http:// 2013-05-20T23:31:00Z 2013-05-20T23:31:00Z accountant-business-advisory-services-enriched-with-all-new-myob-companydocs

Accountant business advisory services enriched with all-new MYOB CompanyDocsMYOB launches new small business services online portal; announces exclusive launch offer Australia’s largest provider of accounting software MYOB announced a new online portal for small business services that will enhance their client relationships. MYOB CompanyDocs enables accountants to easily set-up a new corporate structure online anywhere, any time. This starts with proprietary limited company registrations, helping accountants and their clients meet ASIC and Corporations Act requirements. In coming months, the service will cover superannuation funds. General Manager, Accountants Division, Adam Ferguson says, “CompanyDocs will strengthen our accountant partners’ reputation as trusted small business advisors. They can register a new company for their client and check domain name availability all within CompanyDocs, with a step-by-step guide and tips provided along the way. “When the new company is registered with ASIC, MYOB will upload the ACN and Certificate of Incorporation and a full set of documentation into the CompanyDocs portal. It’s that simple. “We’re really pleased to partner with Sparke Helmore Lawyers to offer our accountants an approach to new business services that makes it easier for them to be a credible, connected advisor. We know this is a competitive market, so it’s important for CompanyDocs to provide effective data capture, quality documentation and end product, prompt delivery and competitive pricing. We’ve 100% delivered on this.” The easy-to-use online portal is also a ‘one stop shop’ of resources for trusted business management solutions such as the MYOB Live product suite and EXO Business. In further detail, key features of MYOB CompanyDocs include:High quality legal documentation provided by top 20 Australian legal firm Sparke Helmore Lawyers. With experts in legislation and company incorporations, trusts and self-managed superannuation funds, Sparke Helmore has provided all the legal documents for CompanyDocs. These are fully compliant with current-day practices and legislation.Online registrations through a simple to use and easy to navigate website containing helpful hints and tips.Fast turnaround time to process registrations via electronic lodgement direct with ASIC. Quick download of new company documents in an easy-to-read format.Document history via a dashboard that shows a summary of transactions and the status of applications.Client support via Live Chat. Before 1 July 2013, accountants can receive a $100 discount per new company registration in CompanyDocs.MYOB Connected Accounting Practices receive a free 3-month MYOB LiveAccounts subscription for each client registering a new company. Pricing: $465 for each proprietary company registration in CompanyDocs until 1 July 2013 (normally $565).**Incl GST and ASIC fee Visit http://companydocs.myob.com.au/- ENDS - For further comment or other information please contact:Angely Grecia, MYOB Public Relations ConsultantP: 02 9089 9071 / M: 0449 169 997/ E: angely.grecia@myob.com About MYOBEstablished in 1991, MYOB is now Australia’s largest business management solutions provider. It simplifies accounting, payroll, tax, CRM, websites, job costing, inventory management and much more for businesses of all ages, types and sizes. Over one million businesses in Australia and New Zealand have used one or more of MYOB’s 50+ products and services. Today, its solutions extend online, delivering innovation through cloud computing. This enables its clients to be more productive and make smarter connections with their staff, business partners, business advisors and customers. With a network of 20,000+ accountants, book keepers, certified consultants and other professional partners, MYOB provides support and tools that help make business life easier. Visit http://myob.com.au/smarterconnections

