Best Accountants in Palmerston North
We assessed 11 accountants in Palmerston North and ranked the top 5 on their public review record: rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The 10 listed below hold 958 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 3 September 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
A good accountant does more than file your returns. 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 have clients in your industry, and what accounting software they work with.
Top 5 Accountants in Palmerston North
The top 5 accountants in Palmerston North are #1 Watson Integrity, #2 Beauchamp Funeral Home, #3 Advanced Accounting, #4 SBA Palmerston North, and #5 ONLA Accounting, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you choose.
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1
Watson Integrity: Real Estate | Property Management - Palmerston North
★ 4.9 685 reviews Top5 Score 1835★ 651 4★ 15 3★ 2 2★ 1 1★ 16Watson Integrity draws repeat praise for how quickly staff respond to enquiries, with property owners contacting multiple agencies first and hearing back from Watson within 15 minutes. Detailed entry condition reports with hundreds of photos, room-by-room notes, and 3D imaging give out-of-town landlords clear documentation before a tenancy begins.
location_on 267 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North
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2
Beauchamp Funeral Home
★ 4.9 160 reviews Top5 Score 1635★ 155 4★ 1 1★ 4Beauchamp Funeral Home guides families through every step of funeral planning, from collecting and transporting the deceased to arranging cremations, burials, and full services. Named staff like Jono, Stacey, and Pam keep families informed throughout, with multiple reviewers noting paperwork was handled carefully and costs explained clearly during an emotionally exhausting time.
location_on 167 John F Kennedy Drive, Milson, Palmerston North
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3
Advanced Accounting
★ 5.0 36 reviews Top5 Score 1465★ 36Advanced Accounting takes on tax returns, rental and farm accounts, business budgeting, and ongoing compliance, with Tommy, Aaran, Marco, and Vicky each drawing repeat praise from named clients across different situations. Where other firms have left clients confused by jargon, the team breaks down obligations in plain terms, sets up monthly goals, and stays reachable outside normal hours to answer questions as they come up.
location_on 109 South Street, Feilding
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4
SBA Small Business Accounting Palmerston North
★ 5.0 22 reviews Top5 Score 1405★ 21 4★ 1SBA Palmerston North covers GST returns, tax obligations, annual accounts, and estate administration, with named advisers like Sharon and Darryn working the same clients across multiple years. Clients with complicated tax situations or multiple business entities report that the team pursues those cases thoroughly rather than passing them on.
location_on 95 Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North
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5
ONLA Accounting
★ 5.0 14 reviews Top5 Score 1345★ 14ONLA Accounting gets small business owners across tax planning, cash flow management, budgeting, and compliance, with Bobbie, Nicole, and Katherine explaining the numbers in plain language rather than jargon. Clients with multiple entities report the team has been central to setting up and growing additional businesses over many years, going well beyond transactional accounting work.
location_on 12 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North
Before you choose an accountant in Palmerston North
Drawn from 282 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 an income tax return for a sole trader cost roughly $500 to $1,500, while a small company pays closer to $1,500 to $2,500. Hourly rates for qualified chartered accountants sit between $150 and $350, depending on experience and firm size. Fixed-fee packages are common for standard compliance work, covering financial statements, tax return preparation, and Inland Revenue filing. Always confirm upfront whether the quoted price includes GST and whether advisory or bookkeeping work is billed separately.
What's the difference between a Chartered Accountant and a bookkeeper? expand_more
A Chartered Accountant holds a qualification through Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) and is authorised to provide tax advice, prepare statutory financial statements, and represent you in an Inland Revenue audit or investigation. A bookkeeper handles day-to-day recording: bank reconciliations, invoicing, payroll, and GST returns, but the role is unregulated, meaning no formal qualification is required to use that title. For a small business with straightforward finances, a bookkeeper can manage routine tasks well, with a CA brought in at year-end for accounts and tax filing. Once your business involves a company structure, complex tax obligations, or growth planning, a CA becomes the more appropriate primary advisor.
