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Business & Entrepreneurship · Advanced Certificate

Build a Career in Bookkeeping
For New Zealand Businesses

Whether you want to work as a bookkeeper or manage your own business finances, this course gives you practical skills. You will learn to handle GST returns, run payroll, and use software like Xero and MYOB, all for New Zealand.

Free first lesson
Or enrol on the spot
Rated 5 by our students
From $25
Per Week
ICOES + CPD
Endorsed Certificate
14-Day
Money-Back Guarantee
100%
Online, Self-Paced
24/7
AI Tutor
Where this can take you

Upskill. Career or Business. Made for New Zealand.

Whatever you are here for, these are the kinds of roles your new skills could lead to:

Bookkeeper
Accounts Clerk
Payroll Officer
Accounts Payable Officer
Assistant Accountant
Bookkeeping Business Owner
Curriculum

What You’ll Learn.

10 modules · 100 lessons · Study at your own pace

01Welcome & IntroductionFree
02What Bookkeeping Is and Why It Matters
03The Accounting Equation Explained Simply
04How Double-Entry Bookkeeping Works
05The Chart of Accounts: What It Is and How to Read One
06Types of Business Structures in New Zealand and Their Bookkeeping Needs
07Source Documents: What to Keep and Why
08Cash Versus Accrual Accounting: Choosing the Right Basis
09Setting Up a Basic Filing System for Business Records
10Reading a Basic Set of Financial Statements
11A Day in the Life of a Bookkeeper in an New Zealand Small Business
Included with your course

Your 24/7 AI Tutor.

It knows where you are

Your tutor sees the lesson you are on and what you have covered, so every answer fits your progress.

Explains Until You Get It

Confused by a concept? Ask for a simpler take, a real-world example, or a quick quiz to test yourself.

There at 11pm

Study when it suits you. Your tutor is available around the clock, every day of your enrolment.

Inside this course · Your tutor
I have a client in Wellington who sells products online to overseas customers. How do I handle the GST on those sales in Xero?
That's a great question. When you export goods from New Zealand, the sale is often **zero-rated** for GST purposes. This means you don't charge GST, but you can still claim input tax credits on your expenses related to making that sale. In Xero, you would typically use the 'Zero-rated' tax code on the invoice. Would you like a step-by-step guide on how to apply that tax code to an invoice?
ModernEdu
This certifies that
Charlotte Reeve
has successfully completed the
Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping & Accounting NZ
Issued by Modern Education New Zealand
Certificate No. ME-2026-04871
Verify at modernedu.co.nz/verify
Your certificate

Proof of What You Know.

Endorsed

Endorsed by ICOES, the International Council for Online Educational Standards, and CPD-eligible.

Verifiable online

Every certificate carries a unique number an employer or client can verify on our site in seconds.

Made to share

A printed hard copy is included with upfront enrolment, and a digital version for LinkedIn and your CV.

Student reviews

What People Are Saying.

5 average rating

Set up a plant styling business, and maintain it too

The content was clear and practical — including the set-up of a plant styling business, and ongoing maintenance too.

Emily P. · Verified student

The financial part of the business

Learning about the financial part of the business.

Kristine S. · Verified student

The first weeks are the foundation, not a warm-up

The first weeks in the home are not a warm-up phase, they are the foundation. The guidance we give owners during this window can prevent months of remedial work later, making early intervention one of the most powerful tools we have as trainers.

Gaylene D. · Verified student
What you get

Everything Included.

In this course

100 lessons across 10 modules, read, listen, or watch every one
Your 24/7 AI tutor, built into every lesson
Assessments and your ICOES-endorsed, CPD-eligible certificate
12 months access, with extensions available on request

As a Modern Edu student

Student discount on any additional course
Printed hard-copy edition of your course
More student extras on the way
How it works

Four Steps to Your Certificate.

01

Try It Free

Start lesson 1 right now, free. See the course and meet your tutor before paying anything.

02

Enrol Easily

Pick the option that suits you. Every option is covered by the 14-day guarantee.

03

Make Real Progress

Read, listen, or watch each lesson. Go at your own pace with your tutor beside you.

04

Get Your Certificate

Pass your assessments and receive your endorsed, verifiable certificate.

Enrolment

Easy Ways to Get Started.

