Running a bookkeeping business can be incredibly rewarding - after all, many of your clients’ businesses could not thrive without your vital service.

But like any business, a bookkeeping business can be challenging to run. If it is just you, then you may find you feel isolated sometimes, or you might find it hard to find the resources you need or to keep up with industry changes.

If you are part of a larger business, it can be hard to ensure your that team are consistently supported and developed.

Joining an organisation like the Institute of Certified New Zealand Bookkeepers (ICNZB) gives you the chance to access better support and resources to develop your business.

Here’s why the ICNZB is the place where Bookkeepers belong!

The business benefits of joining ICNZB

5 Benefits of joining ICNZB

Joining ICNZB comes with many benefits, right from the moment you join as an Associate Member through to being an ICNZB Master Bookkeeper™.

Here are the top 5 reasons you should consider joining.

1: Better visibility and access to clients

Give your business the professional and visibility boost it needs to attract new clients.

When you join as a Associate Member, you will receive instant access to all of our member resources to help you within your business; template packages, our extensive webinar library, technical references and more.  You will also receive a login to the ICBenefits app where you will receive discounts with Noel Leeming, Bunnings, Warehouse Stationery and many more!

When you an ICNZB Certified Bookkeeper™, we offer you a spot in our ‘Find a Bookkeeper’ directory where you can showcase your services and any extra qualifications or specialisations you have. People often search our directory when they are looking for a high-quality and trustworthy bookkeeper in their area.

2: Support and networking opportunities

Being a member of the ICNZB community gives you a chance to meet and share ideas with other members. You will have the chance to meet new people and develop lasting relationships with local colleagues through our monthly regional network meetings, and through our private Facebook group. We also hold an online monthly National Member Forum where you can meet members across the country and raise any issues you need assistance with.

We regularly run round table discussions, foster collaboration over competition, host professional development events and an annual conference where you will come across others in the profession. Our members know what it’s like to run their own bookkeeping business and understand that working together can bring better support.

3: Ongoing learning opportunities

Numbers don’t change much, but how we are supposed to handle them does! That’s why we offer regular webinars and educational events to help our members stay on top of the latest developments in the industry and to develop better working practices.

Our website is also a hub of information with plenty of resources for you to access and download. We also send out a regular newsletter to keep you in the know about what’s going on in the industry and recent market trends, regular updates from our sponsors – useful information, etc.

4: Long-term professional development

Alongside our webinars, resources and networking, we offer members the opportunity to become an ICNZB Certified Bookkeeper™ and then an ICNZB Master Bookkeeper™ through our assessment options. These assessments help you to demonstrate your ability to perform regular bookkeeping functions. By passing these assessments your clients can rely on your level of expertise.  ICNZB Certified Bookkeeper™ and ICNZB Master Bookkeeper™ accreditations give your business credibility and authenticity with the chance to show potential clients your skills and reliability.

5: Build trust and credibility

All the aspects of our membership help you to build credibility as a bookkeeper and prove to your clients that you are trustworthy.

In a profession such as ours which deals with sensitive information and critical business processes, being seen as reliable and competent is critical. All our members are asked to abide by our Code of Ethical Conduct which gives your clients peace of mind when using your services.

ICNZB also acts as an advocate for our profession working to promote bookkeeping as a vital and recognised service. This includes things such as successfully lobbying Inland Revenue for specific recognition of bookkeepers, which saw them introduce a new Intermediary option - Registered Bookkeeper.