2013-05-17T02:10:55Z hasty-decisions-costing-first-home-buyers-up-to-89-000

Rockingham, WA, May 17, 2013 - In the past year, Baldivis has become known as a haven for first home buyers. The combination of pent-up demand, a recovering WA economy, low interest rates, and reasonably-priced housing in Baldivis has combined to produce a market that is conducive to young buyers seeking their first homes.However, many first home buyers are paying as much as $89,000 extra over the life of their home loans, because they are not doing their due diligence. Buyers who struggle to save for a down payment find themselves putting down minimum deposits as low as 3% on their homes. According to industry estimates, as many as 33% of first home buyers are making minimum deposits on their homes.When a buyer makes a deposit below 20%, lenders not only add a host of upfront fees, but also charge more interest for their loans. Using average industry numbers, if two buyers purchase homes for $320,000, and one deposits $80,000 while the other deposits only $40,000, the borrower who made the smaller of the two deposits ends up paying a total of $89,935.75 more over the lifetime of their loan than the buyer who made the larger deposit.According to a recent blog post, The Mortgage Gallery Rockingham says that buyers should be wary of these costs, and recommends four strategies for first home buyers to lessen their debt burden by eliminating a portion of the upfront costs.Their first recommendation is to do due diligence on their respective state's grants for first home buyers. In WA, each first home buyer gets a one time grant totalling $7,000. These grants vary from state to state, with the N. T. offering a $25,000 grant for all homes except established homes in urban areas.For many first home buyers, it makes sense to find a guarantor. This is usually a relative who has enough equity in their house to put it up as collateral. This can eliminate a lot of the upfront costs that lenders add in to accounts with less than sterling credit and insufficient deposits.It is also important for first home buyers to make sure that their credit reports are clean and their credit ratings are as high as possible. When a loan doesn't fit a lender's ideal recommendations, they add a lot of upfront costs. For example, when buying a $400,000 house in NSW, with a deposit of $40,000, an extra $25,337 would be tacked on to the cost of the loan.According to Justin Smith, Principal of The Mortgage Gallery Rockingham, it is extremely important for anyone seeking a first home loan to do their due diligence. According to Smith, “In today's climate, especially for a first home buyer, it is important to shop around and find the best terms for your loan.”Smith continued, “The easiest way to shop around is to hire an experienced mortgage broker and let them shop around for you. Experienced mortgage brokers know which lenders are more friendly to which situations, and have access to many lenders from their desktops. Instead of driving around to a bunch of banks and loan companies, all you have to do is have your broker find the best deal for you.”Smith concluded, “Always hire a professional mortgage broker. You will save time, effort, and money.”The Mortgage Gallery Rockingham brokers home loans in Baldivis, Rockingham, Kwinana, and surrounding areas. For more information, call (08) 9527 1800 or visit their website: http://www.themortgagegalleryrockingham.com.au/

2013-05-14T01:03:00Z nearly-half-of-australia-s-finance-professionals-hunting-for-new-job-survey

Media Release Nearly half of Australia’s finance industry hunting for a new employer - survey Australia, 14/05/2013 - Almost most half (46%) of Australia’s finance professionals intend to move to a new employer in 2013 according to a recent survey conducted by eFinancialCareers the leading global career site network for professionals working in the investment banking, asset management and securities industries. The eFinancialCareers Employment Survey* found the intended movement of Australian finance professionals resulted from a continued lack of career progression in their current firm (54%), perceived higher pay at other employers (38%) and frustration with a lack of recognition for their accomplishments (33%). These factors motivating employees to leave their current firm were also cited as the main reasons in the 2012 eFinancialCareers Employment Survey. The desire to change employers amongst Australian finance workers (46%) compared favourably to finance centres Singapore (64%) and Hong Kong (74%) respectively for 2013. “The slowdown in hiring activity has led to less people movement between financial services companies. For finance professionals this means there has been less opportunity to take advantage of internal openings created by staff turnover, and the large scale layoffs experienced at the end of last year are also likely to have stalled the potential for some individuals to progress within their organisations. While many companies are mindful of the risk associated with losing top talent, outward pressures can’t always be overcome. In this situation we tend to see more candidates looking externally for a chance to advance their careers despite the challenging hiring environment,” said George McFerran, Managing Director APAC at eFinancialCareers. Not just about the moneyWhen asked what factors, apart from compensation, would be critical in their decision to move to a new employer, a supportive culture and good working environment came top, followed by a defined career progression. The survey also found that two thirds of Australia-based finance professionals (65%) were keen to keep their flexible working arrangements if they were to move to a new employer. Ends * The eFinancialCareers 2013 Employment Survey was conducted in April 2013. The survey polled a total of 512 employed bankers and finance professionals in Hong Kong, 572 in Australia, and 1,262 in Singapore. The survey explored current issues and trends in employee retention in key finance hubs, in the region’s finance sector. About eFinancialCareers: eFinancialCareers, a Dice Holdings, Inc. service, is the leading global career site network for professionals working in the investment banking, asset management and securities industries. The website provides financial services professionals with job opportunities, job market news and analysis, salary surveys and career advice. Recruiters and employers can post jobs targeting specific sectors within the financial services industry, both buy-side and sell-side, and can search the resume database for highly qualified and specialized professionals. eFinancialCareers has a network of co-branded career sites with industry-leading trade publications and offers local websites in 19 markets and five languages primarily across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and financial centers of the Middle East. Please visit www.eFinancialCareers.com.au for more information. For media enquiries and more information, contact Cape Public Relations Pty Ltd:Ph +61 2 8218 2190 Emeere Roberts: emeere@capepublicrelations.com M: 0432 746 564

