


Recent Insights.

4 February 2020
Is your business ‘fit’ for finance in 2020?
As changing markets create a new lending environment there continues to be a trend of increased risk aversion by mainstream financial institutions (banks/lenders). In this article we explore how businesses can ensure they are ‘fit’ for finance in 2020 and beyond. Prepare your business’ financial statements It is essential for businesses to have up-to-date financial statements as it provides visibility on the overall performance of the business. Having accurate and timely financial statements can also assist in getting your business ‘fit’ for finance. When applying for finance, financial institutions (banks/lenders) require up-to-date financial statements. Getting these organised can take some...

4 February 2020
Why is cash flow so important for businesses?
When it comes to running a business of any size, managing its cash flow is crucial. So, why is cash flow so important for businesses and how can you ensure you successfully manage it? In this article we will explore: What is cash flow? Why is cash flow so important? How to analyse cash flow How to finance your cash flow What is cash flow? Put simply, cash flow is the money moving/flowing in and out of your business. Cash flows in from customers who purchase goods and services, money from investors, interest on savings or investments, and so on....

3 December 2019
Prepare your business for the new year
Now is a great time for businesses to reflect on achievements and challenges they faced over the past year and prepare for what’s ahead. To help you prepare for the new year we have put together a few tasks to add to your to-do-list: Review and create new goals This time of year, is a perfect time to review your short-term goals achieved throughout the year, as well as looking at the challenges or negatives you incurred along the way. It’s important to understand when these challenges took place and what you did to resolve them, to give you the...

6 November 2019
5 Lifestyle hacks to improve your energy at work
There is a vast amount of readily available information on how you can increase your health and improve your energy levels, so much so that it can become confusing or in some cases controversial. An article published by the Australian Institute of Company Directors caught our attention, as it explores how a few simple lifestyle hacks can improve your energy at work. The article features Dr Joanna McMillan who explores the idea of “lifestyle medicine” and how it has the power to make a real difference to how you feel, your performance and energy levels for work and leisure, your...

4 November 2019
Ledge Finance: 3-Way forecasting for SME & large businesses

1 October 2019
Growth in the WA mining & resources sector
Australia is starting to see an upturn in the mining and resources sector after ending 2018 with a record-breaking year and continuing this growth into 2019. [1] Western Australia plays a huge part in this success, but there are plenty of discussions around the current skills shortage. Growth in the resources and mining sector The Resources and Energy Quarterly report June 2019, released by the Australian Government, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science reported: “In recent years, we have predicted commodity export earnings would peak in 2018 – 19. As recently as March 2019, we suggested record earnings of $278...

2 July 2019
How does the cash rate impact banks interest rates?
How does the cash rate impact banks interest rates? The RBA conducts Australia’s monetary policy which includes setting the cash rate on overnight loans in the money market. The cash rate influences the banks’ interest rates, however there are many other factors which also affect rates including overall cost of funds, lending risks, competition etc. In June 2019, the RBA announced a 0.25% (25 basis points) cut to the cash rate to a historical low of 1.25%. Not all banks followed suit which provoked the usual media outcry. Closer analysis would have revealed that the bank which passed on the...

4 June 2019
Corporate Scorecard: What it is and how it may affect you
Corporate Scorecard: What it is and how it may affect you Corporate Scorecard is a subsidiary of Equifax that assists with the assessment of the financial capacity of organisations including for pre-qualification, pre-contract award and post contract award monitoring for contracts. This assessment has been around for several years and many of our clients, who are contracted to work for government organisations, are being presented with this as a mandatory procedure to complete (and pass) prior to contract approval. A Corporate Scorecard assessment is mandatory to all Public Authorities in the Perth Region and customers in Regional Areas and other...

7 May 2019
Discretionary trusts: Protect your family wealth
When setting up a business, many prospective owners will be advised by their Accountants to operate through a discretionary trust structure as this allows flexibility in income splitting whilst also providing asset protection. Whilst this is a common strategy for family run businesses, it is important to be aware of the complications that may arise. If you are involved in a business structure, which has as part of that structure a discretionary trust, you should be aware of the possible issues relating to the structure of that trust. These could include: 1. Your trust should reflect the succession planning Whether...