Our People

Cantabrian Hamish has spent the best part of the last two decades directing an accounting firm in Marlborough, after leaving Canterbury with Sarah and all of their belongings packed into the car.

The couple returned in 2022 with four kids and a wealth of new experiences in tow, set to sink their teeth into their new journey, Matheson Rae.

Throughout the course of his work in Marlborough, Hamish built on his solid foundation in the industry, firmly establishing himself as a valued asset for many clients from a range of industries including the wine, medical services, seafood, forestry and farming sectors.

Alongside general accounting and taxation work, he has been able to provide these businesses with valued advice to help them set goals and move forward, thanks to his expertise in cash flow forecasting, business valuations and business appraisals.

Hamish prides himself on being a valued partner to his clients, supporting them to achieve their goals and helping them to establish a work-life balance which he also works hard to achieve for himself.

For him, this takes the form of spending time with his family and enjoying the great outdoors. He hopes it will also see him spend more time with extended family now that he is back home in Christchurch.

Born and bred in Christchurch, Grant is a family man who has raised three children and a thriving business in the city.

After qualifying in the early 1980s, he went into business in 1988 and formed his own practice, Grant Rae Chartered Accountants, in 1993.

The firm has continued to evolve and grow over the years, with Grant’s expertise attracting business from people working across many sectors, including wholesale, retail and commercial industries, the majority of which have been SMEs.

Grant would describe many of his clients’ businesses as ‘mum and dad’ businesses, for whom he has prided himself on being a valuable asset.

His priority has been to establish and grow a business that not only added value for clients, but which also provided a good working environment for his team, and himself, something he feels he has managed to achieve.

In 2022, Grant passed the ‘directorship’ reins over to Hamish when the company became Matheson Rae, opting to stay on as a consultant.

His hope is that the extra time on his hands will enable him and his wife Kaye to pursue more of what they love while they’re young and fit.

Since the arrival of the covid-19 pandemic, the couple has been exploring parts of New Zealand by caravan with their bikes in tow, something they’d like to do more of, alongside spending time with their now grown-up children and two Melbourne-based grandchildren when they can.