AboutUs

Coutts Partners was established by John Coutts on 1 July 1983 and has been operating from our current premises at 261 Bluff Road, Sandringham, Victoria, since 1984. Our business has grown by providing professional and committed service to our clients.

We take pride in the high quality of our staff, the high standards we maintain and the knowledge and experience we can offer our clients.

We are able to offer our clients a broad range of individual and business services:

Coutts Partners are committed to the highest possible level of service and professional conduct in accounting and the extremely complicated areas of taxation and superannuation. Partners and staff regularly attend professional development seminars, lectures and courses run by the Australian Taxation Office, the National Tax and Accountants' Association and CPA Australia. They also participate in taxation and business discussion groups.

MARGARET KEENAN CPA Registered Tax Agent

Margaret Keenan has been with the practice since July 1998. She was admitted as a partner on 1 July 2005 and took over as sole principal on 1 July 2007.

Margaret worked for 10 years with the Australian Taxation Office before starting her family. After these commitments diminished, she re-entered the paid workforce and worked for 8 years as bookkeeper and accountant with Aged Care facilities near home in Sandringham. She maintained her interest in tax by conducting a small tax practice at home. Margaret has had a continuing involvement with tax and small business for over 30 years.

Margaret has been a Registered Tax Agent since 1982.

Send email to Margaret

ELAINE CONNELLAN Accountant

Elaine joined Coutts Partners in February 2008 on a part-time basis. She has a bachelor of Commerce degree and almost 30 years experience in private practice, particularly in auditing and tax accounting. Her tasks include accounting and tax return preparation for companies, trusts, superannuation funds and individuals.

Peter is a chartered accountant who joined his wife, Margaret, in the practice in May 2007. Peter is a registered liquidator and during his career has practiced in Melbourne with chartered accountancy firms both big (Ferrier Hodgson, BDO Nelson Parkhill and Bird Cameron) and small (Cole Downey).

Apart from insolvency and bankruptcy work, Peter has been an accountant in private enterprise, a forensic accountant and a government fraud investigator. Early in his career Peter had a lengthy stint in the Taxation Office as an income tax assessor.

In moving to Coutts Partners he is returning to tax and accounting work, providing additional expertise in business advice, assisting in management of the practice, maintaining the firm's computer systems and also establishing his own insolvency practice.

Margaret Dempsey joined Coutts Partners in March 1990 and has been a loyal and highly valued team member ever since. She does bookkeeping, accounting, the preparation of tax returns and manages the secretarial and offices service areas of the firm.

In April 2009 Margaret was invited to the USA to receive an award of distinction for achievements and work in Irish Dancing.

JOHN F COUTTS CPA Registered Tax Agent

John Coutts is the founder of Coutts Partners. After 20 years with the Australian Taxation Office in Melbourne and Canberra he joined the practice of Graeme O Gillard and Co in Caulfield. Three years later, in July 1983, he commenced his own practice in near his home in Sandringham.

On 1 July 2005 John admitted Margaret Keenan as his partner. Margaret took over as sole practitioner on 1 July 2007. John is now a consultant to the firm.

Carolyn joined Coutts Partners in June 2007. She has a Diploma of Business (Accounting) and has previously worked in the Australian Taxation Office and in superannuation administration. Carolyn's main task is bookkeeping, using Cash Flow Manager and MYOB. She also interviews clients and prepares tax returns.

Teresa joined Coutts Partners in September 2007 as receptionist and secretary, in a return to the workforce with her children now at school. She has had a variety of responsible administrative, managerial and IT jobs here and overseas, including her native England. In 2010 Teresa and her family became proud Australian citizens. Teresa's valuable skills at the front desk help the firm function professionally and efficiently.