Growing a career and team in Christchurch: Penny Ineson’s leadership story

When Penny Ineson joined TMNZ 10 years ago, she had an ambitious 90-day plan that included starting a Christchurch office. A decade later, that plan has come to life. With a recent promotion to Head of Advisor Relationships – South Island, Penny now leads a team of four, aiming to ‘take the South Island by storm’ in tax payment solutions.
How are you feeling about your new leadership role?
I am so excited! It’s a little nerve-wracking because, while the investment is in the South Island, it’s also an investment in me. But I always feel valued and supported by TMNZ to work hard and do my job well. Throughout my promotions (Business Development Manager, Senior Client Relationship Manager, and Regional Manager), I’ve received ongoing support, great communication and connection with the wider team , and flexible working hours, which have allowed me to manage maternity leave, complete my Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting, and most recently, secure office space in Christchurch.
What’s the best thing about your job?
I love interacting with people; my clients are down-to-earth and genuine. I enjoy helping businesses with tax; it’s rewarding to hear how TMNZ supports them to grow or navigate tough times.
What does it mean to you to be a female leader in accounting?
It’s really special. I love networking with other female leaders in the industry. At TMNZ we have held a number of events where we acknowledge female leaders within the accounting and tax industries. I’ve witnessed more and more women rise in the industry, and now that’s me too, so I’m proud.
What does your promotion signal about TMNZ’s growth and success in the South Island?
From 2015 to 2021, I was the primary person managing accounts in the South Island. In 2022, I gained the support of Isabella Prichard (Customer Growth Manager,Auckland) to reach more clients. We work exceptionally well together and wouldn’t be where we are now without her ambition, enthusiasm, and drive.
While we have done well to spread the word about TMNZ’s provisional tax solutions across the South Island, there are still many people and businesses that don’t know how we can help them. Now, we have Harry Macgregor (Customer Success Manager,) and Lexie Weaver (Customer Success Consultant) on board in Christchurch.
TMNZ’s investment shows the faith they have in us and our ability to take the South Island by storm.
What did you take into account when hiring new team members?
It’s so important for our team to be able to relate to and care about people regardless of whether they’re paying $500 or $5,000,000. Tax can be a stressful topic for people, so we need staff who are compassionate as well as qualified.
Lexie, a science graduate from Victoria University, has empathy in spades and great problem-solving skills, and Harry, a Chartered Accountant, can walk into a room and start a conversation with anyone. It’s exciting to have a combination of knowledge and strong interpersonal skills.
How are you going to be supporting South Island businesses?
I have lots of ideas, but first and foremost, we’re going to be visiting the regions, listening to people’s pain points, and figuring out how we can help solve them.
We’ll be planning more events so we can get to know our clients in a more informal setting.
How do you maintain a good work/life balance?
My non-negotiable is a group fitness gym session in the morning. It’s the only time of day when my mind’s not racing; for 45 minutes, I’m just trying to survive the workout! I have amazing support from family and friends to help me maintain self-care amongst the chaos.
Please describe in three words how you’re feeling about the next 90 days.
Primed. Optimistic. Excited.
How can people get in touch?
I’d love to chat to anyone interested in learning how TMNZ can support their business (or their clients businesses) through our smart tax payment solutions. Please contact us here, and ask to speak with Penny.

From left: Penny Ineson—Head of Advisor Relationships South Island, Harry Macgregor—Customer Success Manager, Lexie Weaver—Customer Success Consultant
Enhancing financial flexibility for a healthcare services provider
The situation
The Finance Manager at a Healthcare Services business in Auckland, began working with TMNZ five years ago when the business experienced unexpected fluctuations in their retail operations. The business was looking for ways to maintain good cashflow while supporting the international group’s financial position.
The challenge
During the 2024-25 fiscal year, the Finance Manager was juggling many financial priorities, such as:
- meeting quarter-end, half-year, and year-end cashflow targets without incurring external debt
- maintaining tax compliance while optimising the balance sheet.
