About Phillip Paris

Hello! Phillip started his career in Dunedin back in the 1970’s with Champion Appliances, a whitegoods manufacturer and then moved to Auckland in 1981 and worked for Auckland Knitting Mills, Phipps Rocol, Selby Shoes, and Compass Wheels in various accounting and systems roles. He completed the C.A. accounting qualification in the early 1980’s. Achievements: Setting up timely financial reporting for Selby Shoes and setting up a new production system for Compass Wheels and obtaining a windfall tax benefit of $750,000 for them.

Phillip joined Masport (lawnmowers and woodfire manufacturer) in 1989 as Financial Controller, progressing to Chief Financial Officer, and also graduating M.B.A. 1992. He then effectively retired between 2005 and 2015 although he was involved in real estate investing for his own company for part of that time. Achievements: Setting up a financial modelling system to forecast financial results after identifying a $1.4m error in their existing process soon after starting. As well as improving accounting processes he identified and designed a rationalization of their Australian manufacturing operation using newly developed technology with cost savings of $1.5m p.a.

In 2015 he came across an interesting role with a small manufacturer that was struggling and joined them as Finance Manager. We were able to rectify short comings in their processes and systems. He was instrumental in the business double in size through until 2019 when the then owner suddenly passed away. Achievements: Sourcing materials offshore with annual cost saving of $150K and implementing systems to streamline manufacturing, barcoding inventory system, and accounting processes including budgeting, cash management and reporting.

Phillip then took over as General Manager and was instrumental in assisting the owner family with the sale of the business to new owners. He continued in that role assisting the business with its growth and profitability until retiring at the end of 2022.

Phillip’s expertise is helping business owners with their financial systems and results, and identifying ways to solve their pressing problems, whether its financial processes, product sourcing, internal systems or marketing opportunities. He is also passionate about marketing online and playing chess.