Senior Accountant (NZ)

Job Title: Senior Accountant – New Zealand Accounting
Location: Philippines – Remote
Employment Type: Full-time
Working Hours: New Zealand business hours

About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Senior Accountant to provide end-to-end accounting support to New Zealand-based businesses and accounting firms. This role covers the complete accounting cycle, from day-to-day bookkeeping and reconciliations through to the preparation of financial statements and annual accounts.
The successful candidate will manage multiple client files, communicate directly with clients, resolve accounting queries, and ensure all work is completed accurately and within agreed deadlines. The role requires strong working knowledge of MYOB and a sound understanding of New Zealand accounting and tax requirements.

Key Responsibilities
Bookkeeping and Transaction Processing

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records for a portfolio of New Zealand clients.
• Process and review sales invoices, supplier bills, receipts, payments, journals, and other financial transactions.
• Manage accounts payable and accounts receivable records.
• Perform bank, credit card, loan, and intercompany reconciliations.
• Review general ledger transactions and investigate discrepancies.
• Maintain and reconcile fixed asset registers.
• Process depreciation, accruals, prepayments, provisions, and other adjusting journals.
• Review bookkeeping completed by junior tea ---------- mbers and provide guidance where required.
• Ensure transactions are coded correctly and supported by appropriate documentation.

GST and Tax Compliance

• Prepare and review New Zealand GST returns.
• Reconcile GST control accounts and investigate differences.
• Assist with the preparation of income tax returns for companies, trusts, partnerships, and individuals.
• Prepare supporting schedules and workpapers for tax compliance engagements.
• Assist with provisional tax calculations and tax payment schedules.
• Identify potential tax issues and escalate these to the appropriate manager or client contact.
• Ensure accounting records comply with applicable New Zealand tax and reporting requirements.

Management Reporting

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual management accounts.
• Produce profit and loss statements, balance sheets, cash-flow reports, and supporting schedules.
• Prepare budget-to-actual and period-to-period variance analysis.
• Review financial results and identify unusual movements, discrepancies, or areas requiring further investigation.
• Assist with cash-flow forecasting, budgeting, and financial performance reporting.
• Provide clear commentary and accounting insights to clients and internal stakeholders.

Financial Statements and Annual Accounts

• Complete year-end accounting procedures for New Zealand entities.
• Prepare annual accounts and financial statements for companies, trusts, partnerships, sole traders, and other entities.
• Prepare lead schedules, supporting workpapers, and year-end reconciliation files.
• Reconcile all balance-sheet accounts and ensure supporting documentation is complete.
• Prepare year-end adjustments, including depreciation, accruals, prepayments, provisions, shareholder salaries, and tax journals.
• Review retained earnings, shareholder current accounts, loans, fixed assets, and related-party balances.
• Ensure financial statements are accurate, complete, and ready for manager or partner review.
• Address review points and make amendments promptly.
• Support the finalisation and completion of annual accounts within agreed deadlines.

Payroll Support

• Process or review payroll transactions where required.
• Reconcile payroll records to the general ledger and bank accounts.
• Review PAYE, KiwiSaver, leave balances, deductions, and payroll-related liabilities.
• Investigate and resolve payroll reconciliation differences.
• Assist clients with general payroll-related accounting queries.

Client Communication and Relationship Management

• Communicate directly with New Zealand clients by email , telephone, video call, or other agreed communication channels.
• Respond to client accounting queries clearly, professionally, and promptly.
• Request missing financial information and follow up on outstanding documents.
• Explain accounting adjustments, financial results, and information requirements in a client-friendly manner.
• Build trusted working relationships with clients and understand their businesses and reporting needs.
• Provide regular updates regarding the progress of assigned work.
• Escalate complex technical matters, client concerns, or potential delays to the appropriate manager.

Software and Systems

• Use MYOB to manage client bookkeeping, reporting, and year-end accounting work.
• Maintain accurate client records and working papers within the firm’s document-management systems.
• Use Microsoft Excel for reconciliations, financial analysis, supporting schedules, and workpapers.
• Work with other accounting, payroll, document-management, and communication platforms as required.
• Assist clients and tea ---------- mbers with general MYOB queries and troubleshooting.
• Follow established naming conventions, file-management procedures, templates, and workflow processes.

Quality Assurance and Workflow Management

• Manage multiple client assignments and prioritise work according to deadlines.
• Ensure all work is accurate, complete, and supported by appropriate documentation.
• Maintain clear and organised workpapers that can be easily reviewed.
• Complete internal checklists and quality-control procedures.
• Identify process improvements and opportunities to increase efficiency.
• Monitor outstanding client information and proactively follow up to avoid delays.
• Meet agreed productivity, quality, turnaround-time, and client-service standards.
• Maintain confidentiality and protect sensitive client and financial information.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or a related discipline.
• At least five years of relevant accounting experience, preferably supporting New Zealand businesses or accounting firms.
• Demonstrated experience completing end-to-end accounting work, from bookkeeping through to annual accounts and financial statements.
• Strong practical experience using MYOB.
• Experience preparing GST returns, management accounts, year-end workpapers, and financial statements.
• Strong understanding of double-entry accounting, general ledger management, and balance-sheet reconciliations.
• Experience managing multiple client files and working to competing deadlines.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Experience communicating directly with New Zealand or international clients.

Preferred Experience

• Previous experience working for a New Zealand accounting practice.
• Understanding of New Zealand GST, income tax, PAYE, KiwiSaver, and provisional tax requirements.
• Experience preparing accounts for companies, trusts, partnerships, sole traders, and investment entities.
• Familiarity with New Zealand financial-reporting standards and special-purpose financial statements.
• Experience with Xero, Xero Practice Manager, MYOB Accountants Office, MYOB Practice, or similar accounting systems.
• CA, CPA, ACCA, or equivalent professional qualification, or progress towards one.

Key Skills and Attributes

• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong technical accounting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to independently complete client accounts to review stage.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Confidence communicating directly with clients.
• Ability to explain accounting matters clearly and professionally.
• Proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a remote team.
• Commitment to meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality standards.
• Professional, dependable, and responsive.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to changing client requirements and systems.

Performance Expectations
Success in this role will be measured by:

• Accuracy and completeness of accounting work.
• Quality and organisation of workpapers.
• Timely completion of monthly, quarterly, and annual assignments.
• Ability to complete annual accounts with minimal review adjustments.
• Responsiveness and professionalism in client communication.
• Effective management of outstanding information and client queries.
• Achievement of agreed productivity and turnaround-time targets.
• Contribution to team development and continuous process improvement.
• Compliance with internal procedures, client requirements, and confidentiality obligations.