Best Accountants in Wellington
We assessed 41 accountants in Wellington and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 401 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 30 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 in Wellington
The top 5 accountants in Wellington are #1 GoFi8ure, #2 Dickison & Co, #3 FoxPlan, #4 Long + Cowan, and #5 BW Miller Dean, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you choose.
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1
GoFi8ure
★ 4.9 73 reviews Top5 Score 1545★ 71 4★ 1 1★ 1GoFi8ure works across tax planning, Xero setup and reporting, and financial coaching for small business owners, with Lisa and Gabby named repeatedly by long-term clients across all three areas. They get clients to a point where business decisions are grounded in data they can actually trust, rather than numbers that feel out of reach.
location_on 85 Ghuznee Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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2
Dickison & Co Limited
★ 5.0 34 reviews Top5 Score 1515★ 34Dickison & Co takes on new business owners from day one, covering account setup, tax returns, property transaction accounting, and financial forecasting for lenders. Ross is repeatedly named for being reachable by text or call between formal meetings, and for probing deeper into financial statements to find tax reclaim opportunities clients had not identified themselves.
location_on Bell Gully Building Level 2/40 Lady Elizabeth Lane, Wellington Central, Wellington
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3
FoxPlan Wellington
★ 4.9 59 reviews Top5 Score 1505★ 57 1★ 2FoxPlan guides first-home buyers through mortgage applications, KiwiSaver structuring, insurance, and broader financial goal-setting under one roof. Advisers like Stephan, Dillan, and Kajal are named repeatedly for breaking down complex financial concepts into plain language and staying responsive through every stage of the process, from initial planning through to settlement.
location_on Level 8/138 The Terrace, Wellington Central, Wellington
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4
Long + Cowan Certified Accountants (Wellington)
↓ 2★ 4.6 54 reviews Top5 Score 1475★ 47 4★ 1 3★ 1 1★ 5Long + Cowan coordinates outsourced financial accounting across monthly reporting, annual financial statements, tax returns, and auditor liaison, covering both business clients and individuals with overseas investments. Ben, Leanna, and Cong are named directly by clients who rely on them for board-level financial insight and day-to-day responsiveness.
location_on Floor 2/276 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington
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5
BW Miller Dean
↓ 2★ 5.0 30 reviews Top5 Score 146 -15★ 30BW Miller Dean handles tax returns, trust accounting, company wind-downs, and ongoing business advisory for clients who stay for decades, not just a year or two. Partners Gary and Clayton are named directly by clients for translating complex tax obligations and overseas account implications into plain language, then following through with proactive advice that shapes real business decisions.
location_on Level 9/94 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Before you choose an accountant in Wellington
Drawn from 181 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 or small company cost between $500 and $2,500 with most Wellington firms. Hourly rates for chartered accountants run from $150 to $350, with complex work or senior partners at the higher end.
Fixed-fee packages are the norm for standard compliance work, covering financial statements, tax return preparation, and IRD filing. Always confirm whether the quoted fee includes GST and whether bookkeeping, GST returns, or 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 through CA ANZ, which authorises them to provide tax advice, prepare statutory financial statements, and represent you in an IRD dispute. A bookkeeper handles the day-to-day work: recording transactions, bank reconciliations, payroll, and GST returns, but the title is unregulated in New Zealand, so anyone can use it.
Bookkeepers charge $35 to $80 per hour, making them cost-effective for routine tasks, while a CA is worth engaging for end-of-year accounts, tax planning, and any complex compliance. For a small business with straightforward finances, pairing a bookkeeper with a CA for seasonal compliance work is a practical and cost-efficient approach.
What does proactive tax advice actually look like, versus just filing returns? expand_more
Proactive advice means your accountant contacts you before deadlines, flags payment dates, and identifies opportunities in your structure or timing without waiting to be asked. Several reviewers specifically noted receiving help with complex areas like overseas tax implications and business structures, and one client credited their accountant with helping them spot a client opportunity during a monthly check-in. To test whether an accountant is proactive or reactive, ask them directly how they communicate between annual filings and whether they have identified any planning opportunities for clients in your industry.
What are the warning signs of an accountant you shouldn't use? expand_more
- –Billing for work that was never discussed or agreed to upfront is a clear red flag, and at least one reviewer flagged being charged for a consultation despite a free consultation being advertised on the firm's website.
- –A firm that waits for you to chase them rather than sending reminders about payment dates or filing deadlines is operating below the standard you should expect.
- –Vague or absent scope-of-service documentation leaves you exposed to unexpected fees and gives you no basis for disputing charges.
