Ready for a role where you actually own your client portfolio and help shape the future of bookkeeping?
Red Office is a South Auckland-based, values-led cloud practice looking for a Senior Bookkeeper & Payroll Specialist who is confident with Xero, thrives on clean processes, and is excited by what's coming next: automation, AI tools, and smarter client workflows.
You'll bring strong bookkeeping and payroll expertise, along with experience in inventory management systems such as Cin7 and/or Unleashed. You'll enjoy building trusted client relationships, identifying process improvements, and helping businesses gain confidence in their numbers.
This is an opportunity to take ownership of a diverse client portfolio, work alongside a supportive team, and play a key role in the continued growth and innovation of our practice.
✅ Permanent, full-time role (35–40 hours — choose what suits)
✅ Well-paid with clear performance expectations and support
✅ Mentor + structured onboarding for 12 weeks
✅ Local team, collaborative delivery (no offshore handball)
✅ Real career pathway: senior consulting or leadership track
If you live South (Papakura / Takanini / Manukau / Pukekohe and surrounds) and want a genuine career role — we’d love to meet you.
About the Role (what you’ll actually do)
As a Senior Bookkeeper at Red Office you’ll manage a SME portfolio and deliver high-trust, end-to-end outcomes. You’ll be supported by a team culture where people back each other up and quality matters.
Your core responsibilities
Deliver accurate, proactive bookkeeping and payroll support for your SME's.
Review financial information, correct errors, and run reporting through to monthly Trial Balance reconciliations.
Provide payroll services using iPayroll, PayHero and Xero payroll (and keep improving how we deliver it).
Be a senior point of support: reviews, troubleshooting, guidance for other consultants.
Communicate with clients clearly and promptly across the channels they use (email/meetings/Teams etc).
Maintain clean time records in XBert and manage your workload to meet deadlines/budgets.
Keep client procedures/checklists tidy so your work is easy to cover when you’re away.
Comfortable with technology, automation, and AI-enabled workflows
The “future focus” part
Over the next couple of years we’re investing in a technology uplift — systems, automation, and AI tools — to create better client experiences and smarter internal workflows. We’re looking for someone who:
enjoys improving systems (not just “doing the work”), and
can help clients adopt better processes with confidence.
What we’re looking for
Proven Senior experience in Bookkeeping & Payroll (practice or SME environment).
Strong working knowledge of Xero (and comfort across MYOB, payroll tools etc).
Inventory Management Skills - Experience with Cin7 and Unleased
Tech confidence + curiosity: you’re willing to adopt new tools (including AI) and help others do the same.
Excellent attention to detail, prioritisation, and deadline management.
Strong client communication and relationship-building.
Values-aligned, collaborative, and happy to back others up (and accept backup in return).
Why join Red Office
12-week mentor programme — you’ll have support from day one.
Training + certification support (including staying current with tech and AI).
Growth pathway: progress into leadership or senior consulting.
Full-time flexibility (35–40 hrs) and a supportive team across ages/stages.
A culture built on Excellence, Teamwork, Ethics (and we actually mean it).
We’re not a contractor model, and we’re not built around offshoring. We’re building capability locally and want people who want a real career home.
Quick “fit check”
You’ll probably love this role if you:
like owning outcomes for your clients (not being a back-office processor)
enjoy systems/process improvement
want stability and growth, not short-term gigs
are based South Auckland and value a practical commute + a supportive local team
this role is not suitable if you are wanting a CA role
Apply via SEEK with your CV. Include a short note in your cover letter:
What’s one workflow improvement you’ve implemented in Xero (or an add-on) that saved time or reduced errors?