Overview
Massey University's accountancy qualifications give students the knowledge, skills and values to develop successful professional careers. We also foster applied research on a wide range of areas related to accountancy and business law.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi at Massey
We are deeply committed to being a Tiriti-led university, demonstrating authentic leadership in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand as we uphold te Tiriti o Waitangi, the founding document of our nation, and its principles through our practice. We embrace this not just as an obligation but as a real opportunity for the nation and its people.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi ki Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – The Treaty of Waitangi at Massey
Study with us
The School of Accountancy offers a broad range of study options for undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications, on campus and online.
Explore by area of interest
Explore a selection of qualifications relating to your interests.
Study accountancy
Start your accounting journey at Massey. Our graduates go on to become chartered accountants or work in other financial roles.
Who we are
Our people make us who we are. Meet senior leaders in the School of Accountancy.
Associate Professor Claire Matthews
Claire became Acting Head for the School of Accountancy in 2024, having been Associate Dean Academic Quality since 2014 after teaching banking and financial advice. A recognised expert on banking and personal finance, her research interests are consumers’ financial behaviour, decisions and attitudes, with a focus on payments, financial capability, retirement planning and KiwiSaver.
Accreditations
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Massey Business School is rated in the top 5% of global business colleges by AACSB International.
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Massey's accountancy qualifications are internationally accredited by the UK's Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Association of MBAs (AMBA)
Massey's MBA programmes (MBA and EMBA) are accredited by the Association of MBAs
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
Massey's accountancy qualifications have accreditation from Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. Representing more than 120,000 members, CA ANZ is committed to upholding ethical standards, delivering world-class member services, educating and advocating for the public good.
Chartered Financial Analysts Institute (CFA)
Massey University is part of the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute's (CFA's) University Affiliation Programme.
CPA Australia - Certified Practising Accountants
Accountancy at Massey University has been accredited by CPA Australia – one of the world’s largest accounting bodies.
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
Accountancy at Massey University is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Global Association of Risk Professionals
"We are very pleased to have the Master in Finance degree qualification offered by Massey University as a member of GARP’s Partnership for Risk Education. " William May, Senior Vice President – Global Head of Certifications and Educational Programs, GARP
Rankings
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Massey Business School is rated in the top 5% of global business colleges by AACSB International.
QS Ranking – Accounting and Finance
Massey is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 200 universities for accounting and finance.
ShanghaiRanking – Business Administration
Massey University is ranked #2 in New Zealand for business administration by ShanghaiRanking.
Community Accounting Services – Auckland
We collaborate with Auckland North Community and Development (ANCAD) to give free financial advice to Auckland and Aotearoa-wide non-profit community groups.
Accountancy students work under supervision of a chartered accountant to give advice, training and support services. There are also free, regular clinics for treasurers and board members of small to medium-sized community groups.
Research
Massey is ranked third in Australasia for accountancy research impact*
School of Accountancy staff are engaged in a wide range of research of international standing. We encourage applied research and scholarship in the pursuit of academic excellence, and reward outstanding achievements.
We place a high priority on support and resourcing for research by emphasising publication in quality journals, presentation of research papers at international conferences and identifying and nurturing emerging areas of research.
* A peer-reviewed article, published in the academic journal Accounting and Finance, examined accounting research published in the discipline’s top 10 Australasian journals from 2015 to 2017 to identify the most cited articles and the most prolific authors.
Research expertise
Our research groups seek innovative solutions to a range of contemporary accounting and business law issues.
Accounting education
Accounting education research focuses on students’ learning, academic performance, and skill development. Expertise includes students’:
- motivations
- skills
- characteristics
- approaches to learning
- career interests.
Our findings provide a better understanding of their academic performance and choice of accountancy as a major and career.
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Business law
Massey business law researchers have expertise in:
- contracts and competition law
- company law
- consumer law
- human rights
- criminal law
- criminology.
Company law interests include a company’s:
- birth (incorporation)
- life (relationships between shareholders, directors and others; fundraising through share issues and borrowing)
- death (liquidation and other insolvency procedures).
We also have expertise in:
- deterring competition
- misleading or deceptive conduct in trade
- the application of criminal law to gangs and cyber-crime
- university law teaching.
