Balancing work, life and the books: Meet Ellen Butters

When speaking with Ellen Butters about her time at Girton Grammar and her career path since graduating, it quickly becomes clear she was always destined for the business world.

Ellen is Internal Audit Manager at AFS & Associates Charted Accountants, an accounting practice in Bendigo that offers services in business, audit and assurance, tax and compliance financial planning, community banking, and share registry.

In this role, Ellen collaborates with dedicated professionals nationwide. She loves what she does. “The best thing about my work is that I get to work with people all over the state and country who are passionate about what they do – every day is different,” Ellen says.

Let’s rewind. Ellen started at Girton Grammar in 2004, graduating in 2009. A member of Frew House, her VCE studies included the business-related subjects of Mathematical Methods, Accounting and Law. Ellen took her love of numbers and business to La Trobe University in Bendigo, earning a Bachelor of Accounting. She has since enhanced her qualifications by becoming a Member of Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand.

Upon graduating from La Trobe, Ellen moved to Melbourne for her first full-time job as a Senior Consultant with EY. But there were no big purchases to celebrate – when asked how she spent her first pay, Ellen replied, “Honestly, my first pay would have gone to paying rent.” Moving out of home, relocating to a new city, paying her own way entirely for the first time and starting her first full-time job was her introduction to personal money management – and she seems to have taken the same measured approach to her personal finances as she does to her work.

Ater three years at EY, Ellen returned to Bendigo to work for the City of Greater Bendigo. She then accepted a role with AFS & Associates, and was quickly promoted to the role she holds today. She has also worked at Woolworths (while completing her studies at Girton and La Trobe), and spent a semester abroad at Leicester University in the UK.

Ellen names former Girton teacher Mrs Stewart as her most influential teacher. She enjoyed Mrs Stewart’s subjects of Accounting and Law, and it was with Mrs Stewart’s encouragement that she applied for graduate positions and vacation programs at firms in Melbourne.

While Ellen has travelled extensively across Europe and America, and has considered living permanently in Melbourne, interstate or even overseas, she’s very happy in Bendigo. “Part of me probably knew that I would eventually come home to Bendigo.” She and her husband built the home in which they now live with their two children.