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Why us

Academy Chartered Accountants Ltd
Click above to learn about our Accounting services

Academy Chartered Accountants Ltd
Click above to learn about our Business services

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Why us?
What can you expect from your accountant?

What's so special about our services?

Our accounting qualifications? (We have them.) Our experience? (We have some.) How wonderful we are? (We think we're pretty good - and many of our clients have been with us over a decade suggesting we're meeting some needs.) Maybe that sort of thing would mean something to a very small number of readers. But our people are in business and don't really care about accounting. That means they just want to make money - whether that's a primary motivation or a mere necessity to achieve other goals. And accounting is purely a task they simply have to do as part of that bigger goal - and they don't understand accountants and the black magic we do.

In the final analysis, there are four things clients want from their accountant - and strangely a nice set of accounts each year isn't one of them. They want:
  • help to make money;

  • guidance on best ways to do that;

  • help to avoid pitfalls; and

  • expertise in the commercial world.
Not only do we give you an accountant on your team (without the costs and headaches of employing staff), but we are only ever a call or message away - read about our virtual service to find out more. So when the next big tax or business change comes along, you know just who's going to help you through it.

For most of our clients we do NZ accounts and tax returns as any chartered accountant should do - and even some other "accountants" do. And we are here for advice when you need us - not just at year-end. Our skills go beyond straight accounting (and no - that doesn't mean crooked accounting) into the wider fields of business. As well being a Chartered Accountant in public practice, we are also members of RAN ONE. This keeps our standards up in a range of business activities and helps clients grow their businesses.

While the Institute (our professional body) focuses on quality accounting services, RAN ONE provides tools so we can help businesses in an holistic way - whether that is looking at overall direction and structure - or more detailed issues in products and services, marketing, employment, systems, finance and so on. That may start with an e-mail or chat about specific issues - or it may involve a detailed exercise looking at areas of the business, whether that be helping with setting goals - or improving systems - or any one of dozens of different areas.

In a nutshell, you tell us what services you want, and we agree a price. You pay that price (often by monthly A/P) and we deliver the agreed services - including answering business questions as needed. You will never get an unexpected bill from us. Most of the time, the A/P is the only payment that will ever be needed. And you can ring or Skype or e-mail us with any queries at any time knowing that's part of our service to you. We're on your team.

So what if services aren't covered by the normal fee? For example you may upgrade software through us. Or you may set up a company or trust. Or you may choose to use some of our business development services to grow your business or to tackle specific issues. Or it may be that what appears to you as a simple question has some tricky aspects that involve more work on our part. You will never get a bill from us with first agreeing to it. Almost always this will involve a set fee for an agreed service. In all of these cases payment will be expected either at the placement of the order (e.g. in the case of software updates) or on completion of the task.

We make a pretty good business partner (many of our clients have been with us for over a decade), and we don't charge excessive fees. We often have money-back guarantees. If you doubt that give us a chance to quote - we won't be the cheapest, but we won't be the most expensive, and out quoted fee is generally all you'll pay. And what do we expect from you in return? Monthly payments - it's almost like employing us as part of your team. Unlike many accountants where you pay a retainer and a clean-up at the end, we quote an agreed fee for an agreed service. And we expect honest and complete answers about your business issues. But - and here's a major catch - we only take on clients in two categories.

The first is where we do GST returns and accounts via Banklink. So you just provide details when we e-mail you uncoded bank transactions every month or two, and we do the rest - including GST returns and accounts.

The second (and more common) is where we help you do the accounts in a commercial package designed for use in NZ. For example support MoneyWorks, MYOB, QuickBooks, and Xero. We also work with other packages depending on their merits for clients. This is one reason our fees are so reasonable. You do much of the routine accounting work yourself, with us training and advising as necessary.

The rest of this site explains in more detail the sorts of things we do, so feel free to browse - or if you would rather, phone (04 920 0911), Skype (PhilANZ), or e-mail (results@businessacademy.co.nz) to see how we might be able to help. The free initial consultation can take an hour or so, so may not be available instantly. But we can certainly schedule it at the time of the first contact.