At Dexterous, we understand many business owners do not have either the in-depth knowledge or time to accurately maintain their financial records and/or prepare their tax filing obligations for lodgement with the ATO.
We know that this is one of the most time-consuming and frustrating aspects of running a business. We also know how many businesses fall afoul of the ATO due to errors or forgetting to include something on their tax returns.
Meet Ben – an FCA, Chartered Tax Advisor and Registered Tax Agent. With almost 20 years’ experience working in accounting and tax roles across the Big 4 (PwC), in commerce (Optus) and more recently running his own small practice, Ben has provided accounting and tax advice to clients ranging in size from ASX Top 10 through to start-ups, and more recently to individuals and small business. Get to know him in this Fast Five:
What do you do?
I am the Head of Tax in Dexterous’ Sydney office. I am responsible for managing all tax related compliance obligations for our growing client base, as well as providing strategic tax advice on specific transactions and or helping clients minimise the amount of tax they pay.
What are your qualifications? Do you have an area of speciality?
I am a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) with The Tax Institute, and hold a Bachelor of Commerce and Post-Graduate Diploma in Taxation Law from the University of Sydney. Fellowship with CA ANZ recognises members for their outstanding career achievements and contributions to the profession, generally via service to CA ANZ or to the wider community.
The Chartered Tax Adviser designation is an internationally recognised and respected mark of technical excellence and professional integrity and represents the pinnacle of the tax profession. I would have to say that Tax is my area of expertise, however I also have extensive experience in dealing with start-up businesses.
Tell us what your #1 tip is for small or medium businesses?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can’t (and don’t need to) know everything, but you should always recognise when it’s time to call in an expert. A half hour call with your accountant (or lawyer, financial advisor, R&D consultant etc.) could save you substantial amounts of time and/or money in the long run.
What do you love about your job at Dexterous?
Having run a small practice as a sole practitioner for 5 years prior to joining Dexterous, it’s great to have the support and knowledge of a team of great people behind you. The team here at Dexterous are all fantastic, which makes work enjoyable. Dexterous is a fast growing business and I love the way they position themselves in the market and I am excited to be part of the future of finance. Dexterous are pushing a more innovative approach to the market and it’s exciting to be involved with this fresh, innovative approach.
What’s the last new skill you learnt?
During the Pandemic, my kids taught me how to do the handstand t-shirt challenge!
Dexterous helps you operate an efficient finance function
Regardless of your industry or business size, we understand that every business has different needs to help it grow. With a sequence of accounting and bookkeeping packages on offer, our team of qualified and passionate accounts are adept at stepping up to support your business as you need.
Simply call, email, or contact us here to make an obligation-free consultation appointment. We look forward to helping your business grow.
