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Featured Client - Stihl Cambridge

For more than 20 years, Stihl Shop Cambridge has been helping locals keep their homes, farms, and businesses running with quality outdoor power equipment, expert advice, and reliable servicing.As a proudly locally owned and operated business, Stihl Shop Cambridge has grown alongside the Cambridge community. In 2007, Rod took over the business from his parents alongside business partner Grant Yearbury, continuing the family legacy while building on the strong reputation the business had already e...

Featured Partner - PaySauce

PaySauce makes it simple for small business owners to manage their payroll. Whether you're running a café, managing a job site, or have been in the milking shed since 5 am, the last thing you want to be doing at the end of the day is to chase timesheets and enter spreadsheets. And it doesn't have to be. PaySauce brings pay calculations, PAYE filing, KiwiSaver, and employee payments together in one place, so you can get on with running your business.As a small business owner, you’ve got enough...

Get to know Larissa

Larissa joined Accounted4 in 2020, moving to Cambridge when she started with the firm. She is now a Senior Accounting Manager, working alongside Geoff and Jamie.Having grown up on a dairy farm in Matamata, Larissa has a strong connection to the rural sector and a particular passion for agri accounting. She enjoys helping clients achieve their goals and building trusted relationships.Larissa moved into accounting after starting her career as a pharmacist and has never looked back. She enjoys the ...

A4 at the Building Business Capability Programme

Turning Numbers into Better Business DecisionsPresented by Accounted4Date: July 30, 2026Time: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM NZSTMany business owners work hard to grow revenue, but fewer have confidence in what their numbers are actually telling them. This practical workshop is designed to help SME owners, managers and emerging leaders better understand the financial drivers behind business performance and use that knowledge to make stronger operational and strategic decisions.Through p...

Supporting and Celebrating Cambridge this July

At Accounted4, we're proud to be part of a business community that is passionate, connected, and committed to making Cambridge an even better place to live and work. July has been filled with opportunities to celebrate local success, strengthen relationships, and support causes that make a real difference....

Team News - July

A big welcome back to Alex Lamont, our Client Services Manager, who has returned from parental leave – it’s so good to have her back with the team....

What are fringe benefits – and what are the tax implications?

A key part of attracting new talent to your business is offering a good benefits package. Not all benefits are financial. As part of your package, you may choose to offer what’s known as ‘fringe benefits’ to your employees.But what are fringe benefits and what are the potential implications of offering them?...

Payroll Update - July 2026

The Inland Revenue Commissioner has updated the vehicle kilometre rates to better reflect the actual running costs of different vehicle types — petrol, diesel, petrol hybrid, and electric.Previously, a single Tier 1 rate applied to all vehicles. However, as running costs vary significantly between vehicle types, separate Tier 1 rates have now been introduced for each category. This change ensures the rates more accurately reflect the true cost of using each type of vehicle for business purpose...

Cutting costs or increasing your prices? We can help

With many businesses expecting a lower profit this financial year, the more prepared you can be for the unexpected, the better. Managing expenses is a good idea at any stage in your business and you can also consider increasing your prices to improve your margins....

Six steps to better cash flow

Need a hand managing cash flow? You’re not alone. The key is getting your invoicing right, by invoicing customers as soon as possible and using tools like Xero’s invoice reminders to move payments along.That said, there are a few other simple rules you can apply to manage your cash flow and get your invoices paid even faster:Keep your books accurate and up to date – so you can see your financial state at a glance.Don’t be too lenient with your customers – you can be direct and still po...

NZ Budget 2026: What your small business needs to know

“At a time when many New Zealand families and businesses are still under pressure from higher living costs and global uncertainty, this Budget takes careful steps to support New Zealanders now while strengthening the economy for the years ahead”Hon. Nicola Willis, Finance Minister, Budget 2026On 28 May 2026, the Finance Minister, Nicola Willis, stood to deliver Budget 2026 to the House of Representatives.The Budget was heralded as ‘a responsible Budget to secure NZ’s future’. But it’...

Basics strategic advice: how do accountants support your financial performance?

“Q: How does an accountant support my financial performance?”We’re all used to the idea of a business needing an accountant. But have you ever stopped to think what a good accountant and business adviser can actually bring to your company?Advances in technology, software and AI are changing our expectations of what a basic accountant/business owner relationship can offer. So, it’s important to reassess your expectations and to find out where we can add real, additional value.“A: Your a...

5 ways to improve your cyber security

The digitalisation of the small business world has brought immeasurable benefits. But with such a large chunk of your operations and processes now in the digital domain, it’s also made strong, solid, up-to-date cybersecurity an absolute necessity.If you’re concerned that your cybersecurity may not be up to scratch, we’ve got five suggestions for strengthening your cybersecurity as a small business. 1. Use the strongest possible passwordsMake sure you’re using complex, unique passwords an...

