Glenfern Financial Services
At Glenfern Financial Services, we believe good accounting isn’t just about compliance, it’s about giving business owners peace of mind and control over their financial future. We partner with Not-for-profit, sole traders, and small to medium-sized businesses to make finance simple, transparent, and reliable. Whether it’s bookkeeping, payroll, or CFO-level advice, we combine trusted accounting principles with modern technology to help you make smarter decisions, faster.
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Our mission is simple: to deliver financial services that feel personal, practical, and empowering, because we care about your business as much as you do.
My Story
Founder - James Lester (CPA)
It all started with a simple two-week work experience placement at my local tax agency back in high school. I didn’t know it then, but those two weeks would shape the rest of my career. I spent my days helping with tax returns, chatting with small business owners, and seeing the relief on people’s faces when their finances finally made sense.
That was the moment I caught the accounting bug.
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At 17, straight out of high school, I went back to that same firm, eager to learn, to help, and to understand how good financial advice could change someone’s world. Balancing work and University, I gained six years of hands-on experience supporting local families and small business owners, the heartbeat of our communities.
From here, I stepped into the corporate world, spending the next three years as a financial accountant before becoming a leader and manager within a shared service finance function, where I have been now for five years. During my corporate stint, I have had the pleasure of managing complex systems, providing strategic financial advice and leveraging emerging technologies to drive process improvements.
But no matter how far I went, I never forgot where I started. In that small office, helping everyday Australians feel more confident about their money. Now, with over 14 years of experience, I’ve come full circle. My goal is simple: to bring the same level of care, expertise, and reliability back to local Australian businesses, using modern tools and genuine relationships to make finance less intimidating, and more empowering.