Accounting Team Lead / Assistant Manager

Lock & Partners Ltd; Auckland; On-site; NZD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Career progression to Director

30+ hours per week in Auckland office

Job summary

Lock & Partners Ltd is seeking an experienced CA-qualified Team Lead in Auckland to manage a portfolio of SME and privately owned clients. You will lead a team of accountants, stay hands-on with accounting and tax work, and review complex client files while maintaining strong client relationships.

You will work closely with Directors, manage workflow and deadlines, and mentor staff. The role offers flexible hours around a base in our Auckland office.

Qualifications

• CA qualified with NZ public practice experience.
• Strong BAS and NZ tax knowledge.
• Hands-on with accounting and tax compliance work.
• Experience reviewing financial statements and tax returns.
• Mentor and develop other accountants; manage client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of accountants.
• Manage workflow, deadlines and capacity.
• Prepare and complete accounting and tax compliance work for own client portfolio.
• Remain hands-on with compliance work and assist with team files.
• Review financial statements, tax returns and workpapers.
• Coach, mentor and develop accountants at different levels.
• Manage KPIs and performance; run client meetings and maintain relationships.
• Work with Director on client, team and workflow matters.

Skills

Team leadership

NZ public practice experience

Client relationship management

Communication skills

Hands-on accounting

Mentoring accountants

Independent work

Decision making

Education

CA qualification

Tools

Xero

Syft

Spotlight Reporting

AI in accounting

Job description

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Lock & Partners Ltd – Auckland, North Island

Lock & Partners is a well-established Chartered Accounting firm based on the Auckland city fringe.

With five experienced Directors, long-standing client relationships and a practical, supportive team culture, we work with privately owned businesses, trusts, individuals and family groups across a wide range of industries.

We use modern systems and technology to deliver high-quality accounting and tax services efficiently while maintaining strong relationships with our clients.

We are looking for an experienced, CA-qualified Team Lead to join one of our Director-led teams.

About Lock & Partners

Lock & Partners is a well-established Chartered Accounting firm based on the Auckland city fringe.

With five experienced Directors, long-standing client relationships and a practical, supportive team culture, we work with privately owned businesses, trusts, individuals and family groups across a wide range of industries.

We use modern systems and technology to deliver high-quality accounting and tax services efficiently while maintaining strong relationships with our clients.

We are looking for an experienced, CA-qualified Team Lead to join one of our Director-led teams.

About the Role

This is a hands-on leadership role combining client management, compliance work, technical reviewing, cashflow forecasting and financial analytics, workflow management and team development.

You will work closely with the Director to manage the team’s workflow, maintain quality standards and ensure client work is completed accurately and on time.

This is not solely a management and reviewing position. You will be expected to remain hands-on with accounting and tax compliance work, including preparing financial statements and tax returns for your own clients and assisting with larger or more complex client groups where required.

You will manage your own portfolio of clients, review work prepared by other accountants, and provide clear guidance, feedback and support.

The successful person will be confident taking ownership, making practical decisions and keeping work moving across the team.

For the right person, this role offers genuine long-term career progression, with the opportunity to develop towards a Director position over time.

The role is for 30 or more hours per week and will be based primarily in our Auckland office, with some flexibility available once established.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and support a team of accountants
• Manage team workflow, capacity, priorities and deadlines
• Prepare and complete accounting and tax compliance work for your own client portfolio
• Remain hands-on with compliance work and assist with team files where required
• Review financial statements, tax returns and workpapers
• Prepare larger and more complex client group financial statements
• Prepare cashflow forecasts and financial analytics
• Provide clear and constructive feedback
• Coach, mentor and develop accountants at different levels
• Manage team KPIs, setting clear expectations and following up on performance
• Manage accounting and tax work for your own client portfolio
• Run client meetings and maintain strong client relationships
• Identify and resolve technical accounting and tax queries
• Work closely with the Director on client, team and workflow matters
• Support the team in working through its current workload
• Maintain high standards of accuracy, efficiency and recoverability
• Contribute to improvements across the team and wider firm

What You’ll Need

• CA qualification
• At least five years’ experience in New Zealand public practice
• Previous Team Lead, management or senior-level experience
• Strong BAS and New Zealand tax knowledge
• A willingness and ability to remain hands-on with accounting and tax compliance work
• Experience preparing and reviewing financial statements, tax returns and cashflow forecasts
• Experience reviewing larger or more complex client files
• Experience managing a portfolio of SME and privately owned clients
• Proven experience managing workflow, deadlines and team capacity
• Confidence providing feedback and addressing performance concerns
• Experience mentoring and developing other accountants
• Confidence managing client relationships and running meetings
• Strong IT skills, including working knowledge of Xero, Syft and Spotlight Reporting, and experience utilising AI solutions
• The ability to work independently and make sound decisions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• A practical and solutions-focused approach
• A positive, reliable and professional working style
• The right to work in New Zealand

Experience with investment portfolios, FIF calculations, trusts and other complex structures, and broader business advisory experience would be an advantage.

We are interested in getting to know the person behind the CV, not just the accountant.

Applications will only be considered from CA-qualified accountants with relevant New Zealand public practice experience.

Why You’ll Love It Here

• A genuine Team Lead position with responsibility and ownership
• Genuine long-term career progression, with the potential to develop towards a Director role
• 30 or more hours per week
• Some flexibility, with regular time in our Auckland office
• A mix of hands-on compliance work, client management, reviewing and people leadership
• A varied portfolio of established SME clients
• Quality work across a broad range of industries
• Supportive and accessible Directors
• An experienced and collaborative team
• Modern systems and a future-focused approach
• An established firm with long-standing client relationships