Build your financial security with OBT Financial Group – Lockyer Valley’s Business of the Year 2015 and specialist financial advisers to individuals, business owners and farming families on accounting, tax, business advice and wealth planning for over 30 years.Management
As Founding Director of OBT Financial Group, Rodney has witnessed many changes to what clients need and expect from an accounting firm. With Rodney’s background in tax, superannuation and general financial services, he offers a comprehensive financial package to his clients. His special interest areas include investments, estate planning and farm and small business succession.
Rodney works closely with OBT clients to help provide adequate retirement funding, the smooth transition of the family farm or business from one generation to the next and appropriate tax-effective investments.
Brett has lived his entire life in the Lockyer Valley and joined the OBT team in November 1990. Since 1998 Brett has been a Director and is very proud to be leading such a progressive firm. Brett enjoys getting to know his clients on a personal level and assists them by providing meaningful tax advice, therefore helping them to attain their business goals. He is also responsible for workflow management and business structuring for all OBT clients. His special interests lie in wealth creation strategies and share market analysis.
When not at the office, Brett enjoys spending time at the beach and playing most sports including golf and tennis. He also has a special interest in working with the youth of the Lockyer District.
OBT’s Client Manager Sue Dobinson had lived up and down the east coast of Australia before making her home in the Lockyer Valley in 1991. Prior to settling in the area, Sue built an impressive resume working as an accountant in small, regional and international accounting firms, in heavy industry, and even as a business owner in the hospitality industry! At OBT, Sue helps look after the needs of some of our biggest clients. Whilst she specialises in commercial property and land development buy/sells, GST property sales and rentals, Sue also has a wide range of business experience and perspective that she brings to each case.
Outside of work, flipping houses is what Sue loves to do, which gives her an opportunity to be involved in property from another angle. She is also a serious travel bug having travelled extensively with her family. Read more
Accounting Team
Rachel specialises not only in tax and looking after her own client tax portfolio, but is a reviewer within OBT so is a crucial step in the sense-checking and accuracy process of achieving the best tax outcomes for OBT’s clients. Rachel is a Lockyer Valley original and OBT’s go to person on Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks and Phoenix (ag business) and co-coordinates all our internal and external continuing education and training.
Outside of work Rachel’s family and friends are at the heart of everything Rachel enjoys to do and preferably with a beach setting!
Eighth generation Gatton local Amanda specialises in doing accounting and tax returns and preparing financial statements for all sorts of entities. Amanda is also skilled when it comes to processing BAS returns, trust audits, applications for ABNs and TFNs plus all corporate compliance matters.
Working closely with Brett Garmeister, Amanda services a broad range of client industries. She has an extensive knowledge of the real estate industry and trust accounts. Out of the office, Amanda loves spending time with family and friends.
Annette joined the team bringing with her over 15 years of accounting knowledge and has extensive experience working with businesses across all entity structures from a broad range of industries including; building, transport and primary producers. Annette enjoys helping clients understand their tax obligations and helping businesses grow and prosper.
Outside of work Annette enjoys spending time with family and working on her family’s cattle property.
Tim grew up on a dairy farm in Laidley before qualifying as an accountant and cutting his teeth in the profession in Chinchilla. He reckons being hands-on at the farm taught him many valuable business lessons which have helped him connect with agribusiness clients and primary producers wherever he’s worked. Returning to the Lockyer Valley in 2019, Tim is a proficient Tax Accountant who completes IAS and BAS returns, tax returns, financial statements and supports our clients with bookkeeping across all cloud accounting platforms.
Ebonie joined OBT as our bright and bubbly receptionist in July 2013 and hasn’t looked back. After 5 years in various roles working in administration, Ebonie has now moved into an accounting position; working closely with Rachel to help our clients with the bookkeeping side of their businesses.
Outside of work Ebonie is a crack netball player and, the first to admit, a shoe fanatic.
Lily has lived in the Lockyer Valley her whole life. She joined the team in 2020 after finishing her accounting degree.
She enjoys assisting managers by preparing BAS, IAS, tax returns and financial statements.
In her spare time, Lily loves spending time with family and friends.
Bookkeeping Team Self Managed Super Fund Team
Michelle Burling is from the Darling Downs and began her career with accountants in Inglewood and then with importing / exporting manufacturers in Warwick where she became an accountant. At AMH Beef City in Pittsworth, Michelle worked as feedlot accountant preparing financials for feedlots and farms. A stint at Warwick Credit Union as a financial accountant was followed by a role back in Toowoomba manufacturing including working in quality management (ISO9001). Michelle has a Bachelor of Business from USQ and she is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and Internal Quality Auditor.
