Business Advisory

Your accountant should be Communicating with you. Not waiting to be asked.

Most founders only hear from their accountant when a lodgement is due. FYW works differently - your numbers are tracked, issues are flagged before they compound, and the proactive accounting advice you need is there before you have to ask for it.

Find Out What's Missing

No commitment,
Free initial consultation with a senior adviser.

10+

Years working with Australian founder-led businesses

Xero Platinum Champion Partner

Registered BAS Agent

CPA Australia Member

“You speak with someone who actually understands your business, not whoever happens to be available.“

WHY THIS MATTERS

Your accountant is not withholding advice. They just are not looking.

01

You only hear from them when something is due

BAS due - call. Tax return due - call. In between those moments, silence. No proactive flags, no forward view, no advice on decisions you are about to make. The model is transactional by design.

02

The advice arrives after the decision

Equipment purchased. Director added. New entity established. Then the accountant finds out - and explains what it means for your tax position. Proactive accounting means the conversation happens before the commitment, not after.

03

Growth creates complexity nobody is managing

As your business grows, the financial decisions get harder. Payroll tax thresholds, trust distributions, capital events, financing - each one has implications nobody is watching for on your behalf. Until they surface as a problem.

WHAT IS COVERED

Everything included in a FYW business advisory engagement.

  • Business Advisory
  • Business Coaching
  • Strategic Planning
FYW provides business advisory as part of the ongoing engagement, not as a separate consulting project. This includes strategic planning conversations when major decisions need input, business coaching on financial decision-making, and proactive advice on growth, capacity, and timing. The advisory layer sits on top of your compliance and reporting, so the advice is grounded in your actual numbers, not estimates.
  • Cash Flow Forecasting
  • Budgeting
  • Profit Planning
  • Scenario Modelling
  • Growth Planning
FYW builds cash flow forecasts that give you a 90-day forward view of your cash position, where the gaps are before they arrive. Budgeting and profit planning are built around your revenue model and cost structure. Scenario modelling answers the "what if" questions before you commit: what if revenue drops 20%, what if you add three staff, what if a major client delays payment. Growth planning maps the financial capacity for the decisions you are considering.
  • Management Reporting
  • KPI Reporting
  • Financial Commentary
  • Variance Analysis
The reporting layer tracks your numbers automatically in Xero, management reports delivered on schedule, KPIs tracked, variance analysis included. Financial commentary explains what the numbers mean in plain language. When the reporting system is set up correctly, problems surface before they compound. This is the foundation the advisory layer is built on.
  • Tax Planning
  • BAS and Compliance
  • Bookkeeping and Payroll
The compliance work, tax planning, BAS lodgements, bookkeeping and payroll, runs underneath the advisory engagement. This is not two separate relationships. It is one integrated engagement where the firm managing your compliance is the same firm giving you strategic advice. The advisory input is better because the advisor has full visibility of your books, your tax position, and your obligations.
The advisory scope is agreed in the discovery call and built around what your business actually needs. Not every engagement includes every service - the right scope depends on where you are and where you are going.
See the Timeline

THE FYW APPROACH

Proactive means something specific. Here is what it actually looks like.

Not a philosophy. . A rhythm.

THE DIFFERENCE
Answers questions faster. Or asks them first.

A proactive accountant is not one who responds quickly. It is one who raises the question you have not thought to ask yet - because they are already across your numbers.

BEFORE YOU ASK
Issues surfaced. Decisions informed

When books are current and reporting is set up correctly, problems surface before they compound. Cash tightening - visible before you run out of runway. A tax consequence - raised before you commit.

BUILT INTO THE ENGAGEMENT
Advisory is not an add-on. It is the model.

The advisory layer is built into how the engagement works - reporting that tracks your numbers, quarterly reviews, and a named advisor who knows your business well enough to have a view on what matters right now.

HOW THIS WORKS

What the advisory engagement looks like in practice.

Reporting-led. System-enabled. Advisor-interpreted.

Business advisory is not a once-a-year conversation. It is a structured engagement - reporting that tracks your numbers automatically, quarterly position reviews, and a named advisor available when a decision needs input before it is made. The compliance work - BAS, tax returns, payroll - runs underneath. The advisory layer sits on top.
REPORTING
Numbers tracked. Report delivered. Issues visible.

Your management report is prepared from your books each period - profit and loss in plain language, cash position, KPI summary, and one priority action item. The reporting system tracks your numbers automatically in Xero - variances, anomalies, and trends are visible as they emerge, not weeks later. When the report is ready, a scheduled conversation walks through what the numbers mean, what to act on, and what is coming next. management report

QUARTERLY
Tax position reviewed. Forward view updated.

Each BAS quarter, FYW reviews your cumulative tax position alongside the BAS lodgement. If your PAYG instalments are tracking incorrectly, we vary them before they compound. If a decision in the next quarter has tax implications, we flag it before the fact - not after. The quarterly review also looks at the forward view - cash flow forecast, budget variance, and any strategic items that need attention before the next quarter begins.

