Mark McDonald

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Services

Every organisation faces unique challenges throughout the business lifecycle. We understand the factors that govern growth and profitability and can tailor our...

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Financial advisory services

We deliver full advisory service capability to navigate the array of opportunities, complex challenges and risks to help dynamic organisations achieve their...

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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.
Virtual asset advisory
Helping you navigate the world of virtual currencies and decentralised financial systems.

Tax

Does your tax bill get the same attention as your cost of sales or salaries and wages? Tax rates might be fixed but the rules and the risks aren't.

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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.
Tax governance
Mitigate tax risks and implement best practice governance that will stand up to IRD scrutiny and audits.
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

Our experts have extensive experience in audit and assurance and produce outstanding work for leading New Zealand organisations in both the public and private...

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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.

Consulting

Consulting is a multi-disciplinary team, delivering a range of expertise including internal audit, risk management, IT advisory, project assurance, and...

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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
Leverage the cloud to keep your data safe, operate more efficiently, reduce costs and create a better experience for your employees and clients.
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
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.

China services

If you're a Chinese investor wanting to explore business opportunities in New Zealand, or a Kiwi business keen to do business in China, our China Services team...

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Industries

Aged care & retirement villages

Helping aged care and retirement village operators deliver on their mission and purpose in an increasingly demanding environment.

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Financial services

Our unique offering to the financial services sector may be the catalyst you need to take your business forward, safely and prosperously.

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Not for profit

The true measure of society is how it treats its most vulnerable people. Your success is vital to ensuring our country remains a fair and civil one.

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Property & construction

Minimise your risk and cost while maximising your returns for the best chance of success in today’s market.

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Public sector

Our public sector team goes beyond expectations so you can too.

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Mark has over 20 years of experience working in professional services firms in senior leadership and insolvency appointment taker roles.

Prior to returning home to New Zealand and joining Grant Thornton in July 2021 Mark worked on international insolvency matters in Cayman, London and the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Mark was based in the BVI for 15 years where he led Grant Thornton’s BVI office.

Mark has established a reputation as a leader and expert in the international insolvency field and has acted as an insolvency office holder on many complex, high value, cross border matters. Most notably Mark continues to act as a joint liquidator of Stanford International Bank Limited which was the bank used by Alan Stanford to perpetrate the world’s second largest Ponzi scheme after Madoff. Mark has been recognised by Who’s Who Legal/asset recovery practitioners as a thought leader between 2017 through 2021 inclusive.

Clients who work with Mark value his calm, commercial and pragmatic approach to matters.

Qualifications

Member of RITANZ
Chartered Accountant (CA) – CAANZ member
Non practising solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
Bachelor of Management Studies & Laws (Hons) – Waikato University

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Mark McDonald

Partner, Financial Advisory Services

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