2013-05-13T00:50:50Z yourcarlog-com-launched-in-australia

YourCarLog, the simplest and  most  effective way to keep a car log for FBT or reimbursement purposes, has today been launched in Australia online at www.yourcarlog.com by Sydney-based start-up Positive (Gamma) Technologies. YourCarLog Founder and Positive (Gamma) Technologies CEO Ben Caplan said the technology behind the service is a world first. “YourCarLog brings together several aspects of commonly used technologies and marries them to produce an automated logbook solution that is extremely simple and cost effective,” Mr Caplan said. Caplan said the need for a simple car logging solution has been a requirement of corporates and SME’s for years as businesses wanted to find an easier way to maintain the data, reduce FBT liability and to free up valuable employee time. “Many of us have laboured and begrudgingly filled in a manual log book for our car expenses or tax requirements, and even large fleet operators believe they only get between 60 to 70 percent compliance. A painful compliance requirement can be simplified by using every day systems,” Mr Caplan said. “And even when the log books are completed properly, it still requires manual data entry from the book to an accounting or finance system. This creates significant double handling by adding an extra layer of expense, which in today’s business world is simply ineffecient.” YourCarLog produces Car Usage reports that can be used for Australian tax purposes and expense reimbursement. A user only requires an electronic diary, such as Microsoft Outlook, gCal or iCal to log the destination of each meeting. YourCarLog calculates the kilometres travelled to produce the required reporting and will assist in identifying the difference between personal versus business related trips at the click of a mouse. “YourCarLog can save large companies with fleets and small business owners, hours of unnecessary paperwork, improved accuracy and transparency, whilst  increasing productivity. YourCarLog is the missing link in this once complex compliance requirement. The system works on the users existing platforms – no hardware to buy or software to install,” Mr Caplan said. Subscriptions start from as little as $18 per month and reports are securely stored for five years. Enterprise solutions can be customised to meet business requirements. _________________________________________________________________________ For all media enquiries please contact:   Ben Caplan CEO, Positive (Gamma) Technologies M: 0419 277 747 E: ben_caplan@positivegamma.com.au   Julian Khursigara COO, Positive (Gamma) Technologies M: 0418 679 283E: julian_khursigara@positivegamma.com.au

