For the position of: This information is a reflection of the essential elements of the position and company history and is not intended as a formal position description. It will be subject to further elaboration or clarification at a later stage in the selection process and accepts no liability for any representations made in good faith.
Who Are We We are a team of innovative and respected business advisors offering services to clients throughout the South Island. is one of the South Island s leading independent chartered accountancy and business advisory firms with a staff of almost 60 located in Dunedin. We continually strive to provide quality service and value to our clients through our exceptional people. was founded in Dunedin on 1 January 1997, when Ray Polson and Stephen Higgs acquired the Dunedin business from Price Waterhouse, when Price Waterhouse decided to refocus on the larger markets. They were joined in partnership by Graham Crombie, Steve Dunbar, Phil Broughton and Tim Dunn. Michael Turner was promoted to Partner in 2000, and Henry van Dyk joined the partnership in 2007. In 2000 the firm expanded into Christchurch, however following the Christchurch earthquake it was decided to separate the two geographical locations. The formation of an independent partnership was based on a desire to provide higher levels of service to the local region. To that end, we now offer a fully integrated range of services. Recognised experts within the firm enable our clients to access advice and support for all of their business needs. today has five partners (Stephen Higgs, Steve Dunbar, Tim Dunn, Michael Turner and Henry van Dyk) and staff that specialise in all areas of business advice. We value the contribution our people make to our clients, and the communities in which they work and live.
Mission has as its prime objective the provision of an integrated range of client focused services that will exceed our clients expectations and assist them to improve the profitability of their businesses. We are committed to supporting our staff to work towards this outcome. Our professional and local communities are an integral part of our ability to deliver on this Mission. Values Integrity Doing the right thing. Care Being there. Excellence Best outcome.
Better Business is best-in-business at helping organisations to improve their performance, create value, reduce costs and increase profitability. We provide a multitude of skill sets, carefully integrating these so all the pieces click into place: Accountancy (financial information that is relevant, accurate and timely, smart budgeting/forecasting, payroll management, income tax and GST returns, trust accounts); Business Advisory (governance and leadership, litigation support services, development and growth, asset valuation and management, acquisition and sale, funding/banking advice); Information Technology (strategic planning for IT, hardware/software supply and installation, server virtualisation, help desk support and disaster recovery); Payroll Services (payroll processing and transactions, legislative compliance issues); People & Performance (total in the cloud people solution and recruitment tools, assessment of talent, remuneration and employment advice, professional development and training, performance management tools including Trakstar software); Training (skilled trainers who are able to explain complex issues in a way that can be understood, practical courses, follow-up to ensure implementation of new knowledge and skills, a focus on delivering information that is relative to a business); Taxation (practical interpretation of tax law, tax reviews, transactions advice, management of IRD tax audits, tax and compliance training); Wealth Management (financial advice, lifestyle, succession and retirement planning, financial goal setting, investment management, independent investment analysis).
A graduate role with will offer you excellent opportunities to pursue your career while achieving lifestyle aspirations in the Otago region. We can offer you a number of options for career paths and will work with you to help you achieve your aspirations. These include: Client relationship management Mentoring staff potential to step into management Providing business advice Preparing annual accounts Budgeting and cashflow forecasting Our client centric operation ensures relationships with clients and staff are our priority, so you will need excellent communication skills to be successful in this role. We also seek an accounting study record that inspires confidence. In return, we offer you scope to develop your career, and a salary that recognises qualifications and the ability to learn from the best. At we have a caring, fun culture where we celebrate our successes. Our team works hard, but the camaraderie is very strong and our staff have forged great friendships inside and outside of work. With our community service focus, we are involved in all aspects of local life. We have sports teams, encourage community club affiliations, and our active social club is supported and enjoyed by our staff. Our graduates often comment on the excellent work life balance we foster.
