The Accounts Department

19/06/2026

There's a phrase Natalie keeps using at the moment:
'The messy middle.'

And it's a pretty accurate description of where we are right now.

Behind the scenes, we've been merging costs, changing subscriptions, moving client invoices, and we’re still in the middle of a tech merge where we don’t know what it’s going to look like.

We are running two CRMs.
It’s a lot.

It's exciting.

It's challenging.

And at times it's been wonderfully chaotic.

But growth isn't supposed to feel perfectly polished.

The reality is that every successful business goes through seasons of change where things feel a little uncomfortable before they feel easy again.

The exciting part is seeing what we're building on the other side.

Stay vibrant,
Natalie & Michelle - Leading NZ Businesses through Strategy and the Numbers

17/06/2026

If you’re in KiwiSaver, the deadline to qualify for this year’s government contribution is coming up on 30 June 2026.

This is especially important if you’re self-employed, not currently working as an employee, or your contributions have been a bit stop-start throughout the year.

To receive the full government contribution* of $260.72, you need to have contributed at least $1,042.86 of your own money into your KiwiSaver account between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.

Log in to your KiwiSaver account or myIR, check how much you’ve contributed this year, and top it up before 30 June if needed.

✨ TAD tip: Set up an automatic payment of $87/month from July and Future You won’t need to scramble next year.

*Available to eligible KiwiSaver members aged 16-64, earning taxable income of $180,000 or less per year.

12/06/2026

As you know, unless you've been living under a rock, I made the decision to join Michelle here at The Accounts Department!

For the last five years, I have been coaching her, and through this, I've seen the kind of operator she is, I see the business that she runs, I know her values, and I know the ins and outs.

And I was just like, "Man, I would love to be a part of that business."

It's something that I was like, I love it!

So, Michelle and I started to share clients. I’d recommend her as an accountant, but also as a financial advisor based for business. Then I would work with them strategically, and we saw a really cool partnership.

We were going to do a new brand, but after a year in the making, chatting, and really taking time to think about it, we decided that the most simplest and smartest way to do this was for me to bring my revenue and my clients and essentially bolt my business into hers.

With this change, The Accounts Department now also offers advising and coaching - as well as everything you already know and love at TAD - which is super exciting!

I can't wait to share more, to get to know you all more, and for you to get to know me.

Stay vibrant,
Natalie & Michelle - Leading NZ Businesses through Strategy and the Numbers

09/06/2026

When Nat and I decided to merge, I knew exactly what I was getting into.

She'd been my coach for five years, so I knew she wasn't going to just sit quietly in the corner with a notebook.

But watching Nat come in like a human whirlwind, bringing fresh eyes to a legacy business I've spent decades building, and taking a literal sledgehammer to The Accounts Department office walls in the first 28 days? It's been a wild, brilliant ride!

Here's one of the things that's been happening behind the scenes:

The Rebrand & Refresh

"Before this merge even happened, I suggested to Michelle that the department did need a refresh - so, a rebrand.

It’s a 26-year-old legacy business that has never had a proper brand done. It’s evolved a lot, so it's not the same. We’ve got this rebrand underway, and it's going to look really, really different while keeping the essence of Michelle’s brand values with mine."

To our incredible combined team, and to our clients who are watching all this messy middle tech-merging happen behind the scenes: thank you for holding onto your hats.

Nat has unlocked an energy in this place that is bloody infectious. I’m ready for the next 28 days, just Nat, please, promise me no more walls are coming down next month!

So, stay watching, stay listening, follow us on this journey.

Stay vibrant,
Natalie & Michelle - Leading NZ Businesses through Strategy and the Numbers

12/05/2026

A quick Xero update for our clients.

Xero has been experiencing global platform issues over the past week, which has caused disruption for users here in New Zealand and around the world.

We know this is frustrating, especially when invoices, bills, payroll, reconciliations, and month-end work are waiting.

Please know that we’re monitoring the situation closely.

Where Xero is available, we’re continuing work as normal. Where access is slow or unavailable, we’re prioritising urgent tasks and will catch up as soon as the system allows.

There’s nothing extra you need to do right now. If anything urgent is affected, we’ll contact you directly.

Thank you for your patience, we’ll keep you updated if there are any further developments.

21/04/2026

11 Years. 2 Powerhouses. 1 Big Leap.

For 11 years, I’ve been building my coaching practice with everything I’ve got. Along with my two amazing Kiwi VAs, we’ve helped so many of you become unstoppable. But as I stepped into 2026 with the word ENERGIZED on my heart, I knew it was time for an evolution.

I am thrilled to announce a strategic merger a year in the making: My coaching practice is officially joining forces with The Accounts Department (TAD), and I am stepping in as a Partner.

For those who don't know TAD, they are one of Auckland’s most respected financial firms with a 26-year legacy. While they have spent decades perfecting the 'engine room' of business, I am joining them to lead the Business Development and Strategy arm.

Why this? Why now? Michelle (TAD’s founder) has been a coaching client of mine for over four years. We realised we were already serving many of the same clients and that the results were undeniable when we combined my Business Strategy with her team's Financial Expertise.

We’re bringing the 'Magic' to the 'Math.'

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂:

🩷 Same Nat, Bigger Engine: I’m still your coach, still in my office (now the TAD Strategy Hub!), and my clients plus my VAs are coming with me.

🩷 Profit First & Advisory: We are officially bringing Profit First and Business Coaching & Advisory into the heart of TAD. We don't just help you find the money; we help you keep it.

🩷 360-Degree Support: You don’t have to be a TAD accounting client to work with me, but if you want your coach and accountant in the same room? We’ve got the team for that.

I’ll admit, moving from solo to partnership after 11 years brings a few "new chapter" nerves - but you don't build an empire by staying in your comfort zone.

Nat x

21/04/2026

If you’ve ever wished your accountant and your business coach were in the same room… they are now!

At The Accounts Department, we’ve always been unapologetically who we are - a tight-knit team focused on taking the admin and tax pressure off your plate, so you can get back to doing what you do best.

And after more than a year in the making, I’m excited to share what’s next. We’ve officially joined forces with business strategist and coach Natalie Tolhopf- Sell With Confidence Expert , who is stepping into the business as a Partner.

What Natalie brings to the table:
Natalie is one of New Zealand’s leading mindset and sales coaches, and the author of Become Unstoppable. She works with business owners on the part that numbers alone can’t solve - growth strategy, leadership, and the decisions that actually move your business forward.

What this means for you:

🟧 Strategy + Financials, working together
You’re no longer choosing between a coach or an accountant. You now can have both, aligned and working in the same direction.

🟧 A shift into true advisory
We’re stepping beyond compliance and into proactive business and financial advisory - helping you build profit, not just report on it. (More on this soon!)

🟧 More support, built in
We’re kicking this off by including two business coaching workshops per year for our clients, at no extra cost.

🟧 A clearer path forward
Whether growth has felt reactive, accidental, or you’re ready for your next level - we’re here to help you move forward with intention.

We’re still the same team you know and trust. Just with even more expertise at your fingertips.

— Michelle Leigh

23/02/2026

I LOVE property! I use Nichole as my property mentor. She's down to earth and incredibly knowledgeable and talented in this space - here's a post by her - well worth a read, as is her book!

Being Clear On Your Quadrant Creates Clarity In The Deal. Baked beans on toast for dinner again.

18/08/2025

Some key IRD deadlines to note for the final weeks of August.