CPA Accountant New Zealand
Aurora Financials is a trusted team of accountants in NZ providing CPA services to businesses, charities and trusts throughout New Zealand. Led by Jonathan Maharaj FCPA, a Fellow of CPA Australia with more than 20 years of audit and accounting experience, our remote team delivers professional accounting, tax compliance and business advisory services tailored to the needs of New Zealand organisations. We combine technical expertise with practical guidance to help clients achieve clarity, compliance and sustainable growth.
What is a CPA in New Zealand?
CPA stands for Certified Practising Accountant, a professional designation awarded by CPA Australia. In New Zealand, CPA is not a legally protected title the way chartered accountant is, so a CPA accountant NZ businesses engage with has chosen to pursue this qualification and meet CPA Australia's ongoing professional standards, rather than being required to by law.
Jonathan Maharaj, founder of Aurora Financials, holds the FCPA designation, Fellow of CPA Australia, which is a higher distinction awarded to members with extensive experience and standing within the profession. Combined with more than 20 years of New Zealand audit and accounting experience, this means Aurora Financials' CPA services NZ wide are backed by both the qualification and the practical experience behind it.
CPA vs CA vs FCPA: what is the difference?
New Zealand has more than one professional accounting designation, and the differences are not always obvious. CA, through Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and CPA, through CPA Australia, are both well regarded accounting qualifications, while FCPA is a further distinction within the CPA pathway, not a separate designation.
| Designation | What it means |
|---|---|
| CA | Chartered Accountant, awarded by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) |
| CPA | Certified Practising Accountant, awarded by CPA Australia, with ongoing professional development requirements |
| FCPA | Fellow of CPA Australia, a higher distinction within CPA Australia for members with extensive experience and standing |
Neither CA nor CPA is a legally protected title in New Zealand in the way that some professions are regulated, so the qualification itself is one factor to consider alongside the individual's actual experience. Jonathan Maharaj holds the FCPA designation and brings more than 20 years of New Zealand audit and accounting experience, including time as Head of Audit and Assurance at Kiwibank and as an audit practitioner with PwC.
CPA accounting, tax and advisory services
Our CPA services NZ wide cover the full range a growing business needs, from compliance through to strategic advisory, all delivered by a team led by an FCPA qualified founder.
Financial Reporting
Annual financial statements and management accounts prepared to the standard your entity needs, overseen by FCPA qualified expertise.
Tax Compliance
General tax compliance and return preparation, including GST and income tax returns, handled accurately and on time.
Xero Accounting
Xero setup, migration and ongoing management from a Xero Global Partner, with CPA level oversight of the numbers it produces.
Virtual CFO Advisory
Strategic financial advisory and outsourced CFO support for businesses that need senior oversight without a full time hire.
Small Business Accounting
CPA backed accounting for sole traders, startups and growing SMEs, scoped to the size and complexity of your business.
Audit and Assurance
Independent audit and assurance for charities, trusts and SMEs, drawing on more than 20 years of New Zealand audit experience.
CPA accounting plans
Each plan builds on the one before it, so you can move up as your business grows. All prices are plus GST, and there is no charge for your initial consultation.
- GST preparation and filing
- Xero setup, training and advice
- Annual financial statements
- Basic management reporting, annually
- Quarterly management reporting
- Quarterly advisory board meetings
- Financial analysis and performance measurement
- AP and AR processing, Xero bookkeeping
- Monthly payroll processing, budgets, forecasts
- Bank reconciliation, Xero migration, tax planning
- Fully outsourced accounting function and virtual finance team
- Monthly or weekly management reporting
- Year end audit preparation and auditor liaison
- Dedicated CFO, KPIs, financial benchmarking
- Company formation, consolidation, data visualisation
Gold is billed as an annual fee, while Platinum and Diamond are ongoing monthly plans, reflecting the move from annual compliance to continuous accounting support. This is general information only, not financial advice. Final pricing is confirmed during your free consultation based on your specific requirements.
CPA expertise led by a Fellow of CPA Australia
Aurora Financials is an award winning, remote first New Zealand firm founded by Jonathan Maharaj FCPA, with more than 20 years in New Zealand audit, accounting and compliance, including senior roles at Kiwibank and PwC. As a member firm of PrimeGlobal and a Xero Global Partner, we pair an FCPA founder with the standards of a global accounting association.
Our advice is independent and free of conflicts. We are funded only by professional fees from clients, never by product commissions or third parties.
CPA accounting services delivered remotely across New Zealand
Our fully remote model means you get the same FCPA led oversight and dedicated team wherever your business is based, with cloud accounting, secure document sharing and video meetings replacing the need for a local office.
If you have been comparing CPA accountant NZ options, a remote firm widens your choice well beyond your local area while keeping everything simple and transparent.
- FCPA qualified founder with more than 20 years NZ experience
- PrimeGlobal member firm, connected to 300 plus firms in 120 countries
- One connected team across accounting, tax, Xero and CFO support
- Transparent fixed fees and no minimum client requirement
- No charge for your initial consultation
Getting started with our CPA services
Free consultation
We start with a no obligation conversation about your business and which plan, Gold, Platinum or Diamond, fits your needs. There is no charge for this.
Plan confirmation and onboarding
We confirm the right plan and pricing for your business, then handle a smooth onboarding, including any Xero setup or migration.
Ongoing CPA backed support
Your dedicated team delivers your plan's services on schedule, with FCPA led oversight and a direct line whenever you have a question.
CPA NZ: frequently asked questions
What does CPA stand for?
CPA stands for Certified Practising Accountant, a designation awarded by CPA Australia. It is a different professional body to Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, which awards the CA designation.
CPA or CA: which is better for my business?
Neither CA vs CPA has a universally better answer, since both are well regarded New Zealand accounting designations from different professional bodies. What matters more for your business is the individual accountant's actual experience and track record, alongside whichever designation they hold.
Is CPA a legally protected title in New Zealand?
No. Unlike some regulated professions, CPA is not a legally protected title in New Zealand, so it is worth looking at the individual's actual experience alongside the qualification. Jonathan Maharaj holds the FCPA designation and brings more than 20 years of New Zealand audit and accounting experience.
What is the difference between FCPA and CPA?
FCPA, Fellow of CPA Australia, is a higher distinction within the CPA Australia pathway, awarded to members with extensive experience and standing in the profession. It is not a separate qualification from CPA, but a further recognition within it.
What CPA services do you offer in New Zealand?
Our CPA services NZ wide include financial reporting, tax compliance, Xero accounting, virtual CFO advisory, small business accounting and audit and assurance, delivered by a team led by an FCPA qualified founder.
How much do your CPA accounting plans cost?
Our Gold plan is $1,500 plus GST per year, Platinum starts from $1,000 plus GST per month, and Diamond is a custom monthly plan quoted to your specific needs. Final pricing is confirmed during a free consultation. This is general information only, not financial advice.
Can a CPA accountant in New Zealand work with me remotely?
Yes. Aurora Financials is a remote first firm, and our CPA accountant NZ services are delivered through Xero, secure document sharing and video meetings. You receive the same FCPA led oversight wherever your business is based in New Zealand.
The content on aurorafinancials.com is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, legal, or professional advice. Aurora Financials accepts no liability for decisions made based solely on the content of this website.
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Jonathan Maharaj FCPA
Founder & Director · Aurora Financials
