FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions we are most often asked — about the firm, how we work, and what each of our services actually involves. If your question is not here, ask us directly.

About Liguory & Associates

What is Liguory & Associates?

A Sydney-based Chartered Accounting and advisory practice established in 2003, providing integrated audit, tax, financial advisory, governance, forensic accounting, and program delivery services across Australia.

What services does L&A offer?

Our services span audit and assurance, tax advisory and structuring, strategy and business advisory, corporate finance and transactions, risk and governance, forensic accounting and investigations, infrastructure, property and program advisory, transformation and technology programs, wealth and superannuation, and due diligence and valuations advisory.

What makes L&A different from other accounting firms?

We combine boutique agility with enterprise-grade capability. Our partner-led model ensures direct senior involvement on every engagement; our associate network lets us scale specialist capability to the task; and our end-to-end offering spans compliance through to strategy, delivery, and assurance — all under transparent, value-driven pricing.

Who does L&A work with?

Private and family businesses, SMEs and startups, large enterprises and ASX-listed entities, government agencies, not-for-profit organisations, high-net-worth individuals, and CEOs, CFOs and finance leaders across Australia.

What experience does your leadership team have?

Over 50 years combined across audit, assurance, forensic accounting, taxation, financial advisory, governance, infrastructure, property development, government, logistics, and consulting.

Where is L&A located?

Our principal office is at Level 17, Angel Place, 123 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000. We have national delivery capability across Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.

Working With Us

How can Liguory & Associates help my business?

We provide integrated audit, tax, financial advisory, governance, and business advisory services tailored to your specific needs. Whether you need strategic financial guidance, tax structuring, audit assurance, or assistance navigating complex transactions, our partner-led team works alongside you to manage risk and deliver measurable, sustainable outcomes.

How do I get started?

Contact us by phone on (02) 8211 2782, email at contact@liguory.com.au, or through our website enquiry form. We offer a complimentary initial consultation to understand your requirements and explore how we can add value. There is no obligation.

Do you offer initial consultations?

Yes. We offer a complimentary initial consultation to understand your requirements and explore how we can add value. There is no obligation.

What should I include in my enquiry?

A brief description of your organisation, your requirements, any relevant timelines, and your preferred method of contact.

Do you work with SMEs and startups?

Yes. Strategic financial advisory, tax structuring, governance, growth planning, accounting, and Virtual CEO & CFO services.

Do you work with government agencies?

Yes, extensively — governance, risk, internal audit, capital works oversight, and program delivery advisory to local, state, and federal government agencies.

How are your fees structured?

Transparent, fixed-fee pricing, scoped upfront against the complexity of each engagement — not hourly rates that accumulate without visibility. Scope, deliverables, and fees are agreed in an engagement letter before work begins. Where an engagement genuinely cannot be fixed-priced at the outset, we agree a capped or staged fee.

What does “no demonstrable value, no engagement” mean in practice?

It means we agree at the outset what the engagement is intended to achieve and how that will be measured. If we do not believe we can deliver value against that measure, we will tell you rather than take the work. It is the standard we hold ourselves to.

How do you resource larger or specialised engagements?

Through an established associate network of vetted specialists — chartered accountants, registered tax agents, program directors, certified project managers, governance and probity advisers, engineers, ICT specialists, and forensic technologists — mobilised against the specific requirements of each engagement and released on completion. Every associate is credential-verified, independence-screened, and bound by our confidentiality and professional conduct standards.

Can you act as our external auditor and also provide advisory services?

Not for the same entity where doing so would compromise independence. Independence requirements under APES 110 are assessed at engagement acceptance, and where we provide audit services we do not also design or operate the controls we are auditing. Where we act in a co-sourced internal audit or Chief Audit Executive capacity, that role is documented and separated from any assurance function. We will tell you plainly if a conflict exists.

How do you protect client confidentiality?

Client information is treated as confidential under our professional obligations and our engagement terms, and is handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles. Associates are bound by the same obligations. Where we publish case studies, client identities are withheld or described generically unless the client has approved identification.

Do you work with clients outside Sydney?

Yes. We deliver nationally, and a significant proportion of our program, governance, and transaction work is conducted for clients in other states. We also act for clients with international operations, coordinating cross-border tax, FIRB, and transaction workstreams with specialist advisers.

What are your professional credentials?

