Get Bold with your Brand!
2025-02-12 10:00 - 14:00 (Pacific/Auckland) | Online, Online, New Zealand
Learn Smart Workshop Series 2025#1
Understand how a powerful and value-based brand will open a faster track to business success with our upcoming online workshop on building a strong brand! This session covers everything you need – from the fundamental building blocks for a brand, to crafting a compelling visual identity for your business, and effectively conveying your key brand messages. Perfect for business owners looking to make a lasting impact – whether you are just starting out or it’s time for a rethink of your current brand.
We have carefully selected amazing experts to guide you through the sessions to:

Understand what a brand is and why you should invest in developing yours
Develop a visual identity for your brand and what to showcase with your collateral
Create key messaging to maximise your LinkedIn presence
Establish your brand goals and make a plan to execute them
Talk about your next steps to further deepen your brand presence.

Join us and take the first step towards brand excellence!
The Workshop will be opened by Leaine Jones from Smart Books, with sessions run by Brands with Moxie — Eight Steps to a Winning Brand author Frances Manwaring (Managing Director of Moxie), Catherine Watson from Boldly, and Jodine McIntyre from Social Smarty.

Tickets are $195.50 (including GST) NZD.
PS – if you are one of the first 20 to buy a ticket you get a 10% discount – enjoy our Earlybird price of $175.95 (including GST) NZD.

Internal Controls - take control!
2025-03-11 10:00 - 10:45 | Online, Online, New Zealand
Let’s talk about internal controls – think of them as your financial safety net. This tutorial explores what internal controls are, why they matter, and how you can use them to protect financial data and information within a business.
Join experienced bookkeeper and Smart Books® founder, Leaine Jones, to gain insights on her recommendations for this critical aspect of bookkeeping.
In this tutorial Leaine will expertly guide you through:

Understanding what internal controls are
Examining eye-watering fraud statistics to highlight their importance
Communicating the significance of internal controls to business owners and key personnel
Introducing and consistently applying best practices for checks and reviews.

By putting the right internal controls in place, you can catch mistakes, prevent fraud, and keep everything ticking along nicely.
Don’t miss this opportunity to to get a clear understanding of what internal controls are – and how to implement them effectively!

Best Practice Bookkeeping - unlock the essentials!
2025-06-10 10:00 - 10:45 | Online, Online, New Zealand
Unlock the essentials of best practice in bookkeeping—where technical expertise meets professionalism. This tutorial delves into strategies to enhance compliance, efficiency, and accuracy, while upholding integrity, trust, and ethics.
Join experienced bookkeeper and Smart Books® founder, Leaine Jones, to gain insights on her take on Best Practice.
In this tutorial Leaine will expertly guide you through:

Understanding what Best Practice Bookkeeping is
Why demonstrating Best Practice is essential for success
The vital interplay between efficiency and accuracy
How to align your processes with your personal and professional values.

Whether you’re an aspiring or experienced bookkeeper, this session will empower you to make Best Practice the cornerstone of your work. Safeguard your reputation, build lasting client trust, and consistently deliver excellence.
Don’t miss this chance to deepen your understanding of Best Practice and confidently integrate it into your bookkeeping approach!

Mastering Debtor Management - A Best Practice Guide
2025-09-09 10:00 - 10:45 | Online, Online, New Zealand
Unlock the essentials of effective debtor management—where strategic bookkeeping meets financial stability. This tutorial explores key methods to improve cashflow, maintain strong customer relationships, and safeguard business integrity.
Join experienced bookkeeper and Smart Books® founder, Leaine Jones, for guidance on debtor management best practices and actionable strategies for improving accounts receivable processes. Leaine is joined by 2 experts – Sian Wingate (Tradie Terms) and Jo Jury (My Two Cents).
In this tutorial Leaine and her guest speakers guide you through:

Why debtor management is critical for business success
How structured payment terms reduce risk
Strategies for handling overdue accounts professionally
Example software tools for efficient debtor tracking
Navigating bad debt procedures in New Zealand
The importance of regular accounts receivable reviews.

Whether you’re an aspiring or experienced bookkeeper, this session provides practical solutions to optimise debt collection, improve cashflow, and strengthen client trust. Take control of debtor management and ensure your bookkeeping practices support long-term business financial health.

Mental Health Awareness Week - Let's Connect!
2025-10-08 10:00 - 10:45 | Online, Online, New Zealand
Be Active / Me Kori Tonu is the theme for Wednesday 8 October as part of Mental Health Awareness Week!
Being active can make us feel good, and it helps us feel connected.
Join us for some Chair Yoga online with experienced Yoga instructor, Mel Morris.
Our ticket price is $5.75 (including GST) and all proceeds will be passed onto the Mental Health Foundation.
Melanie Morris leads the team of Hansa Teachers. Mel is a qualified Yoga Therapist and the Country Manager for New Zealand. She has completed over 800 hours of professional Hansa training – both in Hansa flow teaching and yoga therapy, Mel has also enjoyed Teacher training with Donna Farhi and was privileged to take part in Donna’s Art of Teaching programme.

Unlock the benefits of Corporate Chair Yoga for your Body and Mind:

Improved balance
Strength
Functional Movement
Mobility
Nervous System support

We think this is a great way to ‘top up together’ as part of MHAW week. Come join us!

