Careers at Start Out Savvy
Love turning chaos into calm? This one's for you.
Practice Operations Coordinator
Keep a growing NZ accounting practice running smoothly behind the scenes. Part-time, fully remote, and built around school hours if you need it.
Why this role exists
We're growing. We need someone keeping everything on track.
Start Out Savvy is a Kaikōura-based accounting practice with clients all over NZ, specialising in electricians, plumbers and HVAC businesses turning over $500k+. The client work is in great hands. As we scale into the tradie niche, we need someone to own everything around it: the systems, the follow-ups and the checks that keep a practice running smoothly.
You're the person who notices things before they become problems, fixes them, and builds the habit so they stay fixed. That frees Kirsten (Founder) and our accounting team to do the work only they can do: building our tradie offer, looking after our epic clients and bringing on the right new clients.
And it grows with us. More hours as the practice grows, a pay review at 90 days, and a real say in how a modern, AI-savvy accounting firm runs. Keep things running smoothly, then help us make them even better.
What you'll own
Mostly operations, with a slice of marketing
The role starts focused and grows. Your first 90 days cover Practice Manager, IRD and tax monitoring, and onboarding checks. The rest comes in as your hours and confidence build. If operations and marketing ever compete, operations wins.
Practice Manager
Keep the XPM job board current, chase stalled jobs, run our saved reports, and flag bottlenecks weekly.
IRD and tax monitoring
Track client payments due, send tax payment reminders, pick up IRD notices early, and handle routine myIR matters.
Onboarding checks
Make sure every new client is set up properly in XPM before their first job starts, and close out clients who leave.
Xero subscriptions
Own our subscription tracker: a monthly review, correct on-charging, and cancelling what's no longer needed.
Our own books
Code our Xero file, chase up overdue invoices, load and schedule supplier bills, reconcile, and keep things month-end ready.
Marketing coordination
Execute our content plan across Facebook, email and our website: write the posts and brief our designer on graphics and scheduling.
What success looks like
Less chasing. More building.
By 90 days
- The XPM job board is current every Monday
- Every client with a finalised tax return gets their payment reminders
- Every new client passes the onboarding check before their first job
- A clear handover rhythm with the team on anything that needs their call
By 12 months
- IRD issues are caught by us before a client ever has to ask
- Our content plan runs on schedule without chasing
- Our recurring processes are documented, not living in one person's head
- You're spotting improvements and suggesting them, not waiting to be asked
Who you are
A finisher, not just a starter
You'll need
- Experience working in an NZ accounting practice
- Confidence in Xero
- Working knowledge of GST, provisional tax and myIR
- Clear, plain writing. No accounting jargon speak for our clients
- Comfort working independently on flexible hours
You'll stand out if you
- Have Xero Practice Manager experience. It's a bonus, not a must
- Notice what's broken and fix it without being asked
- Finish things. A half-done checklist is worse than none
- Have marketing or social media experience you can turn into simple, honest content
- Like building a process once so nobody has to think about it again
- Know your way around Claude (or AI tools in general) and can spot where it could make our work faster and smarter
This isn't for you if
- You need someone telling you what to do every day
- You love starting things more than finishing them
- You're after a marketing role with a bit of admin. It's the other way round
- Deadlines make you itchy. IRD doesn't care how busy we were
The details
Working at SOS
Hours
20-28 hours a month to start, reviewed at 90 days. Flexible work hours between Monday to Thursday. School hours are fine.
Pay and employment
Permanent part-time on PAYE, $33-36 per hour depending on experience. Annual and sick leave accrue as normal, plus KiwiSaver employer contributions.
Location
Fully remote, anywhere in New Zealand.
Tools
Xero, Xero Practice Manager, Google Workspace and Canva. Full training given, so you won't be left guessing.
Team rhythm
A short Monday check-in on priorities, a Thursday wrap-up on what got done, and a monthly team video meeting.
Confidentiality
You'll see our clients' financial affairs, so a confidentiality agreement is signed before access. If a file belongs to someone you know personally, you tell us first and we decide together who handles it.
Trial period
A 90-day trial applies. We'll review together at 90 days, including your rate and the shape of the role.
Sound like you?
Send us your CV and a bit about you. No boring AF AI cover letter. Just tell us about a process you fixed and how you knew it needed fixing.
One more thing: put I read to the end in your email subject line. Details matter in this job, so they matter here too.
What happens next
Applications close Sunday 25 October 2026. We'll reply to everyone by Thursday 29 October, yes, even if it's a no. Shortlisted applicants get a 20-minute video chat with Kirsten, and we're aiming for a mid-November start.