A new neutral mononuclear nickel(II) complex of the composition [Ni(Me(2)iz)(2)(ac)(2)] was prepared and characterised (Me(2)iz = 1,2-dimethylimidazole, ac = acetate). The X-ray structure analysis shows that the carboxylato group coordinates as a bidentate ligand with a low O-Ni-O angle of 62 degrees. Therefore an enhanced magnetic anisotropy is expected and confirmed by the magnetic susceptibility measurements. The set of magnetic parameters is g(x), g(y), = 2.175, g(z) = 2.263, D/hc = -14.30 cm(-1), and chi (TIP) = 2.04 x 10(-9) m(3) mol(-1). The axial zero-field splitting parameter D spans the interval of large values owing to a combined effect of the ligand field and angular momentum anisotropy.