Our leadership holds CA ANZ and CPA Australia designations, ASIC Registered Company Auditor and ASIC Registered SMSF Auditor registrations, Registered Tax Agent registration, CIMA (UK), and PMP certification. Additional certified program specialists are engaged through our associate network as necessary.

Our Approach & Risk Framework

What is L&A's delivery framework?

A structured five-phase approach guiding every engagement from diagnostic through to optimisation, ensuring clarity, accountability, managed risk and measurable outcomes. Each phase advances one of our three commitments: managed risk, strategic excellence, and measurable value.

How does the engagement process begin?

We start with a Strategy & Diagnostic phase — assessing objectives, operating environment, challenges, risks, and opportunities before recommending a course of action.

How do you ensure programs stay on track?

Through Assurance & Governance — independent oversight ensuring programs remain aligned with objectives and compliance, with regular reporting to stakeholders.

What happens after delivery?

Our Optimisation phase ensures benefits are realised through regular performance measurement against the baseline set at Phase 02, governance improvements, and post-implementation review.

How does L&A define risk?

As the effect of uncertainty on objectives, recognising both downside threats and upside opportunities across financial and non-financial considerations. We report inherent and residual risk separately, and we manage risk to a defined appetite rather than attempting to eliminate it. Our full methodology is published at Our Risk Framework.

Audit & Assurance

What types of audits does L&A perform?

Statutory company audits, internal audits, SMSF audits, forensic audits, trust account audits, compliance and grant audits, payroll and Fair Work audits, and governance and financial control reviews.

Are your auditors ASIC registered?

Yes. Our leadership includes ASIC Registered Company Auditors and ASIC Registered SMSF Auditors who are appropriately licensed to provide audit services in Australia.

Can you help establish internal audit programs?

Yes. We establish and manage internal audit programs aligned with IIA Standards, operating effectively in co-sourced CAE environments across both private and public sector organisations.

How does technology enhance your audit approach?

We use Power BI, SQL, advanced Excel and proprietary in-house software for data analytics, anomaly detection and trend analysis — identifying control weaknesses beyond what traditional sampling methods can detect. In most cases, where data quality and system access permit, we scrutinise the entire database of transactions rather than relying on sampling techniques.

Tax Advisory & Structuring

How can L&A help with tax planning?

We develop comprehensive tax strategies addressing corporate structuring, CGT planning, succession, asset protection, and international tax considerations to manage your overall tax position efficiently and compliantly.

Do you handle ATO disputes?

Yes. We provide ATO engagement and dispute support including audit representation and tribunal advocacy, managing the process from initial correspondence through to resolution.

Can you assist with business structuring?

Yes. We advise on structuring and restructuring for tax efficiency, asset protection, and operational effectiveness — for new entities, reorganisations, or succession.

Do you work with international tax matters?

Yes. International tax advisory for cross-border operations including transfer pricing, withholding obligations, and multi-jurisdictional compliance, including the application of Australia's double tax agreements (DTAs).

Strategy & Business Advisory

What are Virtual CEO & CFO services?

Executive leadership on a flexible basis — at CEO level, commercial strategy, board and shareholder engagement and organisational decision-making; at CFO level, financial strategy, board reporting, capital planning, stakeholder management and risk oversight — without the cost of a full-time appointment.

How can L&A help my business grow?

We identify growth opportunities, develop strategic roadmaps, optimise financial performance, and provide data-driven insights to elevate decision-making and accelerate sustainable growth.

Do you provide accounting and bookkeeping?

Yes. Cloud-based accounting, BAS, payroll, management reporting, and financial dashboards tailored to businesses of all sizes — from sole traders to multi-entity groups with consolidation.

Can you help with succession planning?

Yes. We develop and implement succession plans that protect business value, manage tax implications, and ensure smooth ownership transitions across generations with correct structuring.

Corporate Finance & Transactions

What corporate finance services does L&A provide?

M&A advisory, capital raising, debt structuring, securitisation strategies, transaction execution, joint venture structuring, and funding facilitation — domestic and cross-border.

Do you support M&A transactions?

Yes. Comprehensive M&A advisory including due diligence coordination, structuring, tax analysis, FIRB compliance where required, and post-deal integration.

Can you assist with capital raising?

Yes. The full capital raising process — financial modelling, Information Memoranda, investor presentations, institutional engagement, and commercial negotiation through to financial close.

Do you provide funding consultancy?

Yes. Funding strategy, debt structuring, refinancing, and lending facilitation for property, development, and business lending. Credit assistance is arranged through licensed finance broker partners and lending institutions; L&A's role is the commercial and financial structuring.