Our Class of 2014 Fraser Hunter What do you do? I work in the Accounting Solutions department which involves the preparation of Client s annual financial statements, tax returns, and GST returns. What did you study at University? I started off doing Physical Education and Marketing before making the change to Accounting when I decided Marketing wasn t for me (and of course Physical Education doesn t really fit as well with Accounting!). I ended up with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting with a minor in Finance. Where has your interest come from? I hadn t done any accounting or finance before starting University, but really enjoyed the core accounting and finance papers in my first year of University so decided to continue on with them from there. What are you career goals? I really enjoy the management accounting side of things, as it involves looking forward and trying to improve things as opposed to accounting for what has already happened. Ideally, I will progress more into this field at as I complete my Chartered Accounting qualification. What training has helped with? offers monthly trainings directed by fellow staff members on specific technical areas. These are very valuable in helping you understand the more complex issues (especially when you are a grad). There are also training sessions offered for areas such as Xero, BankLink and Tax Pooling to keep us up-to-date with the programs we use. What made you choose as an employer? I was keen to stay in Dunedin after finishing studying, and really stood out as the leading Dunedin accounting firm. The environment/culture at the firm looked as if it would suit me. What is the best thing about working for? As mentioned above, the culture at the firm is something that makes an attractive place to work. Everyone is keen to have a laugh while getting the job done which makes it a fun place to work. What is the best part of your job? The best part of my job would have to be the exposure you get to a whole range of clients and entities. I find it really interesting learning about the different types of businesses people operate, and the different approaches they take.
Leigh Dennison What do you do? I do a variety of tasks such as GST Return preparation, preparation of annual financial accounts and some management reporting. I also am responsible for managing the debtors and creditors for one of our big clients. What did you study at University? A Bachelor of Accountancy at Massey University Where has your interest come from? I ve always enjoyed numbers and problem solving. What are you career goals? Um unsure at this stage! What training has helped with? provides monthly training on specific topics for all the Accounting Solutions staff. When we started, we spent the first week in training and after that we were assigned a buddy who we could ask questions of when we needed. What made you choose as an employer? has a reputation for providing staff with a good work/home balance and I was impressed with the managers during my interview. What is the best thing about working for? The people! What is the best part of your job? I really enjoy the satisfaction of being working through a problem and finding a solution. Every day is different and brings fresh challenges and rewards. Catherine Becker What do you do? I work in Accounting Solutions here at as an Accountant. This involves receiving information from clients and working through work papers in order to produce some accounts that are reviewed and then finalised. There is always something new to learn, which keeps it interesting.
What did you study at University? I graduated from Otago University with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Accounting and a minor in Business Law. I really enjoyed my time at university and while what we have learnt has helped in the job, the practical application is really helpful to understand why you learn what you do at uni. Where has your interest come from? I have always favoured logic and numbers over creativity. Maths was a strong subject of mine and I enjoyed problem solving. While I had no desire to study math all day every day, I thought accounting was a good path to follow that went with my interests. I m also interested in the way businesses works, and accounting gives a great insight. What are you career goals? Hopefully I will become a Chartered Accountant over the next few years and then I would like to pursue having a business of my own. What training has helped with? is great at supporting you with your CA studies and hold monthly training sessions which are really helpful for teaching you new topics or keeping you up to date with ones you already know. It s also a great place to just learn from the more experienced around you. Everyone is really friendly and happy to answer questions and guide you in the right direction. What made you choose as an employer? I had heard great things about and their buddy system of learning really appealed. It s always nice to know you won t be thrown in the deep end of a new job. What is the best thing about working for? There is a great work/life balance. You work hard and learn a lot while on the job. But Polson Higgs also has a social club which holds events for a bit of fun and light-hearted competition between colleagues. It s that balance that really sets it apart from other workplaces. What is the best part of your job? Although my job mainly involves doing accounts every day, I love that each one is different. It helps to challenge you and keep you more interested. I always wanted to work with number so I am happy to do what I do and it s made even better the team here are so friendly. I always enjoy coming to work, which is what you really want as you spend most of your week there!! Joining the team as s in 2015 are Courtney Adams and William Ward.
