intermediate Accountant (remote - wfh)Deskwork ANZ

Job Title: Intermediate Accountant/Finance Assistant
Location: New Zealand (Remote)
Our client is a dynamic financial services firm dedicated to providing top-tier financial management, accounting and advisory services to their clients. They pride themselves on innovation, expertise, and excellence in all aspects of finance. They are seeking a diligent and detail-oriented Intermediate Accountant/Finance Assistant to join their team. This role will play a vital part in ensuring the smooth financial operations of their clients while actively contributing to process improvements.
Responsibilities:
Onboarding New Clients:
Undertake Xero health checks on new clients.
Create a wow factor for new clients - first impressions count.
Create the foundations for a strong and positive relationship with the client by ensuring you have access to all systems required before the go-live date.
Critically assess existing processes and work with the rest of the team to decide which changes should take priority.
Actively work to minimise clients' time spent working on accounts to create value.
Document the schedule of work and follow up with the MA/CFO if any part of the process is unclear or you require more training on client-specific systems and processes.
Bank reconciliation & Xero maintenance:
Daily, weekly and monthly reconciling of Xero bank accounts for several different clients.
Personal processes set up to enable clean workflows
Fixed asset register updated and reconciled, depreciation run each month
Prepayments are recognised and added to the reconciliation document.
Intercompany reconciliation is prepared to ensure IC accounts balance at month-end
Accounts Payable:
Month-end review of common/recurring invoices undertaken. Any invoices not received are noted to either the management accountant or checked with the client.
Proactive communication with the client on creditors and timing/quantum of payments.
Ensure we do not create conflict between our clients and their suppliers.
Periodically review the cadence of payments to ensure it still meets clients' needs.
Clients are communicated with and understand when payments will be made to avoid extra payments needing to be set up when possible.
myIR is reviewed regularly to check for outstanding GST and PAYE payments, which are loaded well in advance of the due date.
Expense claims are checked for coding or GST errors.
Accounts Receivable:
Accounts receivables are monitored and communicated to the client if this is within the scope of that client's engagement.
Automated processes set up actively seeking and implementing ways to improve AR such as sending statements each month
At month's end, a review of common/recurring invoices is undertaken. Any invoices not sent are noted to either the management accountant team or checked with the client.
Ensure we do not cause friction between our clients and their customers.
Tools and Processes:
Share knowledge of tools and processes with the rest of the team.
Find ways to share knowledge with the team such as unique GST treatment.
Be curious and research transactions that you are unsure of, to ensure accurate GST or Entertainment treatment.
Identify opportunities to implement new tools and processes to build efficiencies within a client workflow.
Adhoc project work.
Background & Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Four years of relevant experience in finance and accounting.
Relevant experience working in New Zealand or Australian accounting firms.
Xero Certified Advisor with a proven track record of effectively utilizing Xero for financial management and client support.
Xero Payroll Certified, demonstrating expertise in payroll processing and compliance.
High attention to detail.
Good communication and interpersonal skills.
Curious and motivated to solve problems for the company and their clients.
Proactive and willing to help where needed.
Hands-on and able to take ownership of the role.
A quick learner.
Experience working in a fast-paced start-up environment.
Good numeric and database administration skills.
Sounds MS Office and Excel skills.
Your Competencies:
Thinking Beyond Your Sphere
You must think beyond your sphere of influence and beyond your role. You need to be solutions-focused, display initiative and look beyond your immediate roles to understand the wider business goals and external factors that might impact them. This includes a commitment to continuous improvement seeking out new ideas, challenging the status quo, and collaborating across the company to drive innovation and business growth.
Thoughtful communication
Communication is critical for our clients. How they communicate both verbally and in written communication unlocks their vision of providing financial and commercial clarity. As such, their communication internally has to be a strength that is recognised across their entire team. You need to communicate internally and externally in a trusted and empathetic way ensuring that you create engagement and understanding.
Higher bandwidth
Our client has to operate at both a higher and wider bandwidth and work at velocity to achieve great results. This involves them working in ways that stretch their knowledge, that can lengthen their day and test their emotional intelligence. Key to this is their ability to context switch across the different facets of their roles. It's here that they become comfortable with the uncomfortable and they support their desire to redefine the industry and elevate their company.
Owners mindset
Taking ownership of what you say and do across the company. Having a long-term focus for the benefit of the organisation and the client base. You will know that if clients are not delighted, that jeopardises the company's success. You will understand the need for a return on every dollar the company invest and constantly aim to make the best decision for the company.
If you are an experienced accounting professional with a track record of delivering outstanding results, we invite you to apply and become an integral part of our client's team.