Our People

Vas Lala - B.Com, CA

Principal

Vas has over 44 years of extensive experience as a Chartered Accountant and is a current member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. His practice comprises a diverse range of clients covering a broad spectrum of business industries.


His area of specialty lies in business development, financial and management accounting as well as taxation, strategic planning and restructuring advice. He works alongside a number of clients to improve the value and performance of their business through regular reporting, planning, financial analysis and growth.


Vas is married with 3 adult children. When he is not in the office, you will find him on the golf course or enjoying quality time with his wife and family.

Yolande Mulholland

Senior Accountant/Office Manager

Yolande joined Lala + Associates in 1994 and has worked in chartered accounting for more than 40 years. She is the Personal Assistant to Vas. Her work involves both commercial and farm accounting, and she has experience in regular monthly reporting for medium-sized businesses, GST, payroll, ACC, taxation and liaison with the Inland Revenue Department and is responsible for the in- house IT requirements.


Yolande's sound knowledge of most accounting systems enables her to assist clients onsite with their administration systems including Cash Manager, MYOB and Xero.


Yolande balances her work interests with family life and is married with 2 children. She is passionate about music and is proficient on a range of instruments.

Heather Pantalone

Accountant

Heather joined the company in 2025 with over 30 year’s experience in financial accounting, primarily with small and medium sized entities. She also has some commercial accounting experience in larger companies, and has worked on various computer systems, including Xero, MYOB and APS.

At Lala & Associates, Heather concentrates on annual reporting and tax returns.


Heather enjoys walking, going to gym, watching sport. She spends quality time with her family.

Ruth Peterson

Administrator

Ruth joined Lala + Associates in Feb 2015. She brings with her over 20 years experience in office and accounts administration. Ruth owned her own small bookeeping services for three years before moving back into the private sector. Ruth has extensive experience in the manufacturing and not for profit industries. She is a former member of the Accounting Technician College of the NZ Institute Chartered Accountants. Ruth's expertise is in GST, FBT, Payroll, Debtors, Creditors , Annual Company Returns, Cash Books and Computerised administration systems like MYOB and Xero.



She is a board member of the St Marys Catholic school in Ellerslie and a life long supporter and junior committee member of the Auckland Marist rugby club. Ruth enjoys walking, swimming, badminton and watching her son playing sports. She's an avid supporter of the Auckland Blues.