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Protect yourself from invoice fraud by using e-invoicing
20 June 2024
Invoice scams are becoming increasingly more common (even in New Zealand), and are becoming so sophisticated they can be hard to spot, even for the most tech savvy among us. A common scam is to alter the bank account number on an invoice. An email with your invoice gets intercepted and the bank account details changed to that of the scammers. Your customer pays the invoice and thinks they’ve paid you, but instead it’s gone straight to the scammer, never to be seen again. Now you’re both out of pocket while the scammer scams the next unsuspecting person.
You can protect yourself from these types of scams by using e-invoicing. E-invoices replace emailed invoices by instead delivering an e-invoice directly into your customers accounting software, even if they’re using a different accounting system to you. By directly connecting suppliers with their clients, there’s no opportunity for scammers to intercept the invoices.
Government-backed e-invoicing framework
In 2019, the governments of New Zealand and Australia set up a framework for e-invoicing in both countries, designed to make it easier to trade across the Tasman. The system uses a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) as a global ID for every business, and has been adopted by software providers including Xero. If your business uses a platform like Xero, you can e-invoice your customers, or receive e-invoices from suppliers, even if they don’t use the same platform.
Start sending and receiving e-invoices
You can set up e-invoicing in MYOB or we can help you set this up - just get in touch and we can help. It only takes a little bit of preparation to use e-invoicing, and once you have the hang of it, you’re protected from invoice fraud, and so are your customers!
At Gunson McLean we are more than just a business offering financial expertise we also support our communities in Dargaville and Whangārei. By partnering with various local organisations, we help sustain and strengthen sports, recreation, and community initiatives in the region. Empowering Local Sports Clubs We understand the role sports play in bringing people together, promoting teamwork, and supporting youth development. We are proud to sponsor the Old Boys Marist Rugby & Sports Club, Hikurangi Rugby Football Club Inc, Maungakaramea Hockey Club, Maungakaramea Bowling Club, Mid Western Rugby Squash Club, Kamo Rugby & Squash Club, New Zealand Vikings Rugby Football Club Inc., and the Cobham Cricket Club. Promoting Outdoor Education We also believe that outdoor education is essential for youth development and are proud to work with the charitable trust, Pātaua Outdoor Education & Recreation Trust (POERT). We have been closely involved in the Trust’s activities for the past 8 years – handlings its financial matters – and Craig Gunson is the current Treasurer. Backing Community Halls & Facilities We’re proud to support the Whareora Hall Society and Whareora Cemetery Board as well as local cycling and motorcycling groups Marsden Wheelers Cycling Club Inc., and the Whangārei Motorcycle Club. We are passionate about the causes we support, and the opportunities and growth this enables in our Dargaville and Whangārei communities.
These days, having a website isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must have! Whether you’re running an online store, offering services, or just sharing valuable info, your website is often the first impression people get of your business. But just having a website isn’t enough. It needs to run smoothly, engage visitors, and actually help your business grow. When was the last time you thought about how well your website was helping your business? Your website might be turning people away without you even realising it—maybe your site is too slow, hard to navigate, or just not appearing in search results. Here’s why website analysis is so crucial: Better User Experience (UX) – A well-organised, easy-to-use site keeps visitors engaged and more likely to take action, whether that’s making a purchase, booking a service, or getting in touch. Stronger SEO Performance – Google and other search engines favour websites that load fast, work well on mobile, and are optimised for relevant keywords. If you’re not ranking, you’re missing out on traffic. Higher Conversion Rates – Even if you’re getting visitors, are they turning into customers? Website analysis can highlight issues like confusing layouts, weak calls to action, or technical errors that might be affecting conversions. Staying Ahead of Competitors – Regularly analysing your site helps you stay up to date with trends and customer expectations, keeping you competitive. What to Look Out for When Analysing Your Website Before you pay anyone the big bucks, you can perform a basic analysis of your own website by considering the following five things: 1. How quickly does your website load? How long does it take for your website to load? A long load time will turn people away. Utilise a device that you don’t often use to check how quickly your website loads. Aim for a load time under three seconds. 