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. in 1992. He then continued with real estate investing for his own company, which included a 3-unit modernisation and conversion to freehold, and converting a 10-bedroom church accommodation into a 17-bedroom boarding house.
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 systems and processes, he identified and designed a rationalization of their Australian manufacturing operation using newly developed technology, resulting in cost savings of $1.5m p.a.
In 2015, he came across an interesting role at a struggling small manufacturer and joined them as Finance Manager. By rectifying shortcomings in their processes and systems, he was instrumental in the business doubling in size until 2019, when the owner suddenly passed away.
Achievements: Sourcing materials offshore with annual cost savings 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.
Recently, Phillip has been involved in web domain acquisitions and following developments in AI, including developing AI automations, which he plans to continue in 2026.
Phillip’s expertise is helping business owners with their financial systems and results, and identifying ways to solve their pressing problems, whether it’s financial processes, product sourcing, internal systems, or marketing opportunities. He is also passionate about online marketing, chess, and is a sports enthusiast, including cricket, rugby, athletics, and the LPGA.