Our People

Our team are dedicated to providing you and your business with personalised, professional services. All our team members are committed to ongoing professional development so you enjoy the best technical tax and accounting advice available. Below are the profiles on our team members.

MELINDA McALLISTER - Director

Melinda has over 30 years experience in public practice and has been a Director of BHT Partners since July 2007.  After Graduating from Swinburne University she commenced her accounting professional career in a St Kilda Road accounting practice. For seven years she honed her tax and business advisory skills working with the business owners of small and medium-sized enterprises. She also built her skills with business, audit and assurance work.

Melinda heads our Audit & Assurance team and also works with her clients on management accounting and taxation issues. She specialises in helping her clients understand their financial position and identities opportunities to grow their business. With regard to audit and assurance work, she supervises the team to ensure they understand their client and their industry. This has helped develop long term client relationships.

Melinda is an advocate for great work culture, where the team are continually learning and enjoying their time at work. She knows the work/ life balance is very important part of building and retaining a quality team. Her professional qualifications and memberships include:

  • Bachelor of Business ( Accounting)
  • Certified Practicing Accountant
  • Public Practice Certificate
  • Registered Tax Agent
  • Registered Company Auditor
  • Registered Superannuation Auditor

Outside of the office she can be found at the gym, playing basketball or spending hours with her husband walking their much loved Golden Retriever, Archie. She loves getting away down the beach to the Mornington Peninsula to relax with friends or walk along the beach. Her young adult children still participate in football and basketball and Melinda is always there to watch and encourage them.
 

JIM TYRRELL - Director

Jim joined the BHT team in May 2002 and was appointed a director of the firm in July 2007. Jim’s previous work experience includes two years at a multi-national manufacturer and three years in the Australian Taxation Office in the tax, GST, FBT and superannuation areas.

Jim primarily works with business owners who want to ensure their business profits and business value are maximised. Jim says, “I am like a virtual CFO where the business cannot afford a full-time CFO. I meet regularly with the owners and managers to review their business specific management reports to ensure they are on-track to achieve their financial targets and desired results. He leads a team that is responsible for budget preparation, business reports, business advice and all compliance matters.

Jim is passionate about tax planning and is constantly advising clients on the best structures for their business, how to legally minimise their tax and protect their assets. At the same time, he has an eye on the future and looking for the best ways for clients to exit their business and realise their wealth. Jim has lots of experience in succession planning whether the client is selling to staff, passing to the next generation or selling to an outsider. He says “The most satisfaction I can get as an advisor is helping a client achieve their dreams. In a lot of cases, this means maximising the sale price for their business, minimizing the tax exposure and extracting wealth from the transaction. These deals are never the same and achieving the best financial outcome for a client is very satisfying. Having said that, it can take years of planning to deliver these outcomes.”

Jim finds working closely with clients he can have a positive influence on the financial outcomes. He enjoys the variety of assignments, the broad exposure to a range of industries and of course the team at BHT Partners. Jim’s professional qualifications and memberships include:

  • Bachelor of Commerce
  • Certified Practising Accountant
  • Public Practice Certificate
  • Registered Tax Agent

Away from the office Jim is actively involved in coaching his two son’s basketball teams and also fills the Club Treasurer role. He loves watching his daughter play netball on the weekend and in his spare time he enjoys socialising with family and friends plus having a hit of golf, reading novels and watching the Australian cricket team. He also manages to get to the gym most lunchtimes.

DAMIAN SANELLI - Director

Damian joined the team at BHT Partners in November 2008 and was appointed a Director of the firm in July 2013. Prior to commencing with BHT Partners, he gained ten years experience in public practice.

Working with clients from business start-ups through to mature businesses, Damian’s focus is helping clients grow their business to achieve extraordinary results which in turn helps them reach their financial and personal goals. His years of experience provides him with a thorough understanding of the compliance and taxation needs of his clients, however, it is in the areas of tax planning, business structures, cash flow management, asset protection and succession planning that he provides added value to his clients.

