LONG + COWAN

Certified Accountants and Tax Advisors Serving Wellington

Long + Cowan are Certified Accountants and Tax Advisors based in Wellington. Alongside tax returns and year-end accounts, they prepare regular financial reports and help business owners plan around cash flow, staffing and growth. They also manage bookkeeping and payroll for organisations requiring continuing accounting support.

The practice works with sole traders, partnerships and companies, as well as individuals, family trusts and rental property investors. Bodies corporate are another substantial part of their work. In addition to accounts and budgets, they take care of levy administration and committee secretarial duties for unit-title properties.

Long + Cowan trace their Wellington accounting roots to 1940, although the present name came later. Hiram Long took over Allen Dale's practice in 1990 and subsequently joined forces with Neville Cowan, a former Treasurer of Wellington City Council. Ben Stockbridge acquired the practice in 1999 and remains its principal.

Ben and Cong Luong are the firm's directors. Cong returned through a merger in 2026, bringing experience in commercial finance, business ownership and accounting. Client advisers Evelyn Peter and Celine Nguyen have backgrounds in accounting and audit; Celine's previous roles include KPMG in Vietnam and Azets in the United Kingdom. Office manager Leanna Hughes is Xero Accredited.

Clients work with a dedicated accounting manager who keeps track of their circumstances and brings in other members of the practice when needed. The firm also assists people using Xero and MYOB, including those who need their accounting systems set up or staff trained. They issue business and tax updates and provide reminders about relevant filing dates.

Their main service area is Wellington and the surrounding region, including Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua. They work with clients in central Wellington and suburbs such as Thorndon, Te Aro, Karori and Miramar. Online accounting and advisory support is also available elsewhere in New Zealand.

Annual Accounts, Bookkeeping and Financial Reporting

Long + Cowan prepare annual financial statements for companies, partnerships, sole traders, trusts and individual clients where relevant. They also handle statutory accounting records and tax-related financial reporting.

Their regular accounting work includes reconciliations, transaction records, accounts payable and receivable, and the preparation of ledgers and management accounts. Businesses that need figures during the year can obtain monthly reporting, cost analysis and reviews of sales, expenses, margins and profitability. The accountants explain what the figures show rather than limiting their work to filing documents.

Tax Returns, GST and Tax Advice

Personal and company income tax returns are part of their core work. They assist with Inland Revenue obligations, provisional and terminal tax, year-end preparation and tax matters connected with business transactions. Their advice also covers deductions, depreciation, company structures and the tax consequences of planned expenditure.

GST services include registration, choosing an appropriate accounting basis and filing frequency, preparing returns and checking sales and purchase records. They deal with adjustments involving asset purchases, disposals and mixed-use expenses where the rules require them. PAYE and fringe benefit tax (FBT) are also within the firm's tax services.

Rental Property, Trust and Foreign Investment Tax

Property owners use Long + Cowan for rental accounts and tax returns. Their work includes look-through companies (LTCs), family trust accounts and tax reporting connected with different ownership arrangements.

They also handle Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) tax reporting for clients with relevant offshore investments. This involves checking which reporting requirements apply, assembling transaction and valuation information, considering dividends and foreign tax credits, and preparing New Zealand disclosures. Where applicable, their calculations use the Fair Dividend Rate or comparative value method.

Payroll Processing and Employer Reporting

Long + Cowan process weekly, fortnightly and monthly payrolls. Their work covers employee setup, gross pay and deductions, payslips, leave records, final pays and Inland Revenue employer filings. They also deal with KiwiSaver and student loan deductions.

For employers running payroll internally, the practice provides training and support through Xero Payroll or MYOB. They can reconcile payroll records with the business accounts so wage costs are reflected in financial reporting.

Business Budgets, Cash Flow and Financial Advice

The firm's business advice draws on actual accounts rather than forecasts alone. They prepare budgets, examine operating costs and compare planned figures with recorded results. Cash flow forecasts account for expected customer receipts, supplier payments, wages, taxes and planned investment.

Business owners also use Long + Cowan to examine profitability, working capital and the financial implications of expansion, staffing or new equipment. Their planning work includes finance requirements, borrowing arrangements, business structure and longer-term operating plans. The firm supplies management reporting and analysis to support these discussions.

New Businesses, Company Administration and Business Purchases

For someone starting a business, they advise on operating as a sole trader, partnership or company, along with business registration, tax setup and initial accounting records. They also assist with company annual returns and ongoing administrative requirements distinct from income tax filing.

Clients considering buying an existing business can obtain advice on its financial statements, business performance, budgets, future cash requirements and proposed ownership structure. Long + Cowan's role is financial and tax advice, including the accounting questions that need attention before a purchase.

Xero and MYOB Setup, Migration and Training

Both Xero and MYOB are supported. The Xero work includes setting up new files, moving records from older systems, reviewing charts of accounts, connecting bank feeds and resolving reconciliation or transaction-coding problems. Their accountants also help with invoicing, bills, GST, payroll and management reports, alongside training for people entering the transactions each day. Their Xero assistance extends to multi-currency, project tracking and inventory features where the client's software includes them.

For MYOB, they carry out setup, data conversion, account configuration and software training. Payroll, expense tracking, bank reconciliation and reporting are part of this support. They can also help businesses review their existing software setup or change accounting platforms where required.

Body Corporate Accounting and Secretarial Administration

Long + Cowan undertake both financial and committee administration for residential and commercial bodies corporate. Their work includes setting and collecting levies, following up arrears, paying supplier invoices, maintaining records and preparing annual accounts, budgets and regular reports for committees.

They forecast expenditure for maintenance, insurance and other planned property costs. Their secretarial work is separate from the accounting: arranging annual general meetings and committee meetings, issuing notices and agendas, recording minutes and maintaining unit-owner registers. Insurance liaison is also part of the service, including administration relating to renewals, valuations and claims.

Audit Preparation and Financial Reviews

The practice assists with records and supporting information for audit and review work. This includes organising financial documents and responding to information requests during engagements involving external auditors or other assurance providers.