NZ Cricket

Major Sporting Organisation

New Zealand’s cricketing body New Zealand Cricket (NZC), wanted to ensure the country’s Major Associations (MA’s) had the right financial management practices in place, after a series of surprise end of year results from some of them.

As a result, Game Plan now provides financial services to the five nationwide MA’s, ensuring that the MA and NZC are always abreast of the respective associations’ financial positions throughout the year. Game Plan is also able to provide financial management to the Associations at a level and quality that they may otherwise not be able to currently afford.

Game Plan provides the outsourcing service from their Christchurch base, to the multiple sites of the MA's in Hamilton, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch and Otago or wherever people are based. Game Plan are trusted to work within NZC systems using SAP Business One (MS SQL) accounting system operating on NZC’s servers, via thin client GoGlobal access.

Game Plan’s services to the MA’s vary depending on the needs of the client Association and their financial position. For some its about timely, accurate monthly reporting and end of year audits and accounts, for others it can also include working closely with them on plans to overcome financial issues, as well as regular monitoring, or just normal accounting requirements and returns. Game Plan services to some of NZC Major Associations may also encompass a wider spectrum from accounts, payroll, budgeting, to cash flow forecasting and management, and electronic banking, all while working as part of the Major Association team.

For the five Major associations that Game Plan is supporting, reporting is provided both to the Finance Committee and then to the Association Board, with Game Plan personnel ‘attending’ Finance Committee meetings as the Association desires.

Game Plan accounting and payroll staff work closely with the Major Association personnel, not only providing the appropriate accounting and administration support, but also benefitting the Association, and their staff, through the passing on of skills and knowledge. The staff can utilise the wide range of skills available from Game Plan that may not currently be available within the organisation.

Team members involved with this case study:

“For outsourcing to be successful those providing the service must have excellent skills and knowledge, along with the ability to work well with clients. Above all Game Plan has proved to be an honest and trusted business partner, able to meet deadlines in all aspects of its services, from cash flow forecasting, through to payroll and year end accounts and audit.

The team at Game Plan provide tremendous support to the organisations that make up the sport of cricket in New Zealand. As CFO at New Zealand Cricket we know that we can rely on the Game Plan team to meet deadlines, be accurate and timely with their reporting, and provide well thought out advice to our Major Associations. Game Plan’s contribution is not just well valued and respected by our Major Associations, it is a major help to me in meeting the requirements of my role at NZC.”
- Tim Smith CFO, New Zealand Cricket

Christchurch Symphony Orchestra

Not-for-profit

The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra is an exciting client, and an organisation dear to the people of Christchurch. It is an organisation which operates in a financially challenging environment, requiring careful financial management. However this environment means it does not justify employing someone with the required skills on a full time basis.

The Game Plan team provided the CSO with the perfect solution – a team well versed in the not-for-profit sector and the issues which face organisations of the CSO’s size. Game Plan are a team able to provide all of the services required by the CSO in payroll, financial management and reporting, cashflow management, end of year reporting and general business management; a team that was able to fit in with the CSO team like they were part of their business.

Our work to date has been based on end of month and end of year reporting, cashflow management, assisting with budgets and in setting up and processing fortnightly payrolls including a mixture of contractors and employees.

This is just the start, as we aim to work with the passionate team at the CSO and help make a better business, through helping strengthen their Balance Sheet, and above all refining their processes so the efficiency in the office releases more funds for their core - the Orchestra.

Game Plan’s role with the CSO is effectively a Business Manager role which includes providing support to the General Manager in managing the overall business.

Team members involved with this case study:

“The CSO is committed to best practice in our administrative and financial processes. As a Charitable Trust we have always recognised the importance of robust and trusted financial management able to meet deadlines and provide both Board and Management an overview of the business.

We are delighted with the services provided by the team at Game Plan which include overall financial management of the business, monthly and end of year reporting, cash flow management, budgeting, payroll and other business management functions as required – and at reasonable cost.

Game Plan is a good fit for the CSO and we are delighted to have them on board.”
- Gretchen La Roche General & Artistic Manager, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra

Hillmorton Nest

Small to Medium Business

Sarah established her own preschool in 2012, and while she was able to undertake the management of the centre and the skills required to service the needs of the children, she turned to Game Plan to assist with the financial and administration side of her business.

We were able to assist Sarah in setting up her business initially, and then with the ongoing financial management and processes once started. Our support included the initial set up on Xero, then assisting with reconciliation of bank transactions (although this task is normally undertaken by Sarah herself), monthly and end of year accounting, tax returns, GST returns, budgets, cashflow, returns for the Ministry of Education, assistance with applications for bank funding, budgeting, and generally just providing good sound financial advice.

In addition Wendy, Game Plan’s Payroll Manager has worked closely with Sarah to set up online payroll using i-payroll. All Hillmorton Nest now have to do is provide a fortnightly hours sheet along with any other instructions that are relevant. Wendy then processes the payroll, including taking care of PAYE and Kiwisaver, leaving Sarah to focus on what she is knows best, helping the young children of today!

This not a large business, but is a clear example of the need for any business to do things properly when setting up, without taking shortcuts. If we can help you get it right up front, the systems will work efficiently going forward, allowing your business to focus on being good at what you are set up to do.

Team members involved with this case study:

“Using Game Plan to set up and then process our payroll has been of huge assistance to me. Not only do I know the payroll will be processed accurately, but I also have access to the knowledge and skill of the Game Plan team, while the i-payroll system provides online access for my staff to their payroll information, and also takes care of my PAYE returns each month.

For a small organisation, being able to utilise the professional skills of the Game Plan team at a price that the business can justify is a great way to secure skills for the business that I could otherwise not afford.”
- Sarah Forward Managing Director, Hillmorton Nest