2013-05-12T22:51:00Z growing-number-of-businesses-owned-and-operated-by-women

12 March 2013 Growing number of businesses owned and operated by women New Zealand currently has more women than ever in business and they are having a significant impact on the economy — earning more and employing more staff. According to the latest MYOB Business Monitor, a survey of over 1,000+ SMEs, 41% of small and medium businesses in New Zealand are owned and operated by women. MYOB national manager, enterprise division, Allison Fairkettle, says although females are still outnumbered by men in terms of business ownership, the increase of women in business is incredibly positive. “Three years ago, only 37% of SMEs were owned by women, so it’s great to see that a growing number of women are running their own businesses. “Not only are they paving the way for more females to do the same but they are also having a positive impact on the wider economy,” says Mrs Fairkettle. The Business Monitor highlighted that on average, females employ more staff than males — 33% of females have one or more employees, while only 29% of males do the same. “This is fantastic news for local job seekers,” says Mrs Fairkettle. “Although numbers have been rising recently, New Zealand’s current job market can benefit from more women in business who, according to our survey, are more likely to employ staff.” Examining where women choose to run their businesses, the Business Monitor revealed that rural New Zealand has a strong appeal for women, with 25% of females in business working in rural areas compared to only 19% of male business operators. Due to the rebuild, Christchurch has become the engine room of the country’s economy and is the main centre with the smallest gender gap for SME operators. “41% of Christchurch SMEs are owned and operated by females, compared to 39% in Auckland and 37% in Wellington. “Last year, the Business Monitor revealed that businesswomen in Christchurch were disproportionately affected by the earthquakes reporting a higher revenue loss than males and lower levels of optimism. “Despite the challenges of the earthquakes, its great to see so many women in Christchurch still owning, running and starting new businesses,” says Mrs Fairkettle. Some regional areas show even stronger representation of women in business, with 57% of businesses in the Waikato owned by women, 51% in Northland, and 50% in the Bay of Plenty. In Manawatu-Wanganui, however, just 19% of SMEs are owned by women. In addition to a growing representation of women among business owners, the Business Monitor highlighted that women are now earning just as much, if not more, than men in business. A higher number of women are reporting higher revenue gains in the Business Monitor (33%) than men (31%), while fewer are reporting losses (25% of women in business compared to 29% of men). “The Monitor also indicates that a higher percentage of businesses operated by females earn more than $200,000 a year,” says Mrs Fairkettle. “This is despite the fact that on average female business owners work 5.5 hours a week less than males – an indication perhaps that women are finding ways to work smarter in their business. “Overall, it’s inspiring to see that more women are establishing their own highly successful businesses and that they are having a positive impact on the local economy by doing so.” -ends- For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:Gerard Blank Elaine KollerThe Agency Communications Limited MYOBTel: 03 341 5841 Tel: 09 925 3514Mob: 0275 243 629 Mob: 029 777 0256Email: gerard@theagencynz.co.nz Email: elaine.koller@myob.com About the MYOB Business MonitorThe MYOB Business Monitor is a national survey of 1,000+ New Zealand small and medium business owners and managers, from sole traders to mid-sized companies, representing the major industry sectors. It has run since 2009, commissioned to independent market research firm Colmar Brunton. This most recent survey ran late January/early February 2013. The Monitor researches business performance and attitudes in areas such as profitability, cash flow, pipeline, technology usage and the government. The weighting of respondents by both geographical location and sector is based on overall market proportions as established by Statistics New Zealand and is drawn from an independent survey group, which includes both MYOB clients and non-clients. About MYOBEstablished in 1991, MYOB is one of New Zealand’s largest business management software providers. Its 50+ products and services have been employed by over one million businesses in New Zealand and Australia. MYOB serves businesses of all ages, types and sizes, delivering solutions that simplify accounting, payroll, client management, websites and much more. With a network of more than 20,000 accountants and other professional partners, it provides the support and tools that help make business life easier. Today, MYOB is extending its solutions online and delivering innovation through cloud computing, enabling clients to make smarter connections with business partners and customers. Visit myob.co.nz/smarterconnections.

2013-05-05T23:28:00Z new-myob-client-accounting-enhances-accountant-productivity-amp-client-collaboration

