Caunt and Lowbeer (

Caunt and Lowbeer Chartered Accountants was founded in 2002. What sets us apart is the longevity of our team members and accessibility to our directors. Over the past 10 years we have grown rapidly and today we are a leading chartered accounting and business advisory firm.

TAXATION SERVICES

We regularly deal with a broad range of personal and corporate taxation issues and make a point of understanding the individual needs of every client. Whether you need advice on company tax, personal tax effectiveness or indirect taxation including payroll tax and GST, our team will identify the best solutions for you.

Our taxation services include:

• Preparation and lodgement of taxation returns
• Capital gains taxation planning
• Fringe benefits tax returns
• Land tax returns
• Payroll tax returns compliance
• Tax planning and minimisation
• PAYG and superannuation compliance
• Structuring and restructuring
• Specialised advice

ACCOUNTING SERVICES

In the constantly changing business environment, we are able to assist you with your business matters. Whether your concerns are taxation, accounting, business planning, cashflow and budgeting, or business valuation, rest assured that our staff are available to advise you.

Our accounting and compliance services include:

• Preparation of annual accounts
• Preparation of periodic management accounts
• Book-keeping services
• Maintaining PAYG and GST records and associated returns
• PAYG and Superannuation Guarantee compliance
• Self-assessment advice
• Superannuation fund accounting and administration

BUSINESS SUPPORT AND ADVISORY

Thinking strategically about future changes in the marketplace can be the key to running a sustainable business. Our aim is to ensure your business has the flexibility to sidestep foreseeable difficulties and better respond to the unexpected ones.

Our business support services include:

• Business start-up planning and advice
• Structuring and restructuring
• Succession or exit planning
• Raising capital or borrowings
• Advice on expansion
• Managing costs
• Business plans
• Business valuations
• Financial management
• Cashflow forecasting and management
• Long term plans for your business

…and much more.

CLOUD ACCOUNTING

Cloud accounting is one of the most exciting changes in the accounting industry. To date, more than 50,000 businesses across Australia have moved their accounts to the Xero platform. The cloud is simply a platform to make data and software accessible online anytime, anywhere, from any device. Your hard drive is no longer the central hub

Cloud accounting, is one area which we have seen a lot of uptake in and it’s easy to see why when you look at the benefits.

• Easy access to data – you can get access to your accounts and run your business from anywhere in the world.
• It allows for flexible invoicing, it is cost effective, efficient and secure.
• Everything is run online, so there’s nothing to install and everything is backed up automatically.
• You have a clear overview of your current financial position, in real-time. You can run real time reports and quickly view your business at a glance.
• Easy to collaborate with your team.
• Hassle free maintenance means you can spend more time doing what you love.

Our clients use a wide range of cloud accounting products such as Xero, MYOB and Reckon. We can organise demonstrations or training for your staff. We are passionate about the benefits of cloud accounting and have staff who are Xero Certified Advisors. We are a Xero Gold Partner, MYOB Professional Partner as well as a Reckon Professional Partner.  If you would like to find out more or to see if cloud based accounting will suit you please contact us. 

AUDIT SERVICES

We carry out your auditing and financial analysis with a minimum of fuss and maximum efficiency and accuracy. As well as giving you the peace of mind that your accounts are fully compliant with statutory requirements, we can identify strengths and weaknesses in the finances of your business, helping show the way to future success and profitability.

Our core auditing services include:

• Statutory audits
• Internal audits
• Superannuation fund audits
• Trust accounts
• Due diligence
• Risk management
• Specialist audits

SMSF

Australians are moving more than $14 billion a year from their industry or employer superannuation funds into self-managed funds. At Caunt and Lowbeer we are able to assist you to:

• Take control of your super – Having a self managed super fund (SMSF) can give you greater control over your financial future. With an SMSF, you make all the investment decisions and have the potential to access unique tax and investment opportunities. But there is also the challenge of managing the administration and compliance of an SMSF.
• Help with administration and compliance – We keep the day-to-day paperwork in check, arrange your annual audit and tax returns, and help with your SMSF’s compliance.
• Choose your own investments – With a SMSF you are able to create the investment strategy you want.

ESTATE AND SUCCESSION PLANNING

Estate planning is for everyone and not just for “the wealthy”.

It is an essential part of managing your finances and is important to protect your assets and family. It is much more than simply preparing a will. With careful estate planning, you have the comfort of knowing that the wealth you have built is transferred smoothly, tax-effectively and most importantly, according to your wishes.

We can help you with:

• Preparing an estate plan. We offer estate planning at different levels according to your needs. Estate planning does not have to be expensive.
• Estate administration and executorial duties – to help ensure your will is executed according to your wishes and to relieve your family of the responsibility.
• Business owner succession planning.
• Managing all your important documents online.

BOOKKEEPING

A good bookkeeper is invaluable for any small to medium business. They can save you time, costs and make running your business a lot easier.

Our bookkeeping services are useful for companies that don’t require a full time bookkeeper. Our services are efficient, accurate and tailored to your requirements.

Some of our bookkeeping services include:

• Administration
• ATO Correspondence
• Business Activity Statements (BAS)
• Cash flow management
• Data entry
• Debtor management
• Filing
• Instalment Activity Statement (IAS)
• Reconciliations
• Payroll
• Profit & Loss (P&L )

OUTSOURCED CFO SERVICE

The challenge of any small or medium sized business wanting to grow is ensuring they have the right financial management disciplines in place as well as having a strategic plan to help them achieve their goal. This is when an outsourced chief financial officer (CFO) can be advantageous.

A CFO can provide you with insights through the interpretation of your business numbers. They will support you in strategic decisions with financial tools, to help you assess the financial impact of key business options.

How we can help you

• Partner with you to understand the key financial drivers that will realise your business’ opportunities for growth.
• Turn your monthly balance sheet and profit and loss data into meaningful financial management information.
• Give you insights into your business by looking at the financial performance of your business
• Support key business decisions by building financial models that allow you to see the financial impact of those decisions.
• Help you look forward by forecasting projected profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow statements to gain a view of where your business may be going financially.
• Streamline your processes, procedures and structure to ensure you have a cost-effective finance operation.
• Meet compliance and reporting obligations.

USA PROPERTY INVESTMENT

We are able to assist investors with their Australian taxation and accounting needs when investing in US property as well as advising on structuring and re-structuring. As with any business or investment venture, it is well worth obtaining quality advice to ensure the most effective and efficient structures are used from both an asset protection and tax planning point of view. It can be very costly if an inappropriate or incorrect structure is used, particularly when dealing with two tax and legal systems.

To receive advice or assistance in relation to your tax, accounting or structuring needs in this area, please contact Mark Williams (02 9884 7100 ormark@cauntandlowbeer.com.au).

Note:  Caunt and Lowbeer are not financial advisers.  We recommend obtaining appropriate financial advice before undertaking any investment.

MARKETING

Clever marketing can help your company grow and acquire more customers. Often small businesses require marketing advice and assistance but don’t require a full-time marketing manager.  This is where we can assist you. From doctors, to restaurants to small gift shops, we help start-up businesses and existing businesses with their marketing needs. Our services include:

• Creating brochures and flyers to promote your products and services
• Writing a marketing plan
• Managing your marketing campaigns
• Helping you with your website and branding
• Create and implement marketing strategies to grow your business
• Marketing consultant

Depending on your needs we can provide practical advice on a once off or ongoing basis.