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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.
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Capital markets
You need corporate finance specialists experienced in international capital markets on your side if you’re buying or selling financial securities.
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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.
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Corporate insolvency
Our corporate investigation and recovery teams can help you manage insolvency situations and facilitate the best outcome.
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Debt advisory
An optimal funding structure for your organisation presents unprecedented opportunities, but achieving this can be difficult without a trusted advisor.
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Expert witness
Our expert witnesses analyse, interpret, summarise and present complex financial and business-related issues which are understandable and properly supported.
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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.
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Forensic and investigation services
We provide investigative accounting and litigation support services for commercial, matrimonial, criminal, business valuation and insurance disputes.
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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.
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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.
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Mergers and acquisitions
Grant Thornton provides strategic and execution support for mergers, acquisitions, sales and fundraising.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Virtual asset advisory
Helping you navigate the world of virtual currencies and decentralised financial systems.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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Research and Development
R&D tax incentives are often underused and misunderstood – is your business maximising opportunities for making claims?
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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.
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Transfer pricing
Tax authorities are demanding transparency in international arrangements. We businesses comply with regulations and use transfer pricing as a strategic planning tool.
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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
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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.
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Financial reporting advisory
Our financial reporting advisers have the expertise to help you deal with the constantly evolving regulatory environment.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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IT advisory
Our hands on product experience, extensive functional knowledge and industry insights help clients solve complex IT and technology issues
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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Risk management
We understand that growing companies need to establish robust internal controls, and use information technology to effectively mitigate risk.
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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 2012 – don’t continue to overlook SMEs
Don't continue to overlook SMEs
Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) make up a significant portion of the local New Zealand economy. Collectively we are a nation of small business operators. Research from the SME Research Centre, at Massey University, suggest that there are around 350,000 SMEs operating in New Zealand that account for up to 99% of all businesses and are responsible for about 60% of the total employment and up to 50% of the GDP.
The performance of this sector is crucially important if we are going to continue to build a stronger economy for all New Zealanders, yet it is one that is often overlooked in the Budget.
There are several areas that the Government could focus on in Budget 2012 to assist the sector, none more important than the Small Business Growth scheme. Nothing kills a new, or small, business faster than a lack of capital or cash flow.
New Zealand stands out as being almost alone in not having some form of a small business government backed growth scheme. Our major trading partners like the US, UK, Canada, India, France, Germany, Australia and more recently Hong Kong all have in place a government backed growth scheme for SMEs.
The scheme we advocate, in an environment similar to many other countries, is that the banks continue to exercise their current prudent lending criteria and administer the funding process. Business owners should expect to provide personal guarantees for a portion of the funding (e.g. 25%) with the government underwriting, in this case, 75% of the loan. Should the business fail, the bank only claims on this underwriting after all other attempts by the bank to recover the debt have been exhausted.
The default rates experienced by other countries have proven to be very low and a premium built into the lending rate has tended to cover this.
A maximum loan amount for each type of enterprise should be set, so too, a maximum guarantee period for each loan facility.
One only has to look across the Tasman for other ideas. From the 2012/13 income tax year, small businesses in Australia with an annual turnover of less than $2 million will be able to access a range of small business tax concessions. For example, they have simplified depreciation rules including increasing the asset write-off threshold from $1,000 to $6,500. In New Zealand it still stands at $500. It is widely accepted that New Zealand businesses need to invest in technology to work smarter and improve efficiencies and productivity. Just how keen would small businesses be to invest in new computers and technology if they were incentivised to do so?
And what about just getting rid of FBT altogether for SMEs? How much time and money does it cost an SME on compliance alone?
Over the last decade it would be fair to say that SMEs have had more hurdles put in their way than paths cleared. There have been attempts, such as the present New Zealand Trade and Enterprise voucher system, to assist, with little overall traction to date. Compare this with the added compliance requirements (FBT, GST changes, Kiwi Saver, Superannuation, Student Loans) and there is a feeling that such an important part of the New Zealand economy is looking for “a bit of tender loving care.” Budget 2012 is the perfect platform for the government to support Kiwi owned businesses with a little TLC.
Further enquiries, please contact:
Paul Kane
Partner, Privately Held Business
T +64 (0)9 308 2576
E paul.kane@nz.gt.com