Senior Client Manager

Go Accounting; Nelson; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career progression

Flexible environment

Autonomy over client portfolio

Advisory exposure

Professional development

Cloud-based systems

Flexible work location

Supportive team

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Go Accounting in Nelson seeks a Senior Client Manager to lead a portfolio of business clients, delivering proactive accounting and advisory services. You will foster long‑term relationships with business owners, guiding them beyond compliance and into smarter decision making.

With 5+ years in NZ practice, you’ll mentor juniors, run client meetings, and work closely with Principals on complex engagements. NZ residency or valid work visa required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a NZ accounting practice.
• Comfort with NZ tax rules.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of business clients
• Build relationships and be a trusted adviser
• Review annual financial statements, tax returns and compliance work
• Provide proactive accounting and tax advice
• Lead client meetings and annual reviews
• Help clients understand their numbers and improve decisions
• Identify opportunities to add value beyond compliance
• Manage workflow, deadlines and client expectations
• Review work and support junior/intermediate accountants
• Work with Principals on complex matters and advisory engagements

Skills

NZ accounting knowledge

Client relationships

Communication

Lead client meetings

Plain-English explanations

Organisational skills

Proactive approach

Xero proficiency

Education

CA/CPA qualification desired

Tools

Xero

Job description

Modern Accounting Firm | Advisory + Compliance | Genuine Career Progression

• Genuine career progression - no glass ceilings
• Advisory + compliance - not just annual accounts
• Modern, flexible and 100% cloud-based firm

Ready for a senior accounting role where you're more than just the person preparing the accounts?

At Go Accounting, we do things differently. We're a modern, award-winning accounting firm that works closely with our clients throughout the year - not just when their annual accounts are due.

Alongside Accounting, Tax and Compliance Services, we provide Business Coaching, Business Planning, Management Accounting and Mentoring to help our clients build Smarter, Better Businesses.

We're 100% cloud-based, using Xero and a range of leading technology to work smarter and give our clients access to timely, meaningful information. Due to continued growth, we're looking for an experienced Senior Client Manager to join our team.

The role

This is a senior, client-facing position where you'll manage your own portfolio and develop genuine, long-term relationships with business owners. We want someone who enjoys understanding what makes a client's business tick, can see beyond the numbers and is confident having meaningful conversations about their business.

You'll be trusted to take ownership of your clients while having the support of our Principals and wider team when you need it.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Managing a portfolio of business clients
• Building strong relationships and becoming a trusted adviser
• Reviewing annual financial statements, tax returns and compliance work
• Providing proactive accounting and tax advice
• Leading client meetings and annual financial reviews
• Helping clients understand their numbers and make better business decisions
• Identifying opportunities to add value beyond compliance
• Managing workflow, deadlines and client expectations
• Reviewing work and supporting junior and intermediate accountants
• Working alongside our Principals on complex client matters and advisory engagements

About you

You'll ideally have 5+ years' experience in a New Zealand accounting practice and be ready to take real ownership of your client relationships.

You may already be a Senior Client Manager, or you might be an experienced Senior Accountant or Assistant Manager ready to make the next move.

You’ll have:

• Strong NZ accounting and tax knowledge
• Experience dealing directly with business clients
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• The confidence to lead client meetings
• The ability to explain accounting and tax matters in plain English
• Strong organisational and time-management skills
• A proactive approach - you don't wait for the client to ask the question
• Confidence using Xero and cloud-based accounting technology
• An interest in helping and developing other team members

CA/CPA qualification, or significant progress towards qualification, would be advantageous.

Why Go Accounting?

We want our people to enjoy coming to work, have the freedom to take ownership of their roles and have the opportunity to build the career they want.

We offer:

• Genuine career progression - no glass ceilings
• A modern, flexible working environment
• Autonomy and ownership of your client portfolio
• Exposure to advisory, business planning and coaching - not just compliance
• Ongoing professional development and training
• Modern cloud-based systems and technology
• Flexibility around where and how you work
• A supportive team that enjoys working together
• The opportunity to help shape your role as the firm continues to grow

Our values matter

Technical ability is important, but so is finding someone who fits our team.

Pro-Active

Consistently exceed expectations

Empathy

Understand and respect the individual

Family First

Making time for what is important

Fun-Loving

Enjoy what we do

Congruency

Practice what we teach

Sound like you?

Whether you're already managing your own client portfolio or you're an experienced accountant ready to step up, we'd love to hear from you.

Applicants must have New Zealand residency or a valid New Zealand work visa.