Team Vacancy: Intermediate - Senior Accountant

At Accounted4, our brand promise is simple — we help make business and life challenges feel easy.We’re looking for a motivated and client-focused accounting professional who genuinely enjoys helping clients succeed and wants to be part of a modern, supportive CA practice.About the RoleYou’ll work closely with a diverse range of clients, preparing and reviewing annual accounts, providing practical business advice, and helping clients navigate their financial challenges with confidence and e...

Exciting Milestone for Casual Friday Fund

Thanks to the generosity and participation of our team, our Casual Friday fund recently reached an exciting milestone. We’re proud to share that we’ve donated five contributions of $250, totalling $1,250, to five worthy causes that align with our values and our desire to make a positive difference.Below are the charities that our team voted to receive a donation:Cambridge Life SkillsCambridge Riding for the DisabledMake a Wish FoundationSt Johns AmbulanceWestpac Rescue HelicopterA heart...

Get to know Sharon

Sharon was bought up on a dairy farm in Stratford, Taranaki and her family moved here to farm at Roto-o-rangi.She works with a broad range of clients in different industries, and with her  farming background particularly enjoys the farming work.She started at Accounted4 in 2006 when the 3 children were at primary school.  Now Leah is a Medical Laboratory Scientist, Abbey a Graphic Designer and Ryan has just started his own building company.When not at work, getting out into nature is t...

Farming Employers Update – May 2026

As we move into winter and prepare for calving, longer hours, and staff rosters, it’s a good time for farming employers to pause and make sure payroll and employment obligations are up to date. A few small checks now can help avoid issues later, especially during busy periods.Below is a quick snapshot of what’s changed, followed by more detailed guidance to help you stay on track this season.What’s Changed Since Last Year – At a GlanceMinimum wage increased from 1 April 2026Public holida...

Featured Client - Little Buddies

Marty Pine grew up as a farmer’s son. That background gave him a deep appreciation for healthy soil long before it became a buzzword. To him, it’s always been the foundation that everything else on the land depends on. After years working in business operations, Marty kept noticing the same issue: good organic material being generated by organisations and simply sent off to landfill. The waste of it frustrated him. So he decided to do something about it and founded Little Buddies. Based in C...

Featured Partner - GoCardless

At Accounted4, we’re always looking for simple ways to make things run more smoothly behind the scenes for our clients.One shift we’re seeing more and more is clients moving away from manual payments and Automatic Payments, and instead using GoCardless to handle things for them.It’s not a big change, but it removes a surprising amount of admin....

Big Day Out 2026

On Friday 17 April, our team swapped desks and deadlines for helmets and fresh air, enjoying a well‑earned Big Day Out together. We kicked things off at Hampton Downs with some high‑octane go‑karting. Friendly competition quickly took over as lap times were chased, overtakes attempted, and plenty of laughs were shared both on and off the track. It was the perfect way to get everyone energised and into the spirit of the day.From there, we headed to the beautifu...

Reminder: Income Tax (IR3) deadline for non-agents

If you (or anyone you know) are filing your own tax returns without an agent, the deadline for the IR3 individual income tax return is 7 July.For our clients, we generally handle this under our agency extension, but if you have personal income sources you usually manage yourself, don't let this date slip by!If you're feeling overwhelmed by the paperwork, remember that's what we're here for. We can take over the filing for you to ensure everything is 100% accurate....

Are you up to speed with the recent changes to fringe benefit tax (FBT)?

There have been some recent changes to fringe benefit tax. But what exactly is fringe benefit tax (FBT) and how does this tax affect you as an employer?What is fringe benefit tax?A fringe benefit is a non-cash benefit that you, or a third party, provide to one of your employees. This could include benefits like offering employees a car, health insurance, gym membership, gift cards and staff discounts, etc.In situations where you provide fringe benefits to your employees, you may need to pay frin...

What are cash reserves (and why does your small business need them)?

76% of SMEs have limited or no cash reserves, with 15% having no reserves at all, leaving businesses vulnerable to unexpected disruptions or economic downturns.‘Seven critical business risks New Zealand SME owners face’, Acclime New ZealandNews from the latest Acclime research reveals that 76% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have limited or no cash reserves. That’s a concerning stat, especially when many Kiwi small businesses are facing such turbulent economic conditions.Let�...

A simpler way to stay on top of your Xero subscription

Back in March 2024, we introduced GoCardless Direct Debit for all Xero Business Edition subscriptions to make things easier for our clients.With recent changes to Xero pricing, and our updated invoicing timing, it’s a good time to revisit how Direct Debit can save you a bit of admin each month.Why make the switch?If you’re currently paying via Automatic Payment, you’ll need to manually update the amount anytime there’s a pricing change or adjustment to your invoice.By moving to GoCardles...

Get to know Carolyn

If you’ve worked with our payroll and tax team, chances are you’ve worked with Carolyn. A part of the Accounted4 team since 2007, Carolyn brings a calm, practical approach to her role, along with a depth of knowledge that clients and the team can rely on.She’s also our sustainability queen, keeping us on our toes when it comes to doing our bit with recycling at work, and home.Outside of work, Carolyn enjoys keeping active and making the most of the outdoors. Whether it’s walking, hiking,...