Specialist rural & commercial services
Rural and commercial accounting, tax and business advisory
Practical, commercially focused advice — tailored to your situation.
R J Preston Ltd provides specialist accounting, taxation and advisory services to farmers, rural businesses, commercial businesses, companies, trusts and individuals.
We understand that every business is different. Farming businesses face seasonal conditions, weather events, market movements, cashflow pressures and succession decisions. Commercial businesses face their own challenges, including growth planning, staffing, compliance obligations, technology changes, cost control and changing market conditions.
Our advice is practical, commercially focused and tailored to your situation.
Accounting and tax services
Clear, accurate and useful financial information
Accurate and timely financial information is essential for every successful business. We work with clients to meet their accounting and tax obligations while helping them understand their financial position and make better decisions.
- Preparation of annual financial statements
- Preparation and filing of income tax returns
- GST advice and preparation of GST returns
- FBT, PAYE and RWT return assistance
- Tax planning and tax minimisation advice
- ACC obligation support
- Inland Revenue correspondence
- Acting as tax agent in dealings with Inland Revenue
- Assistance with IRD audits, reviews and disputes
- Preparation of periodic management accounts
- Budgeting and cashflow reports
- Budget versus actual reporting
- Benchmarking and benchmark reports
- Companies Office and other statutory return filing
- Bookkeeping services
- Ongoing accounting and taxation advice
Our focus is to make compliance straightforward while providing financial information that is clear, accurate and useful.
Company and trust administration
Records kept properly, filings kept on time
Companies and trusts require careful administration, accurate records and timely filings. These tasks can take valuable time away from running your business.
We help ensure company and trust records are properly maintained, up to date and managed with care.
- Company formations
- Filing annual company returns
- Preparation of minutes and resolutions
- Maintenance of statutory records and minute books
- Changes to directors, shareholders, addresses and office details
- Share transfers
- Registered office services
- Trust accounting, reporting and minute keeping
- Assistance with trust administration requirements
- Liaising with solicitors and other advisers when required
Advice grounded in real rural and commercial experience
James and Grant are both farmers themselves. Many of our team have strong links to farming and rural communities — so the advice you get understands the season you are actually in.
Business, tax and succession planning
Planning ahead with confidence
Planning ahead is one of the most important parts of protecting the future of a business, farm or family-owned operation.
The right advice can help you manage tax obligations, protect assets, improve business structure and prepare for future ownership changes. For farming families, succession planning can be especially important and often involves family expectations, business viability, debt, retirement planning, ownership structures and the transfer of control to the next generation.
- Business and strategic planning
- Tax-effective ownership structures
- Asset protection planning
- Farm and business succession planning
- Reviewing succession options
- Advice on common succession challenges
- Support with family and stakeholder discussions
- Planning the transfer of ownership and control
- Exit strategy planning
- Preparing a business or farm for sale
- Farm sales and purchases
- Business proposals and financial forecasting
With the right guidance, complex decisions become clearer and easier to manage.
Budgeting, cashflow and performance reporting
Understand where your business stands
Strong budgeting and cashflow planning are vital for both rural and commercial businesses. Income, expenses, lending requirements and unexpected events can all affect financial performance.
- Farm and business budgeting
- Cashflow forecasting
- Seasonal planning
- Benchmarking and benchmark reports
- Budget versus actual reporting
- Periodic reporting
- Financial planning for future growth
- Support with lending and finance discussions
Clear reporting helps you understand where your business stands, compare performance, identify trends and plan ahead with confidence.
Accounting software and business systems
Software support from people who use it daily
Technology is now a major part of running a modern business. These systems can save time and improve information, but only when they are set up and used properly.
R J Preston Ltd has software and computer expertise within the team, including staff with IT backgrounds and practical accounting knowledge. Chathu Wattage leads the software and systems support area, bringing together experience in IT, software development and accounting.
We can assist with software setup, training, troubleshooting, reporting, system improvements and ongoing support.
Efficiency can also be affected by your web browser, device, operating system or the way the system has been set up. Small improvements can make a significant difference.
We work with a number of software providers and receive discounts through these partnerships. We do not keep these discounts or add a margin — we pass the benefit on to our clients.
Data security and client confidentiality
Protecting the information you trust us with
In today’s technology-driven environment, protecting client information is more important than ever.
Our clients trust us with important financial, tax and business information, and we take that responsibility seriously. R J Preston Ltd continues to invest in systems, processes and technology that support the security and confidentiality of client data. For us, quality service includes protecting information, maintaining trust and giving clients confidence that their affairs are managed with care.
Why choose R J Preston Ltd
Nearly 50 years of practical, caring advice
We bring together deep rural knowledge, commercial accounting expertise, practical farming insight, modern software support and a genuine commitment to client care.
- Practical advice based on real experience
- High-quality accounting and tax support
- Strong rural and commercial business knowledge
- Clear reporting and useful financial information
- Support with budgeting, benchmarking and cashflow planning
- Assistance with company and trust administration
- Modern software and systems support
- A strong focus on data security and confidentiality
- A team that genuinely cares about your business
We are proud to support farmers, rural businesses, commercial businesses and families through the decisions that matter most.