Our Team
Our friendly team of 12 professionals are eager to use their expertise to help you succeed.
Craig Gunson
DIRECTOR | CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
Craig’s chartered accountancy experience includes 9 years as a partner in the international firm Coopers & Lybrand and from 1996 a partner / director of Gunson McLean Ltd
He has specialist experience in maximising business performance , business valuation, Trust formation and administration and succession planning.
While many issues are complicated and serious, Craig endeavours to approach them in an objective and informal manner believing that commonsense and drawing on real life experience will often provide the most effective long term solutions”.
Shiralee McLean
DIRECTOR | CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
m: 027 292 0491
Shiralee started Gunson McLean with Craig Gunson in 1996. They worked together at Coopers & Lybrand (now PWC) for 16 years, but after a career in the corporate world, she has taken what she learnt and has been serving the community of Northland ever since.
Shiralee specialises in tax planning and structures, farm accounting, trusts, personal financial planning and wealth management. She enjoys the challenge of building long-lasting relationships with clients to grow their business and future success wealth.
Shiralee loves being part of our client’s businesses – their Advisory partner – and is proud of the strong partnerships she has with them. Some have been with Shiralee for over 30 years. Her Why in life is the Advisory part of being a Chartered Accountant. She has built and mentored her team throughout the years and loves the banter and camaraderie in the office each day.
When Shiralee is not in the office adding value to her clients’ businesses, she is out on her bike. Shiralee is a passionate cyclist, and her greatest personal achievement is the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge in 2019 – only a cheeky 155 km. She is always on the lookout for the next trail ride, so if you have been on one recently, she’d love to hear all about it. With speed in her blood, she is also an avid V8 Supercar Holden follower and has been to the famous Bathurst 9 times – she can’t wait to make it 10!
Born and bred in Northland, she loves everything her region has to offer, the beautiful beaches, the local sports clubs, and the restaurants. Shiralee’s business and sporting achievements are admired by her granddaughters, whom she loves and adore. They think that Nana Shiralee is pretty cool.
Bertus Botha
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
Bertus’ passion is Advisory services for Bigger Business as well as Agri Advisory to our Beef, Sheep and Dairy clients. He really enjoys getting to know his clients as he finds the stronger the relationship, the more successful the outcome for the client. Ensuring that his clients have the right technology and systems in place plays a big part in the success of his client’s growth.
Outside of the office, Bertus is in the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, golf, rugby coaching, adventure time with his family. You name an outdoor activity and no doubt you’ll find Bertus there.
Kate Calder
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
Kate is a qualified Chartered Accountant (CA), having completed her studies in 2025 while working — a significant achievement and testament to her commitment. She also holds a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Accounting and Finance in 2018. Kate supports Shiralee and Craig in one of the most important roles in the practice: ensuring all data going into jobs is accurate, compliant, and set up for success.
Born on a farm in Whangarei, her parents decided to buy a dairy farm in Victoria, Australia when Kate was ten. However, she left the snakes and crocodiles behind and moved back to Aotearoa to work on her university degree.
Kate is like a sponge when it comes to absorbing new learnings and what technology is best for what industry and client. She learns something new every day.
A dab hand in the kitchen, Kate loves to entertain and her dog Speights (yes, like the beer) is the lucky recipient of any food that drops on the floor. One of her passions which she couldn’t do in Victoria was snowboarding, so Kate is down at the mountains whenever she gets a chance.
Lex McAulay
ACCOUNTANT
Lexis has been with Gunson McLean for close to 18 years. Lexis life experience has given her the skills and expertise to work with a variety of our clients. She feels at home when she is supporting clients so that they have all the paperwork required Anything from coding receipts, to managing wages for clients for GST, PAYE and IR obligations.
Growing up on a Dairy farm in Waipu and where she continues to help her family on their Dairy/Avocado Farm, Lexis works alongside Shiralee and Craig to support our Agri farming clients. Her first-hand knowledge of working on a farm is instrumental in the success of our Agribusinesses. Her daily mantra is, “I don’t love work, I love helping our clients become successful”.
Kym Gibson
ACCOUNTANT
Kym is part of the furniture at Gunson McLean and has been with us since we opened 23 years ago. She specialised in preparing tax and annual accounts, sending out tax notices, maintaining systems and preparing GST returns and annual accounts.
Kym is most satisfied when she is preparing financial accounts and helping clients.
When not at work, Kym enjoys spending time with her family and relaxing with a good book.
Elle Hacker
ACCOUNTANT
Elle joined the team in 2022 and qualified with a Bachelor of Applied Management with Accounting in 2021. She has experience in the accounting industry having worked in an accounting firm whilst studying.
When Elle isn’t working, she’s a keen soccer player and loves to snowboard every opportunity that she gets. In the warmer months you can find her at the beach or playing watersports.
Cheryl Harmse
ACCOUNTANT
cheryl@gunsonmclean.co.nz
Cheryl is our newest team member and joined the team in 2023. She has a background in accountancy and a Bachelor of Accounting degree. She enjoys the variety that farming clients provide and her passion is creating systems that enable the client to easily understand and use the information.
Outside of the office, Cheryl loves the rural life in Northland and enjoys getting out and about with her husband and two daughters whenever she gets the chance.
Paula McLean
ADMINISTRATOR
Paula is the backbone of Gunson McLean and ensures that our accountants are supported.
She started working with Gunson McLean 12 years ago and manages the IT support for our clients and trains them on MYOB Essentials products. She is also our client’s payroll support and assists Craig and Shiralee in their day-to-day work.
Born and bred in Whangarei, Paula is a proud Northlander. She loves supporting our clients, helping them understand how our systems work. Paula has a particular interest in teaching our clients new technology, so they can better manage their time and do more of what their business requires, rather than being stuck in paperwork mode.
When Paula isn’t in the office, you can find her out on the water in her family boat or, you might bump into her on one of our region’s coastal walkways. She adores spending time with her family and grandchildren.
With Agribusiness and Bloodstock in her blood, she attends to her cattle which she and her husband bred. And come Melbourne Cup time, you are welcome to ask for her advice on who will win – Paula’s a safe bet!
Trish Ferguson
ADMINISTRATOR
Trish is one of our Administration staff at Gunson McLean. Her role is varied and challenging, which keeps her on her toes.
Trish ensures that she is always up-to-date with new technology programmes so that our clients have the best advice on technology for their businesses.
Outside of the office Trish spends time with her beloved dog Ginny and enjoys her Saturday mornings out in the garden. Or if the tide is right, out on the water fishing.
Ruby Chandler
RECEPTIONIST
reception@gunsonmclean.co.nz
Ruby is our receptionist and the first person you’ll see when you visit us. She joined the team in late 2022 and has a background in office administration and customer service.
Outside of the office, Ruby loves cooking, art & drawing and spending time with her friends and family.
Our Workplace
At Gunson McLean we value our staff and provide an excellent workplace where quality team members can experience an enjoyable, flexible, and challenging environment. We also:
- Provide all team members with the opportunity to develop new skills and responsibilities, along with career advancement within our organisation.
- Allow owners and team members the ability to maintain a lifestyle that balances work with recreation and family.
- Give owners and team members the opportunity to work with clients who highly value our skills and culture.
- Create a business which is sustainable beyond its present team.
If you're interested in joining our team, please email
reception@gunsonmclean.co.nz
To discuss all your account matters please call us on 09 438 1001
