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Why your business needs a continuity plan

If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. Whether it’s a flood, a pandemic or a power cut, life has been throwing us some serious curveballs. Your business has already survived a considerable number of major challenges – but could you do a better job of being ready for the next one?What is a continuity plan?A continuity plan identifies big risks to the operation of your business, and sets out actions you can take if these risks occur. It means having a b...

Which is more important? Cashflow or profit?

Cashflow and profit are two of the most important financial metrics for any business. But while they’re both related to the financial performance of a company, they measure different things.Knowing the difference – and how cash and profit contribute to your success story – is a vital skill if you want your business to have the best possible financial health.The difference between cashflow and profitUnderstanding the technicalities of financial reporting can be daunting as a new entrepreneu...

Jamie Fisher becomes Accounted4’s fifth director on April 1.

Right from the start, Accounted4’s Jamie Fisher has taken an impressively measured approach to crafting his career.Each decision made from the time he left university over a decade ago to his official appointment as the company’s fifth director, effective April 1, has been purposeful and confidence building.  Colleagues and clients are left in no doubt that Jamie is exactly where he wants to be, working to a  professional framework that started taking shape in high school.Jamie’s...

Support for businesses hit by Cyclone Gabrielle

If your business has been impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, you may be able to get support from your bank and/or the Government. Here are some of the packages available to businesses across New Zealand:$2,500 cash support available from WestpacWestpac’s small business customers can apply for a $2,500 cash grant from the Small Business Flood Relief Fund. This also applies to businesses hit by the earlier Auckland floods. Visit the Westpac website and apply now.$2,000 cash support available from AS...

Upcoming Office Closure Dates

Easter7th - 11th April 2023Back in the office 8.30am Wednesday ANZAC DayTuesday 25th April 2023 A4's Big Day OutFriday, 28th April 2023 ...

End of financial year checklist

It’s time for us to start working on your annual accounts, so we’ll need some information from you to help us complete your accounts.What do we need from you?If your business is already linked to us through your online accounting platform (like Xero), the good news is that we already have most of this data. However, we’ll still need the following information for each of your businesses:Your bank balance on March 31Your Resident Withholding Tax CertificatePayroll records, unless we run your...

Xero Tip: Keyboard Shortcuts

We have a super helpful tip for all Xero users to quickly navigate through your Xero screens using keyboard shortcuts. ...

Payroll Update

Minimum Wage IncreaseOn the 1 April 2023 the minimum wage will increase to $22.70 per hour. This rate applies to all employees 16 years and over. The starting-out and training hourly minimum wage rates will increase to $18.16 per hour, remaining at 80% of the adult minimum wage.Refer: https://www.employment.govt.nz/about/news-and-updates/minimum-wage-increasing-1-april-2023-are-you-ready/Salaried employees – check for Minimum Wage requirementsIf you have salaried employees, you need to make su...

Get to Know - Renee

Renee was born and raised in the Waikato, starting her early days working on her family’s Kaipaki Cucumber farm and later moving on to study Accounting at the University of Waikato. Renee continued her studies in recent years and achieved her Chartered Accountant qualification. She took a brief study break in 2016 where she spent a year living in Orlando working for Disney and experiencing the American lifestyle. When not at work, you can find Renee at the Netball courts, where she enjoys...

Featured Client

Hideaway Skin Boutique is a cosmetic skin and laser clinic founded by Tamsyn Dunphy.  Located on a beautiful picturesque setting in Lake Karapiro, which transforms on entry to reveal a luxury boutique clinic equipped to carry out a unique experience with real result cosmetic services with real results. At Hideaway Skin Boutique I believe in pure skin health and enhancing natural features by using advanced treatments and also incorporating a holistic beauty approach.  I enjoy ...

Featured Partner - Figured NZ

Figured: The tool for today’s farmer"Knowing in real time where my farm's financial and livestock numbers are is a great advantage. With Figured, I can be out on the land with confidence that the financial side of the business is under control." - John Richmond, FarmerFigured was born out of a desire to farm smarter. Farmers understand that getting the right results requires having the right tools. That includes tools for managing your finances. Figured is the smarter and easier way to ma...

In the Community

Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by the extreme weather conditions and Cyclone Gabrielle. If you have been affected and are in need of support for your business, please see our recent blog for more information. https://www.accounted4.co.nz/blog/post/101485/support-for-businesses-hit-by-cyclone-gabrielle...

In the Office

Geoff's 40th Birthday celebration coincided with our first day back in the office for the year, so naturally we celebrated with Cake! Happy 40th Geoff!...