Risk & Governance

What is Risk & Governance advisory?

Strengthening governance frameworks and risk management through internal audit, governance reviews, compliance assessments, risk framework development, and procurement probity advisory.

Do you provide internal audit services?

Yes. We establish and manage internal audit programs aligned with IIA Standards, operating effectively in co-sourced CAE environments across both private and public sector organisations.

What are SOX-aligned controls?

Control frameworks modelled on Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404, adapted for the Australian context — including walkthroughs, design assessment, operating effectiveness testing, and deficiency remediation.

Forensic Accounting & Investigations

Do you conduct fraud investigations?

Yes. Thorough investigations to identify, analyse, and document fraudulent activities. Our team has specialist experience recovering millions in fraud cases.

Do you provide expert witness services?

Yes. Independent, objective reports meeting evidentiary standards for legal proceedings, with expert witness testimony under cross-examination.

What litigation support do you offer?

Financial analysis, document review, damage quantification, fund-flow tracing, and expert testimony for legal disputes and commercial litigation.

What types of misconduct do you investigate?

Fraud, asset misappropriation, related-party irregularities, partner and director breaches, regulatory non-compliance, and shareholder disputes.

Infrastructure, Property & Program Advisory

What is Infrastructure, Property & Program Advisory?

Specialist advisory and delivery support for complex infrastructure programs, capital works portfolios, property development projects, PMO establishment, and organisational change.

Do you work with government on infrastructure?

Yes. We support local, state, and federal agencies with infrastructure investment strategy, capital works governance, program management, and delivery assurance.

What is capital works governance?

Frameworks to oversee infrastructure projects ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to required standards — with full transparency and accountability.

Do you establish PMOs?

Yes. We establish PMOs with governance structures, standards, tools, and reporting to support project delivery across organisations of all sizes.

Transformation & Technology Programs

What transformation services does L&A provide?

ERP advisory, digital transformation, finance transformation, operating model redesign, cloud implementation, and enterprise technology program governance.

Do you support ERP implementations?

Yes. ERP advisory, implementation oversight, governance, and optimisation support — with a focus on controls integrity and business case delivery.

Can you help with digital transformation?

Yes. Digital strategy, process redesign, automation, and technology-enabled operational improvement — tailored to your organisation's readiness and objectives.

Do you provide change management?

Yes. Stakeholder engagement, communication strategies, training, and transition management — ensuring adoption, not just implementation.

Wealth & Superannuation

Do you provide SMSF services?

Yes. Complete SMSF solutions from client-initiated establishment through ongoing administration, compliance, and independent audit by our ASIC Registered SMSF Auditors, subject to APES 110 independence requirements.

Can you help with retirement planning?

Yes, in part. We advise on the tax and structuring dimensions — contribution strategy and cap utilisation, pension commencement, transition-to-retirement structuring, and long-term wealth preservation. Financial product advice is provided via independent, external AFSL advisers.

What is estate and succession planning?

Planning for the orderly transfer of wealth while managing tax and protecting beneficiaries — including testamentary trusts, binding death benefit nominations, and staged equity transfers.

Do you work with high-net-worth clients?

Yes. Tailored advisory for high-net-worth individuals and families, and for the SMEs they own, covering tax planning, asset protection, and entity and trust structuring. Investment strategy advice is provided by external, independent AFSL advisers.

Due Diligence & Valuations

When do I need a business valuation?

For acquisitions, divestments, shareholder disputes, financial reporting, succession planning, and strategic investment decisions.

Do you provide property due diligence?

Yes. Property and asset due diligence including feasibility analysis, commercial assessment, investment review, and risk identification.

How do you approach business valuations?

Multiple methodologies including DCF, capitalisation of future maintainable earnings, and market-based approaches — APES 225 compliant.

Can you support dispute-related valuations?

Yes. Independent valuation and expert advisory for shareholder disputes, litigation, and commercial disagreements — reports designed to withstand legal scrutiny.

Industries

What industries does L&A serve?

Government, transport and infrastructure, financial services, property, real estate and construction, professional services, SMEs, not-for-profits, and high-net-worth individuals and families.

Can you support infrastructure projects?

Yes. Comprehensive support including strategic planning, governance, delivery assurance, and portfolio management.

Still have a question?

Ask us directly. We offer a complimentary initial consultation with no obligation.