-
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 2013: Trans-Tasman Budget Rivalry
Trans-Tasman Budget Rivalry
This week’s Budget announcements in Australia and New Zealand have many similarities. Both budgets look to the future and returning to surplus. But if these budgets were a trans-Tasman game of rugby or netball what would the score be? And what would the fans and commentators be predicting for full time?
Of course, comparing our budgets is quite unlike a sporting rivalry. Essentially, both countries are on the same team, as there are positive spin offs for the New Zealand economy when the Australian economy is performing well. But if such a contest was imagined, it would probably be seen as a fiercely fought game against a background of tough conditions. The commentators would probably note that the bigger team, Australia, while ahead by an impossibly large margin, was starting to tire and the pressure on its team was starting to build. By contrast, New Zealand would probably be looking like it was building momentum and confidence.
So what are the key themes from the two budgets? Let’s look at Australia first.
The Australians have a national election in September 2013, which the Labour Government appears unlikely to win. This budget locks in spending well into the next Government’s term. The opposition may support the spending initiatives but will not be happy with the revenue initiatives. It is possible that they will hold out to prevent these passing before the election.
The key issue appears to be a shortfall in revenue where the Government is facing a reduction in forecast tax revenue of AUD60 billion over the four years to 2016. Australia has turned a budgeted surplus into a deficit of AUD19.4 billion this fiscal year and budgets a deficit of AUD18 billion in 2013/14. It projects a return to surplus of AUD800 million in 2015/16, which is referred to as a “statistical error” by one commentator.
Australia is also training for the future with headline expenditure initiatives of:
- AUD7.6 billion on new education funding
- AUD14.3 billion on disability care
- AUD24 billion on “nation-building” road and rail projects in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
But in an overall sense, it is a “do nothing” budget which is long on promises but with no actual expenditure and with a number of revenue/saving initiatives that don’t look like they will achieve much. It seems that trying to hit up the corporate and high income earner sectors in a slowing economic environment will more likely motivate the players towards “tax planning” rather than playing harder.
By comparison, New Zealand has been playing into stormy head winds. With the background of the global recession and the Christchurch earthquakes, it’s been a tough time, but the Government is still forecasting a return to surplus earlier than expected.
The New Zealand Government has continued to deliver on its themes of:
- Responsibly managing its finances. While the projected surplus for 2014/15 still seems to be in the realms of a statistical error, the Minister must be comfortable with the margin of error as he has made cuts to ACC levies that were put off last year. As in Australia, spending on education, health and innovation has been headlined.
- Building a more productive and competitive economy. There is some additional funding for R&D, a $100 million growth package for business, tourism promotion and international students, but the Government is still hopeful that the economic recovery will deliver better employment outcomes.
- Delivering better public services. The Government has continued to look to the public service to deliver big results without getting additional funding. It will be good if we can see these outcomes without the continuing sense that the system is breaking down. Continuous leaks do not suggest that the Government has got commitment to its results objectives.
- Supporting the rebuild of Christchurch. The cost of this has increased again, from $30 million to $40 million which is not unexpected. Of more concern is the sense that the Christchurch rebuild is the only game in town, and we do not have much momentum outside the stimulus that this is creating.
The team is thinking strategically, sticking to its game plan, is starting to enjoy the momentum and is in better spirits. But the spectators may not feel the team is delivering results quite yet.
Further enquiries, please contact:
Murray Brewer
Grant Thornton New Zealand Partner, Tax
M +64 (0)9 308 2586
E murray.brewer@nz.gt.com