Damian recognises the many challenges business owners face and believes that, "Setting goals and having solid foundations provides the launch pad to creating a successful and profitable business. Ambitious business owners and entrepreneurs must work ‘on’ their business rather than ‘in’ their business and we help them by providing the necessary tools so they understand their numbers, can improve their financial outcomes and capitalise on emerging opportunities.”

Damian also has extensive experience and knowledge of superannuation including self managed superannuation funds.  His professional qualifications and memberships include:

  • Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from Swinburne University of Technology
  • Certificated Practising Accountant
  • Public Practice Certificate
  • Registered Tax Agent

Outside of work, Damian enjoys spending time with his family and is actively involved with his three children’s sporting interests, music and dance. He is a keen spectator of many sports including AFL, cricket and soccer but his passion is his beloved Collingwood Magpies!

SUSANNE DUNCAN - Practice Administration Manager

Susanne joined the team at BHT Partners in November 2001, bringing with her 16 years experience in administration and human resources at city based legal firms.

Her role involves overseeing the smooth running of the office including IT systems and HR, as well as assisting the Directors with financial administration and reporting. Susanne is also responsible for the continual development and improvement of our internal systems, processes and technology. She holds a Diploma of Business (Administration) and particularly enjoys the diversity of her role, where no two days are the same.

Outside of work Susanne enjoys reading, travelling and spending time with friends and family.
 

ANDREW GIROLAMI - Senior Accountant

Andrew joined the firm in September 2011 after completing a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) at LaTrobe University. He is a Certified Practising Accountant, a Registered Company Auditor and a Registered SMSF Auditor. Andrew completed the CPA Public Practice course and commenced as a Director of BHT Partners (Audit) in July 2016.

Andrew works in the areas of accounting, taxation, audit, compliance and superannuation with clients in an array of industries. Client relationships are important to Andrew and he is always willing to assist no matter what the query!

Outside of work Andrew is a keen sports fan. He keeps busy through coaching junior players at his local basketball club and catching up with family and friends.
 

BEN MARSHALL - Senior Accountant

Ben commenced his professional career with us in July 2011 after a year in another local public practice firm.

Ben holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from Swinburne University of Technology, is a Certified Practising Accountant and a Registered Company Auditor. Ben works in the areas of accounting, taxation, audit, compliance and superannuation.

When he’s not at work Ben enjoys playing AFL, basketball and waterskiing.
 

JAMES PERRIN - Graduate Accountant

James joined BHT Partners in March 2021 after completing a Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University.  He is currently working towards becoming a Chartered Accountant.

James works in the areas of accounting, taxation, audit, compliance and superannuation.

Outside of work James loves sport & carrots.

 

COURTNEY COMPTON - Undergraduate Accountant

Courtney joined BHT Partners in January 2022.  

Courtney is currently completing a Bachelor of Business (Accounting and Finance) degree at LaTrobe University, which she will finish in mid-June 2022 .

Outside of work, Courtney enjoys going to the gym and spending time with her family and friends. Courtney loves going down to the beach and  up to the Murray River.
 

JEDDA GREEN - Client Services Co-ordinator

Jedda joined BHT Partners in November 2009 and brings with her 20+ years of administration experience.  As well as providing administration support for the team, Jedda’s role involves the prompt and efficient co-ordination of client workflow, collation of tax returns, service agreements and Annual Company Statements.

Outside of work Jedda regularly attends a local gym and in summer enjoys waterskiing with family and friends.
 

MARGARET MORRISON - Receptionist/Administration Assistant

Margaret joined BHT Partners in May 2002 and is an integral part of the reception/administration team. As well as providing administrative assistance to the team, Margaret specialises in company secretarial work. Margaret’s career started in the legal profession in administration, before moving to the United Kingdom where she worked for a large finance house. She has had many years of experience in office management, administration and accounts.

Margaret enjoys the outdoors and travelling and when time and weather permits, sailing on Westernport Bay.

BHT Partners - Forward Thinking Accountants