Wellington Accountants

Expertise Across Industries

Long + Cowan Chartered Accountants boasts extensive experience across various industries, including trade, retail, engineering, and services. This diversity enables Wellington-based Accountants to provide tailored advice that considers the specific challenges and opportunities within each sector. By understanding the intricacies of different industries, the firm ensures that their clients receive relevant and effective financial strategies that drive business growth and sustainability.

Professional Affiliations

Affiliated with several esteemed professional organizations, Long + Cowan reinforces their commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism. Their affiliations include:

• Accountants and Tax Agents Institute of New Zealand (ATAINZ)
• Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
• The Governance Institute (ICSA)
• Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce

These affiliations ensure that the team stays updated on the latest industry developments, regulatory changes, and best practices, allowing them to provide clients with informed and compliant financial advice.

Community Involvement

Beyond their professional services, Long + Cowan Chartered Accountants is actively involved in the Wellington community. Ben Stockbridge, for instance, has a passion for helping others and has been involved with Skylight, a charitable trust that provides specialized support for those facing loss, trauma, or grief. This commitment to community involvement underscores the firm’s dedication to making a positive impact beyond their business operations.

Detailed Service Insights

Long + Cowan Chartered Accountants offers a range of specialized services designed to meet the diverse needs of their clients. As Wellington-based Accountants, their detailed service insights highlight their comprehensive approach to financial management and advisory.

Accounting Services

Accounting is fundamental to every business, involving the recording, summarizing, and analyzing of financial transactions. Long + Cowan provides services that support decision-making, cost planning, and measuring economic performance. Their expertise ensures that clients have oversight over their financials, aiding in regulatory compliance and strategic planning.

GST Returns

Navigating Goods and Services Tax (GST) can be complex, with common mistakes including incorrect registration and accounting methods. Wellington-based Accountants Long + Cowan assists clients in accurate GST registration, optimizing pricing to include GST, choosing appropriate filing frequencies (monthly, bi-monthly, or six-monthly), and providing timely filing and payment reminders to avoid penalties.

Budgeting

Effective budgeting is essential for future-proofing a business. The firm helps clients prepare detailed projections of future financial standings, including sales forecasts, cost of goods sold, departmental expenses, and profit planning. These budgets serve as tools for managerial discussions and strategic decision-making, ensuring that businesses are well-prepared for future growth and challenges.

Cash Flow Forecasting

Estimating cash flow is critical for understanding the inflow and outflow of money during specific periods. Long + Cowan provides forecasts that identify funding needs and excess cash, analyze trends in sales and purchases, and prepare businesses for seasonal fluctuations. This proactive approach helps clients maintain financial stability and make informed business decisions.

Xero Integration

As experts in Xero, Long + Cowan ensures that clients maximize the benefits of this cloud-based accounting software. Services include initial setup and optimization, system audits and modifications, integration with other applications, and training for staff members. Xero features leveraged by the firm include bank reconciliation, GST returns, invoicing, reporting, inventory management, payroll, and more, providing clients with a comprehensive and efficient accounting solution.

Starting a Business

For entrepreneurs, Long + Cowan provides invaluable support in setting up new businesses. Their services encompass financial and accounting advice during the startup phase, guidance on legal requirements and compliance, business structure recommendations (e.g., look-through companies), and financial planning to set a solid foundation. This support ensures that new businesses are well-prepared for success from the outset.

Payroll Services

Managing payroll can be time-consuming and error-prone. Wellington-based Accountants Long + Cowan offers comprehensive payroll services, including processing wages and salaries accurately and on time, managing timesheets, leave, and employee records, ensuring compliance with tax obligations, and setting up online payroll systems with staff training. These services streamline payroll management, allowing businesses to focus on their core operations.

Tax Planning

Effective tax planning is vital to avoid unexpected liabilities and penalties. The firm’s tax services include optimization of business and personal tax bills, maximizing available reliefs and allowances, filing income and GST returns electronically, providing clear tax letters outlining obligations and due dates, and acting as a tax agent to offer extended filing and payment deadlines. This comprehensive approach ensures that clients are well-prepared and compliant with their tax obligations.

Foreign Investment Funds (FIF)

For clients with offshore investments, Long + Cowan assists in calculating FIF income using methods like Fair Dividend Rate (FDR) and Comparative Value (CV). They ensure compliance with tax liabilities for investments exceeding NZD 50,000, gather necessary financial data, and navigate complex regulations. This specialized service supports clients in managing their foreign investments effectively and compliantly.

Business Planning

A well-crafted business plan is crucial for achieving organizational goals. Long + Cowan aids in defining vision, strengths, and weaknesses, assessing internal and external factors affecting performance, developing financial measures to track success, and selecting banking systems aligned with strategies. This comprehensive business planning support ensures that clients have a clear and actionable roadmap for their business growth and success.

Commitment to Technology and Innovation

Long + Cowan recognizes the importance of staying ahead in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. Their partnership with Xero as Gold Partners underscores their dedication to leveraging technology for client benefit. By utilizing the latest reporting and automation tools, they save clients time and money while providing insightful financial data. This commitment to technology and innovation ensures that clients receive cutting-edge solutions that enhance their financial management and decision-making processes.

Client Accessibility

Understanding the importance of accessibility, Wellington-based Accountants Long + Cowan offers flexible and client-friendly options to ensure that their services are easily accessible to all clients. Their approach includes:

• Flexible Payment Options: Tailored to meet individual financial situations, allowing clients to manage their accounting costs effectively.
• Free Initial Consultation: Allowing potential clients to explore services without commitment, providing an opportunity to understand the firm’s value proposition.
• Personalized Communication: Each client is assigned a dedicated accounting manager for consistent support, ensuring that their specific needs are always addressed.

These accessibility features demonstrate Long + Cowan’s commitment to providing client-focused services that accommodate the diverse needs of their clientele.

Service Areas

While based in Wellington CBD, Wellington-based Accountants Long + Cowan extends its services to numerous suburbs, ensuring that businesses throughout the region have access to high-quality accounting services. These areas include Johnsonville, Island Bay, Thorndon, Miramar, Kelburn, Karori, Crofton Downs, Te Aro, and Wadestown. This extensive service area coverage allows the firm to support a wide range of businesses, from bustling central enterprises to thriving suburban companies.

Future Outlook

As Long + Cowan Chartered Accountants looks ahead to 2024 and beyond, they remain committed to adapting to the changing needs of their clients and the business environment. Their focus on continuous improvement, technological adoption, and professional development positions them to guide clients through future challenges and opportunities. By staying ahead of industry trends and maintaining a forward-thinking approach, Wellington-based Accountants Long + Cowan ensures that they continue to provide relevant and effective financial solutions that drive business success.

Long + Cowan Chartered Accountants exemplifies excellence in accounting services through a combination of experienced leadership, a dedicated team, comprehensive service offerings, and a client-centric approach. As Wellington-based Accountants, their deep roots in the Wellington community, coupled with a forward-thinking embrace of technology, make them a trusted partner for businesses and individuals alike. By prioritizing personalized service, professional integrity, and innovative solutions, Long + Cowan stands out as a firm that not only manages numbers but also fosters success for their clients. Whether you are a small business owner, an entrepreneur, or an individual seeking reliable accounting services, Long + Cowan Chartered Accountants is well-equipped to support your financial goals and drive your success.