Best Accountants on the North Shore
We assessed 14 accountants on the North Shore and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 344 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 26 September 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
A good accounting firm does more than file your tax returns, whether you are a small business, a contractor or a rental property owner. They flag issues before they become problems and help you make better financial decisions through the year. Ask how they communicate proactively (not just at tax time), whether they are chartered accountants, whether bookkeeping is included or separate, and what accounting software they work with.
Top 5 Accountants on the North Shore
The top 5 accountants on the North Shore are #1 Smart Accounting, #2 Duncan Accounting, #3 A&A Accounting, #4 SBA Browns Bay, and #5 PROVIA+MORE, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you choose.
-
1
Smart Accounting Tax & Biz Consulting NZ Limited
↑ 3★ 5.0 45 reviews +3 Top5 Score 157 +85★ 45Smart Accounting steps in at incorporation and carries clients through IRD registration, Xero setup, annual tax filing, GST returns, and property tax, covering the full business lifecycle rather than isolated jobs. Sisira and the team are repeatedly credited with explaining tax matters in plain terms and staying available when questions come up between filings.
location_on 32 Beulah Avenue, Rothesay Bay, Auckland
-
2
Duncan Accounting
↑ 1★ 5.0 50 reviews Top5 Score 1565★ 48 4★ 2Duncan Accounting gets small business owners sorted across tax returns, taxation work, and accounting system setup, with Theo drawing on his own background in trades to advise clients in that sector. Reviewers who came in at the start of their business say they left with systems in place and a clear path forward, without needing to decode the advice themselves.
location_on 11h Enterprise Street, Birkenhead, Auckland
-
3
A&A Accounting - Tax and Bookkeeping Services
↓ 2★ 5.0 58 reviews Top5 Score 154 -25★ 58A&A Accounting finds overlooked deductions and corrects prior accounting errors across business tax, rental property returns, GST, and bookkeeping, with one client seeing their bill cut from $17.4k to $8.6k. Athan and the team explain each step in plain language, which clients new to self-employment or New Zealand tax say makes them confident managing their finances going forward.
location_on 49 Hatherlow Street, Glenfield, Auckland
-
4
SBA Small Business Accounting Browns Bay
↓ 2★ 5.0 55 reviews +1 Top5 Score 154 -25★ 55SBA Browns Bay takes on GST filing, tax accounts, and ongoing business advisory for small business owners, including those starting out with no prior experience. Craig and the team are known for staying available between appointments, fielding questions patiently over the phone and leaving clients clear on what to pay and when.
location_on 105 Clyde Road, Browns Bay, Auckland
-
5
PROVIA+MORE | Chartered Accountants
★ 4.7 41 reviews +4 Top5 Score 147 +45★ 38 1★ 3PROVIA+MORE works across annual accounts, tax structure, GST, and financial strategy, with Justin and the team known for untangling inherited accounting messes and rebuilding business finances on a clearer footing. Clients credit them with in-person annual reviews where complex figures get explained in plain language, and with proactively suggesting structural changes rather than waiting to be asked.
location_on 331 Rosedale Road, Albany, Auckland
Other suburbs
Before you choose an accountant on the North Shore
Drawn from 169 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What do accountants typically charge in New Zealand? expand_more
Annual accounts and a tax return for a sole trader cost between $500 and $1,500 at most North Shore practices. Small company compliance, covering financial statements and income tax filing, sits between $1,500 and $2,500 for straightforward structures.
Hourly rates for Chartered Accountants, who must hold membership with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), run from $150 to $350 depending on experience and firm size. Ask upfront whether any quoted fee includes GST, and whether bookkeeping, GST returns, and advisory calls are charged on top.
What's the difference between a Chartered Accountant and a bookkeeper? expand_more
A Chartered Accountant holds a formal qualification recognised by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), and is the person you need for tax planning, IRD disputes, audited financial statements, and complex company compliance. A bookkeeper handles the day-to-day work: recording transactions, reconciling bank accounts, running payroll, and filing GST returns, but bookkeeping is not a licensed profession in New Zealand, so anyone can use that title.
Bookkeeper rates run from $35 to $80 per hour, well below CA rates, making them a cost-effective choice for routine monthly tasks. For most small businesses, the practical approach is a bookkeeper managing the ongoing records and a CA reviewing and filing at year end.
What does proactive tax advice actually look like, versus just filing returns? expand_more
Proactive advice shows up when an accountant spots deductions or structural issues without being prompted, as seen in reviews where clients reported their bills being cut significantly after errors from previous accountants were identified and corrected. It also means an accountant who explains timing of income, depreciation options, and expense treatments before year end rather than after the numbers are locked in. To test whether a prospective accountant will advise proactively, ask them directly what they found and changed for their last comparable client, not just what they filed.
What are the warning signs of an accountant you shouldn't use? expand_more
- –Slow or no response to emails and calls is a pattern that signals future problems when IRD deadlines are approaching.
- –Waiting to be chased rather than contacting you about upcoming obligations means you carry the mental load they should own.
