Paul Simpson CPA
Managing Director
Paul is our Practice Manager. After completing his university degree, he worked in several different practices gaining hands-on experience in many different areas of business tax and accounting whilst completing his CPA.
In 2011, Paul opened First Choice Accounting Services, steadily building his team to what it is today.
Paul’s usual weekends consist of spending time with his young family and watching his beloved Hawks. When meeting Paul for the first time, don’t be surprised if he asks which AFL team you barrack for!
Wendy Saynor CPA
Director
Wendy gained her Accounting Degree in 1994 and worked in many areas of accounting and bookkeeping before gaining her CPA and Practicing Certificate in 2009.
She is experienced in Business Accounting and Taxation and has extensive experience in MYOB; understanding this program from a client’s point of view. Wendy focuses on understanding and servicing the needs of her clients and those of the practice.
Wendy is married with two sons.
Tegan Murphy-Evans CPA
Accountant Manager and Senior Accountant
Tegan joined the team in 2015 after completing her Bachelor of Business and Commerce, majoring in Accounting and Finance & Macroeconomics at Monash University. Tegan enjoys all aspects of tax accounting but has a particular interest in Self Managed Super Funds, finding them challenging yet rewarding at the same time.
Tegan has travelled extensively and can’t wait to visit even more countries in the future.
Catherine Wood
Administration Manager
Cat has worked in administration for 12 years in a range of industries, such as legal, construction and professional services. She joined the team in March 2021 and moved into the management role shortly after. She is passionate about creating processes to ensure efficiency and effectiveness within the administration team.
A dancer since the age of 5, Cat still enjoys a good boogie, as well as reading, painting and spending time with her husband and furbaby.
Sara Laver
Accountant
Sara is a qualified accountant and holds a Bachelor of Accounting from CQ University. In addition, she is a Commissioner for Declarations.
Sara joined First Choice Accounting Services in 2020 after relocating from Queensland with her wife and son. She enjoys all things tax and has experience with a wide range of clients.
When she has time, Sara enjoys exploring new areas and towns with her family.
Ju Jeon
Accountant
Ju is the newest member of the FCAS team, joining us in September 2021. He holds a masters Accounting degree from Monash and is currently working towards his CPA. He has been working in the accounting industry for 14 years and loves working with all types of entities.
While Ju enjoys being active, playing tennis, golf or swimming, nowadays he spends most of his time with his two children.
Arwa Surury
Accountant
Arwa is a qualified CPA and gained a Master’s degree in commerce in 2003. She has worked in both practice and corporate environment, assisting with compliance needs of clients and businesses. She enjoys assisting clients with Xero setup & troubleshooting, bookkeeping and providing business solutions. In her free time Arwa enjoys walking, travelling with the family and shopping!
Marnie Egan
Accountant
Marnie began working in the accounting industry 18 years ago, starting as a receptionist before discovering her passion for assisting small businesses. Since then she has completed a commerce degree and is currently working through her CPA.
Marnie lives a busy life, with 5 kids, study and work taking up most of her time, but she is also an avid Hawks supporter and loves going out for a meal.
Merryn Kovacs
Accountant
Merryn is a CPA with a Bachelor of Commence from Deakin University. She brings 25 years of public practice accounting experience to FCAS. Merryn enjoyed a career in industry accounting before moving into public practice accounting to accommodate her young family. While enjoying all aspects of accounting and tax she especially likes engaging with clients.
Outside of work, you will find her somewhere in the great doors either on a motor bike, mountain bike or in hiking boots.
Chi Tran
Accountant
Chi has been working in Public Practices since 2017 - she has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and is currently working towards CPA. She loves working in this industry as this gives her opportunities to meet and get to know a broad range of clients, individuals and small businesses, and assisting clients with completing their tax.
On the weekends she loves travelling, cooking and spending time with her partner and Moet the Beagle at the beach.
Rachael Lynch
SMSF Administration
Rachael has been in the Financial Planning industry for over 15 years and holds an Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning. She specialises in all things to do with SMSF administration and is highly motivated, highly organised and prides herself on her attention to detail.
Rachael owns her own business, CrossFit 39Ten in Langwarrin and is head coach. She also loves spending time with her husband and two adorable little boys in the outdoors, cycling and geocaching.
Dilini Wickramaratne
PA to Paul Simpson
Dili joined the team in May 2023, after working in number of different fields in a range of customer support and administrative roles. Along with her experience from many years in administration, she also brings a positive and friendly attitude and hardworking work ethic while supporting our Managing Director.
Outside of work she loves spending time with her family and friends in the outdoors, playing badminton and swimming.
Caroline Martin
PA to Wendy Saynor & Tegan Murphy-Evans
Caroline has worked in the banking industry for over 15 years and then transitioned to working with accountants and financial advisers as support staff/administration for the last 24 years of her career. She has now taken up the role of Personal Assistant to Paul.