Starting out in Business - What you need!
2025-12-02 10:00 - 10:45 | Online, Online, New Zealand
Build the skills to launch and support a successful business – from the beginning!
Thinking about starting your own business—or helping others take the leap? Join us for our tutorial designed to guide new business owners and the professionals who support them through the start-up essentials.
Presented by Master Bookkeeper Leaine Jones, founder of Jones Business Solutions and Smart Books, this tutorial explores the key steps needed to plan and execute a new business setup. Leaine will walk you through the key areas to focus on and where and how to receive and offer professional support.
Whether you’re launching your first venture or regularly assisting clients through their start-up journey, this tutorial will help you structure your approach and strengthen your impact.
Reserve your spot and take the first step toward confident business ownership.

Offboarding - get it right!
2026-03-03 09:30 - 10:15 | Online, Online, New Zealand
Ending a client relationship doesn’t have to be awkward – or risky.
Thinking about ending a client relationship – and unsure what is required for compliance, privacy obligations and maintaining your reputation? Join us for our tutorial designed to cover the compliance essentials and communication strategies to ensure a smooth and professional offboarding process.
Presented by Master Bookkeeper Leaine Jones, founder of Jones Business Solutions and Smart Books, this tutorial explores the essential steps for professionally ending client engagements – as well as meeting NZ compliance requirements.

Leaine will guide you through:

IRD record retention and handover requirements
Privacy Act essentials for secure data transfer
Communication processes that maintain goodwill and protect your reputation.

Whether you’re managing your own client transitions or supporting businesses through offboarding, this session will help you structure the process and reduce compliance risk.
Reserve your spot and take the stress out of client offboarding.

Price increases - with integrity
2026-06-09 09:30 - 10:15 | Online, Online, New Zealand
Raising fees can feel daunting – but it’s essential for sustainability.
Wanting (or needing) to increase prices and feeling hesitant? Join us for our tutorial to learn how to increase prices while confidently staying compliant with NZ law and maintaining client trust.
Presented by Master Bookkeeper Leaine Jones, founder of Jones Business Solutions and Smart Books, this tutorial explores the key actions to take when reviewing business pricing and implementing and communicating price increases.

Leaine will guide you through:

Fair Trading Act essentials for transparent pricing
How to time and price your price reviews
Communication processes so that fee change notices feel professional and fair.

Whether you’re reviewing your own fees or advising clients on pricing strategies, this tutorial will help you structure your approach and strengthen your confidence.
Reserve your spot and take the first step towards sustainable and compliant pricing.

Mastering difficult business conversations
2026-07-23 13:00 - 16:30 | Oldershaw & Co, 36 Bridge Street, Ahuriri, Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
If you’ve ever avoided a conversation, replayed one in your head, or want to feel more confident the next time it really matters – this workshop is for you.
Difficult conversations are part of business – with clients, colleagues, and teams. This in‑person workshop will help you approach those conversations with confidence, calm, and clarity, rather than avoidance or reaction.
Facilitated by Leaine Jones (Smart Books | Jones Business Solutions), this workshop is practical and interactive, using a guided workbook to explore communication styles, personal triggers, listening skills, and staying calm under pressure.
The afternoon concludes with a lively panel discussion, featuring Mel Morris (bookkeeping industry leader) and Frances Manwaring (communications expert), unpacking real‑world ‘difficult conversation’ scenarios from different perspectives.
Includes lunch from 1.00–1.30 pm
📍 Thursday 23 July | 1.00–4.30 pm
📍 Oldershaw & Co, Ahuriri, Napier
🎟 Limited spaces available

Who This Workshop Is For

Bookkeepers and practice owners
Business owners and managers
Anyone who regularly navigates client, team, or professional conversations

No prior training required — just a willingness to reflect and participate.

Scope creep - How to spot it early and stay in control
2026-09-15 09:30 - 10:15 | Online, Online, New Zealand
Scope creep is one of the most common challenges in professional services – where small jobs quietly grow into something much bigger than expected.
If you work with clients or manage project-based work, you may have experienced tasks expanding beyond what was originally agreed, impacting timelines, workload, and your ability to deliver across all work. Join us for our tutorial to explore what scope creep really means, why it happens, and how to manage it confidently while maintaining clear boundaries and strong client relationships..
Presented by Master Bookkeeper Leaine Jones, founder of Jones Business Solutions and Smart Books, this tutorial explores the essential steps for managing projects effectively – and communicating promptly when things change.

Leaine will guide you through:

how to identify when additional work needs to be addressed or reset
having simple, practical techniques to manage scope and expectations
feeling more confident communicating changes with clients.

Whether you’re working directly with clients or supporting project delivery, this session will help you manage evolving work expectations and communicate changes with clarity and confidence.
Reserve your spot and take the stress out of project management.

Managing Team Performance - for Bookkeepers!
2026-11-03 09:30 - 10:15 | Online, Online, New Zealand
Running a bookkeeping practice means more than just getting the work done – it’s about understanding how your team contributes to the overall performance and profitability of your business.
If you’re managing team members (or thinking about it), you may be asking:
Are we being productive?
Are our jobs actually making money?
Am I supporting my team in the right way – especially when working remotely?
Join this practical webinar designed specifically for bookkeepers to explore how to manage team performance with clarity and confidence.
Presented by Master Bookkeeper Leaine Jones, (Smart Books | Jones Business Solutions), this session will guide you through:

Practical ways to measure productivity across bookkeeping roles and workflows
Understanding job profitability and identifying where margins are being lost
Review processes that maintain quality without slowing the work down
Coaching and supporting virtual team members in a way that builds capability and trust.

Whether you have a small team, are working with contractors, or are planning your first hire, this webinar will help you take a more structured and practical approach to managing performance in a bookkeeping environment.
Reserve your spot and take the next step towards a more productive, profitable, and well‑supported practice.
