Forbes is a friendly team of experienced professionals, delivering a highly personalised service to our many happy customers. Because we are a small company, when you partner with Cynthia Forbes, you deal directly with the team member handling your audit and accounting requirements. This close working relationship gives you the security of knowing your financial records are being looked after by experts you can trust.
Cynthia Forbes
Graduating from University of Waikato with a Bachelor of Management Studies, I started my career in what was one of the “big eight” accounting practices, Ernst and Young, and then was involved in smaller accounting practices of between two and seven partners. These were the stepping stones that gave me the experience and confidence to establish Forbes Audit Limited.
While audit is our specialist activity, we also have a select group of clients to whom we provide a range of accounting and taxation advice.
I have been involved with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, and its successor, the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand. My roles have included being appointed as Chairperson of the Auckland Branch Committee, a facilitator of the professional competency programme for graduates, and Chair of the Public Practice Special Interest Group. More recently a member of the Local Branch Committee in Auckland once again.
Outside work I am a keen athlete, a mother to a teenager, and spend time learning and speaking Spanish. I love to travel. My current focus is on Spanish-speaking countries, having lived in Spain briefly.
Email: cynthia@forbesca.co.nz
Lara Cajucom
Lara, in her second decade of auditing, performing external audits for listed and private companies both locally and internationally, in Philippines, Malta and New Zealand.
Prior to joining Forbes Audit Limited Lara gained experience in public practice firms KPMG Malta and EY Philippines. In New Zealand, Lara also accomplished audit engagements for Not-for-Profit organisations.
Lara graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in accountancy from New Era University (Summa Cum Laude). She is a Certified Public Accountant in the Philippines and is in process of becoming a member of Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand (CAANZ).
Abby Erasmus
Of course, you’d expect to read about Abby, the auditor and her auditing experience, with a global mid-tier environment and conducting Tier 1 and Tier 2 audits in New Zealand.
However, before becoming an auditor, Abby’s life revolved around ballet. She is a classically trained ballerina and danced in countries around the world.
This dedication to ballet now has transferred to her work in audit.
Originally from South Africa, Abby is currently pursuing her Chartered Accountant qualification with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ).
Claire Read
Claire has a Bachelor of Management Studies (Accounting Major) 2010 from University of Waikato and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
Claire is engaged on a range of audits for organizations in both For Profit and Not-For-Profit sectors. Including schools and various Body Corporate Audits.
Grammy Wong
Grammy has thirteen years of experience in auditing and advisory services in public practice accounting firms (including three years in PricewaterhouseCoopers).
Grammy has extensive experience in corporate audits of small and medium enterprises as well as publicly listed companies over a wide variety of industries. She also has audit experience with non-profit organisations.
Grammy obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom in 2005.
She is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Chartered Accountants of Australia New Zealand, together with the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Tanya Macdonald
Tanya graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from Auckland University and initially began her career in the private sector before moving into Chartered Accounting and Financial Services.
Tanya is member of the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand – having joined in the 1990s.
Having worked with a broad range of industries including private, not-for-profit, healthcare, primary, film and entertainment, property, and manufacturing. Tanya brings considerable experience in providing advisory and business services to our clients.
Tanya delights in solving problems – so if you have a puzzling one, we’ll send it her way.
Ann Taloban
We are delighted to welcome Ann to our team, bringing global energy and top-tier expertise to Forbes Audit Limited. With over five years of external audit experience at EY and PwC Philippines, plus two years in private sector accounting, Ann thrives on delivering precision.
Her dynamic background includes managing diverse offshore engagements across Hong Kong, Barbados, and Papua New Guinea. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Ann's high-performance drive makes her an excellent asset for our clients. Newly arrived in New Zealand, she has already fallen for its charm and is eager to explore the country’s beautiful landscapes.