- –Vague or verbal-only scope of services leaves you exposed to unexpected invoices for work you assumed was included.
- –Failing to spot errors or missed deductions in prior years' returns suggests a compliance-only mindset with no review of your broader position.
- –No clear process for handling IRD queries or audits means you will be scrambling if Inland Revenue contacts you.
- –Billing for work not discussed or agreed upfront is a trust issue that tends to get worse, not better, over time.
What should you ask before hiring an accountant? expand_more
- –Ask what is included in the fixed fee and what triggers an additional charge, covering GST returns, payroll, advisory calls, and IRD correspondence separately.
- –Ask how they handle an IRD query or audit, and whether that work is billed at an hourly rate on top of the annual fee.
- –Ask what their turnaround time is on emails and whether you will deal with a named person or be passed between staff.
- –Ask whether they will contact you proactively during the year if they spot an issue or an opportunity, or whether they wait for you to ask.
- –Ask what they found and changed for a similar client in the past year, which reveals whether they review your position or simply process what you hand them.
- –Ask whether their quoted fee includes GST and whether it changes if your business grows or your transaction volume increases.
Also recommended accountants on the North Shore
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
-
6
Spencer Lawrence Accounting
↑ 1★ 5.0 23 reviews Top5 Score 144 +35★ 22 4★ 1Spencer Lawrence Accounting grows alongside small business owners, covering business accounts, trust structures, rental property, and fixed-fee monthly arrangements across multiple trading entities. Rebecca and the team make themselves available between filing periods, visiting clients on-site and fielding questions without making people feel out of their depth.
location_on b1/75 Corinthian Drive, Albany, Auckland
-
7
Allan Chartered Accounting Ltd.
↓ 1★ 5.0 25 reviews Top5 Score 144 +25★ 25Allan Chartered Accounting covers personal tax, business accounting, trust structures, and cashflow strategy, with David known for learning each client's specific setup rather than applying a standard approach. Clients spanning 20 to 30 years cite his ability to break down complex concepts clearly and to provide practical, stabilising advice through difficult periods like the pandemic.
location_on 51 Fitzwilliam Drive, Torbay, Auckland
-
8
Corbeau Accounting
★ 5.0 19 reviews Top5 Score 1395★ 19Corbeau Accounting takes on personal tax, business financial setup, Xero configuration, and GST management for clients who find IRD dealings overwhelming or confusing. Sam is known for walking clients through each step in plain language, and for spotting rebates and system improvements that clients had not thought to look for.
location_on 1 Coastview Lane, Long Bay, Auckland
-
9
GoTax Accountants Ltd
★ 4.9 17 reviews Top5 Score 1365★ 16 3★ 1GoTax Accountants is a strong fit for sole traders and small business owners who want an accountant that takes time to explain what the numbers actually mean, rather than just filing and moving on. Jayne is credited with setting clients up on Xero, responding quickly to queries, and making people feel their business genuinely matters to her.
location_on The Crate 28 Constellation Drive, Mairangi Bay, Auckland
-
10
Optimal Accountants Limited
★ 5.0 11 reviews Top5 Score 1325★ 11Optimal Accountants fields questions on accounting and tax matters promptly, with Ted and Liang both credited by clients for resolving financial problems thoroughly and following up without delay. Clients who found tax and accounting stressful describe coming away reassured, with each step explained clearly rather than left to decode on their own.
location_on Level 3, Candida Building, 4/61 Constellation Drive, Rosedale, Auckland
About this ranking
What the 10 accountants listed above hold, at the 26 September 2026 check.
We first assessed accountants on the North Shore in March 2026 and have rechecked the ranking four times since. Two different businesses have held first place; Smart Accounting has held it since September 2026. A&A Accounting has been in the top 5 at every check. Across the 14 locations we assess accountants in, the 134 businesses listed have a median rating of 5.0, and one-star reviews are 1.3% of their total.
What has changed since March 2026? expand_more
- Sep 2026
Scoring method updated. New first place: Smart Accounting. Optimal Accountants entered the list at #10.
- Aug 2026
Scoring method updated. PROVIA+MORE entered the top 5, up from #6. GoTax Accountants returned to the list at #9.
- Jun 2026
Scoring method updated. SBA Browns Bay returned to the top 5 at #3. Smart Accounting entered the top 5 at #5. Allan Chartered Accounting left the top 5, down to #7. Corbeau Accounting left the top 5, down to #9.
- May 2026
Scoring method updated. Corbeau Accounting entered the top 5, up from #6.
- Mar 2026
First check. A&A Accounting #1.
How are the top accountants on the North Shore chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for accountants on the North Shore. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out, and a business whose main Google category is a different trade is held back until a person has checked what it does. A business whose website no longer resolves and that has had no Google review for six months is treated as dormant and left off the page until either changes. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer? expand_more
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free. It adds a phone number to the card and a small trust bonus (+3 points) to its score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing. The owner also gets a dashboard showing how their score is made up. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and adds ranking history and competitor analysis to the owner's dashboard. The subscription adds nothing to the score. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for accountants on the North Shore. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.