{"url":"https://www.nbr.co.nz/nbr-focus/the-accountants-2026-2b-industry-sheds-1000-jobs-in-two-years/","title":"NZ $2b accounting sheds 1000 jobs in slump","domain":"nbr.co.nz","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/16077183/pexels-photo-16077183.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"New Zealand accountants","category":"Business","language":"en","slug":"aef03feb","id":"aef03feb-1f9d-4430-8b96-4fb4f06f7a67","description":"NZ Accountants Series: NBR's fifth annual analysis tracks New Zealand's largest accounting firms amid economic slump.[[1]](https://www.nbr.co.nz/nbr-focus/","summary":"## TL;DR\n- **NZ Accountants Series:** NBR's fifth annual analysis tracks New Zealand's largest accounting firms amid economic slump.[[1]](https://www.nbr.co.nz/nbr-focus/the-accountants-2026-2b-industry-sheds-1000-jobs-in-two-years/)[[2]](https://www.nbr.co.nz/nbr-focus/the-accountants-2026-reconciling-with-ai)\n- **1000 Jobs Cut:** The $2 billion sector shed 1000 jobs across its 15 largest firms over two years, with over 500 lost in 2025 alone.[[1]](https://www.nbr.co.nz/nbr-focus/the-accountants-2026-2b-industry-sheds-1000-jobs-in-two-years/)[[3]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mphipG8g3wA)\n- **Revenue Stagnates:** Firms saw collective revenue grow just 4% to over $2 billion in 2025 financial year on low single-digit gains.[[1]](https://www.nbr.co.nz/nbr-focus/the-accountants-2026-2b-industry-sheds-1000-jobs-in-two-years/)\n\n## The story at a glance\nNBR's *The Accountants 2026* series, by Hamish McNicol and Kate McVicar, examines New Zealand's 15 largest accounting firms including Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY. It highlights job cuts and sluggish growth tied to the 2025 recession after earlier staffing shortages. The report comes as the fifth annual instalment, timed with release of 2025 financial year data.[[1]](https://www.nbr.co.nz/nbr-focus/the-accountants-2026-2b-industry-sheds-1000-jobs-in-two-years/)\n\n## Key points\n- Country's 15 largest firms collectively shed more than **500 jobs** due to 2025 economic recession.[[1]](https://www.nbr.co.nz/nbr-focus/the-accountants-2026-2b-industry-sheds-1000-jobs-in-two-years/)\n- Overall sector revenue rose about **4%** to more than **$2 billion** in 2025 financial year, mostly low single-digit growth per firm.[[1]](https://www.nbr.co.nz/nbr-focus/the-accountants-2026-2b-industry-sheds-1000-jobs-in-two-years/)\n- Headline claims **1000 jobs** shed in two years by the $2b industry, aligning with series findings on workforce contraction.[[3]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mphipG8g3wA)\n- Firms tracked: Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, EY, BDO, Baker Tilly Staples Rodway, Findex, Grant Thornton, PlusMore, Moore Markhams, Nexia, RSM, Acclime, William Buck, McCulloch & Partners.[[1]](https://www.nbr.co.nz/nbr-focus/the-accountants-2026-2b-industry-sheds-1000-jobs-in-two-years/)\n- Shift from 2023 staffing shortages to current downsizing reflects prolonged slowdown.[[1]](https://www.nbr.co.nz/nbr-focus/the-accountants-2026-2b-industry-sheds-1000-jobs-in-two-years/)\n\n## Details and context\nThe article opens NBR's annual series on New Zealand's accounting sector, now valued over $2 billion, by detailing firm sizes, revenues, and headcounts from 2025 financial year reports. It contrasts recent job losses with pre-recession hiring struggles, blaming a tough economy for reduced client demand and low growth.\n\nVisible text notes most firms posted single-digit revenue increases despite overall 4% rise, suggesting uneven performance across the Big Four and mid-tier players. The paywall cuts off deeper analysis, but related series pieces discuss AI adoption and sector challenges.[[2]](https://www.nbr.co.nz/nbr-focus/the-accountants-2026-reconciling-with-ai)\n\nNo external reports from sources like Reuters or Bloomberg detail the exact 1000-job figure, but NBR promotions and podcast tie it to two-year trends in the firms studied.\n\n## Key quotes\nNone visible in accessible article text.\n\n## Why it matters\nNew Zealand's accounting sector underpins business compliance, audits, and advice, so contraction signals broader economic weakness hitting professional services. Firms and workers face pressure, with slower hiring and AI potentially accelerating changes for employees and clients seeking cost efficiencies. Watch firm-specific 2026 financials and AI uptake, as recovery depends on economic rebound whose timing remains unclear.","hashtags":["#accounting","#newzealand","#jobs","#economy","#recession","#business"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.nbr.co.nz/nbr-focus/the-accountants-2026-2b-industry-sheds-1000-jobs-in-two-years/","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://www.nbr.co.nz/nbr-focus/the-accountants-2026-reconciling-with-ai","title":""},{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mphipG8g3wA","title":""}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-20T07:22:05.808Z","createdAt":"2026-04-20T07:22:05.808Z","articlePublishedAt":"2026-04-07T14:20:12.000Z"}