AS NEEDED
Decisions supported. Scenarios modelled.

When a significant decision comes up - a new hire, a capital purchase, a pricing change, an acquisition - your advisor is available to work through the numbers before you commit. Scenario modelling, profit planning, and growth projections are available as part of the engagement when a decision warrants it - scope agreed in the discovery call. You do not need to wait for the next scheduled review. If something needs input now, that is what the relationship is for.

The advisory scope depends on the complexity of your business and what decisions you are facing. The right engagement is confirmed in the discovery call.
See Cash Flow Planning

CASH FLOW FORECASTING

Profitable on paper. Tight on cash. This has a specific fix.

A business can be profitable and consistently short of cash. The P&L shows a surplus. The bank account tells a different story. Cash flow forecasting gives you a 90-day forward view of your cash position - where the gaps are before they become problems.

What cash flow forecasting covers

  • 90-day rolling cash position
  • Revenue timing and collection tracking
  • Payroll and supplier payment scheduling
  • Tax obligation timing (BAS, PAYG, super)
  • Scenario modelling - what if revenue drops 20%?
  • Gap identification - when cash runs short and by how much

What Changes

  • You see cash problems before they arrive - not when they land
  • Decisions about hiring or spending are made with a clear cash picture
  • Tax obligations are planned for - not scrambled for when due
  • The bank conversation is easier - you arrive with a forecast, not a problem
Talk Through Your Cash Position
No obligation.
WHAT CHANGES
What working with a proactive advisory accountant actually looks like.

Decisions made with financial context

Before a major decision - hiring, pricing, a new contract, a capital purchase - you know what the numbers say. Not after you have committed. Before.

Problems flagged before they compound

Cash tightening, margins compressing, a tax obligation approaching - your reporting system surfaces it and your advisor raises it before it becomes a crisis. margins

A clear forward view - not just a backward record

Cash flow forecasting and scenario modelling give you a picture of where the business is heading - not just where it has been. You plan from position, not from instinct.

Tax and compliance run underneath - without your attention

BAS lodged. Tax position reviewed each quarter. Returns filed. The compliance rhythm runs in the background while the advisory layer sits on top. Both handled by the same firm. BAS

Team

Freedom
Your Way

Book My Discovery Call

Working with founder-led businesses across Australia

FREE RESOURCES

Not sure if your current accounting relationship is actually serving your business?

Download the FYW Financial Health Check. A practical tool for founders who want to know exactly where their business stands - and whether their accountant is giving them what they actually need.

What's included

  • Identify where your cash is going and why
  • See which parts of your business are working and which are not
  • Know what to ask your accountant and whether they have the right answers
CLIENT RESULTS

What this looks like for real businesses.

Three businesses stayed ahead of their tax position. Yours could be next.

Book My Discovery Call

"Having a proactive, trustworthy team behind our finances has given us total confidence, reduced our stress, and allowed us to focus on scaling our operations."

  • Expanded FYW services across multiple business entities as needs grew
  • Consistent support and dedication maintained through firm's own growth and evolution
  • Enabled confident scaling without financial anxiety
Elisia Florio Operations & Finance Manager
Multi-Entity Business 10+ Years Partnership

"The professionalism, expertise and ongoing support provided by Maria and Freedom Your Way have made managing my business finances far more efficient and stress-free."

  • Xero and Dext implementation streamlined BAS and tax returns to minimal monthly process
  • Clear, practical explanations enable informed decision-making
  • Responsive support — questions answered promptly with actionable guidance
Judy Business Owner
Designer Tan Creative Services small business

"They are proactive and genuinely care about our business. I know we are in good hands with them."

  • Expert, knowledgeable team across full range of services
  • Expedient and thorough- delivers on commitment
  • Creates peace of mind through genuine care and accountability
Debbie P. Founder
Where Pigs Fly Farm Sanctuary agricultural/not-for-profit

"When they are around you know you are in safe hands — it's a pleasure working with FTA because they are detailed, focussed, intelligent and driven."

  • Partnership from start-up through business growth
  • Detailed, intelligent approach that prioritises business protection Creates
  • confidence through proactive presence and engagement
Kevin C Business Owner
Lions National Projects Pty Ltd construction / projects

"Maria proved to be a gem! The process was seamless, and she managed to help me get a far better outcome than I would have - and get everything done on time."

  • Solved complex tax problem quickly despite interstate operating model
  • Seamless process - minimal friction despite distance
  • Expert outcome delivered — turned crisis into opportunity
Carolyn P Business Owner
CTP Consulting Consulting consulting, interstate

"I can't ever see myself wanting to work with another accountant. She's your go-to, worry-free, experienced teammate that you can count on."

  • Navigated complex personal and business tax landscape over many years
  • Exceptional qualification combined with genuine care for client outcomes
  • Reliable, trustworthy partnership that eliminates financial anxiety
Marc A Business Owner
Personal & Complex Business Taxes Multi-Service / Advisory
THE TEAM

Senior advisors who know your business. A team that makes sure nothing falls through.

