Brett Slater

Brett Slater (born October 7, 1964) is a New Zealand-born chartered accountant and business coach renowned for his diverse contributions spanning various domains. As the founder of Slater Chartered Accountants, he has established a prominent presence in the field of accountancy. In addition to his accounting career, Slater has been delivering business coaching services since 2017, further expanding his influence as a mentor and consultant. His coaching services aid individuals in identifying objectives and devising strategies to attain their goals.
Apart from his professional achievements, Slater actively participates in community work and engages in cattle breeding on his Matangi farm. His spiritual journey within Zen Buddhism underscores his unwavering dedication to continuous personal development and lifelong learning.
==Early life and education==
Slater was born and raised in Hamilton, New Zealand. His educational journey began at Miropiko Kindergarten, followed by his enrollment at Woodstock Primary School. Subsequently, he pursued his education at Southwell School, where he distinguished himself as the school's DUX and was an outstanding student. Slater completed his high school education at St. Paul's Collegiate, where he also served as a school prefect.
In 1986, Slater enrolled at the University of Waikato, majoring in accounting. During this time, he gained practical experience through an internship at Kirk Barclay Chartered Accountants. In 2018, his academic pursuits led him to the University of Waikato once again, where he earned a degree in Māori and Indigenous Studies to further his understanding of the people and history of Aotearoa.
==Career==
In 1989, Slater started his professional career as an accountant at Spicers & Oppenheim Chartered Accountants. The following year, in 1990, he joined Ernst Young Chartered Accountants as a senior accountant.
In 1990, Brett Slater became a member of CAANZ (Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand) and obtained a Public Practice Certificate. He subsequently established his chartered accountancy practice, known as Slater Chartered Accountants. This firm offered various accounting services, including business mentoring, coaching, financial reporting, bookkeeping, strategic planning, and more, encompassing all facets of the accounting profession.
Recognizing the potential of a digital future for the accounting industry, Slater transitioned his entire Slater Chartered Accountants client base to Xero, a digital accounting software. Slater also collaborated with a software engineer, Phil Botterill, to develop a state-of-the-art solution called "Firmbase" that revolutionized workflow automation in accounting. The solution featured deep Google integrations and could create complete, print-ready financial statement booklets directly from Xero data. He invested in a $200,000 printer capable of bookbinding to bring this vision to life. The solution streamlined operations, allowing financial statements to go from digital files to professionally bound booklets, trimmed by a hydraulic guillotine, and then dispatched by courier—all in a seamless workflow.
After the sale of his accounting practice, Slater ventured into real estate development, where he built or fully renovated approximately 20 residential properties. He earned multiple certifications in construction and site management, including Construction Site Safety Supervisor, approved Asbestos Removal Supervisor, and STMS-approved Traffic Management. He also became a Homestar Rating Assessor for the NZGBC New Zealand Green Building Council.
Slater also served as a project manager at OneHaus Ltd. from 2017 to July 2023.
After accumulating 25 years of experience, Slater retired from his chartered accountancy practice in 2017 and transitioned into a career as a business coach, mentor, and consultant, offering personalized coaching services tailored to individual needs. He established Slater - Coach, a boutique coaching business providing coaching schedule for only three days a week. His experienced coaching team collaborates with clients to identify objectives and develop strategies. They provide continuous support to empower clients to unlock their full potential and achieve the success they desire in their businesses.
==Membership==
* Qualified Member of New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC)
* Member of Waikato Domestic Beekeepers Association
* Member of The Galloway Cattle Society of New Zealand
* Member of CAANZ (Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand)
* Member of Organic Farm NZ and certified Organic Farmer
==Personal life==
Slater resides in Hamilton, New Zealand, alongside his wife, Camilla Slater, and their child, Elliot.
 
He is a cattle breeder on a small farm in Matangi. Notably, he co-founded the Miniature Belted Galloway Cattle Society of New Zealand and volunteers for the Matangi Drainage Board. Slater is known for his ethical principles and involvement in various boards and review panels.
 
Slater follows the Zen Buddhist path and is interested in global affairs and learning. In his leisure time, he enjoys reading books, exploring the local land, or enjoying coffee with friends.
==References==
==External links==
* Slater - Coach
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Category:1964 births
Category:Chartered accountants
Category:University of Waikato alumni
Category:New Zealand people