The solution
They chose to leverage TMNZ’s Tax Drawdown solution because:
- TMNZ provided more efficient and easier access to funds compared to other finance channels
- the solution helped optimise the balance sheet position, providing access to short term cash rather than long-term bank loans
- significant administrative costs were saved, including legal fees and bank covenant reporting requirements
- they could maintain their tax deposit date after repaying the drawdown.
The results
By using TMNZ’s services, the Healthcare business achieved:
- enhanced support for the international group’s financial position, contributing positively to the group’s risk profile
- the ability to temporarily access funds, which was highly valued by the international group’s treasury team
- improved cashflow management without incurring more costly third-party debt.
Your key takeaway
TMNZ’s solutions provide flexible and efficient tax management, aligning with business needs and supporting financial stability without the constraints of traditional finance channels.
For more on how our Tax Drawdown solutions can help your business, go here.
TMNZ: The ultimate cashflow flexibility tool for your business
In tough economic times, it can be hard for businesses to stay on top of cashflow and juggle their tax liabilities. For companies and sole traders dealing with fluctuating cashflow and provisional tax headaches, there’s an easier way to manage your obligations—tax pooling.
Did you know TMNZ’s tax pool can help you manage your tax by matching your cashflow forecasts with your provisional tax payments? And you can use tax pool deposits as an alternative funding source when cashflow is tight.
How we can help
TMNZ is an Inland Revenue (IR)-approved tax pooling provider, meaning you can use us to pay income tax on your behalf at a time that suits you. We offer greater flexibility over how and when you pay provisional tax.
First, you’ll need to think about your cashflow forecast. If you’re unsure how to put one together, read our cashflow management guide.
Once you’ve got your cashflow projection, we can work together to figure out the best time to pay your provisional tax. From there, all you need to do is tell us your tax amount owed, the date it is due, and how you would like to pay.
When your tax bill arrives, we’ll transfer the amount required to IR on your behalf as a time-stamped payment. IR will treat your tax as if it was paid on time, eliminating the risk of being charged interest or late payment fees. Simple.
A working capital solution
TMNZ’s payments to IR mean you can keep money in your business and use it at the times of the year you’ll need it most. You can top up your payments later into our tax pool at any time.
Tax pooling is a perfect solution for businesses worried about future cashflow and looming obligations. By partnering up with us, you’ll have total control over your tax bill, rather than working around IR’s strict deadlines.
With no more late fees and interest charges from IR to think about, you can get on with running your business. There will be no need to scrape together funds in the middle of holidays or quiet periods to meet IR’s deadlines.
TMNZ can also save you money by avoiding penalties and interest charges if you’ve missed or underpaid tax. We charge much lower interest rates than the penalties imposed by IR if you’re overdue.
We’re a line of credit
Another amazing TMNZ feature is that we can be a line of credit for your business.
If you’ve deposited funds into our tax pool but find yourself short on cash, you can withdraw that money whenever you want to use it as working capital.
If you’ve paid provisional tax into our pool, you’ll have access to a working capital facility up to the value of your deposit. This provides even more flexibility for you and your team to get through a cash crunch and stay on top of debt management.
We can offer much cheaper interest rates than bank loans, overdrafts, or unsecured loans, meaning money withdrawn from our pool is better for you and your business, putting you in a stronger position at the end of the year.
Ready to learn more about the benefits of tax pooling?
Download our guide to Better Cashflow Management for top tips on managing cashflow throughout the financial year.
If you’re ready to take control of your tax and gain access to a valuable line of credit for your business, find out more at by reading our Tax Pooling 101 page to learn more about the full range of benefits of being in our pool.
Then talk to your tax adviser about TMNZ tax pooling to take away your tax management worries.
The 7 May solution
We’re excited to share with you: Tax pooling – The 7 May solution. Discover how tax pooling makes 7 May easier for your clients by reducing pressure and minimising risk. We’ll cover the latest market insights and tax pooling best practices, with real-world examples that show exactly how it works.
What you’ll learn
- fresh market insights
- how to strengthen your clients’ tax approach without straining cashflow
- tips for staying ahead of your clients’ tax needs for 2025-2026
- tax pooling benefits in action through real examples
- Q&A
Who this is for
This webinar is perfect for tax agents and accountants in public practice.
