Yvonne Robb, Grandmother/Accountant

[This document is also available to download as a PDF. 1 page 133 KB]

With a strong commitment to her clients, her employer and her family, accountant Yvonne Robb generally finds a solution which meets everyone’s needs. She worked part-time when she was raising her own children and has now found a way of being closely involved with her grandchildren’s lives.

Yvonne has worked for Ponsonby accountants Webster & Co for nearly 15 years and with some of her clients there for even longer. When her first grandchild was born three years ago she wanted to be more than a weekend granny so she cut back to a four-day work week so she could spend a day with her granddaughter Emily.

“One of the main reasons I decided to do this is that my mother has looked after her youngest granddaughter for years,” Yvonne says. “She’s just bonded so well with this kid and I thought I’d like to have the same sort of relationship with my grandkids.”

Yvonne started spending the day with Emily when she was three months old. Her second grandchild Hunter was born 11 months later. “It became even more important that I muck in because my daughter-in-law needed a bit of breathing space with two kids so close together.”

“I made a conscious decision to spend time with the kids while they’re young. We thoroughly enjoy having them and our house has become their second home. I feel very fortunate that I’m in the position that I can do this.”

Yvonne’s daughter-in-law is a full-time mother and appreciates having some time to herself and also being able to occasionally spend time with just one of her children while Yvonne cares for the other.

Yvonne’s employer is supportive of her choice, knowing that her loyalty to her clients and her strong work ethic will ensure she always gets her work done. “I’m committed to my employer and my clients. I’ve been working with some of them since 1989 and you get to know the subtleties of their business. I know a lot of my clients so well they’re almost like friends.”

Yvonne says she works long days when she is at work. “I’m my own worst enemy,” she says. “I’ve been with the firm so long I feel like I owe them and I want to do my best for my clients as well. Work has always been important to me but at least I never take work home these days.”