Our Team
Our ratio of qualified to non-qualified staff is well above industry norms. We place great emphasis on professional qualifications, ongoing professional and personal development, and importantly a congruency of organisational and personal values.
Of our qualified staff members the majority are themselves Chartered Accountants, having passed the rigorous entry requirements of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CAANZ).
Professional Staff
Allison Durant - Director / CEO
Experience: 13 Years. With Chancellors: 10 Years.
Allison Durant has been with Chancellors since 2009 and in her role as Director of the firm since July 2016. The profession of accounting is in Allison’s blood following her grandfather, his sister and her great grandfather. Allison has a wide range of accounting experience which enables her to provide relevant and timely advice and assistance to clients. Allison is unwavering in her commitment to high ethical, moral and professional standards. Raised in Guyra in the Northern Tablelands of NSW, Allison is a down to earth country girl through and through.
Special interest areas include: Superannuation, Structuring, High net worth family groups, Tax and Estate Planning.
Affiliations & Accreditations Include: CAANZ, Bicycle Queensland, Xero.
Interests Include: Cycling with her husband Shane, Swimming, Wine & Cheese, and encouraging her two young girls to lead active lifestyles through swimming, dancing and “Sports with Mick” at day care.
Nicholas Chancellor - Consultant
CA; CTA; ACSA; BBus (Accy), CA SMSF Specialist
Experience 35 Years. With Chancellors: 29 Years.
Nick was the third generation to lead the firm since it was established in 1934. He maintains a pivotal role as full-time consultant to the practice. Characteristic of Nick’s modus operandi is his steadfast adherence to the traditional professional values of honesty, reliability and independence, passed on to him by his forefathers, together with an unrelenting dedication to achieving value and efficiency for clients through process and technology. His commentary on issues relevant to our clients is unconventional in that it provides insight and not just information, albeit with some cynicism thrown in.
Special Interest Areas Include: High net worth family groups, Investment, Superannuation, Structuring, Tax and Estate Planning, Professions including medical and allied health fields.
Affiliations & Accreditations Include: CAANZ, TIA, NTAA, Taxpayers Association, Tattersalls Club Brisbane, Xero.
Interests Include: Playing guitar in a band, Swimming, Surfing, Snow Skiing, Sailing, Tennis, Mountain Biking, and supporting interests and activities of his wife Michiko and their four children.
Allison Gray - Taxation and Business Services Manager
CA; BBus (Accy); JP(Qual)
Experience: 25 Years. With Chancellors: 25 Years.
Allison joined Chancellors straight after graduating from University. Over the years she has worked with a broad range of clients gaining a wide variety of knowledge and experience along the way.
Special interest areas include: High net worth family groups, individual and business taxation, private office and elder care.
Affiliations Include: CAANZ, Justice of the Peace Qualified, Xero, Hubdoc.
Interests Include: Being the treasurer of her local church, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Mieke Dewey - Taxation and Business Services
Experience: 12 Years. With Chancellors: 3 Years.
Mieke’s previous experience is in commerce as a financial controller. Since joining Chancellors her primary focus has been Self-Managed Superannuation Fund administration.
Special interest areas include: Self Managed Superannuation Funds, Small Business.
Affiliations & Accreditations: Xero, Hubdoc.
Interests Include: Enjoying her busy family lifestyle with her husband Konrad and twin girls, going to the beach, cycling and generally being active.
Rebekka Beale - Assistant Accountant
Undergraduate BBus (Accy)
Experience: 4 Years. With Chancellors: 3 Years.
Rebekka is our assistant accountant, she is currently undertaking her bachelor studies at the Queensland University of Technology. With many transferable skills from her previous work with a suburban practice, she has been able to provide a great deal of support and value to the team.
Special interest areas include: ASIC, Company and Trust formations.
Affiliations & Accreditations: First Aid Certification, Xero.
Interests Include: Being active by going for runs along the Brisbane River, attending Yoga and Pilates at her local gym and exploring new cafes for Sunday brunch.
Venetia Keane - Bookkeeper
IATI, CPA, Australian Bookkeepers Network
Experience: 25 Years. With Chancellors 1 Year.
Venetia Keane has been working with Chancellors since 2019 as a contract bookkeeper. She is CPA qualified and has a wide range of experience which enables her to provide relevant, timely advice and assistance to clients. Her attention to detail makes her a valuable member of the team. She spent many years working in public practice in Ireland before moving with her husband to Australia in 2012.
Affiliations & Accreditations: Xero, Hubdoc.
Interests Include: Bush walking, running and biking. Venetia enjoys listening to music and attending live music concerts. She is also an avid reader. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two young children who also lead active out door lifestyles.
Office Management
Crystal Robinson - Practice Manager
Experience: 23 Years. With Chancellors: 18 Years.
Crystal is our Practice Manager and Production manager all rolled into one. She oversees development and management of business process and systems, hiring and training of administration staff, maintaining records, monitoring client engagement outcomes and assisting Directors. Crystal injects leadership qualities and a unique energy to ensure Chancellors maintains direction and high morale.
Special interest areas include: Practice Management including Health Industry.
Affiliations & Accreditations Include: First Aid Certification, Xero.
Interests Include: gym, personal training, cooking and spending time with her family.
What it is to be a Chartered Accountant
What it is to be a Chartered Accountant – “Chartered Accountant” is the designation available to qualifying members of the Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CAANZ). The CAANZ is regarded as the leading professional accounting body in Australia. The CA designation and Chartered Accountant Practicing Certificate involve by far the most rigorous qualification and ongoing education and review requirements of any body of accounting, taxation or management professionals in Australia. Included within the ranks of Chartered Accountants are many of the country’s business leaders. Not all designations are created equal and it is important to understand the differences.