This content is for general information purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with our team of specialists.
The interest rates mentioned in our webinars were accurate at the time of original recording. Please note that IRD interest rates change over time. Always refer to current official IRD rates for the most up-to-date information.
Book a tax pooling overview for your business
Is tax pooling the right solution for you? Every business we work with has different needs. Book an overview with one of our tax pooling specialists to find out how we can support you.
Boost your business cashflow with smarter tax solutions
In this short, practical webinar see how TMNZ can help to boost business cashflow. We’ll show you how tax pooling (an IRD-approved solution) gives businesses like yours more financial breathing room and smart ways to manage cashflow. Learn from our 20+ years of experience helping 25,000+ NZ businesses to reach their goals.
What is tax pooling?
Tax pooling is a clever way for businesses looking to optimise cashflow and gain more control. By working with us, you’ll have the freedom to manage your tax payments more strategically. Instead of paying IRD directly on a given date, you can pay into the tax pool (of an Inland Revenue-approved intermediary – i.e. us) whenever you like.
Once you have paid off your tax, we’ll transfer the funds from the pool into your account at Inland Revenue, where it will show as paid on time.
What we’ll cover
- What tax pooling is and how it works
- How to get more cashflow flexibility for fueling business growth
- Smarter working capital options to reinvest in your business
- Lower cost of funds options compared to traditional financing
- Case studies from businesses just like yours
- Q&A
Who this is for
This webinar is for business owners, operators and finance professionals ready to take control of their cashflow. Perfect if you want to keep more money working in your business and turn tax time from a stress point into a strategic advantage.
This content is for general information purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with our team of specialists.
The interest rates mentioned in our webinars were accurate at the time of original recording. Please note that IRD interest rates change over time. Always refer to current official IRD rates for the most up-to-date information.
Book a tax pooling overview for your business
Is tax pooling the right solution for you? Every business we work with has different needs. Book an overview with one of our tax pooling specialists to find out how we can support you.
Utilising future tax to create working capital in the real estate industry
Working scenario: Bay Vista Real Estate
The situation
Emma runs a real estate agency in Auckland with 12 agents. The business experiences significant income fluctuations, with summer months (December-March) typically generating 60% of annual revenue.
The challenge
During the 2024-25 tax year, Bay Vista faced:
- peak income during the summer months
- large commission payments to agents in December/ January
- lower winter income but consistent overhead costs
- two of their provisional tax payments due during quieter months
- a preference for flexibility to withdraw funds if new opportunities arose.
The solution
Emma chose a TMNZ solution which allowed her to:
- delay payment of provisional tax due in August until a time when the business was earning revenue
- deposit $180,000 during the peak summer months:
- $100,000 in December
- $80,000 in January
- earn interest on deposited funds
- maintain flexibility to withdraw funds for a new investment opportunity
- ask TMNZ to allocate tax to the correct payment dates once the business’s income tax liability is known.
The results
Emma continued her business growth plans, while she also:
- earned interest on deposits in excess of what her bank was offering
- better matched tax payments to income patterns
- reduced her stress during quieter months
- protected her working capital during winter
- simplified the tax planning process
- created a tax savings discipline for the business
- rested easy knowing no IRD interest or penalties had been incurred.
Going forward, the business can use TMNZ annually as part of growth plans and cashflow strategy.
Your key takeaway
By matching peak periods with future planning, you can earn interest and create a facility to fund business growth when opportunities arise.
For more on how our tax solutions can help your business, go here.
*This scenario is a fictional example created to demonstrate how tax management solutions work to meet unique circumstances in a range of industries.
Managing uncertainty in tax and costs in the construction industry
Working scenario: Wilson Construction.
The situation
James operates a commercial construction company in Hamilton with 45 employees. The company experiences significant variations in monthly income based on project completion milestones. If clients pay late, this further stresses cashflow.