What does proactive tax advice actually look like, versus just filing returns? expand_more
Proactive advice means your accountant contacts you before deadlines, flags upcoming tax payments, and asks questions about your goals rather than waiting for you to send paperwork, as several reviewers noted with appreciation for timely reminders and forward-thinking guidance. It also shows up as advice on business structure, pricing strategy, and cash flow planning, not just reconciling what already happened, with one reviewer describing help with pricing services and future-proofing the business. To test whether an accountant is proactive or reactive, ask how they communicate between year-end jobs and whether they schedule check-ins or wait for you to call.
What are the warning signs of an accountant you shouldn't use? expand_more
- –An accountant who is hard to reach, does not return calls, and has no voicemail or backup contact is a practical liability when IRD deadlines are involved.
- –Watch for firms where you always have to chase for updates rather than receiving them without asking.
- –Vague fee quotes with no written scope mean you risk surprise invoices for work you assumed was included.
- –If an accountant cannot explain their advice in plain language, you lose the ability to make informed decisions about your own business.
- –Missing key dates or failing to flag tax obligations before they become problems signals a reactive rather than client-focused practice.
- –A firm that treats small clients as low priority, rather than responding with the same urgency regardless of business size, is worth avoiding.
What should you ask before hiring an accountant? expand_more
- –Ask what is included in the annual fee and what triggers an additional charge, for example phone calls, IRD queries, or advice outside the compliance work.
- –Ask how they communicate between year-end jobs and whether they will contact you proactively about deadlines, tax obligations, or opportunities.
- –Ask how they handle an Inland Revenue audit or investigation and whether that support is included in the standard fee or billed separately.
- –Ask what their typical turnaround is on emails or calls, and whether there is a named person responsible for your file.
- –Ask whether they will advise on business structure, pricing, or growth planning, or whether their service is limited to compliance filing.
- –Ask whether they have experience with businesses in your industry, since sector-specific knowledge, for example construction cash flow or farm income, materially affects the quality of advice you receive.
Accountants ranked 6 to 10 in Palmerston North
They scored below the top 5 on the same public review record.
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6
Count Me In
★ 5.0 12 reviews Top5 Score 1325★ 12Count Me In suits small business owners who need tax returns, bookkeeping, IRD dealings, and end-of-year accounts handled by someone who explains things in plain language rather than accounting jargon. Stella sets up Xero for new clients and walks them through it hands-on, so owners can manage invoicing and wages themselves between check-ins.
location_on 20 Cedar Crescent, Feilding
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7
Terrace End Law Centre
★ 4.5 13 reviews Top5 Score 1275★ 9 4★ 3 2★ 1Terrace End Law Centre draws consistent praise for being approachable and clear with paperwork, with staff named by reviewers as easy to work with during difficult personal circumstances. Clients navigating sensitive situations, including bereavement, report the team handled the process with care and kept communication straightforward throughout.
location_on 326 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North
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8
Coombe Smith (PN) Limited
★ 4.9 7 reviews Top5 Score 1245★ 6 4★ 1We generate summaries once a business has enough reviews for a reliable sample.
location_on 168 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North
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9
AllanMcNeill Chartered Accountants Feilding
★ 4.8 5 reviews Top5 Score 1205★ 4 4★ 1We generate summaries once a business has enough reviews for a reliable sample.
location_on 53/55 Manchester Street, Feilding
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10
Scott Accountants
★ 5.0 4 reviews Top5 Score 1185★ 4We generate summaries once a business has enough reviews for a reliable sample.
location_on 127 Ruahine Street, Roslyn, Palmerston North
Related Palmerston North rankings
About this ranking
How are the top accountants in Palmerston North chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for accountants in Palmerston North. 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. See how we rank for the full method.
How often are rankings updated? expand_more
Every category and city is recrawled on a rolling cycle, about every two months. This page was last checked on 3 September 2026.
Can a business pay to appear in this list? expand_more
No. Top 5 and Also Recommended positions are merit-only and cannot be purchased. Verifying a business is free. A subscription adds a website link on the card, a public profile page, and competitor and ranking history in the owner's dashboard, none of which affects ranking position. See what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for accountants in Palmerston North. 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. At the last update, the smallest review count among the 10 businesses listed here was 4. Check where you rank or read how rankings work.