-
Business valuations
We offer expert valuation advice in transactions, regulatory and administrative matters, and matters subject to dispute – valuing businesses, shares and intangible assets in a wide range of industries.
-
Capital markets
You need corporate finance specialists experienced in international capital markets on your side if you’re buying or selling financial securities.
-
Complex and international services
Our experience of multi-jurisdictional insolvencies coupled with our international reputation allows us to deliver the best possible outcome for all stakeholders.
-
Corporate insolvency
Our corporate investigation and recovery teams can help you manage insolvency situations and facilitate the best outcome.
-
Debt advisory
An optimal funding structure for your organisation presents unprecedented opportunities, but achieving this can be difficult without a trusted advisor.
-
Expert witness
Our expert witnesses analyse, interpret, summarise and present complex financial and business-related issues which are understandable and properly supported.
-
Financial models
A sound financial model will help you understand the impact of your decisions before you make them. Talk to us about our user-friendly models.
-
Forensic and investigation services
We provide investigative accounting and litigation support services for commercial, matrimonial, criminal, business valuation and insurance disputes.
-
Independent business review
Is your business viable? Will it remain viable in the future? A thorough independent business review can help your organisation answer these fundamental questions.
-
IT forensics
Effective ESI analysis is integral to the success of your business. Our IT forensics experts have the technical expertise to identify, preserve and interrogate electronic data.
-
Mergers and acquisitions
Grant Thornton provides strategic and execution support for mergers, acquisitions, sales and fundraising.
-
Raising finance
Raising finance - funders value partners who can deliver a robust financial model, a sound business strategy and rigorous planning. We can guide you through the challenges that these transactions can pose and help you build a foundation for long term success once the deal is done.
-
Relationship property services
Grant Thornton offers high quality independent advice on the many financial issues associated with relationship property from considering an individual financial issue to all aspects of a complex settlement.
-
Restructuring and turnaround
Grant Thornton’s restructuring and turnaround service capabilities include cash flow, liquidity management and forecasting; crisis and interim management; financial advisory services to companies and parties in transition and distress
-
Transaction advisory
Our depth of market knowledge will steer you through the transaction process. Grant Thornton’s dynamic teams offer range of financial, commercial and operational expertise.
-
Corporate tax
Grant Thornton can identify tax issues, risks and opportunities in your organisation and implement strategies to improve your bottom line.
-
Employment tax
Grant Thornton’s advisers can help you with PAYE (payroll tax), Kiwisaver, fringe benefits tax (FBT), student loans, global mobility services, international tax
-
Global mobility services
Our team can help expatriates and their employers deal with tax and employment matters both in New Zealand and overseas. With the correct planning advice, employee allowances and benefits may be structured to avoid double taxation and achieve tax savings.
-
GST
GST has the potential to become a minefield and can be expensive when it goes wrong. Our technical knowledge can help you minimise the negative impact of GST
-
International tax
International tax rules are undergoing their biggest change in a generation. Tax authorities around the world are increasingly vigilant, especially when it comes to global operations.
-
Research and Development
R&D tax incentives are often underused and misunderstood – is your business maximising opportunities for making claims?
-
Tax compliance
Our advisers help clients manage the critical issue of compliance across accountancy regulations, corporation law and tax. We also offer business and wealth advisory services, which means we can provide a seamless and tax-effective offering to our clients.
-
Transfer pricing
Tax authorities are demanding transparency in international arrangements. We businesses comply with regulations and use transfer pricing as a strategic planning tool.
-
Audit methodology
Our five step audit methodology offers a high quality service wherever you are in the world and includes planning, risk assessment, testing internal controls, substantive testing, and concluding and reporting
-
Audit technology
We apply our audit methodology with an integrated set of software tools known as the Voyager suite. Our technology has been developed to produce quality audits that are effective and efficient.
-
Financial reporting advisory
Our financial reporting advisers have the expertise to help you deal with the constantly evolving regulatory environment.
-
Business architecture
Our business architects help businesses with disruptive conditions, business expansion and competitive challenges; the deployment of your strategy is critical to success.
-
Cloud services
Our team is led by cloud business experts who tailor services to the needs of your organisation, from strategy and implementation to ongoing services assurance.
-
Internal audit
Our internal audits deliver independent assurance over key controls within your riskiest processes, proving what works and what doesn’t and recommending improvements.
