Training and Beyond

Training and Beyond Specialising in: small business bookkeeping, strategy, training, succession and business survival.
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Cashflow planning and forecasting for COVID-19 wage subsidies. Training and Beyond provide structured training sessions, online training and tailored education options for Start-ups, Accountants and their clients. As partners of leading cloud applications we offer conversion and implementation of these applications, and if required, on-going support.

We’re excited to introduce the newest member of the Training and Beyond team, Rebecca Rickerby 👋Rebecca joins us in Book...
01/04/2026

We’re excited to introduce the newest member of the Training and Beyond team, Rebecca Rickerby 👋

Rebecca joins us in Bookkeeping & Client Support, bringing over 10 years’ experience across professional services, with a strong background in trust accounting and financial administration.

With this experience, Rebecca has developed a real strength in keeping things organised, accurate, and running smoothly behind the scenes. From reconciliations and reporting through to payroll support and day-to-day processing, she enjoys helping bring clarity to the numbers so our clients can feel more in control of their business.

What really stands out about Rebecca is her natural ability to connect with people. She builds great relationships with clients and teammates alike, and is always approachable, reliable, and ready to help.

Rebecca enjoys working both independently and collaboratively, and is always keen to keep learning and growing, which fits perfectly with our values at Training and Beyond.

As Mel shared:
“I am absolutely delighted to welcome Becka to the team. She is a great fit for our culture and flexible working arrangements.”

We’re thrilled to have Rebecca on board. Join us in giving her a big warm welcome to the team! 👏

As we approach the end of the financial year (31 March), now is the time to make sure your accounts, payroll, and system...
26/03/2026

As we approach the end of the financial year (31 March), now is the time to make sure your accounts, payroll, and systems are in good shape. 👇

There are a few important updates this year that businesses should be aware of:

• KiwiSaver contribution rates increase to 3.5% from 1 April 2026
• Eligible 16–17 year old employees will now receive employer contributions
• Minimum Wage Increase (from 1 April 2026) to $23.95 per hour (up from $23.50).
• GST deadlines are approaching (8 May filing)
• Year-end financials will set the foundation for your next 12 months

It’s not just about compliance. This is your opportunity to:
– clean up your accounts
– review your payroll setup
– and make sure your data is actually working for your business

We’re already seeing that small issues in Xero or payroll can create bigger problems at GST and year-end if left unchecked.

That’s why we’re encouraging clients to book in a Payroll or Xero Health Check. It’s a practical way to:
• ensure compliance with upcoming changes
• fix any reconciliation or reporting issues
• improve how your systems are working day to day

👉 You can read the full update here: https://trainingandbeyond.co.nz/end-of-financial-year-preparation-kiwisaver-updates/

If you’d like help reviewing your setup before year-end, get in touch or book a time with us via the blog.

Melanie Morris Xero

19/03/2026

Wonderful dedication to the working day. ⏰Supporting me to help our clients with Bookkeeping and Training. ❤️

Payroll isn’t just software. It’s about getting it right for your team.That’s why our Payroll Health Checks are led by o...
17/03/2026

Payroll isn’t just software. It’s about getting it right for your team.

That’s why our Payroll Health Checks are led by our payroll specialist, Suze.

Suze works closely with businesses using Xero Payroll and regularly helps identify issues such as incorrect leave balances, holiday pay errors, and payroll settings that don’t quite align with NZ requirements.

A Payroll Health Check gives you confidence that everything is set up and running as it should.
If it’s been a while since your payroll was reviewed, it might be time for a check.

Get a payroll health check now: https://trainingandbeyond.co.nz/xero-payroll-health-check/

Melanie Morris Xero

Today we’re celebrating International Women’s Day and the wonderful women behind Training and Beyond. 💜Our team is proud...
07/03/2026

Today we’re celebrating International Women’s Day and the wonderful women behind Training and Beyond. 💜

Our team is proudly 100% female, and many are also Mums. That means our days are often a blend of supporting clients, managing workflows, answering emails, attending school events, packing lunches, and being there for after-school chats. It’s a juggle that comes with many hats — and while it’s not always easy, it’s incredibly meaningful.

Creating a workplace that understands this balance was one of the reasons I founded Bookkeeping and Beyond and later Training and Beyond in 2006. At the time I was a Mum with two young boys and wanted to build a business where flexibility and family could sit alongside meaningful professional work. This is also one of the reasons I founded the New Zealand Bookkeepers Association (now called ICNZB) in 2010.

Our flexible working approach allows our team to do work they love while still being present for the moments that matter — school assemblies, sports days, and those important after-school hours.

Every day our team helps business owners feel more confident with their numbers, systems, and decisions. As women in business and working Mums ourselves, we genuinely understand the juggle many of our clients face.

We’re also grateful for platforms like Xero, which allow us to work remotely and collaborate closely with our clients and their accountants.

To our amazing team — thank you for everything you do and everything you juggle. I’m so proud of you.

Here’s to the women building businesses, supporting families, lifting each other up, and shaping the future of small business in New Zealand.

Melanie Morris Xero

Heads up for employers using payroll 👇New Zealand KiwiSaver contribution rates are increasing from 1 April 2026.Now is a...
26/02/2026

Heads up for employers using payroll 👇

New Zealand KiwiSaver contribution rates are increasing from 1 April 2026.

Now is a good time to review your payroll software communications around this to ensure the change is in place in April.

