The Accounts Department

31/08/2026

One of the biggest causes of delays with annual accounts is missing information.

Taking a few minutes to complete a checklist before sending us your information can make the annual accounts process much smoother.

Our checklists help you identify the documents and details we need upfront, reducing the chances of missing information and follow-up requests.

If you have a Xero subscription, it's easy to assume we've got everything we need.

However, some information may sit outside your accounting records, such as home office expenses paid personally, invoices/receipts for new assets purchased over $1,000, or documentation for new loans and finance arrangements.

That's why it's worth reviewing the relevant checklist each year, even if you think nothing has changed.

A completed and signed checklist is one of the easiest ways to avoid delays in getting your annual accounts started.

Save yourself the back-and-forth.

👉 You can download our free checklists on our website.

Michelle & Natalie - Leading NZ Business through Strategy and the Numbers at The Accounts Department

28/08/2026

August = deep winter, heads down, getting it done.

So we're bringing you something slightly different this month 🧡

Nat cooked up a big batch of Minestrone soup last week and was enjoying having something hot and hearty for lunch, so we're sharing a recipe for you to try.

Such a nice change from pumpkin soup!

Easy, hearty and perfect for a winter lunch 🍲

A simple yet tasty Minestrone soup made from onion, garlic and carrot cooked with vegetable stock, cannelinni beans, tomatoes and pasta. NZ.

25/08/2026

August tends to feel quieter than it is.

Eight months into the calendar year is a solid point to lift your head and ask:

Is 2026 shaping up the way you expected?

There’s still time to adjust - but only if you’re actually looking at the numbers.

🔸 Revenue
🔸 Expenses
🔸 Cashflow

Five minutes checking what's coming up is worth a lot more than a scramble later.

Michelle & Natalie - Leading NZ Business through Strategy and the Numbers at The Accounts Department

21/08/2026

Running a business is relentless.

August can feel like everyone else has gone quiet while you're still flat out - and that mix of isolation + pressure is genuinely exhausting.

So this month, instead of a number to crunch or a task to action, we're giving you a 10-minute mindfulness practice.

Find somewhere quiet (yes, away from the screen), grab a pen, and work through these three questions:

1️⃣ What's one thing about my business right now that I'm genuinely proud of?

2️⃣ What's one thing I've been carrying that I can either act on, or consciously let go of this week?

3️⃣ If I could change one thing about how I show up in my business next month, what would it be?

No right answers. No action plan required. Just you, a pen, and 10 minutes of honest thought.

You built this business. That's not nothing. Sometimes it just needs saying.

Natalie & Michelle - Leading NZ Business through Strategy and the Numbers at The Accounts Department

20/08/2026

Don’t forget your provisional tax is due 28th August - keep an eye out for an email with more information.

18/08/2026

What should you do when a client doesn’t pay on time?

Before you start pulling your hair out over late payments, think about these factors:

1️⃣ Client Relationships
How important is this client to your business? Is this a one-time issue, or a pattern? Understanding the nature of the relationship can help you decide how to approach the situation.

2️⃣ Payment Terms
Review the payment terms you’ve set with the client. Were they clear and agreed upon? Are they in line with industry standards? If not, this might be the root of the problem.

3️⃣ Contractual Obligations
Clear contracts are your safety net, clearly laying out the consequences of late payments.

Make sure that your contracts clearly outline payment terms, penalties for late payments, and the steps you’ll take if payments are delayed. This can provide a solid foundation for any actions you might need to take.

4️⃣ Communication History
A quick look back at your emails or messages could shed light on any previous payment snags with the client. Have there been reminders? Was there any prior discussion about potential payment issues? This will influence your next steps.

Late payments are a common challenge for business owners, but they don’t have to derail your success. By taking proactive steps to manage late payments and implementing preventive measures, you can protect your cash flow and maintain healthy client relationships.

Michelle & Natalie - Leading NZ Business through Strategy and the Numbers at The Accounts Department

14/08/2026

Prevention is always better than cure.

Late payments are a common challenge for business owners, but there are things you can do to minimise the risk.

Here are our top tips 👇

𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Before entering into a business relationship, conduct background checks and assess the creditworthiness of new clients.

𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀: Ensure that your contracts are clear, with well-defined payment terms, deadlines, and penalties for late payments.

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: Use accounting software to automate invoicing and payment reminders. This reduces the chances of missed payments and keeps the process efficient.

When clients don’t pay on time, it can disrupt cash flow, impact business growth and strain professional relationships.

Taking proactive steps to manage late payments can help protect your cash flow and maintain healthy client relationships.

➡️ To read more on this topic, comment BLOG and we'll DM you the link to 'When Clients Don't Pay on Time' (or you can find it on our webite).

Michelle & Natalie - Leading NZ Business through Strategy and the Numbers at The Accounts Department

11/08/2026

Your business doesn't need you to be perfect. It needs you to show up.

One of the biggest things we've learnt working alongside business owners is that the people who build sustainable businesses aren't the ones without self-doubt.

They're the ones who stop waiting for it to disappear.

Imposter syndrome doesn't magically leave when your revenue grows, when your team gets bigger, or when someone calls you successful.

Bring your expertise, bring the wobble, and back yourself to deliver.

Because momentum doesn't come from waiting until you're ready.

It comes from entering the room anyway.

Exactly as you are.

Natalie & Michelle - Leading NZ Business through Strategy and the Numbers at The Accounts Department

08/08/2026

We watch other businesses grow and hire.

We watch them say yes to the opportunities we wouldn’t have had the guts to even reply to.

We assume they’ve got something we don’t.

Then we measure ourselves against the people we just made taller... and we always, always come up short.

Because we made them up.

The real problem isn’t that we pedestal other businesses.

It’s what we do AFTER.

We use the imaginary version of someone else’s business to decide we’re not ready to back ourselves.

At TAD, we see business owners with years of experience, great businesses and solid results, quietly ruling themselves out before the market ever has the chance to say yes.

Don’t let comparison become your business strategy.

The numbers matter.

But backing yourself matters too.

Natalie & Michelle - Leading NZ Business through Strategy and the Numbers at The Accounts Department

05/08/2026

How's FY2027 actually going?

Now is a great time to look at the data and ask yourself some honest questions.

1️⃣ Revenue: Are you ahead, behind, or on track compared to where you expected to be?

2️⃣ Expenses: Are your costs sitting where you planned, or have things crept up since April?

3️⃣ Cash flow: Do you have 8 to 12 weeks of visibility, or are you still just watching the bank balance?

You don't need to spend hours on this.

Even a 20-minute look at your P&L can tell you a lot and catch anything that needs adjusting before it becomes a bigger problem.

Michelle & Natalie - Leading NZ Business through Strategy and the Numbers at The Accounts Department