Accru has been ranked Australia’s 26th largest firm in the AFR 2018 Top 100 Accounting Firms. Revenue across the Accru national network was up 5.3% in 2017-18, with all six firms across Australia achieving growth in different areas. For Accru Felsers in Sydney, four key trends align to the firm’s strengths and underpin steady growth.
1. Global tax reform
Accru Felsers has built a strong international tax practice in areas such as transfer pricing, cross-border tax structuring, double tax agreements and MAAL reviews. Since the OECD’s implementation of BEPS in various countries around the globe, demand for these services has been growing.
Tax principal, Will Merdy, says “Due to the tax risks posed by operating across various tax jurisdictions, multinationals now see an advisor with strong technical knowledge in this area as essential. We provide that expertise at good value-for-money and we’re increasingly being engaged for international tax advisory work.”
2. Automation and analytics
Outsourced accounting is another fast-growing area, as businesses seek to utilise providers with the technology skills to automate financial processes and achieve higher quality results at lower cost.
Rebecca Beitzel, who heads the firms outsourced accounting division, says Accru Felsers is adept at customising software and systems to meet clients’ needs for automation, efficiency gains and greater financial insight.
“Our team in Sydney have the skills to remove a lot of manual processing. This provides our clients with savings as well as collaborative interfaces and timely reporting across global markets. It also frees us to use our strategic expertise to add further value.”
3. The client experience
While Accru Felsers is embracing the trend towards automation, it’s the personal attention that is highly valued by clients. Rebecca believes that “Nothing can replace the personal contact and accessibility of partners and senior managers who take a genuine interest in their clients and their businesses. We’re always here to pre-empt issues, help to solve problems, explain complex tax issues and provide answers quickly when needed.”
Auditor Steven Zabeti adds “Our clients really appreciate the breadth of personal service they receive, whether it’s coordinating their audit, tax and advisory needs or supporting a business acquisition through a due diligence review. Promptness, accuracy and client partnership remain our top priorities.”
Personalised client service is a strength across the entire Accru national network with the group being a Financial Review Client Choice Awards finalist for five consecutive years.
4. Diversity
Inclusive and diverse work environments typically outperform their competition, and when it comes to diversity, Accru Felsers is a path-finder in the accounting industry.
Managing partner, Glenda Nixon, was one of Australia’s first female accounting partners in the ‘80s. Currently, around one third of our partners and principals are female, well ahead of the mid-tier average of 22%.
Rebecca Beitzel, who became a partner in her 20s in 2004, says it has always been about gender equality and promoting on merit at Accru Felsers. She is also a keen advocate of cultural diversity at the management level, something which is in the DNA of Accru Felsers. Established by German-speaking immigrant Gerhard Felser in 1941, today around a third of Accru Felsers staff are bilingual and from various non-anglo cultural backgrounds.
Will Merdy, who is French-born, says “Understanding different business cultures gives us the ability to build relationships with clients from many different backgrounds. Speaking a client’s language can also be a big asset when you get into technical terms.”
Accru top 100 accounting – the bigger picture
In the bigger picture, Accru firms around Australia have a huge diversity of experience and expertise. There is almost no sector, service or market that collectively the group is not engaged with. Most importantly, every Accru firm offers clients personalised, partner-led service and a full range of premium financial services at reasonable rates. It’s a value proposition that seems to be resonating with clients of all types and sizes – Accru would not be 26th in Australia without them.
Please contact us if you would like to know more about how we can assist.
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