2. How easy is it to navigate? Is your site easy to navigate, and can visitors quickly find what they need? 3. Is your site mobile-friendly? More and more people browse on their phones, so make sure your site works well on all devices – most websites will work well on computers but what about mobile phones or iPads and Tablets? 4. Are you using up-to-date terminology? Does your site have relevant keywords to help visitors find your website? These keywords are used by search engines to help them decide which websites to show to people searching for products or services you offer. If you have articles or help guides, are these high-quality and informative? Improving both of these will help your ranking in search engines. 5. How easy is it to contact you? Check your contact forms are working and easy to fill in (no one likes having to repeatedly try and submit a form). How easy is it for customers to checkout, or make a booking? Remove unnecessary steps to simplify the process. Best Tools for Website Analysis There are plenty of tools to help businesses keep their websites in check. Some of the most useful include: Google Analytics – Get insights into user behaviour, traffic sources, and conversion rates. GTmetrix – Checks page load speed and suggests ways to improve it. For the more tech-savvy: Google Search Console – Track how your site appears in search results and fix any technical issues. PageSpeed Insights – Find out how fast your site loads and how to make it faster. SEMrush / Ahrefs – Great for SEO analysis, keyword tracking, and competitor research. Hotjar – Offers heatmaps and session recordings to see how people interact with your site. If you’re not regularly checking in on your website’s performance, you could be losing customers without even knowing it. People expect smooth online experiences, and businesses that don’t meet those expectations risk falling behind. A slow, outdated, or hard-to-use site means frustrated visitors who will likely go to a competitor instead. A lack of relevant keywords or a slow-loading website can hurt your visibility, making it even harder for people to find you online. If you haven’t checked in on your site’s performance lately, now’s the time to start. A well-optimised website can be the difference between thriving online and getting lost in the crowd.
Most people agree that optimising your business is a good idea and spend hours looking at optimising the supply chain, storage, overheads etc. However, they forget that people are one of the most critical elements in your business. By providing a caring, supportive workplace for employees you also drive the success of your business. Studies show happy workers are productive workers and, as an employer, it’s a no-brainer to provide a workplace where employees feel valued, and where they can flourish. Here are five key ways to build employee relationships, nurture your team, and create a great workplace for your employees: 1. Invest in your employees This doesn’t mean ‘casual Friday’s’ or a pizza night once a month. This is about offering your employees access to training programmes, workshops, conferences, and mentorship programmes. It’s about the professional growth of your employee and how you can enhance their skills and make them feel truly valued as team members. 2. Create a positive work environment Creating a positive work environment is about cultivating a workplace culture that feels positive and supportive of your employees. Be open and transparent with your employees, listen to their feedback and have a strong focus on employee wellbeing. This could include offering flexible working arrangements, benefits such as health insurance, and other perks. 3. Recognise and reward your employees When an employee goes above and beyond, make sure your recognise and reward them. This could by through a performance bonus, employee-of-the-month programmes or even extra time off in lieu. Feeling valued comes partially from feeling rewarded and can be an amazing motivator. 4. Give employees autonomy One of the key ways employees feel trust, is by being given autonomy. Being trusted to come up with their own solutions, processes, and ideas is key to making people feel as if they ‘own’ their role. This helps employees feel fully involved and also brings new ideas, solutions, processes, and efficiencies to the table. 5. Put wellbeing at the heart of your culture Life is stressful. And work-life can be stressful. A well though out wellbeing programme can help your employees manage stress and, in turn, benefits your business. A wellbeing programme is different for each business but some ideas could be checking in with team members, creating a ‘ask for help’ culture, flexible working arrangements including work-from-home days, and offering mental health support. Making sure you’re a caring and supportive employer is vital to your business strategy. With a team who feel valued, nurtured, and encouraged, you’ll all be happier and more productive.
To discuss all your account matters please call us on 09 438 1001