What our staff say I m in my dream job! Feel inclusive, everyone has accepted me, friendly, even despite the wide cross section of age groups. People characters, social, makes me want to get up and go to work. Wider team, Social Club. Family friendly. People! I like my work and what I m doing. Variety, flexibility with hours. Love the people, the firm s experience, the social side. Size, culture, we still work hard and play hard. Availability of the Partners open door policy. Morning and afternoon teas together are encouraged. Not the hierarchy of other CA firms. People. Really friendly, easy to get along with. I came from a smaller firm and I notice how much nicer the size is here. Very good social environment. Morning and afternoon teas are great to get to know everyone, especially Partners. Youth focussed. People I work with. Approachable partners open door, feels like we work with, not for. Social life. Don t need to work overtime. The experience I get from the work I do. Learning/mentoring provided by Managers and Partners.
Open door from all staff including Partners. Other firms not so open you d never socialise with the Partners! Partners join in at tea breaks goes down well! The people are really neat. Love seeing the Partners attend coffee breaks. The traditions are fantastic despite their longevity, it s refreshing to see that they haven t waned over the years. Expertise there is so much to learn from my Partner. Flexibility. The people make it. Partners are approachable. I have the opportunity to go in whatever direction I d like. People a group that gets on really well together. Sense of support everyone pitches in when something needs to be done. Can t imagine anyone would ever say That s not my job. People. There s a work-life balance it s accepted that we shouldn t stay at work all hours like other firms. Effort to make sure we all get along. Training and conferences include everyone noone is excluded. It s a good way to meet people in other teams. Culture. It s a home away from home. Can t imagine being anywhere else. People, family friendly, accommodating, I enjoy the work, nice calibre of staff and clients. Can t think of anything else I d rather be doing.
Our staff in action
Frequently Asked Questions What help do I get for Capstone, the new Chartered Accountants Programme? You will get the course and exam costs for your modules paid as well as leave to prepare for the final exam. Although these modules are designed to be completed outside of work hours, we offer support by providing time in your working calendar for study. There are also meetings organised with Partners and Managers to help you learn, and leave provided for study and exams. What if I m still studying when I start work? will pay for you as you sit and listen to the lecturer just as if you were working at the firm. Study and training is important at, with regular internal and external training, as well as ongoing support for you to develop and enhance your career. What other benefits do you offer? We have incentive schemes if you bring in new clients or refer job applicants. There is also income protection and other insurance benefits offered. What about the days off? A great benefit when you enter our world of business comes in the form of additional days off. There are two accountant days per year - one between Christmas and New Year, and the other at Easter. We also offer you five more sick days than legislation provides for. What training will I receive? There is a well-structured training process that every person in the firm is a part of. You will be given training opportunities in areas like personal development, technical skills, how to present, and management skills. What makes different from the others? Well this is something that you have to experience. Our employees tell us that it s the people and the firm s traditions that make us such a great place to work. It s an environment where getting to know people is important. With the range of social events, it s hard to work here and not get to know people beyond just sitting in the desk next to them. Our staff also appreciate our work hard play hard culture, but working hard does not involve working long hours like other firms expect. What happens outside of work? There are a range of sporting options for you to be involved in like corporate rowing, touch and netball. If you want to start a new team the firm will subsidise registration fees. We have an extremely active social club which is constantly co-ordinating events that range from pub crawls and quiz nights to Shakespeare and lawn bowls. What are my career prospects? We have a detailed career pathway in place from graduate to Partner! Or there is a range of options in which your experience at will give you a great foundation. Chief Executive
Officers, Executive Directors, and Finance Managers are just some of the careers people have developed after their experience in this firm. So what actually happens in the induction process? Because it s a big event when you transition to the business world, we help make it easy for you. Not only will you will be eased into it with training and support, you ll also have a buddy to help you get to know the place. Your buddy has been there, done that, so can anticipate some of the questions you may have, and of course there will be regular catch-ups with your manager.
