Financial Services

COMPANY directors and shareholders have been advised to watch for five classic red flags that warn of management fraud.

In the first of a series on raising equity finance, Mark Beyer assesses the various alternatives.

A NATIONAL survey designed to find the employers of choice in the accounting industry has failed to deliver any good news for local firms.

In the fourth and final part of the tax planning series, Mark Beyer looks at some of the tax issues that repeatedly trip up business operators.

TAX Commissioner Michael Carmody has signalled a crackdown on the use of service trusts by professional firms such as accountants and lawyers.

THE Western Australian Government has developed a risk management and public safety awareness campaign for small businesses and community groups.

In the third of a four-part series on business tax planning, Mark Beyer looks at the new consolidation regime.

In the second of a four-part series on business tax planning, Mark Beyer looks at the Simplified Tax System.

LARGE proprietary companies have been advised to check whether they need to have their accounts audited.

In the first of a four-part series on business tax planning, Mark Beyer passes on some end-of-financial-year tips. EVERY good accountant will explain that tax planning should commence at the start of the financial year.

A TAX ruling designed to clarify the GST treatment of vouchers has left some uncertainty about the treatment of certain types of vouchers.

AUSTRALIAN companies are among the fastest payers of sales invoices, an international survey has found. The average payment period by Australian firms was 36 days, according to accounting firm Grant Thornton’s International Business Owners Survey.

THE Australian Tax Office has reported a big increase in compulsory Superannuation Guarantee payments following new measures to boost compliance.

In the final part of a six part series on corporate superannuation, Mark Beyer looks at organisations that have resisted the outsourcing trend.

AUSTRALIA’S major accounting bodies have questioned Federal Government moves that limit the ability of accountants to provide advice on superannuation.

MASTER trusts have been one of the fastest growing segments of the funds management industry over the past decade. For many employers they provide an easy and effective solution to all of their superannuation needs.

NOT-FOR-PROFIT organisations have been told they should improve reporting standards to meet the needs of donors and funding providers.

WHILE many companies have completely outsourced their superannuation to master trusts and industry funds, others have chosen to keep their funds in-house.

A SURVEY of small and mid-sized tax practices has found a sharp increase in average working hours over the past three years, from 47.4 hours a week to 54.6 hours.

SUPERANNUATION administration and consulting firm NSP Buck officially launched its new office and new name in Perth last week.

In the third of a six-part series on corporate superannuation, Mark Beyer looks at industry funds.

THE Australian Securities and Investments Commission has launched a survey of defined benefit superannuation schemes offered by company super funds.

In the second of a six-part series on corporate superannuation, Mark Beyer looks at some of the issues employers need to address when reviewing their fund.

In the first of a six-part series on corporate superannuation, Mark Beyer looks at the impact of increased regulation. AUSTRALIAN companies are voting with their feet.

THE report of the HIH Royal Commission has added to the debate over audit independence and accounting standards by recommending changes that go well beyond current reform proposals.

THE accumulated wealth of Australia’s family businesses far exceeds the combined value of stock market-listed companies, a new survey has found.

In the final instalment of the mergers and acquisitions series, Mark Beyer gets a legal perspective. BEHIND every M&A lawyer is a frustrated merchant banker. It’s an old cliche but it has an element of truth.

In the fifth of a six-part series on mergers and acquisitions, Mark Beyer looks at the acquisition of Marlows.

THE new corporate governance guidelines issued recently by the Australian Stock Exchange could create a divide between large and small companies, local experts have warned.

The debt collection industry has witnessed enormous change over the past few years. Mark Beyer looks at how services have evolved. FOUR years ago, the debt collection industry in Perth was dominated by locally owned and locally run firms.

In this week’s article on Mergers and Acquis-itions, Mark Beyer looks at the impact of tax on M&A transactions.

THE Federal Government has initiated a review of the taxation treatment of certain rights and business expenditures known as ‘black holes’.