Try the first lesson free. When you are ready, split it into four with Afterpay or Klarna, save $200 upfront, or take the simple weekly plan.

Start Here · No Card Needed
Free first lesson
Start lesson 1 right now and meet your AI tutor. See exactly how the course works before you decide anything.
No card. No commitment. Your progress carries over when you enrol.
When you are ready to enrol
Recommended · Split Into Four
$199.75 ×4
Afterpay or Klarna covers the $799 upfront price for you. You get every upfront bonus and the $200 saving, then repay in four fortnightly amounts. Nothing more after that.
A second course free, your choice
Printed edition of your course included
Save $200 compared with the weekly plan
Continue With Afterpay or Klarna
Four interest-free payments of $199.75 for approved applicants. Late fees may apply.
Upfront · Save $200
$799
One payment by card if you would rather settle it in one go. Same bonuses: second course free and the printed edition.
CardAfterpayKlarna
Enrol Upfront for $799
Afterpay and Klarna split $799 into 4 payments of $199.75.
Weekly Payment Plan
$25 /week
40 weekly payments · $1,000 total
Upfront bonuses not included.
Start the Weekly Plan
Visa · Mastercard · Amex · Afterpay · Klarna accepted.    14-day guarantee
Not sure yet?
Before you enrol

Is It Right for You?

This course is for you if

Aspiring bookkeepers in New Zealand looking for job-ready skills.
Small business owners in places like Tauranga or Napier who want to manage their own books.
Admin or office staff who want to take on more financial responsibility at work.
Anyone changing careers who enjoys working with numbers and detail.
Sole traders who need to understand their IRD obligations from day one.

It is probably not for you if

Experienced accountants. This course covers practical skills, not advanced accounting theory.
Anyone needing an NZQA-accredited qualification. For that, you should look at a local polytechnic or university.
University students seeking a Bachelor of Commerce or a formal accounting degree.
Those seeking a qualification in another country's tax system. This course is focused exclusively on New Zealand.

14-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

Try the full course for two weeks. If it is not for you, we refund you in full. No questions asked, no conditions.

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Tammie O. · Verified student

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John H. · Verified student

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Lee P. · Verified student
Good to know

Common Questions.

Do I need accounting experience to start this course?+
No prior experience is needed. The course starts from the basics, covering what bookkeeping is, how double-entry bookkeeping works, and how to read a set of financial statements. From there, it builds steadily into GST, payroll, Xero, MYOB, and financial reporting. If you already have some experience, the early lessons will move quickly for you.
What does the course cover?+
It covers the full range of bookkeeping and accounting tasks a New Zealand small business needs. That includes GST returns, PAYE, KiwiSaver, payroll, bank reconciliation, accounts payable and receivable, and financial reporting. There are dedicated modules on both Xero and MYOB, plus lessons on working as a self-employed bookkeeper, pricing your services, and onboarding clients.
Is this course specific to New Zealand?+
Yes. All content is built around New Zealand rules and systems. You will learn how GST works under IRD rules, how to file using Payday Filing, how KiwiSaver obligations work, and how to prepare GST returns in line with New Zealand requirements. There are no Australian references or terminology in this course.
How long will it take to complete?+
The course is 100 lessons across 10 modules, with an estimated 237 hours of study at a comfortable pace. If you want to move faster, there is a fast-track path that can be completed in around 21 hours by focusing on the core content. Most students find a middle ground that suits their schedule.
What certificate will I receive?+
You will receive an Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping and Accounting NZ, issued by Modern Education New Zealand. The course is accredited by ICOES (International Council for Online Educational Standards). It is not a qualification registered with NZQA, so if you need a nationally recognised qualification, a polytechnic or NZQA-registered provider would be the right path.
Will this help me get work as a bookkeeper in New Zealand?+
The course is designed to give you practical, job-relevant skills. There are lessons on setting up as a sole trader bookkeeper, getting an NZBN, pricing your services, finding clients, and working alongside accountants. These are real skills that are useful whether you are seeking employment or setting up your own bookkeeping practice. We cannot guarantee employment outcomes, but the content is built around what New Zealand bookkeepers do day to day.

Start With a Free Lesson.

Start with the free first lesson, or enrol on the spot from $25 a week.

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Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping & Accounting NZ
First lesson free · $25/week · 14-day guarantee