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2SA - it's fundamental to good security

Here at A4 we take Your Security seriously and with ever-changing technology hackers are getting smarter and smarter and making it difficult for us to realise we have been hacked until it is too late. Check out this great blog from Xero about 2 Step Authentication and why you should be implementing it where you can. For many Xero customers in Australia, using two-step authentication (2SA) to access their Xero account is now mandatory – and you will start to see this security being en...

Featured Partner

CreateVideo is a Production Agency - we Create and Produce Video and Animated Content for TV, WEB and Social Media. We also Capture Video and Create Animation for Events like Award Shows, Conferences, Expos, Trade Shows etc. Our point of difference is everything is done in-house and our team based around NZ all work from home.  What this means to the Client is a one-stop-shop across the country at a significantly lower rate than our competitors.  Our standards are high and we can list ...

Full-time Administrator Vacancy - Fixed Term

Who are we Accounted4 (A4) is a successful, forward-thinking Chartered Accountancy Firm located in the Cambridge CBD. We have a team of 32, including a 9-strong Support Services Team. At A4 we are very much about our customers and our people. Our strong culture is reflected in our team values; authenticity, excellence, innovation, energy and solidarity. What’s the role We are looking for a person with exceptional administration, organisational and IT skills who can step effortlessly and confid...

Xero Tip

If you need to query a transaction with us or make a note for yourself about a transaction, you can use the Discuss tab. To do this, go to your bank account to the Reconcile tab, and on the right hand side choose the Discuss tab:...

In the Office

Congratulations to Ben Calvert for being part of the Waikato Mens A Squash Team who won the New Zealand Champs in September.This is the first time Waikato has won!...

Payroll Update

IR PAYDAY FILING – Checklist for employers using software Payday filing Payday filing is where employers provide IR (IR – Inland Revenue’s new name) with employment PAYE information every payday – currently voluntary, and it becomes mandatory from 1 April 2019. If you use supported software Talk to your software provider about what options they will offer and when they will be ready. Make sure you understand any implications their release schedule will have on your businessConsider any c...

Get to Know

Armando was born in the Philippines and moved to New Zealand in 2002, where he lived in a little place called Palmerston North. Eventually he moved to Hamilton, to pursue his university studies and was enrolled as a student at the University of Waikato, studying a Bachelor of Management Studies, with a major in Accounting, and a graduation certificate in Economics. Armando tries to keep fit by playing a variety of sports such as basketball, volleyball, and netball. He previously worked as an aud...

Public Holiday - Labour Day

The Public Holiday of Labour Day is upon us this month. This year (2018) it is observed on Monday the 22nd October.If your staff work on the day and that day would be a normal day of work, then in addition to payment for the hours at 'time and a half, the staff are also entitled to an alternative holiday (day in lieu), which when taken should be paid at the Employee's relevant daily pay. If the Employee does not work on a Public Holiday and the Employee was not due to work that day, then th...

In the Community

A4 joined the Steptember New Zealand movement , we turned our steps into dollars raising funds towards supporting kids and adults with cerebral palsy. Steptember Stats: $835,695.05 raised so far in NZ  a minimum of 4,480,000 steps walked as an organisation  20 afternoon tea walks  16 Accounted4 staff committed to the cause   5 late night walks around the house before bed  3 dance parties to go over 10,000 steps  1 accomplished, fit...

How anti-money laundering legislation impacts you

If you've seen the film The Wolf of Wall Street, you'll be familiar with the concept of money laundering – an illegal process where 'dirty money' received from criminal activities is passed through legitimate businesses and made 'clean.' In response to a growing number of laundering incidents in New Zealand, the government has made changes to the law, which now affect accountants and small businesses like yours. As of this month (October 2018), we're required to put new preventative measures i...

Talking about Kiwisaver with your staff

Building Kiwisaver confidenceMany people feel they don't understand or know enough about Kiwsaver, so they ask others - including their employers - to talk them through it.There is lots of general information you can give them about KiwiSaver, but there are some rules around what you can and can't say.You can safely tell your employees what KiwiSaver is, what the features of a particular KiwiSaver scheme are if you have a preferred relationship, and information about what your staff member needs...

Conservation Week

Conservation Week is run by DOC each year to encourage people to get involved in nature and help to take care of it. Each year DOC works with community groups across Aotearoa to spread the conservation message. It’s a nationwide celebration of kiwis pitching in to help our native plants and animals. We invite you to join us by:Going to a local Conservation Week eventDoing an activity off your own batDonating to an existing conservation programmeThanks and hope to see you out there!Check out mo...