Every FYW client has a named senior advisor — one person who is accountable for your engagement, knows your compliance calendar, and flags issues before they become problems. That advisor does not work alone.

Maria Andreeva

Founder
in

CPA · Registered Tax Agent · Registered BAS Agent · Xero Platinum Champion Partner 16+ Years Experience

Darren Xerri

Chief Operations Officer
in

Business Coach MBA, Wize Certified Business Coach

Bec Irvine

Senior Client Manager
in

5 years experience in this role, 21 years experience in the Tax world pre the 5 years Bachelor of Commerce, BAS agent

Adam Ogues

Senior Client Manager
in

CPA, NTAA. Bachelor of Business & Commerce 25 years experience Taxation and Business Advisory

COMMON QUESTIONSQuestions we hear most often.

A proactive accountant reviews your position on a structured basis - not just when a lodgement is due. They flag issues before they compound, initiate conversations about decisions that have financial consequences, and give you a forward view of your business rather than just a backward record. At FYW, this is built into every engagement - not offered as an optional add-on.

Accountants can provide business and tax advice - including cash flow planning, profit planning, structure advice, and strategic financial guidance. What accountants cannot do is provide personal financial product advice such as investment recommendations - that requires an Australian Financial Services licence. FYW's advisory scope covers business financial advice, tax planning, and strategic guidance.

A proactive accountant should be part of the conversation when major business decisions are made - growth strategy, hiring, pricing, financing, and capital events all have financial dimensions that an advisory accountant can meaningfully contribute to. If your accountant is not having these conversations with you, that is a gap in the relationship.

FYW provides the strategic financial oversight and advisory layer that a virtual CFO delivers - but as part of an integrated accounting engagement that also covers compliance, tax, and bookkeeping. For founder-led businesses that need senior financial input without the cost of a full-time hire, this is the model that makes sense.

Advisory works best when the advisor has full visibility of your books, your tax position, and your compliance obligations. FYW handles both - which means the advice is grounded in accurate, current numbers, not estimates. If you have existing compliance arrangements, we discuss how the engagement would work in the discovery call.

FYW works with founder-led businesses typically between $2M and $20M in revenue - businesses that have outgrown basic compliance accounting and need a financial partner who is actively across the business. If you are making significant decisions without a clear financial picture, this engagement is built for you.

RELATED READING
Useful reading for founders looking for more from their accountant.

ADVISORY

What your accountant should actually be doing for your business

There is compliance accounting and there is advisory accounting. Most founders only ever experience one of them. Here is what the other looks like.

Read article

ADVISORY

What you are missing from your accountant

Most founders assume their accountant is doing everything they should be. Most are wrong. Here is what a proactive accounting relationship actually looks like.

Read article

CASH FLOW

Why profitable businesses run out of cash

You are making money on paper but the bank account tells a different story. This is one of the most common problems at this stage.

Read article

READY TO START

Find out what a proactive accounting relationship looks like for your business.

Book a 30-minute discovery call. We will get across your current situation - what decisions you are facing, what visibility you have, and whether FYW is the right fit. No obligation.

Find Out What I'm Missing

No commitment,
Free initial consultation with a senior adviser.

Proactive accountant for growing businesses in Australia

Freedom Your Way is a proactive accountant for founder-led businesses across Australia. Unlike a compliance-only accounting firm, FYW tracks your financial position, flags issues before they compound, and gives you the business advisory input that changes how you run your business. Proactive accounting for a growing business means the conversation happens before the deadline - not because of it.

Tax planning is initiated before EOFY. Cash flow problems are identified before they become crises. Decisions with financial consequences are discussed before they are made, not after. FYW works with founders across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane - delivering proactive accounting & financial services as part of a full-service engagement that includes bookkeeping, tax, management reporting, and strategic business advisory.

What is business advisory accounting and what does it include

Business advisory accounting is the layer of financial guidance that sits above compliance - tax returns, BAS, and bookkeeping are the foundation; business advisory is what a founder needs when the business has grown to a stage where financial decisions have real consequences.

A business advisory accountant helps with cash flow forecasting, profit planning, scenario modelling, growth planning, and strategic financial guidance - in addition to managing the compliance obligations. The difference between a compliance accountant and an advisory accountant is not what they know. It is how they engage.

FYW's business advisory engagement covers planning and forecasting, cash flow forecasting for growing businesses, management reporting, and a named senior advisor available when decisions need input.

Can accountants give financial advice in Australia

Yes - accountants can give financial advice on business and tax matters. This includes business advisory guidance on structure, cash flow, profit planning, tax minimisation, and strategic financial decisions. What accountants cannot do without an Australian Financial Services licence is provide personal financial product advice - investment recommendations, superannuation product advice, or insurance product advice.

For a founder-led business, the financial advice that matters most is business financial advice - and this is exactly what a proactive accountant is positioned to provide. FYW's advisory scope covers tax planning, cash flow forecasting, business strategy, and financial guidance on major business decisions.

If you have been asking whether your accountant should help you grow your business - the answer is yes. And if yours is not, that is the gap FYW is built to fill.