Caroline is married with two adult sons and spends her spare time painting, crafting, travelling and blogging about her adventures.
Courtney Priest
Administrator
Courtney has worked in a variety of different fields, all in the customer service sphere. Courtney loves to make people’s days and provide a great experience to all she meets. She prides herself on her hard work and efforts to make everyday a productive and positive one.
Courtney likes to spend her free time with her family creating new memories, getting crafty and having adventures.
Emma Wilcox
Receptionist
Emma is the newest addition to our team. She has worked in multiple customer service roles including real estate, hospitality and retail, and aspires to study further in the future.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, exercising and playing netball.
welcome message
Who We Are
Paul Simpson CPA
Managing Director
Paul is our Practice Manager. After completing his university degree, he worked in several different practices gaining hands-on experience in many different areas of business tax and accounting whilst completing his CPA. In 2011, Paul opened First Choice Accounting Services, steadily building his team to what it is today. Paul’s usual weekends consist of spending time with his young family and watching his beloved Hawks. When meeting Paul for the first time, don’t be surprised if he asks which AFL team you barrack for!
Wendy Saynor CPA
Director
Wendy gained her Accounting Degree in 1994 and worked in many areas of accounting and bookkeeping before gaining her CPA and Practicing Certificate in 2009. She is experienced in Business Accounting and Taxation and has extensive experience in MYOB; understanding this program from a client’s point of view. Wendy focuses on understanding and servicing the needs of her clients and those of the practice. Wendy is married with two sons.
Catherine Wood
Administration Manager
Cat has worked in administration for 12 years in a range of industries, such as legal, construction and professional services. She joined the team in March 2021 and moved into the management role shortly after. She is passionate about creating processes to ensure efficiency and effectiveness within the administration team. A dancer since the age of 5, Cat still enjoys a good boogie, as well as reading, painting and spending time with her husband and furbaby.
Caroline Martin
PA to Paul Simpson
Caroline has worked in the banking industry for over 15 years and then transitioned to working with accountants and financial advisers as support staff/administration for the last 24 years of her career. She has now taken up the role of Personal Assistant to Paul. Caroline is married with two adult sons and spends her spare time painting, crafting, travelling and blogging about her adventures.
Cris Carranceja
Admin Assistant
As a long time member of the Administration team, Cris has been helping to support our accountants since 2011. Working behind the scenes, she not only assists one of our Directors, but her strong attention to detail ensures that our archiving is always completed to a high standard. Cris loves to spend quality time with her family and is an avid bird lover.
Rachael Lynch
SMSF Administration
Rachael has been in the Financial Planning industry for over 15 years and holds an Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning. She specialises in all things to do with SMSF administration and is highly motivated, highly organised and prides herself on her attention to detail. Rachael is a die-hard CrossFit fanatic who coaches at her local gym and has a great interest in anything to do with nutrition. She loves spending time with her husband and two adorable little boys in the outdoors, cycling and geocaching.
Arwa Surury
Accountant
Arwa is a qualified CPA and gained a Master’s degree in commerce in 2003. She has worked in both practice and corporate environment, assisting with compliance needs of clients and businesses. She enjoys assisting clients with Xero setup & troubleshooting, bookkeeping and providing business solutions.
Sara Laver
Accountant
Sara is a qualified accountant and holds a Bachelor of Accounting from CQ University. In addition, she is a Commissioner for Declarations. Sara joined First Choice Accounting Services in 2020 after relocating from Queensland with her wife and son. She enjoys all things tax and has experience with a wide range of clients. When she has time, Sara enjoys exploring new areas and towns with her family.
Tegan Murphy-Evans CPA
Accountant
Tegan joined the team in 2015 after completing her Bachelor of Business and Commerce, majoring in Accounting and Finance & Macroeconomics at Monash University. Tegan enjoys all aspects of tax accounting but has a particular interest in Self Managed Super Funds, finding them challenging yet rewarding at the same time. Tegan has travelled extensively and can’t wait to visit even more countries in the future.
Ju Jeon
Accountant
Ju is the newest member of the FCAS team, joining us in September 2021. He holds a masters Accounting degree from Monash and is currently working towards his CPA. He has been working in the accounting industry for 14 years and loves working with all types of entities. While Ju enjoys being active, playing tennis, golf or swimming, nowadays he spends most of his time with his two children.
Marnie Egan
Accountant
Marnie began working in the accounting industry 18 years ago, starting as a receptionist before discovering her passion for assisting small businesses. Since then she has completed a commerce degree and is currently working through her CPA. Marnie lives a busy life, with 5 kids, study and work taking up most of her time, but she is also an avid Hawks supporter and loves going out for a meal.
Karen
Receptionist
Karen joined our team in May 2021, after working in an number of different fields in a range of administrative roles. She holds a degree in Commerce (Economics & Accounting) and has knowledge of a number of accounting software and CRM systems. Outside of work, Karen enjoys music, movies, cooking, and catching up with family & friends.