Roslyn is a business and superannuation tax specialist either working with OBT clients firsthand or supporting Brett Garmeister. She is also a dab hand when it comes to using MYOB, Cashflow Manager and Class Super for managing self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs). Roslyn always looks forward to superannuation training to learn the latest developments. As a result, she has become OBT’s go to person for high-level superannuation queries.
Outside the office, Roslyn keeps busy with her family. She delves into baking and going to the gym when she needs to switch off.
After a decade of working in self-managed superannuation in Toowoomba, Kathryn relocated her talents to Gatton in 2018 where she fully immersed herself in processing super funds, attending to SMSF audit requirements and lodging tax returns.
Kathryn holds a Certificate IV in Financial Services (SMSF) and she specialises in self-managed superannuation fund administration. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, camping and dabbling (weather permitting) in her garden.
Business Solutions
Rodney is more than just your average accountant; he helps all manner of businesses with profit planning, business valuation, cash flow forecasting, business analysis, industry benchmarking, what-if scenario planning and provides ‘Virtual Chief Financial Officer’ services to businesses who benefit from the higher level of expertise without the full-time input.
Rodney has a raft of business solutions resources at his fingertips which he drives for OBT and applies as required to significantly streamline business solutions projects, including ProfitOptimiser, Reckon, MYOB, Cash Flow and BankLink.
Outside OBT Rodney enjoys all sports, is an enthusiastic QLD Reds member who never misses a game, an avid Ford man, has a passion for flying planes and enjoys travel. Rodney had been a commercial boar goat breeder so has first-hand knowledge of running a family agribusiness.
Financial Planning Team
Bruno commenced with OBT Financial Planning in April, 2018 and is a member of the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA). Bruno has been a Financial Adviser for over 10 years and is committed to working with you to help you define your goals and design a financial plan to meet your needs. Bruno has built a strong reputation in the industry by always putting his clients first, going out of his way to understand the client’s needs, having great industry knowledge and taking the time to ensure his clients understand any advice provided. With extensive experience in all areas of financial advice, including superannuation, retirement strategies, aged care, insurance, SMSF and investment advice, he can tailor financial strategies to ensure you have money when you need it most.
Damon joined OBT in 2013 as a Tax Accountant. After accumulating almost five years’ experience, he commenced work as a Financial Adviser in OBT Financial Planning. Damon is passionate about improving his clients’ financial positions. He specialises in superannuation and retirement planning (incl SMSFs), investment strategies, personal cash flow and budgeting, risk insurance and tax strategies.
Damon is a member of the Financial Planning Association of Australia, CPA Australia and is a registered Tax (Financial) Adviser with the Tax Practitioners Board. He is also a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and an Authorised Representative of Lonsdale. Outside work Damon is a talented musician and enjoys trips to the beach.
Kathy is administrator of the Financial Planning section and brings a wealth of knowledge to the personal insurance area of the business. Kathy covers a wide-ranging number of services as one of the keystones of OBT’s Financial Planning team and is always happy to assist our clients.
Lauren joined us originally as OBT’s Receptionist in 2016 and now assists our clients with queries and provides an administrative support role to the Financial Planning team.
Lauren keeps busy in her spare time setting up her new home with her partner.
Administration Team
Jill joined the OBT team in 2004 as an administrative assistant and has performed a variety of roles over the years including working for 10 years on the Financial Planning team. Jill now works closely with Rodney and Brett in the everyday running of the business from payroll, accounts and office management.
Outside the office, Jill enjoys a busy home life. She and her husband also own a 30-acre grain farm. When she’s not working, Jill enjoys listening to music and gardening to relax.
As Client Accounting Support, Debbie Walker works closely with the accountants helping to keep OBT’s clients organised. Outside of meeting critical year-end deadlines, Debbie works in OBT’s corporate compliance team, typically taking care of all company secretarial matters and dealing with ASIC.
Kelly has worked in professional services admin throughout her career and joined OBT in 2019. Kelly forms part of our administration team and covers all areas including corporate compliance, which involves liaising with ASIC on company secretarial matters, dealing with the Australian Tax Office and sending out tax returns to all our clients. Originally Kelly hales from Dalby on the Western Downs.
Terri Hamilton works closely with Debbie as one of OBT’s Client Accounting Support Administrators, looking after our clients’ correspondence and queries. Terri enjoys the move into accounting and learning our systems, which she’s picking up with ease.
Chantal joined the OBT team as receptionist in 2020. Born and bred in the Lockyer Valley, Chantal had an extensive career in retail before moving onto OBT. She has enjoyed the change immensely and works well to help everyone in the office.
Chantal enjoys welcoming clients to OBT. Being a local girl she has pleasure in seeing familiar faces but also enjoys meeting new clients.
Outside of work Chantal enjoys spending time with family and friends.