- –A single review flagging ethics concerns, even without detail, is worth taking seriously when you are handing over full financial access.
- –Lack of clarity about what is included in the annual fee versus what triggers an additional charge is a sign of poor client management.
- –Accountants who only process what you give them without asking about your structure, plans, or changes in your business are providing compliance-only service, not advice.
What should you ask before hiring an accountant? expand_more
- –Ask what is included in the fixed fee and what will be charged additionally, specifically whether GST returns, payroll, advisory calls, and IRD correspondence are covered.
- –Ask how they communicate between annual filings: do they send proactive reminders and flag issues, or do they wait for you to make contact.
- –Ask how they handle an IRD query or audit, including whether that work is billed separately and at what rate.
- –Ask what their turnaround time is on email or phone queries, as responsiveness is one of the clearest differentiators in the reviews.
- –Ask whether they have worked with businesses in your industry or with your specific structure, such as a trust, multiple entities, or overseas income.
- –Ask for a written engagement letter that spells out scope, fees, and responsibilities before any work begins.
Also recommended accountants in Wellington
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
PKF Kendons (Chartered Accountants)
★ 4.9 41 reviews Top5 Score 1465★ 40 1★ 1PKF Kendons serves businesses and individuals across personal tax, business accounts, trust accounting, complex foreign tax issues, and strategic business advisory, with named advisers like Catherine, Pooja, Michael, and Rochelle each building deep familiarity with their clients over many years. Clients regularly point to having complex IRD matters translated into plain language and tight deadlines met accurately, with strategic input available beyond the core compliance work.
location_on Level 1/81 The Esplanade, Petone, Lower Hutt
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7
Affinity Accounting & Advisory Ltd
★ 5.0 33 reviews Top5 Score 1455★ 32 4★ 1Affinity Accounting covers tax planning, financial reporting, Xero migration, and strategic business advisory for small business owners, with Dylan named repeatedly by clients across all four areas. Spotting unclaimed deductions after switching from MYOB, explaining obligations without jargon, and setting goals during growth phases are the kinds of practical outcomes clients point to across several years of working together.
location_on Level 2/111 Customhouse Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington
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8
Convex Accounting
↓ 4★ 4.9 34 reviews Top5 Score 1445★ 33 1★ 1Convex Accounting gets small business owners from compliance basics to genuine financial strategy, covering tax, payroll, Xero, bookkeeping, and business planning in one place. Hamish, Chris, and Chelsea are named directly by clients for translating complex financial concepts into plain language and making themselves available when questions come up between the set appointments.
location_on level 4/82 Willis Street, Wellington Central, Wellington
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9
Oak Park Chartered Accountants
↓ 4★ 5.0 25 reviews Top5 Score 1415★ 25Oak Park turns complex financial and tax situations into plain language for business owners, property investors, and pharmacy operators, with Hugh named repeatedly by long-term clients across all three areas. Free advice during difficult periods like Covid shutdowns, retirement planning sessions, and keeping clients across changing tax rules are all part of how they work with people.
location_on Level 6/95 Customhouse Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington
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10
Go2 Chartered Accountants Ltd
↓ 4★ 4.9 18 reviews Top5 Score 1375★ 17 4★ 1Go2 Chartered Accountants covers tax returns, trust accounting, and company tax across multiple entities for individuals and families who stay as clients for ten, twenty, even twenty-five years. Jocelyn is named directly by long-term clients for explaining tax situations in terms that build genuine confidence in financial decisions, year after year.
location_on Bell Gully Building Level 2/40 Lady Elizabeth Lane, Wellington Central, Wellington
About this ranking
What the 10 accountants listed above hold, at the 30 September 2026 check.
We first assessed accountants in Wellington in March 2026 and have rechecked the ranking four times since. Two different businesses have held first place; GoFi8ure has held it since May 2026. GoFi8ure and BW Miller Dean have 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. Dickison & Co entered the top 5 at #2. FoxPlan entered the top 5 at #3. Convex Accounting left the top 5, down to #8. Oak Park left the top 5, down to #9. PKF Kendons and Affinity Accounting entered the list, at #6 and #7.
- Jul 2026
- May 2026
GoFi8ure returned to first place. Long + Cowan entered the top 5, up from #9.
- Apr 2026
Scoring method updated. Go2 Chartered Accountants left the top 5, down to #7. Dickison & Co entered the list at #6.
- Mar 2026
First check. GoFi8ure #1.
How are the top accountants in Wellington chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for accountants in Wellington. 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 in Wellington. 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.