business coaching package, with a guaranteed 30-day turnaround on annual work. The firm is located at Level 6, 95 Customhouse Quay, in Wellington's central business district.
Oak Park is a boutique chartered accounting firm based in Wellington's central business district, offering tax, accounting and business advisory services to small and medium businesses across New Zealand. The firm positions itself around a simple idea: many of its clients arrive after being let down by previous accountants, looking for a team they can trust with the parts of their business they don't fully understand themselves.
Oak Park's team brings together more than 50 years of collective tax, business and accounting experience. At the centre is Hugh Lopdell, an experienced tax and business adviser who previously worked as a tax auditor. That background gives the firm insight into exactly what Inland Revenue looks for during an audit, and the firm says this understanding is part of why its clients attract very few tax audits — they know how to stay within the rules without inviting scrutiny. As extra reassurance, Oak Park also supplies economical insurance cover that pays accounting fees in the unlikely event a client is audited. Alongside Hugh, Lauren Candy runs the office and brings a marketing background, while Cezanne Wanders contributes more than 15 years of accounting experience.
Oak Park has built a particular reputation as one of New Zealand's highest-profile pharmacy-specialist accounting firms. Staff are trained specifically to understand the funding, staffing, software and regulatory issues unique to running a community pharmacy, and the firm serves pharmacy clients across the country. Hugh Lopdell is recognised in the pharmacy industry for his educational videos and expertise on the sector.
Rather than billing by the hour, Oak Park offers three fixed monthly-fee plans, so clients always know what they're paying. The K.I.S.S. plan, from $350 a month (excluding GST), is the most do-it-yourself option — covering annual accounts and tax returns, with the client handling their own GST, payroll and company admin, plus a Xero cashbook subscription, free electronic signing, Dropbox-based record storage, and a guaranteed 30-day turnaround on annual work.
The Sleep Easy plan, from $560 a month, is Oak Park's most popular option. It includes everything in K.I.S.S. plus an annual meeting, GST returns and provisional tax forecasts, unlimited free queries and Xero help, and Companies Office admin. For businesses wanting a more strategic partner, the Booster plan starts from $900 a month and adds two-monthly KPI and profit reporting, periodic Zoom meetings to review performance, and ongoing business coaching.
Oak Park also offers standalone sessions for specific needs: a SWOT analysis session to identify next steps for the business, and a retirement planning session aimed at resolving future retirement funding questions with a clear plan. The firm describes itself as a "one-stop shop," referring clients to other high-performing professionals when a need falls outside accounting.
Oak Park is Xero-certified and built its service around modern tools: clients can go paperless using a free Dropbox account to store and share records, sign tax returns and paperwork electronically through an online portal, and stream instructional videos to improve their own financial skills. The firm also offers discounted Xero subscription pricing (at least 15% off) and hands-on Xero setup and training sessions.
Oak Park is located at Level 6, 95 Customhouse Quay, Wellington 6011, and can be reached by phone at (04) 282 0784 or by email at admin@oakpark.co.nz.