Odyssey Accountants — formerly Zest Accountants — is a Christchurch-based accounting practice supporting New Zealand small businesses, with a tagline of "with you for the journey." The practice is led by Rebecca Skevington, a Chartered Accountant with over a decade of experience, including roles as a client manager for a large public practice firm in Christchurch and as a Financial Planning and Analysis Manager for a large international tech firm in London.
Odyssey offers fixed monthly fee packages designed to make small business accounting costs predictable, covering annual financial accounts and income tax returns (including individual returns), filing with the IRD, reminders when tax payments are due, and advice to help clients understand their financial results. The practice serves a diverse clientele, from rental property owners to entertainers, and is a Xero and MYOB partner, helping clients get on top of their bookkeeping and financial paperwork.
Odyssey emphasises accessibility and ongoing support, offering both virtual and face-to-face meetings, education and resources to help clients understand their finances, and email and phone contact for quick queries. As small business owners themselves, the team says they understand the challenges small business owners face and aim to support clients through those challenges.
Odyssey Accountants, formerly known as Zest Accountants, is a Christchurch-based practice built specifically around the needs of New Zealand small businesses. Its tagline, "with you for the journey," reflects an approach that leans on ongoing support rather than a once-a-year check-in.
The practice is led by Rebecca Skevington, a Chartered Accountant with over a decade of experience. Her background includes working as a client manager for a large public practice firm in Christchurch, as well as a stint as a Financial Planning and Analysis Manager for a large international tech firm in London. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting, is a Chartered Accountant, and holds a Certificate of Public Practice.
Odyssey's pricing model is built around predictability. Rather than variable, hard-to-budget-for fees, the practice offers fixed monthly packages: a Rental Plan for simpler needs, a Standard Plan for general small business clients, and a Standard + GST Preparation package for those who also need GST returns handled. Every package includes preparation of annual financial accounts and income tax returns — including individual returns — with Odyssey filing these directly with the IRD on the client's behalf. Clients also get reminders throughout the year when tax payments are due, advice on their results to help them understand their financial accounts and tax returns, and email and phone contact for quick queries.
Odyssey's client base is described as diverse, ranging from rental property owners to entertainers. This range shows up in the way the practice talks about tax: earning income domestically and internationally can get complicated, and Odyssey positions itself as making sure clients pay the right amount of tax — not more — so they keep more of what they earn without the added worry of getting it wrong.
As Xero and MYOB partners, Odyssey helps clients get their bookkeeping and financial paperwork up to speed using software most small businesses already know or can easily adopt. On the access side, the practice offers both virtual and face-to-face meetings, aiming to make contact easy regardless of how a client prefers to work.
Odyssey also places a clear emphasis on financial education, aiming to empower clients with the insights and resources they need to understand their own numbers rather than simply handing over paperwork once a year. That's paired with a stated commitment to ongoing, personalised support and guidance — the idea being that clients are never left to figure things out alone between annual meetings.
One detail that shapes Odyssey's approach is that its own team are small business owners themselves. That's presented not just as a marketing line but as the basis for genuinely understanding the challenges and pitfalls small business owners face — informing how the practice structures its packages, its support, and its overall approach to client relationships. For Christchurch small businesses looking for an accountant that combines fixed, predictable costs with year-round contact rather than an annual scramble, Odyssey positions itself as a straightforward, supportive option.