As the end of the calendar year approaches, many New Zealand businesses will find themselves busy completing projects and delivering sales and revenue before the holidays. This is the final push before Christmas and New Year, when staff take extended leave, offices close, and business activity slows right down.
Many employees take a good fortnight off around Christmas and New Year, with many extending their break well into January. By the time the long weekends and anniversary days are out of the way, most New Zealand businesses kick back into full speed until early February.
But while your team might switch off … Your bookkeeping, payroll, and compliance obligations do not.
The Risk Of Annual Leave For Your Accounts
Christmas shutdowns are great for recharging, but they can quickly become stressful when invoices, payroll cycles, or GST deadlines fall during the holidays. A surprising number of businesses experience cashflow hiccups over summer simply because no one is watching the books.
When key people are away, even small delays or oversights can snowball, especially if debtor follow-ups or supplier payments are missed. The result is unnecessary pressure on cashflow and reporting accuracy at the very start of the new year.
Bookkeeping Continuity Without Compromise
At ClockworX, we plan with our clients to make sure their books stay in order throughout the summer period. Our team only observes statutory holidays, and we have full continuity plans in place. That means your bookkeeping and payroll remain on track, reconciliations are completed, and deadlines are met.
Our systems, processes, and dedicated support mean you can truly switch off knowing your bookkeeping and back office are under control and ready for a smooth start to 2026.
H2 Your Summer Bookkeeping Checklist
Here is a quick way to make sure your bookkeeping is covered before the break:
- December and January Cashflow Planning: Review cashflow forecasts to include payroll, subscriptions, operating expenses, and monthly costs. Reminder to allow plenty of fat for delayed payments, which are common during the holiday period, and review any annual subscriptions or insurances etc that may renew in the new calendar year.
Payroll: Confirm pay dates and holiday pay calculations are processed before the office closes. Allow more time for processing December and January payrolls as they are often more complex, ensuring accurate annual leave. - Invoicing: Send final invoices ahead of the Christmas shutdown to ensure you have a process in place to manage reconciliations and follow up on any overdue accounts.
- Supplier Payments: Pre-schedule payments that are due over the break to avoid late fees.
- GST and Tax Deadlines: Check due dates for January and February filings. Ensure your processing and reconciling continues to happen, so you stay up to date.
- System Access: Ensure key contacts have secure access to Xero and your bank accounts if needed.
December is the perfect time to double-check you have bookkeeping cover locked in. With a bit of planning now, you can relax later, confident that everything is running smoothly behind the scenes.
Want to chat about how other NZ businesses are managing their bookkeeping stress-free over Christmas? Let’s talk.
The ClockworX team can help you prepare a summer plan that keeps your books running like clockwork while you enjoy a well-earned break.