XEROCON 2018

Accounted4 sent a team of 6 over to Brisbane, Australia for the 2018 XEROCON. And what a trip it was! As we walked into the Brisbane Convention Centre on Day One to a DJ pumping music into a Blue lit room we could have been mistaken for thinking that we were entering a nightclub. The focus this year was #human, with the opening act emphasising exactly this - Tom Thumb is an artist who makes music with only his voice, that is every single sound you can think of - he can make. Steve Vamos, re...

Customer Choice Winners for Cambridge

We are proud to announce that we won the Customer Choice Category at the Waipa Networks Business Awards on Friday 31st August. Well done to all the other finalists and Winners on the night....

Five Ways to Wellbeing

They were created as a result of the New Economics Foundation's (NEF) Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing research report. NEF conducted a review of the most up-to-date evidence and found that building five actions into day to day lives is important for the wellbeing of individuals, families, communities and organisations.  The five actions are: CONNECT, Me Whakawhanaunga Become involved in groups; join your local craft, sports, choir, hobby or book club and enj...

Leave without Pay

Leave without pay is when an employer allows an employee time off work when they would otherwise be working, but doesn't pay them for this time. Leave without pay (LWOP) doesn't end an employee's employment, and usually the employee returns to their same position and terms and conditions after taking leave without pay (unless the employee and employer agree otherwise). Leave without pay can affect the employee's annual holidays payment and entitlement in some situations. Situations when an emplo...

Featured Partner

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) is a professional body representing 120,000 members who use their skills every day to make a difference to businesses in Australia, New Zealand and many other parts of the world.   CA ANZ members are known for their professional integrity, principled judgment, financial discipline and a forward-looking approach to business, all of which contribute to the prosperity of our communities and nations....

In the Community

On the 20th June we supported Wig Wednesday for the Child Cancer Foundation - fundraising for children with Cancer.We were all Hair-O's, check us out in our wigs!...

Get to know: Anne Bland

Anne joined Shannon and Wrigley in 2004 to process payrolls and finish final accounts. She’s loved the opportunities the company has given her and she’s proud to manage Accounted4’s Support Services Team of 8 amazingly-talented ladies. Along with the other members of the payroll team, she takes great pride in delivering a friendly and professional payroll service. During her time at Accounted4 she has completed a Diploma in Business Studies and a Diploma in Human Resources. Anne has lived ...

Featured Client

Accounted4 Limited would like to share the success of the Stacey family in the recent Dairy Business of the Year Awards.  Riddings Farm Limited is a 440 cow, 137 Ha family dairy farming business near Parawera, south of Te Awamutu.  The Company and farm is operated by Chris Stacey and his wife Jude, along with Chris’ father Richard Stacey .  The Stacey family has been a long term client of Accounted4 Limited. Riddings Farm Limited/the Stacey’s took out Best Waikato Farm Perform...

Payroll Team Update

SALARIED EMPLOYEES – Hours of work versus minimum wage All employees must be paid at least the minimum wage for every hour they work, and this applies to employees who are paid by the hour and those who receive an annual salary. You can’t average an employee’s salary or wages over the season, however you can average it over their pay period, e.g. weekly/fortnightly. Accommodation Allowances which are an agreed true benefit paid to an employee can be included in gross annual salary calculat...

Xero Tip

How it WorksForward PDF bills to your organisation's unique Xero Bills email address. The PDF needs to be an email attachment, not an image in the body of the email.A draft bill is automatically created in Xero when the PDF is received.The PDF will open up side by side to the draft bill so you can easily enter the bill details.Xero automatically attaches the PDF to the bill. Find your Xero Bills email addressYour unique Xero Bills email address can be found on any status tab in the Purchases scr...

In the Office

We would like to welcome Arihia (Ari) to our team. Ari joins us from a firm in Hamilton, and graduated from the University of Waikato in 2016 with a Bachelor of Business Analysis majoring in accounting. Ari is being mentored by Genevera Scott and joins Grant Calvert's team....

Inland Revenue issues warning about sophisticated phishing scam

Inland Revenue has issued a warning about a sophisticated and widespread phishing scam that is designed to dupe people into handing over their bankcard details. The scam emails, which purport to be from Inland Revenue, tell people they are entitled to a tax refund which the department has been unable to automatically pay. It directs victims to a website to enter their card and personal details. Tax refund scams are common but the emails are relatively well-worded and IR chief info...

What you need to know about your ACC invoice

Everyone in New Zealand who’s in business has to pay ACC levies, which cover the cost of injuries caused by accidents. This year's invoices are coming soon.  Here's how to get ready.What you need to know:Whether you’re self-employed, a contractor, or you have staff, you’ll likely receive an invoice from ACC between mid-July and mid-August.Everyone in New Zealand who is in business has to pay ACC levies, which are separate from general tax and cover the cost of injuries caused by accid...