Money doesn't buy happiness, but it buys freedom—and for Erin Gibson, that freedom is everything. Growing up with a firsthand understanding of how financial challenges can limit opportunities and create stress, she learned early that financial security affects every aspect of family life. Today, as a UHY Director, she channels that understanding into helping businesses and families build the financial security that transforms communities.
The economics-minded strategist
Erin’s love affair with numbers began in high school, where she was one of the first girls to take Mount Albert Grammar’s economics course. This early passion for understanding how economies work shaped her approach to accounting as a tool for community transformation.
She approaches accounting through an economic lens, seeing businesses as the fundamental building blocks of thriving communities.
“Businesses are the cornerstone of everything. How do you get countries out of poverty? You need businesses earning money that support the economy, families, and communities.”
After graduating with degrees in accounting and commercial law in 2009, Erin spent her early career in mid-tier firms before finding her home at UHY in 2015. Her progression from graduate accountant to chartered accountant to director reflects both technical excellence and her ability to build lasting client relationships.
Her connection to West Auckland runs deep. Having grown up in Glen Eden and now living in Kumeu, she’s witnessed firsthand how business growth transforms neighbourhoods. Working with local businesses from construction and healthcare to retail, she understands that each successful client contributes to broader economic vitality.
The freedom builder
Erin’s ideal client relationship centres on a clear endpoint: financial freedom for retirement. “That’s what I’m working towards personally—I want to be secure and financially safe going forward.”
This shared journey toward security creates authentic connections with clients who understand that accounting isn’t just about compliance—it’s about building the life you want. Erin helps clients see beyond immediate tax obligations to the bigger picture of wealth creation and financial independence.
“It’s not that money doesn’t buy happiness, but it gives you the freedom to pursue what makes you happy,” she explains.
For Erin, this means security—knowing that whatever challenges arise, there’s enough financial cushion to handle them without stress or limitation.
The community champion
Nothing motivates Erin more than seeing clients succeed in ways that ripple outward. “When a client comes in with a new car and they’re happy and doing well, when they can afford a better school for their children—all those things are just nice and make everyone more upbeat and happy.”
This enthusiasm for client success stems from understanding what financial stress does to families. Having grown up witnessing the stress financial insecurity puts on a family, Erin is determined to help break those cycles for her clients and their children.
Her worst feeling at work comes when financials reveal trouble—unpaid GST, declining performance, or downward trajectories. “I hate seeing when they can’t pay their GST or they’re in trouble. I want to help them and see them succeed.” This emotional investment in client outcomes drives her to find solutions rather than just report problems.
The knowledge translator
Erin’s mission extends beyond standard compliance accounting. “Nobody wants to read about tax law unless they’re an accountant,” she notes. “Our clients just want to get on with what they’re good at—that’s where we come in and help make it easier.”
Her approach focuses on translating complex financial information into practical insights. Whether it’s helping clients understand cash flow forecasting, business valuations, or strategic planning opportunities, Erin excels at explaining benefits through real-world examples that answer the “why” behind every recommendation.
This philosophy of adding value beyond traditional compliance work reflects UHY’s broader commitment to being strategic partners rather than just service providers. Erin helps clients see their financial information as a roadmap to achieving their bigger goals rather than just a regulatory requirement.
The work-life integration expert
Beyond her professional achievements, Erin has mastered the art of combining career success with family priorities. With two young children keeping her home life “hectic,” she’s found that UHY’s flexible work arrangements allow her to maintain both professional excellence and family engagement.
Whether it’s spending time on the water with her family fishing and boating, or enjoying popular family walks at Muriwai Beach, Erin demonstrates that accounting can be a versatile profession compatible with the lifestyle priorities that matter most.
Her involvement in local business networking, particularly through BA5 events, reflects her commitment to West Auckland’s business community. “It’s a great opportunity to learn something new and find out about all the great things happening out West,” she notes, though she jokes about navigating rush-hour traffic between her various office locations.
This integration of professional expertise with community involvement and family priorities makes Erin a relatable advisor for clients who are also trying to build successful businesses without sacrificing what matters most in their personal lives.
The bigger picture thinker
Erin sees her work as part of something larger than individual client success. Every business that thrives contributes to community prosperity. Every family that achieves financial security breaks cycles of stress and limitation. Every successful retirement plan creates freedom for the next generation.
“Tax pays for hospitals and schools and all those things we need,” she notes, understanding that business success and tax contribution create the foundation for social services and community infrastructure. Her economic background helps her see these connections where others might only see compliance obligations.
The investment advocate
When Erin talks about surrounding yourself with trustworthy professionals, she’s advocating for investment in expertise rather than expense management. She understands that business owners often see professional services as costs to minimise rather than investments that multiply returns.
Her approach helps clients reframe this thinking. Professional guidance isn’t an expense—it’s the foundation that makes everything else possible. Whether it’s tax planning that saves thousands, strategic advice that opens new opportunities, or simply the peace of mind that comes from knowing your finances are handled properly, the return on investment in quality advice compounds over time.
The security creator
At its core, Erin’s practice is about creating security—financial, emotional, and familial. She helps clients build businesses that support their lifestyle goals while contributing to community prosperity. She transforms complex financial situations into clear action plans. Most importantly, she helps ensure that the next generation has more opportunities than the previous one.
For Erin, success is measured in clients who sleep well at night, children who pursue their dreams without financial limitation, and communities that grow stronger because local businesses thrive. In her hands, accounting becomes what it should be: a tool for building the freedom that makes everything else possible.