Position Description Job Title: Division: Accounting Solutions Reports to: Manager Accounting Solutions/ Partner Accounting Solutions Date: April 2015 1. Purpose of Position is a leading professional services firm in the South Island and has as its prime objective the provision of an integrated range of client focused services that will exceed our clients expectations and assist them to improve the profitability of their business. This position involves providing assistance with client assignments principally by preparing management information for our clients. From time to time graduate staff may also be required to assist other staff in the division on consulting assignments. In order to exceed client expectations it is expected the team member will gain a good understanding of client s individual businesses and assist in providing solutions and advice tailored to their requirements. Work closely with the partner, managers and senior accountants to ensure client expectations are fully met in a professional and timely matter. 2. Position in Organisation Accounting Solutions team member. 3. Key Accountabilities / Responsibilities Accounting Solutions Work: Completion of assigned work, which may include: Preparation of timely, accurate and meaningful management information for clients, including: preparation of monthly accounts, annual accounts, tax returns and assisting with budgeting and cash flow forecasting, management accounting, and providing business advice to our clients. Working individually or as part of a team to complete Accounting Solutions assignments. Working in a wide variety of industries including sole traders, small to medium sized entities and some corporate clients. Consulting Assignments: Working with other team members and other divisions within the firm to provide value added services to our clients. The opportunity to work closely with a number of our clients to assist them in developing their business. Relationship Management: Demonstrate a confident approach to any client/potential client contact.
Ensure commitments made by the firm to clients are responded to promptly and efficiently by the staff member when directed to do so. Written Communication: Ensure all written communications are clear, concise, and convey key information to the target audience. Ensure all written communication adheres to standards. Professionalism Remain technically up to date and abreast of any changes in legislation through active participation in training and self-development Teamwork: Ensure full participation in the Accounting Solutions division team. Work with colleagues in such a manner as to jointly achieve team goals. 4. Authorities Levels The position of Accounting Solutions graduate does not hold any authority to commit the firm to expenditure. 5. Relationships External clients Professional affiliates Internal Partners and staff 6. Staff Management Responsibilities The position of Accounting Solutions graduate does not hold any responsibility in respect of staff management.
7. Personal Qualities, Qualifications and Experience Education Experience / Knowledge Professional Skills Personal Skills Essential Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and must have completed all the requirements to be able to complete the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand professional qualification Ability to interact with within a team environment and the ability to assist in the development of team members. Be committed to demonstrating extremely high professional standards. The ability to use initiative and participates in practice improvement. Be highly productive and maintain an ability to effectively manage multiple assignments at one time. Ensure all quality standards are met when completing individual assignments. Demonstrate and develop a sound understanding of accounting standards and the ability to apply these to individual client situations. Recognises complex accounting issues and refers them to senior staff for resolution. Understands and uses appropriate technology to enhance the quality and effectiveness of assignments completed. Is competent in all software applications used by the division. Demonstrates a high level of personal motivation. Display judgement when completing tasks assigned. Looks for, recognises and refers to partners and managers opportunities for selling other services. Maintains and develops positive relationships with our clients. Demonstrates a high level of competency in all aspects of communication. Desirable
Applications Please apply online via our website at www.careers@ph.co.nz Applications are open between Monday 2 and 12.00pm Friday 27. We would like to see your: Cover Letter - tell us what you can offer, why you would like to work for and what your future career goals are. CV - a full history of your study, working background, referee contacts and interests. Academic Transcript (certified). Interview The second step is for us to invite you for an interview. Due to the volume of applicants we cannot see everyone and therefore look for those that match our culture, values and ethics closely. Reference Checking Reference checking is the next phase. It is essential you provide 2-3 professional (either through study or work) referees. You should speak to each of your referees prior to submission to ensure they are happy being your referee. Each referee should be someone who has either managed or tutored you as appropriate. Other Checks As appropriate, psychometric, police and health checks, and possibly other forms of testing, may be requested. We will discuss this with you as you progress. Meet & Greet We may introduce you to our Managers, Partners and staff prior to the next step. Offer Based on the above steps we will then make offers to those who most closely match our criteria. We look forward to seeing your application!