Our Amazing Team

Rennae Baker

Principle

Most of you would have had contact with Rennae at some stage during your bookkeeping journey with us!

Rennae had finance flowing through her veins. After graduating from high school (where she studied mostly Business subjects), she headed to La Trobe University in Bundoora to study Economics. After deciding that the Full-Time Uni lifestyle was not for her, she enrolled at Swinburne University and completed her Advanced Diploma in Accounting Part-Time while working Full-Time, graduating in 2005.

Whilst studying, she worked as a Business Systems Consultant for Attache Software. During this time, she realised her true calling was to assist and watch businesses succeed.

Rennae worked as a consultant during the implementation of GST in 2000, assisting over 100 businesses. It was during this time that she realised there was a gap in the bookkeeping market for a friendly, professional bookkeeper with a passionate understanding of a wide range of industries.

And in 2011, Business Services by Ren was formed! It has grown from a small number of clients gained through referrals to over 80 clients served by Rennae and her four staff members.

In her spare time, Rennae still plays netball socially (though the young girls seem to be getting younger and younger) and loves/enjoys watching men’s netball. She lives with her husband and has two beautiful Labrador retrievers (Thor – Black and Loki – Yellow) who are her entire world and are just so damn cute (and mischievous)!

Sally Wilson

Practice Manager & Chief Delivery Officer

Sally started at BSBR in 2014 as Rennae’s Admin & bookkeeping assistant. The first-ever Employee of BSBR!

Over the years, her knowledge and focus has now changed to Practice Manager & Chief Delivery Officer.

Rennae and Sally actually met each other at a previous workplace before Sally went on Maternity Leave with her second baby girl.

Rennae later contacted Sally about coming on board at BSBR in an admin/bookkeeping role, working with a “new accounting software” called Xero. Although Sally had never heard of it, she came on board and learned all things Bookkeeping, Payroll & Practice Management.

When Sally isn’t busy working, processing payrolls, and keeping client accounts in order, she enjoys her morning coffee, Pilates, creating (and eating) grazing boards (hence the 2nd photo), going on picnics and stand-up paddle boarding. (Hopefully not all at the same time – does anyone else have a visual?). She also enjoys recharging her batteries by going on day trips into the bush & caravanning with her husband Anthony, and their two daughters Maddie & Mia and German Shorthaired Pointer, Alfie.

In her other spare time (or lack of!) Sally volunteers for Huntington’s Victoria, having been on various committees & roles throughout the years, as this cause is very close to her heart.

Connie Rizza

Chief Delivery Officer

Connie joined the BSBR team in 2015 in a short-term temporary capacity. She was such a good fit that we offered her a permanent position and she jumped at the chance to be an ongoing part of our team.

Connie has an extensive background in Customer Service and Sales, with over 20 years experience that she’s gained working across different industries in different roles. From a Client Relationship Manager and Staff Training Officer at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery to Territory Management in the Underwear & Hosiery Business. She has a wide skill set and a high attention to detail that she has transferred to Bookkeeping.

When she’s not at work reconciling accounts and running payroll, Connie is a busy Mum to her beautiful daughter Stella and Fur-Mum to two crazy doggies, Molly and Winston. She tries to balance the stress of a hectic schedule by finding time for the things she loves. She is an avid Hiker and has recently started trail running. She is a bit of a creative at heart and in her spare time can be found designing and creating Awesome jewellery using polymer clay and resin which she is modelling in the photo, and she can be followed on insta at @rebel_heart_creative!

Melinda

Chief Delivery Officer

Melinda started with the BSBR Team way back in April 2021, amidst all the Melbourne Lockdowns she settled in very well with minimal in-office interaction, relying mostly on phone calls and team chats.

Melinda brings a wealth of experience to BSBR, combining her years as a Relationship Manager in Finance together with her sales background and then transferring her skills to Bookkeeping.

She began her career with a Diploma in Banking & Finance and whilst she was busing parenting her 3 sons her career switched to sales and volunteering with their local preschool & primary school. With more time available Melinda gained her Diploma of Accounting and for the past 10 years she has been working with many different clients in varied industries, building a successful career in bookkeeping whilst helping them to keep and maintain accurate accounts.

Supporting a hectic lifestyle Melinda values fitness and her love of Pilates has held strong for 17 years. To stay healthy, she has also incorporated yoga & running to balance out life’s stresses. (and we hope that the clients of BSBR don’t stress you too much!)

Kayla

Admin & Bookkeeping Assistant

Kayla was warmly welcomed to the team in July 2022. She has been working with us part-time, Looking after the admin side of the business and assisting the team with their duties.

Kayla has recently completed a Cert IV and Diploma of Accounting & Bookkeeping through Swinburne University.

We are told that most of her friends refer to her as the crazy tea lady, she has developed an unhealthy obsession with tea and a bad habit of consuming far too many cuppas per day… (we say no one is counting!)