Bookkeeper

About The Back Room

We exist to free our clients' time so they can focus on what they do best — growing their business. We deliver smart, efficient solutions that liberate teams from the everyday admin, and we hold ourselves to the same standard. Time is the ultimate currency, and we treat it like it.

About the Client
Our client is an accounting and bookkeeping business based in Tauranga, New Zealand, helping small and medium-sized businesses simplify their finances and gain clarity around their numbers. They are looking to build their offshore team to support their bookkeeping function, and this will be their first offshore hire. This role exists to take ownership of routine client bookkeeping and GST preparation, easing the day-to-day bookkeeping load on the practice owners.

The Role
As a Bookkeeper, you’ll manage day-to-day Xero bookkeeping and GST preparation for an assigned portfolio of clients, mainly sole traders and small companies. You’ll work directly with the two practice owners, a chartered accountant and a certified bookkeeper, in a small, friendly practice that values accuracy, initiative, and clear communication. Within six months, success looks like independently managing most of your recurring bookkeeping and GST work with minimal corrections, and materially reducing the routine bookkeeping workload on the team.

What You'll Do

• Bookkeeping

  • Manage day-to-day Xero bookkeeping for an assigned client portfolio: transaction coding, bank reconciliations, AP/AR, month-end and balance sheet reconciliations.

  • Prepare NZ GST returns for review; investigate unusual transactions, follow up missing information and resolve routine reconciliation issues independently.

• Income tax support

  • From month 6 onwards, assist with straightforward rental property accounts: gather information, prepare basic schedules and enter approved year-end journals in Xero.

  • From month 12 onwards, gradually assist with simple IR4 preparation and supporting workpapers, subject to demonstrated competency and available capacity. Bookkeeping and GST always take priority.

• Clients

  • Assist with new-client onboarding, system set-up and information gathering as capacity allows, particularly from months 4–6 onwards.

  • Communicate clearly and professionally with clients about routine queries and missing information, within agreed approval and escalation guidelines.

• Practice processes

  • Maintain and improve agreed process notes, checklists and client documentation; suggest practical ways to streamline work and reduce manual tasks.

  • Keep SharePoint and practice records organised; follow document retention and access procedures, and obtain approval before deleting or sharing sensitive material.

  • Self-review work before submitting it; investigate routine issues, ask focused questions when needed and escalate complex or uncertain matters promptly.

• Tools and Systems

  • Xero (primary bookkeeping and GST platform); Xero Practice Manager / Xero Tax as responsibilities develop.

  • Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Excel and SharePoint.

  • ClickUp, WorkflowMax and Jotform; approved AI and other workflow tools as introduced.

• Not in scope: providing tax advice, independently approving or filing GST/tax returns, or signing off accounts. Use only approved AI tools and never enter confidential client information into unapproved services.

What We're Looking For

• Degree in Accounting, Finance or Commerce, plus at least 2 years of practical bookkeeping experience and strong hands-on Xero skills (bank reconciliations, AP/AR, month-end and GST-related coding).

• Sound accounting fundamentals, attention to detail and the ability to learn NZ GST requirements and Celero processes quickly.

• Excellent written and spoken English, with friendly, confident client communication.

• Strong self-review habits, accuracy, ownership of deadlines and independent problem-solving; know when to escalate.

• Proactive, adaptable and quick to learn new tasks; tech-savvy with cloud software, Microsoft 365 and digital workflows.

• Basic familiarity with AI tools such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, a commitment to responsible use and strong confidentiality practices. Reliable working arrangements and connectivity as agreed with The Backroom.

Nice to Have

• Prior NZ or Australian bookkeeping experience, particularly NZ GST and small-business clients.

• Xero Advisor certification and strong practical Xero troubleshooting skills.

• Experience with rental property accounts, year-end journals, fixed asset registers or basic company tax workpapers.

• Experience in a small accounting practice, client onboarding or practice administration.

• Experience with SharePoint, workflow automation or approved AI-assisted productivity tools.

Why This Role

You’ll be the first offshore team member in a small, friendly practice, working directly with the owners and with real influence on how the offshore role takes shape. This is a long-term, bookkeeping-first position with a clear, competency-based path: as your bookkeeping and GST work becomes stable, you’ll gradually take on rental accounts and simple tax preparation.

This role is open to Philippine citizens currently based in the Philippines.

Know someone great for this role? Refer them here and earn up to PHP 8,000 via GCash for every successful hire.