Beyond the Numbers with Grant Thornton

A small number of Group 1 sustainability reports from December 2025 year-end businesses are now publicly available, with early examples varying significantly: some are detailed, others are concise, and report length does not always align with business size. This creates a valuable opportunity for Group 2 and 3 reporters to review what is being disclosed, how reports are structured, and what l...

It’s been a couple of weeks since the Government handed down its 2026-27 Federal Budget, and commentary on the potential impacts for businesses and individuals has been constant. With many announcements making headlines ahead of the night, there were few surprises left. That said, the Budget did introduce notable changes, including adjustments to CGT, negative gearing and a minimum tax rate of 30...

As of 1 January 2025, changes to the Fair Work Act in Australia made wage underpayments a criminal offense. This means payroll compliance is now a Board-level issue, not just for Payroll or HR teams. Organisations must understand their obligations, keep clear documentation, and consult experts if needed due to the complexity of Awards. So, how can businesses be confident in their approach and ensu...

Today’s business leaders navigating Australia’s M&A landscape need to look beyond short‑term performance and financial metrics alone. What matters most to investors is a strong, scalable and defensible business, particularly in an environment shaped by geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Increasingly, ESG and sustainability considerations are not add‑ons, but core to business strategy and long‑...

Small Business Restructuring (SBR) offers a pathway for small and medium sized Australian companies experiencing financial pressure to deal with unmanageable debt, reset operations, and continue trading through and beyond difficult times. SBRs are also a cost-effective solution to save a business compared to a liquidation shut down. Heading into 2026, the ATO has adopted a more disciplined approac...

With 2026 fast approaching, AUSTRAC has announced it will release ‘starter kits’ to help current reporting entities and Tranche 2 entrants ahead of the 1 July deadline. These kits are designed to help businesses achieve baseline compliance and will be tailored to each sector. By releasing the starter kits early next year, AUSTRAC is making the compliance journey more accessible. But this isn’t jus...

The Grant Thornton 2025 Family Business report revealed that succession planning remains a top challenge for Australian family businesses. With more generations active in the workplace than ever before – and an estimated $3.5t in wealth about to transfer to the next cohort of successors – the stakes have never been higher to get succession right. So, how can the rising and incumbent generations wo...

Our experts returned to CeMAT, the leading event for intralogistics, robotics and automation, supply chain management, and materials handling in the Asia-Pacific, with valuable insights into how organisations should approach budgeting and capital expenditure to enhance their supply chain performance.  Whether you're exploring robotics, AI, or sortation and conveyor systems, the challenge isn’t jus...

The recent three-day Economic Reform Roundtable in Canberra marked a pivotal opportunity to create change. Bringing together a mix of leaders across business, unions, civilians, government, economic experts, the final day focused on tax reform and budget sustainability into the future. While the discussions were perceived as constructive, fostering a sense of careful optimism, will the government...

From starting his career at one of Australia’s Big 4 accounting firms and later forging a path as an insolvency practitioner, to leading the Financial Advisory practice at Grant Thornton, Said has built a successful career founded on resilience, leadership and commercial impact. Stepping into CEO comes with challenges and exciting opportunities, so what has the journey to CEO been like and what ar...

Preparing your business for a potential capital raise or exit requires a strategic and considered plan – and it’s never too early to prepare. The technology sector is rapidly changing, so it’s even more critical that tech businesses understand how to scale and position themselves effectively, ensuring they remain attractive to potential investors. With a shifting industry landscape and evolving in...

The recent release of the 10th Edition of Dealtracker shared insights from the last 18 months of deals in the Australian mid-market. Despite global uncertainty and geopolitical shifts, the Australian mid-market has remained resilient and maintained stability in the number of deals. There’s been strong focus in the IT and industrials sectors, with Australia remaining attractive to international buy...

The Federal Budget was handed down less than a month ago, and since then, global changes have continued to unfold. The ever-evolving tariff landscape is impacting industries both in Australia and worldwide. The economy faces significant structural challenges, including rising costs in defence, aged care, health, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Additionally, the uncertainty brought ab...

The adoption of technology is positively influencing and driving efficiencies in many industries – the audit profession is no exception. From streamlining the audit process, to creating efficiencies in client communications, auditors can perform more complex and deeper analysis for their clients because of technology. They’re able to leverage the power of machine learning for repetitive tasks and...

Significant changes have been made to the AML/CTF regulations in Australia to better align with international standards. The new laws will require stricter governance from Boards and Directors and with so many changes, staying on top of what needs implementing will be their responsibility too. With limited experts in Australia, how can organisations that are currently reporting and new entrants in...

Businesses in Australia are currently struggling to navigate the complexities involved with payroll remediation challenges. It’s critical for businesses of all sizes to understand the best way to manage these large-scale projects and remain agile when challenges arise. Not only do organisations need to ensure they’re legally compliant, but payroll remediation is also a moral and ethical challenge...

Preparing for hosting the Olympics requires meticulous planning and execution. From infrastructure delivery to enhancing community engagement and legacy planning, having eight years to prepare suddenly doesn’t seem like long enough. Local businesses will be bidding for competitive contracts that could see them going from supplying a local market to the global stage. With all this in mind, it’s cri...

In the latest episode of Beyond the Numbers with Grant Thornton, Private Business Tax and Advisory Partners and Family Business accredited advisors, Kirsten Taylor-Martin and Kirstin Stewart discuss the critical elements of effective succession planning. They explore effective succession planning, open communication and how aligning family expectations can position the rising generation to success...

The Small Business Restructure (SBR) regime came into force at the beginning of 2021 as a cost-effective method for distressed businesses to reorganise and negotiate businesses debts up to $1m. While this restructuring tool was underutilised during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s recently been an increase in the adoption of SBRs as a restructuring tool by distressed businesses. So, what’s the reaso...

The May Federal Budget saw the Government reaffirm its commitment to a ‘Future Made in Australia’ by allocating $22.7b to boost investment and rejuvenate Australia's domestic manufacturing capabilities, thereby strengthening Australia's position in the global economy. However, what are the practical implications for the manufacturing sector and when will we see the investment have impact on the se...

In the lead-up to an election year, the Labor Government faces the task of easing cost-of-living pressures for Australians who are feeling the financial strain. While we’ve already witnessed significant announcements, such as HECs reforms, payments for trainee teachers, nurses, and social workers during university placements, and the allocation of $167.8m for Tranche 2 Anti-Money Laundering regula...

In 2023 Australia began implementing Tranche 2 of its AML and CTF reforms – part of the government’s plan to align Australia’s AML regime with international standards. The reforms have far-reaching implications for Lawyers, Accountants, and Real Estate Professionals, who will be required to take a more active role in deterring money laundering and terrorist financing. So, what’s the status of the...

Victoria’s property market is dynamic. With the recent announcement for changes in stamp duty on commercial and industrial properties, it will make the current landscape more complex. So, what’s been the reaction to the proposal, and how should potential buyers or owners of commercial and industrial properties navigate this proposed change? 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on Apple Podcasts or Spotify...

‘Option ready’ refers to a firm being able to choose which strategic option they want to pursue – whether it be continuing to enjoy equity returns, fund expansion of their business, bring new equity participants in or consider a merger opportunity. Beyond these characteristics, cultural alignment and a shifting employee landscape are also critical to success. So how can a firm consider these facto...

Innovation is a key driver of productivity for businesses. To help them achieve their objectives, the government offers various programs such as the R&D Tax Incentive and government grants. These programs encourage businesses to develop new or improved products and services, lower environmental impacts, attract potential investment and keep Australian competitive on a global scale. The level of in...