Top tips for getting your financial year end work completed quicker

A new financial year is upon us and that means that it’s time to check the accuracy of your financial information in your accounting software for the past financial year, and to gather the documentation that we, as your accountant, will need to finalise your accounts and file your tax returns.The sooner we have this information the sooner we can complete your accounts and notify you of your tax position. It’s a good idea to have this information as soon as possible so that you can make infor...

How staff training expands the skill-set of your business

Spending time and money on staff training is a must. When your employees can see that you're invested in their future, they feel valued, empowered and engaged with your company vision. That's excellent news for your employee satisfaction scores and your team spirit – not to mention the overall productivity of the workforce.Investing in the future of your teamIf you want great things from your people, you’ve got to give them the very best support. A job is not a static thing. It’s a role th...

Build long-term customer relationships: improve your financial stability

We know that building long-term relationships with your customers makes good sense for your customer experience. But good relationships are also a key factor in making your business more financially stable and improving your bottom line.The answer lies in nurturing the relationship, building a sense of trust and satisfaction that leads to regular sales and a boost to your revenue.Nurturing customer relationships that drive your profitsA business with no customers has no future. But a business wi...

Open banking: What will it mean for you?

New Zealanders will soon have better access to open banking – but what is open banking – and what impact will it have on the way you shop and do business?Open banking is a secure shared infrastructure for moving financial informationOpen banking is a financial technology that uses an open API to send information safely. It creates a shared digital infrastructure to transport information securely between registered parties.The open API lets you send a business or institution a chunk of financ...

GST Invoicing Changes From 1 April 2023

New rules modernising GST invoicing and record-keeping requirements apply from 1 April 2023.The key change is removing the requirement to issue and hold a “tax invoice” document (which meets certain prescribed requirements on details required), and instead having GST requirements met provided specific GST information is held through various business records, for example commercial invoices or agreements.Tax invoices are replaced by taxable supply information (TSI). This is a set list of info...

In the Community

An A4 Christmas tradition for many years, Kim and Chris presented a donation of $1000 to Aimee and Scott Noakes, Corps Officers of the Salvation Army Cambridge.This donation by Accounted4 is in lieu of client gifts and goes towards providing Christmas gifts and food welfare for members of the Cambridge community who need it most. ...

Get to know Chris

Christine (Chris) Stevenson is our Business Manager and has been with us since April 2010.She is responsible for the operational activities of the business including Human Resources, Public Relations, Marketing, Technology and Systems, H&S and everything in between!She lead the rebrand of the firm to Accounted4 in 2013 and that year was named Waipa Networks Business Awards Emerging Leader.Chris and her husband Craig are well known locals having lived and worked in Cambridge since moving here...

In the Office

This year our wonderful Social Club organized an 'Op-Shop Ball' as our Christmas Party, what a fun night that was! Great food, great music, great company and to top it all off the Copper & Cream ice-cream trailer visited. ...

Cash is not profit and vice versa

The purpose of a business is to make money, and that means you need to know the difference between profit and cash flow. Net profit is what you have left after you deduct all your business expenses from all your revenue. You can improve net profit only by changing the things that affect revenue and expenses. For example, if: You renegotiate with your suppliers, you may get stock cheaper, or carry less inventoryYour staff engage with customers better, you can learn more about what they do and don...

Christmas Donations: The Tax Upside

Christmas is a time for giving – and it’s not all about presents. Donating to charitable organisations is a fantastic way to support the causes close to your heart. Not only that, but it’s surprisingly good for your health, and you even get a tax credit, so it’s a real win-win for you and your favourite charities. Giving is good for everyone Your donations improve lives for the people who receive them. This year, with its high inflation, will be a tough one for some Kiwi households – t...

Accounted4 wins Xero NZ People’s Choice Award

At the NZ XERO AWARDS held in Auckland on Wednesday 9 November, Accounted4 was announced the winner of the Xero NZ People’s Choice Award. The award was presented by Bridget Snelling, Country Manager Xero NZ. Bridget said ‘"Accounted4 received a huge number of nominations for going above and beyond for their clients. Their clients say they most value their personable advice, prompt and honest communication, and their genuine interest and care. No problem is too small, no question to...

Five things all employers should consider in early December

As the holiday season approaches, take some time to think about how you want to organise your business operations over the summer. A bit of planning will ensure you get the paperwork right and avoid breaches of the Holidays Act 2003. Taking time out over the summer? - You can have an “annual closedown” for your whole business or part of it but give employees at least 14 days’ notice in writing. You can ask staff to take their existing annual leave. If they don’t have leave left, the...