If you’d like help reviewing your payroll or want support implementing the change, get in touch with us at Training and Beyond. We’re here to make sure it’s done right and on time.

Swipe to find out more!

Melanie Morris Xero

As we wrap up for 2025, we want to thank our clients and followers for a wonderful year. 💜It’s a pleasure to work with y...
17/12/2025

As we wrap up for 2025, we want to thank our clients and followers for a wonderful year. 💜

It’s a pleasure to work with you and see the great things you’re doing in business.

Training and Beyond will be taking a break over the holidays as follows:

📅 Last day open for the year: Friday 19th December
📅 Reopening: Monday 12th January

Thank you for trusting us with your bookkeeping needs – we are grateful for your support.

Wishing you a safe and restful holiday season and a happy New Year! We look forward to sharing 2026 with you.

Morris

17/12/2025

🚀 New Xero Split View = a genuine game changer

Xero quietly released Split View yesterday, and after working with it all day… Mel's a big fan.

Yes, we’ve always been able to open pages in new tabs or windows — but let’s be honest, that often meant:

🧩 A cluttered screen
🔀 Jumping between tabs
🔄 Remembering to refresh one tab so changes showed in another 🙃

Split View fixes all of that.

You can now work side by side, in real time, within the same screen. Clean, simple, and incredibly practical.

💡 Mel's already found it brilliant for:

🏦 Reconciling the bank while viewing source details
📊 Working in Projects with Products & Services open
🧾 Reviewing Purchases alongside related transactions

It’s one of those changes that may appear small, yet it makes day-to-day work noticeably smoother and faster.

👏 Thank you, Xero, for continuing to focus on how accountants, bookkeepers, and small business owners actually work — this is a win for everyone using the platform day to day.

💬 Have you tried Split View yet? If so, what have you been using it for?

11/12/2025

👏 The Long and Short of It 👏

✨ If you’re looking for a simple, smart way to stay connected with what’s evolving across Xero — this is it. 💜

One of Melanie Morris's favourite resources right now is Xero’s “The Long and Short of It” — a real-time, always-updated hub that gives you a clear view of what’s happening across the Xero platform & ecosystem. 🔍⚡

It’s perfect for bookkeepers, accountants, and business owners who want to stay curious while keeping their learning efficient, insightful, relevant and actionable. 💡📘

Here’s why she loves it 💜 ⬇️

The filtering options mean you can choose exactly what you want to explore, including:
🔹 What matters most
🔹 Coming soon
🔹 Product ideas 💭
🔹 Product betas 🧪
🔹 Business type 🏢
🔹 Interest area ⭐
🔹 Region 🌍
🔹 How much time you have ⏱️

The ability to tailor your browsing makes it easy to dive deeper into areas of interest — or simply review the curated highlights at the top when you want a quick update. ✨👀

Mel has recorded a 1.14 min video showcasing the features, if you would like to see the page in action.

It’s one of the best ways to stay informed, spark new ideas, and build your Xero knowledge with intention. 🚀📘

👉 Explore it here: https://innovations.xero.com/

Melanie Morris

We're excited to share that Melanie Morris is now a Syft Certified Pro Advisor. 👏Syft is a powerful reporting and analyt...
08/12/2025

We're excited to share that Melanie Morris is now a Syft Certified Pro Advisor. 👏

Syft is a powerful reporting and analytics platform that connects directly with Xero. It takes your financial data and turns it into clear, visual insights that help business owners understand what’s really happening in their numbers. From custom reports to forecasting, benchmarking, and trend analysis, it’s a tool that makes smarter decisions easier.

Mel completed the full Syft certification, which covered advanced features and how to get the most out of the Xero integration. This means even better support for our clients when it comes to reporting, planning, and understanding their business performance.

If you’re interested in how Syft could help your business, reach out to our team: https://trainingandbeyond.co.nz/contact-us/

🚀 Adding Value in an AI-Driven Xero World: Verification + Human ConnectionWith Xero rolling out its new JAX AI auto-rec...
04/12/2025

🚀 Adding Value in an AI-Driven Xero World: Verification + Human Connection

With Xero rolling out its new JAX AI auto-reconciliation beta, we’re stepping into an exciting new chapter. AI is becoming more capable, more efficient — and yes, faster than ever before at handling routine bookkeeping tasks.

But here’s the truth I keep coming back to:

🔹 AI reduces effort. Humans add value.
🔹 AI processes. Humans interpret.
🔹 AI suggests. Humans verify.

As JAX begins to automate the first pass of bank reconciliation, our role doesn’t diminish — it evolves. The real magic happens when we layer our expertise, judgement, and client understanding on top of AI-generated outputs. That’s where trust is built and where businesses feel the difference.

In the bookkeeping and advisory space, value now looks like:

✨ Confident verification of AI recommendations
✨ Spotting exceptions AI can’t interpret
✨ Asking deeper questions that uncover real business needs
✨ Guiding clients through financial decisions with empathy
✨ Maintaining the human connection that businesses rely on

AI will help us move faster — but we ensure the work is correct, ethical, and aligned with the story behind the numbers.

I’m excited about what the JAX beta signals for the future of Xero and for the growth of bookkeeping as a profession. I’ll continue sharing insights, practical guidance, and global perspectives as these tools evolve.

📌 Follow me here on LinkedIn (and across my other platforms) for expert commentary, training insights, and updates on Xero innovation around the world.

The future isn’t AI vs humans.
It’s AI + humans.


Address

315 Barrington Street
Christchurch
8022

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

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