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Conventional financial accounting
We are researching in areas such as:
- fair value accounting and revaluations
- accounting for employee benefits
- deferred tax liability accounting
- accounting for goodwill
- accounting for derivatives
- comprehensive income accounting.
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Financial accounting and reporting
Sound financial reporting is critical for the financial wellbeing of firms and the long-term sustainability of their activities and the environment. We are researching in areas such as:
- the information needs of users of financial statements
- fair value accounting and revaluations
- accounting for employee benefits
- accounting for goodwill.
We have researchers working on emerging financial topics such as integrated reporting and accounting reporting.
Our reporting expertise covers the public sector, not-for-profit and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
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Governance including auditing
Our research includes the economics and production of assurance services and the role of auditing in corporate governance, and auditing in the public and not-for profit sectors.
Other research addresses issues such as board composition and the role of audit committees. This is of interest to regulators and contributes to the development of professional standards, guidance and policies for practising auditors in New Zealand.
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Management accounting
We review how managers in private and public sector organisations use financial and non-financial information to make informed decisions, control strategic directions and improve efficacy.
Areas we research include:
- costing systems
- revenue management
- organisational and behavioural aspects of management control systems
- innovations in and the impact of performance measurement systems, incentive systems
- risk assessment.
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Multidisciplinary topics
We research multidisciplinary topics that include business ethics, fraud and non-financial reporting.
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Public sector accountability
Research focuses on dimensions of accountability in the public sector with respect to:
- accounting and auditing
- governance
- service delivery and resource allocation
- risk management
- financial sustainability
- responsiveness and responsibility of national and local governments.
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Sector-based reporting
We have expertise in public sector reporting, reporting by not-for-profit organisations, and reporting by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
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Taxation
Staff are active in research relating to tax compliance. An interdisciplinary approach is adopted in many of the studies drawing on various perspectives such as economics and social psychology.
The four broad areas of research interest are:
- taxpayers’ and tax practitioners’ compliance behaviour
- compliance burden issues particularly for small businesses
- perceptions of fairness towards taxation
- international tax.
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Research seminars
School of Accountancy research seminars are for staff members of the School and visitors to present their current research and in this way share their ideas with, and receive feedback from the academic community as well as the wider public, including professionals. The seminars have been run since 2021 and are held on Massey’s Albany and Manawatū campuses. Everybody is welcome.
Scholarships and prizes
We award a range of prizes (sponsored by industry) to top-performing Massey University accountancy students every year.
Accountancy prizes
We award a range of prizes (sponsored by industry) to top-performing Massey University accountancy students every year.
Scholarships and awards
Massey University offers a number of scholarships for first year and current Massey students.
Strategic vision, mission, values and goals
Vision and mission
We aim to be recognised as a leader in accounting and business law education and research by:
- providing quality accounting and business law education that provides a foundation for career success for our graduates,
- conducting and disseminating applied research
- contributing positively to the accounting profession, the university and the wider community.
Our values
We are student focused, by:
- ensuring our student education programmes are relevant and up-to-date
- encouraging alternative modes of delivery and learning.
We are supportive of staff by:
- providing staff with opportunities for personal development
- maintaining quality and uphold professional standards
- encouraging and supporting staff research
- reinforcing and promoting the university’s strategic goals.
We embrace Equal Employment Opportunities principles by:
- recognising the Treaty of Waitangi
- maintaining transparent and inclusive (participative) management systems.
Our goals
The School seeks to be recognised as a quality provider of accounting and business law education and research in:
- education
- research
- contribution to the profession, the university and the wider community.
School of Accountancy Year Books
Contact the School of Accountancy
School of Accountancy – Auckland campus
- accountancy@massey.ac.nz
- Location
Postal address
School of Accountancy
Massey University
Albany Expressway SH 17
Albany 0632Use our Auckland campus maps or find us on Google Maps.
School of Accountancy – Manawatū campus
- accountancy@massey.ac.nz
- Location
Postal address
School of Accountancy
Massey University
Tennent Drive
Palmerston North 4474Use our Manawatū campus maps or find us on Google Maps.
Looking for a staff member? Visit our staff directory or use Expertise search.