farewell, janet pitkethley After 63 years with CooperAitken, Janet Pithekley has retired. Janet began her career with the firm at just 16 years old, starting work for Bob Aitken (Rodney Aitken’s father) in 1964. As a junior, her responsibilities included making coffees and morning tea, collecting the mail, and helping with general office duties. Looking back, Janet says that “accounting was very different” in those days. Accountants prepared tax returns and accounts for clients who were generally much smaller operations than they are today. Clients would often drop off their paperwork once a year, sometimes arriving with their entire office desk drawer and literally tipping it onto the reception counter. Everything was done manually, with no computers or spreadsheets. Information was recorded from cheque books, figures were transferred by hand onto working papers and balance sheets, and debits and credits were added up and balanced manually. Rodney Aitken and Janet Pitkethley in 2011. Finished returns were then hand-delivered to Inland Revenue before the doors closed for the day. Since Janets start in 1964, the profession has undergone enormous change. From the introduction of decimal currency and GST to changes in livestock valuation and countless tax legislation reforms, Janet has witnessed it all and, remarkably, adapted throughout every stage of the profession’s evolution. Over her 63 years with the firm, Janet became a leader, mentor, and, for many, a second mother. She has been part of several significant chapters in the firm’s history. Janet started with Bob Aitken before Rodney Aitken joined as a partner in 1981. Following Bob’s retirement, Imran Raza became a partner, and the firm became RM Aitken & Associates. In 2000, Rodney, Imran, Janet, and 5 team members, joined with Bannin Cooper (Trevor Cooper) & Partners to form Cooper Aitken & Partners. The merger saw the team move into the Morrinsville building the firm still occupies today and marked the beginning of significant growth, eventually expanding to more than 70 staff. Janet has played a role in many of the firm’s major milestones and, throughout it all, was Rodney’s trusted right-hand person. (or as Rodney says, my right AND left hand person!) “Janet’s hard work has always spoken for itself,” says Rodney, who describes her as “quiet, unassuming, humble, competent, and professional. A mother not just to her family, but to everybody in the firm.” One of Janet’s greatest joys was watching team members join the firm and progress throughout their careers, with many moving into senior and leadership positions, and some becoming Partners. Often working behind the scenes, she provided encouragement, support, and guidance, taking great pride in seeing others succeed. Janet is incredibly grateful for her career and her time at CooperAitken. Her advice to others is to always be thankful for where you started and for the people who gave you an opportunity. Over the course of her career at CooperAitken, Janet became an Associate Chartered Accountant, with a particular passion for the rural sector and extensive expertise in bloodstock accounting. She was a trusted advisor and familiar voice to many clients, building relationships that often spanned multiple generations of the same family. These enduring connections are among the parts of her career she has valued most. Janet describes her career as “an amazing journey through enormous change.” So, what kept Janet at CooperAitken for 63 years? A strong sense of loyalty, a supportive team, a genuine love for the work, and the fulfilment she gained from helping clients. The team farewelled Janet at a celebratory lunch a few weeks ago, and she is now looking forward to quieter days spent with her dog, Pedro. We wish Janet all the very best for the years ahead. She will be missed by many. We thank her for her many decades of hard work, dedication, and the incredible contribution she has made to our firm, our team, and our clients.
