The firm has a history that dates back to the mid 1900’s. The current firm was established on 1 April 1985 from the amalgamation of two long established accountancy practices, Cody Sadler and Smith and Gray Caldwell and Oakly. Cody Sadler and Smith dates back to a firm carried on by the late JB Keith. He was joined by Frank Cody in 1948, the latter practicing on his own account from 1957. Alan Sadler was admitted to the firm in 1963 and Bruce Smith in 1975. The late HAR Dunderdale commenced in 1932 the firm that was later to become Gray Caldwell and Oakly. He was joined by FL Gray and then in 1949 by Gordon Caldwell. Rod Oakly was admitted to the partnership in 1979.
At the date of amalgamation in 1985 the directors were Alan Sadler, Rod Oakly, Bruce Smith and Allan Newman. Frank Cody and Gordon Caldwell were consultants to the practice. Bruce Smith retired due to ill health in 1988 and Frank and Gordon retired in March 1990. Alan Sadler (now chair of the Masterton Trust Lands Trust) retired in April 2002. Rod Oakly retired in December 2009.
Today the firm from its recently refurbished and modern offices in central Masterton has become established as a leading practice offering a full range of accounting and business advisory services to our rurally based community. There are 17 staff (8 of whom are members of the Institute) and 3 directors, Allan Newman, Leanne Southey, and Rebecca Schofield. Each director has their own "team" generally made up of an accounting manager, clerical assistants together with personal assistants who are responsible for secretarial and administrative duties.
