Meet our leadership team
Our Team
Brad Phelan, CPA
Brad is a registered tax agent and member of CPA Australia.
Having over 19 years of experience in private practice and accounting roles, Brad’s career began as a graduate at the ATO. He then made the move to a mid tier firm where he spent the next 16 years specialising in small to medium business tax and advisory. Brad’s role prior to joining Fitzpatrick Ruschinek Zucker was as the Chief Financial Officer of an international retail company providing direct exposure to the day to day issues that confront a business as it transitioned from a family business to a high growth international business.
At over 2 metres tall, or 6 foot 8 inches in the old scale, Brad is head and shoulders above your average accountant. He has played football and basketball at a competitive level and still plays basketball semi competitively. As a local Brad can often be found supervising his children at a bayside basketball court or playground.
MANAGING PRINCIPAL
FOUNDING PRINCIPAL (Retired)
Peter Fitzpatrick, CPA
As the founding partner of P J Fitzpatrick & Associates Pty Ltd over 40 years ago and with over 40 years of experience in accounting for small to medium businesses and individuals, Peter has a wealth of practical experience guiding businesses and individuals through tax, audit, growth, cost cutting, succession planning and other business critical issues.
On weekends Peter likes to spend time with his family, boating (happily he no longer owns a boat and uses a friend’s), watching sport including the Beaumaris football team, local cricket team and his beloved Saints.
FOUNDING PRINCIPAL (Retired)
Ben Ruschinek, CPA
Ben is a registered tax agent and member of CPA Australia and Tax & Super Australia. Ben established Ruschinek and Associates over 50 years ago and his continual focus has been on always making sure that his clients are in the best possible financial position at each stage of their life.
Fluent in Yiddish and having a basic understanding of German, Ben is now spending his extra time with his wife, whom he has been married to for over 50 years, his 5 children and 24 grandchildren. They are scattered across America, Israel and of course Australia.
He has an interest in the NDIS programs and often helps on a pro bono basis to set up self-managed funding programs to comply with the NDIS. Ben also assists Not for Profit Organisations, again on a pro bono basis.
FOUNDING PRINCIPAL
Robert Zucker, CPA
Robert has over 40 years of experience working in many different areas related to Accounting and Taxation. His roles have included working in the State Revenue Office, engaged in the accounting profession and as a Company Accountant in private Industry before going into his own business specializing in Taxation in the early 1990s.
Over the years he has been involved in a lot of pro bono work acting usually as Treasurer for a number of Not for Profits and Community organisations, most recently as Secretary of Rail Trails Australia.
Robert is married to Kathy and has 3 adult children. When not working he enjoys being active and keeping fit cycling (usually with Kathy) …as a famous person once said – Life is like riding a Bicycle, to keep your balance you must keep moving. There is more to life than cycling though, there is AFL Footy and the Saints and taking off on Caravan adventures discovering parts unknown!
FOUNDING PRINCIPAL
Philip Sulman, CA
Phil Sulman has been involved in the accounting profession for more than 45 years. He was a partner at Grant Thornton in Johannesburg for many years prior to moving to Melbourne. After moving to Australia, Phil started his own practice in Melbourne which he ran for 22 years, prior to joining FRZ Accountants.
Phil is an ardent sports follower, in particular English Premier league football and Aussie rules. He loves spending time with his three children and two beautiful grandchildren.
CEO
Ian Metzke, MBA BSc
With 30 years of commercial experience. Ian has overall responsibilities for our outreach program, customer experience and business integration.
If he’s not driving his teenage sons to activities he can be found at the gym, on his bike or drinking a green tea at his local cafe.
SENIOR MANAGER
Ziyu Wang, CPA
Ziyu prides herself on her commitment and dedication to servicing a wide variety of clients from small to medium sized businesses, individuals and superannuation funds.
Having over 15 years of experience in accounting and tax in the accounting practice. Ziyu’s ability, enthusiasm, technology savvy and ambition is experienced by client and fellow team member alike. These outstanding characteristics have made her a key member of the firm.
OFFICE MANAGER
Megan Webber-Gant, BSc
Megan joined the firm in 2023 as Office Manager. She moved to Australia from the UK in 2022 with her husband and is loving the Australian lifestyle. Megan loves spending sunny days swimming and reading at the beautiful beaches in Melbourne or finding new restaurants in the city.
Megan has a degree in Psychology with Child and Language Studies from Bangor University. Before moving to Australia she worked as the Communications Coordinator for a UK-based charity working in multiple countries around the world.
ACCOUNTANT
Jing Liu
Jing graduated from Monash University and is a member of CPA Australia. With six years of experience in an Australian accounting firm, she has developed expertise in financial reporting, tax compliance, and business advisory. She is responsible, detail-oriented, and dedicated to helping clients navigate their accounting needs with confidence.
Outside of work, she is a proud parent to her three-year-old son. In her free time, she enjoys shopping, watching movies, and embracing life’s little joys.
ACCOUNTANT
Chengteck Lee
Before moving to Australia, Chengteck gained diverse experience across logistics in a café chain in Singapore, served as an artillery operator in the Singapore Armed Forces, and performed in music gigs in Shanghai, China. He graduated from Monash University in 2023.
Outside of work, Chengteck enjoys training in Muay Thai, immersing himself in video games, and bringing his creativity to life by building Lego characters.