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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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Tax governance
Mitigate tax risks and implement best practice governance that will stand up to IRD scrutiny and audits.
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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 2013: Will the revamp of the apprenticeship system work?
Will the revamp of the apprenticeship system work?
In this year’s state of the nation speech, John Key announced a major revamp of the apprenticeship system, with financial incentives for those who participate. The intent of this revamp is to build a more productive and competitive economy. The question is; will it work?
Grant Thornton New Zealand employs young accounting professionals and considers the training programme to be vital to the on-going and continuous up-skilling of its accountants.
Public practice accounting firms are recognised worldwide, not just for their brand name, but for the training they provide, and potential future employers see accountants who have been trained within such practices as having a competitive advantage.
People of every age and industry need the assurance of being supported and an awareness of what additional qualifications and training can provide for them. The Government’s decision to support individuals, irrespective of age, to improve their skills and qualifications is a positive step forward.
The financial incentives the Government are offering will provide both employees and employers with $1,000 towards tools and off-job course costs, or $2,000 if they are in priority construction trades.
This is similar to the approach accounting firms have taken for a long time. A ‘sign-on’ bonus system creates competition between individuals and within firms so the highest calibre people are selected. When this is combined with a commitment to fund post tertiary qualifications, a genuine incentive for young people to further their education and skills is generated.
As a nation we are constrained by our small population. Therefore it’s important that we educate and create a skilled labour force for the future prospects of the economy. By providing employers with incentives to train individuals through the apprenticeship training regime, the Government is recognising the need to help more companies create a higher skilled labour force than what we currently have.
Despite New Zealand’s unemployment rate being relatively high at 6.9% (December quarter 2012), many firms struggle to recruit the right people from within the realms of qualified professionals. Experienced hires are often filled by overseas skilled workers on a temporary secondment basis or immigrants who are not as familiar with the New Zealand business environment. While these solutions work, they do not proactively address the continuing skilled labour force shortage or New Zealand’s long term productive issues.
The latest Grant Thornton International Business Report survey showed 98% of New Zealand businesses want the Government to actively promote apprenticeships. It seems the Government has heard this cry and it will be interesting to see if this is given any further attention on Budget day.
The funding for this new scheme has been enabled by a tightening up of the industry training system to remove tens of thousands of “phantom trainees” who were not achieving any credits. John Key announced the Government is “streamlining this scheme, reducing the number of qualifications and putting the emphasis on achievement rather than token participation”.
While there is a risk to any Government funded programme, hopefully this revamp will ensure New Zealand has more skilled individuals employed throughout every industry to help lift the productivity of our country. This will be the true test of successful. And as it is with any training initiative, only time will tell.
Further enquiries, please contact:
Vanessa Black
Grant Thornton Associate, Audit
T +64 (0)9 308 2985
E vanessa.black@nz.gt.com