-
IT advisory
Our hands on product experience, extensive functional knowledge and industry insights help clients solve complex IT and technology issues
-
IT privacy and security
IT privacy and security should support your business strategy. Our pragmatic approach focuses on reducing cyber security risks specific to your organisation
-
Organisational & cultural change
The key to sustainable and future growth is a unified organisation operating within a strong cultural context, where transparency and communication are the priority for Kaimahi, and where visible leadership means walking the talk – but where does that journey begin?
-
Payroll assurance
Our specialist payroll assurance team can conduct a review of your payroll system configuration and processes, and then help you and your team to implement any necessary recalculations.
-
PCI DSS
Our information security specialists are approved Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs) that have been qualified by the PCI Security Standards Council to independently assess merchants and service providers.
-
Process improvement
As your organisation grows in size and complexity, processes that were once enabling often become cumbersome and inefficient. To maintain growth, your business must remain flexible, agile and profitable
-
Procurement/supply chain
Procurement and supply chain inputs will often dominate your balance sheet and constantly evolve for organisations to remain competitive and meet changing customer requirements
-
Project assurance
Major programmes and projects expose you to significant financial and reputational risk throughout their life cycle. Don’t let these risks become a reality.
-
Risk management
We understand that growing companies need to establish robust internal controls, and use information technology to effectively mitigate risk.
-
Robotic process automation (RPA)
RPA is emerging as the most sophisticated form of automation used to help businesses become more agile and remain competitive in the face of today’s ongoing digital disruption.
Budget 2014: $600m per year – are interest free student loans value for money?
In 2013 we saw the average cost of providing student loans increase to more than 40 cents per dollar lent. This is forecasted to increase to 42 cents by 2016/17, which equates to an annual cost in excess of $600million. In conjunction with this significant economic cost, our Universities world rankings have slipped. This raises the question: In its current form, is the student loan scheme a good investment for the New Zealand taxpayer? With the 2014 budget fast approaching, should the Government be looking at ways to improve this scheme to achieve a better return on investment for New Zealand taxpayers?
One of the key policy considerations underpinning a student loan scheme is to share the cost of tertiary education between the Government and the student, with the Government receiving returns in the form of human capital, labour skills and the eventual repayment of the loan principal. This is an admirable approach and one which allows any student to have access to tertiary education. But perhaps we are too generous as a nation when it comes to who can utilise this scheme.
New Zealand has one of the most liberal student loan schemes when compared with other developed countries. For a non-citizen to obtain a student loan in New Zealand, they only have to hold a residence visa, and have been present in New Zealand for three years.
Both Australia and the United States restrict eligibility for student loans to citizens or permanent humanitarian visa holders. The Australian Government has recently agreed to a small concession for New Zealanders who have been long-term Australian residents to be eligible for government funding in certain circumstances to take effect from 1 January 2015.
In New Zealand, 15% of those enrolled in tertiary education are not citizens, triple that of Australia. These students are considered ‘domestic students’ for fee purposes, and are eligible for support under the student loan scheme. Assuming that these students all have average student loans, this is costing our economy approximately $90million per year.
To start, a sensible solution would be to restrict interest free student loans to New Zealand citizens. It seems unreasonable that the taxpaying public should subsidise students (and their families) that have not contributed to the tax base.
However, my personal view is that this is not enough. The economic cost of Dr Cullen’s historic election bribe of removing interest is too significant to ignore. The next adjustment would be to ensure loans were only interest free while studying (with set criteria as to length of study), and charged at a lower rate (say aligned with the cost of borrowing to the government) thereafter. Not charging interest removes the borrower’s incentive to repay their obligation quicker, which is a further drain on NZ Inc.
At the risk of sounding middle aged, interest was applied to student loans when I studied. It was a burden I didn’t want to face, so you know what I did? I worked 30 hours a week in hospitality to pay for my education, sacrificing many social occasions as a consequence.
Shelling out interest free loans to all and sundry does nothing to stop this incessant mentality of entitlement which is becoming all too common with the younger generation (now I really sound old!). We need to empower our youth to take responsibility for their decision making, and accept the consequences of those decisions. People are less likely to take something for granted if they are required to pay for it.
Further enquiries, please contact:
Dan Lowe
Grant Thornton New Zealand Associate, Tax
T +64 9 308 2531
E dan.lowe@nz.gt.com