When you ask Marc Nel what has kept him energised through three decades in practice, he talks about progress. Building people up. Lifting community organisations. Expanding services so clients can make confident decisions in a changing world. It is a steady, practical kind of ambition that has shaped a career now recognised with nomination to Fellowship of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).
Marc’s journey started with a simple idea: make the work better this year than it was last year. Colleagues and clients in Hawke’s Bay know him as the person who will roll up his sleeves, solve the problem in front of you, and then look ahead to the next opportunity. That spirit is clear in the way he grew an audit discipline from the ground up, especially across the education sector, turning it into one of his firm’s busiest and most respected practices. It is also evident in the way he guided a full practice acquisition and integration that doubled capacity and strengthened local market presence.
A Fellow’s mindset: generous with time, exacting with standards
In supporting Marc’s nomination, one of his former team members describes “a professional of the highest integrity and technical excellence” whose door is always open for a technical question, a career conversation or a word of encouragement. That same letter highlights Marc’s habit of serving quietly where it counts, from providing pro bono audit support to small charities through to hands-on help for not-for-profit boards that need confidence in their financial governance.
Those who have trained under Marc talk about the confidence that comes from being coached to do the right thing the right way. In our line of work, that means sound judgements, clear documentation and a steady focus on the public interest. It is a standard he applies to himself and to the teams he leads.
Growing capability to meet more complex client needs
Marc’s leadership has never been growth for growth’s sake. Each step has been about bringing the right capability to clients. After strengthening the local audit offering, he helped steer the firm into an international Tier 2 alliance, widening access to cross-border expertise. That opened doors for clients trading internationally, investing offshore or entering New Zealand markets, where questions span tax, structuring and governance.
This mindset aligns closely with how Marc has developed Moore Markhams NZ Financial Services to support clients across two core areas:
- Investment services for people planning, growing or preserving wealth, including retirement consulting and ongoing portfolio management
- Global services that help organisations and investors move confidently across borders, from mobility and tax to international structuring, governance and business establishment
Marc’s experience sits right at this intersection. Building respected audit capability gives clients trust in the numbers. Building international connections gives them access to practical advice when situations span countries and regulatory systems. For investors considering immigration-linked pathways such as Active Investor Plus, or offshore businesses establishing in New Zealand, that combination of assurance and advisory is what turns complexity into a clear plan of action.
Community at the centre
If there is a single thread through Marc’s story, it is community. He has been recognised by Rotary as a Paul Harris Fellow, reflecting years of hands-on support for local initiatives, including the restructuring of the Hawke’s Bay Museum and Art Gallery’s collection governance and founding leadership of the Rotary Pathway Trust. These are not headline roles; they are the quiet, detailed jobs that require persistence and care. Marc shows up for those. He stays with them until the work is finished.
Why this recognition matters
CA ANZ Fellowship acknowledges outstanding achievement in and contribution to the profession. Marc’s record meets that mark in two ways. First, through sustained professional leadership: growing a credible audit practice, guiding a successful merger, and strengthening international connections for clients and colleagues. Second, through service: mentoring the next generation, supporting community organisations with pro bono assurance, and championing practical professional development that keeps our work relevant to client needs.
For our clients, this nomination is a signal that the values you expect from Moore Markhams are alive in the people you meet. Human, truthful, confident and accessible. For our team, it is a reminder that high standards and humility can sit side by side. You can ask hard questions, give clear answers and still make time for the person across the table.
In his own words
Marc would be the first to point out that none of this happens alone. He talks often about the colleagues who took a chance on a new idea, the clients who trusted the process, and the community partners who kept momentum through the inevitable hurdles. That outlook reflects the way he mentors: focus on the work, share the credit, and keep moving forward.
Looking ahead
As client needs evolve, the foundations Marc has helped build are already serving people who are navigating investment decisions, cross-border moves and governance responsibilities with more confidence. Whether you are a New Zealand business trading offshore, an overseas investor establishing here, or an individual mapping out a long-term investment plan, you deserve practical advice backed by integrity and experience. Marc’s Fellowship nomination is a moment to celebrate that standard.
From all of us, congratulations Marc. Your steady drive to make things better has lifted our profession and our community. We are proud to recognise this milestone with you.
Read the full CA ANZ 2025 Fellows announcement:
https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/news-and-analysis/news/2025-fellows-announced