The challenge
For the 2024-25 tax year, Wilson Construction faced:
- uncertain provisional tax obligations due to uncertainty on when income will be earned
- a large variation between estimated profit ($1.8M) and actual profit ($2.9M) when a project was delivered ahead of schedule in the 2025 financial year, rather than the 2026 financial year as expected
- cashflow regularly tied up in materials and labour costs
- Inland Revenue’s prescribed instalment dates that were not aligned with project payment schedules.
The solution
James opted to manage their tax payments through TMNZ because:
- TMNZ allowed flexible payment dates throughout the year
- the company could make 20+ smaller payments instead of 3 large instalments
- they made payments after receiving project milestone payments
- there was no need to estimate their annual tax liability upfront
- they could change payment amounts at any time based on actual cashflow.
The company made 24 payments ranging from $15,000 to $45,000. They timed payments to follow major project milestone payments and adjusted payment sizes based on project profitability. The total tax paid was $812,000.
The results
James enjoyed better cashflow management, as well as:
- reduced stress around provisional tax deadlines
- no Use of Money Interest charges or late payment penalties
- maintaining a strong working capital position
- better aligned tax payments with business income patterns
- avoiding drawing on construction bonds or expensive bank facilities.
Your key takeaway
Using TMNZ solutions, and seasonal financial planning, tax obligations can be managed to align with business and project outcomes, not IRD deadlines.
For more on how our tax finance solutions can help your business, go here.
*This scenario is a fictional example created to demonstrate how tax management solutions work to meet unique circumstances in a range of industries.
Reducing the cost of funds for a dairy farm
Working scenario: Henderson Dairy Farm.
The situation
The Henderson family operates a 650-cow dairy farm in Southland. They recently invested in a new milking shed automation system and expanded their herd, creating irregular cash flow patterns during the upgrade period.
The challenge
In the 2024-25 season, they faced:
- $280,000 investment in automation equipment
- an additional $150,000 for herd expansion
- a provisional tax payment of $165,000 due March 2025
- expected lower income for the next few months, picking up in October
- bank facilities already used for farm improvements
- needing to maintain working capital for winter feed.
The solution
The Henderson’s worked with TMNZ to:
- finance the full $165,000 provisional tax payment
- secure 5.6% interest rate (vs IRD’s 10.88%)
- structure repayment to align with improved monthly income
- use TMNZ’s tax finance solution as an alternative funding source.
The results
The Henderson’s saved approximately $4,950 in interest compared to IRD and bank overdraft rates. They also:
- preserved their working capital for winter feed purchases
- maintained a good standing with existing bank
- protected their new automation investment
- avoided selling stock at suboptimal time
- better aligned provisional tax payments with their income cycle.
Your key takeaway
By creating a long-term plan to address variabilities in cashflow, you can plan ahead and secure lower interest on funds to cover costs.
For more on how our tax solutions can help your business, go here.
*This scenario is a fictional example created to demonstrate how tax management solutions work to meet unique circumstances in a range of industries.
Managing IR audits and reassessments
This practical 30-minute session is on using tax pooling to your advantage during Inland Revenue tax audits and reassessments. We’ll show you how being proactive provides the best outcome for you or your clients.
TMNZ has the largest pool of historical tax in New Zealand. We can help with any type of tax – PAYE, FBT, GST, NRWT, terminal tax and provisional tax. Our tax pooling experts are here to support you through audits and voluntary disclosures.
What you’ll learn
- How to reduce interest costs and manage cashflow during a voluntary disclosure
- Effective strategies to manage tax disputes over time
- Q&A.
Who this is for
This webinar is perfect for tax agents, accountants and finance professionals.
This content is for general information purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with our team of specialists.
The interest rates mentioned in our webinars were accurate at the time of original recording. Please note that IRD interest rates change over time. Always refer to current official IRD rates for the most up-to-date information.
Book a tax pooling overview for your business
Is tax pooling the right solution for you? Every business we work with has different needs. Book an overview with one of our tax pooling specialists to find out how we can support you.
Three ways TMNZ’s tax finance solution has supported NZ business success
Since 2003, TMNZ has helped over 25,000 Kiwi businesses to improve cashflow, through our provisional tax solutions. And in the current market conditions, it’s no surprise that we’re experiencing increased demand from businesses looking to finance their 15 January tax payments. Here we cover three different ways, three different businesses have benefited from financing their tax payments through us.
To find out how tax finance can solve your cashflow challenges this summer, learn more here.
Smarter savings in the hospitality industry
The situation
A local hospitality equipment supplier found themselves in an exciting position. As an importer of specialized restaurant equipment, they noticed a significant shift in currency exchange rates that made their European supplier's products much more affordable than usual.
The challenge
While the timing presented a perfect opportunity to acquire high-quality equipment at reduced prices, the business faced a common dilemma. Their provisional tax payment was due soon, and the funds they had set aside for it were exactly what they needed to secure this advantageous deal. It was a situation many business owners face - having to choose between meeting tax obligations and capitalizing on business opportunities.
The solution
Rather than missing out on the opportunity, the business discovered a practical solution through TMNZ. Their approach was straightforward, they partnered with TMNZ to arrange a deferred payment plan for their provisional tax. They utilised their tax payment funds to purchase the discounted equipment and maintained compliance with Inland Revenue while pursuing business growth.
The Results
The strategy proved successful on multiple fronts, they:
- acquired high-quality equipment at below-market prices
- maintained healthy cashflow despite the significant purchase
- increased their profit margins on future equipment sales
- kept their tax obligations in order without penalties
- and enhanced their competitive position in the market.
Your key takeaway
While many small business owners view tax payments as inflexible deadlines, this case demonstrates how working with TMNZ can help manage tax obligations while seizing time-sensitive business opportunities that enhance profitability.
Scaling up in the transport industry
The situation
A transport business landed a fantastic opportunity - a contract supporting a major infrastructure project that could take their company to the next level.
The challenge
The timing created a cashflow squeeze. While winning the infrastructure contract was a milestone achievement, the business needed to expand their trucking fleet immediately to fulfill the contract requirements. Like many small businesses experiencing growth, they had funds set aside for their provisional tax payment but needed that same cash to fund their expansion.
The solution
The business owner took a strategic approach to managing this opportunity and partnered with TMNZ to defer their tax payment for 12 months. They used their provisional tax funds to purchase an additional truck and started servicing the new contract immediately with their expanded fleet.
The results
This decision generated multiple benefits, where the business:
- secured and began working on the valuable infrastructure contract
- increased their fleet capacity and revenue potential
- generated immediate positive cashflow from the new truck
- maintained good standing with Inland Revenue
- spread their tax payment over a more manageable timeframe.
Your key takeaway
Small business growth often requires making quick decisions when opportunities arise. This case shows how flexible tax payment arrangements can help business owners invest in growth while managing their tax obligations responsibly.
Supporting cashflow over summer in the electronics industry
The situation
A small electronics distribution company faced a common seasonal business challenge. Like many businesses in their industry, they traditionally closed their operations during the Christmas period through mid-January, aligning with their major clients' shutdown periods.
The challenge
The holiday season created multiple financial pressures, like zero revenue during the extended Christmas closure. Staff holiday pay obligations were due during this period, and income tax and GST payments were due on 15 January. The business owner was worried about not being able to fully enjoy their family holiday due to financial stress.
The solution
The business owner took proactive steps to manage their seasonal cashflow, and Connected with TMNZ in December. The owner recognized the recurring nature of their holiday season squeeze, and decided that from now on, they would arrange to defer their 15 January income tax payment until April. This maintained their GST compliance while managing cashflow in a smarter way.
The results
This strategic approach delivered both financial and personal benefits, where the owner:
- balanced their holiday season expenses without depleting cash reserves
- maintained staff satisfaction with timely holiday pay
- shifted tax payments to align with their stronger cashflow period
- enjoyed stress-free family time at the beach
- started the new year in a stronger financial position.
Your key takeaway
Many seasonal businesses face predictable cashflow challenges during holiday periods. This case demonstrates how planning ahead and using flexible tax payment arrangements can help business owners manage their obligations while maintaining work-life balance during crucial family times.
For more on how our tax finance solutions can help your business, go here.