6 May 2013 New MYOB Client Accounting enhances accountant productivity & client collaboration The common ledger brings accountants closer to their clients in the cloud Australia’s largest provider of accounting software, MYOB, today announced a revolutionary update for a core module of its accountant practice solutions, Client Accounting. The changes will significantly boost accountant productivity when it comes to collaborating in the cloud with their AccountRight Live clients. The latest Client Accounting module enables accountants to connect with clients’ online AccountRight Live data file without leaving their MYOB Accountants Office (AO) or Accountants Enterprise (AE) Practice Solution. From today, they no longer need to leave the interface they’re familiar with to work with clients in the cloud. The benefits of real-time online collaboration include reduced administration time by: 1) no longer having to rekey data, 2) correct client mistakes made over a long time or, 3) work back and forth with data on USB sticks or CDs. General Manager, Accountants Division, Adam Ferguson says, “This substantial Client Accounting update provides a common general ledger system that empowers accountants to work with clients in a more efficient, confident manner. They can now complete Client Accounting work - including electronic workpapers and statutory reports - directly with a client’s file in the cloud, without leaving their practice solution. “The time saved will increase their productivity and provide more time for accountants and their clients to focus on growing their respective businesses. The practice can spread the compliance workload more evenly, making it much easier to work more efficiently, drive revenue and deliver better, profitable services to clients. It’s a game changer.” Sean Devenish, Principal of financial services firm Collins SBA says, “AccountRight Live and MYOB Practice Solutions increase our service offering because the client can now give us live data. Previously, it was always difficult because they had to give you copies of the database, which were snapshots at that point in time. “It was always dependent on them actually doing the transfer. I can now start identifying opportunities for them but it’s also given me the ability to start talking to the client on a whole new level. “This level is about how an accountant can provide value-added services and how we teach a client to run a good business. We can see the industry adapt to the new role of the accountant - teaching clients to run good businesses using the live information, as opposed to just telling them what happened 12 months ago.” In addition, the secure my.MYOB online support centre now integrates into AE and AO Practice Solutions to centralise the management of my.MYOB logins for practice employees. This simplifies the administration of access to clients’ files. While Client Accounting provides the user interface that enables accountants to interact and work on the data file in the cloud, my.MYOB provides a secure gateway to access clients’ data files. For MYOB product information, research results, business tips, discussions, customer service and more visit the MYOB Accounting Practices webpage, The Pulse blog, MYOB Twitter, MYOB Facebook or MYOB YouTube. - ENDS - For further comment or other information please contact:Angely Grecia, MYOB Public Relations Consultant P: 02 9089 9071 / M: 0449 169 997 / E: angely.grecia@myob.com About MYOBEstablished in 1991, MYOB is Australia’s largest business management solutions provider. It simplifies accounting, payroll, tax, CRM, websites, job costing, inventory management and much more for businesses of all ages, types and sizes. Over one million businesses in Australia and New Zealand have used one or more of MYOB’s 50+ products and services. Today, its solutions extend online, delivering innovation through cloud computing. This enables clients to be more productive and make smarter connections with their staff, business partners, business advisors and customers. With a network of 20,000+ accountants, book keepers, certified consultants and other professional partners, MYOB provides support and tools that help make business life easier.

2013-04-23T05:36:50Z accru-global-partnership-proves-beneficial-for-accountancy-practices

As more and more businesses seek to gain a foothold in the Australian economy, public practices both here and abroad are weighing up the merits of joining a global partnership association, according to Lachlan Colquhoun in  ICAA’s Charter Magazine article The Business recently.  Glenda Nixon CA knows how beneficial it can be to have membership in a global network. To assist her clients, Glenda uses her practice’s membership of accounting association CPA Associates International (CPAAI) an independent grouping of 158 firms, (including Chartered firms) across 65 countries around the world that comprises around 7000 accounting professionals.   Glenda Nixon CA is the current international chairman of CPAAI and Managing Partner of Accru Felsers in Sydney. Nixon’s firm, Accru, has six offices in Australia and one in New Zealand. Each firm maintains its own autonomy, independence and structure while at the same time taking advantage of the benefits that the group offers. As Nixon says, “Independence and autonomy are part of our strategic profile and we have made that our choice. This enables us to be very clear about who we are and what we want to be and what the partners get out of this practice. “Accounting is very much a relationship business. Most clients are fearful when they go into a new region such as China because they have heard some horror stories, but to be able to offer them the opportunity to go in with a partner you feel comfortable with is really important in giving clients confidence.” Training and international placements for staff is another part of the CPAAI offer, and businesses will often attend conferences of other CPAAI regions in order to further contacts and make connections. Accru was able to use the CPAAI connection recently when some clients expanded their business into Vietnam, and another group needed accounting help in the UK.  “We have very close relationships with our clients and so they are happy when we refer them to other firms, because there’s a trust there”, says Nixon. “Absolutely, we are an alternative to the Big Four through the extra reach the association gives us, and the relationships which deliver scale”. For Nixon personally, being part of the Accru group has meant she has been able to develop the Australian firm and her own career without having to join a larger firm. Accru is in a growth phase looking for quality new chartered accountants for membership in Australia. For more information please go to their website at http://www.accru.com or contact Aris Imbardelli ceo@accru.com.au.

2013-04-23T01:44:00Z cch-fbt-survey-reveals-spike-in-interest-driven-by-latest-level-of-changes-and-uncertainty

CCH FBT Survey reveals spike in interest driven by latest level of changes and uncertainty FBT consolidates its position as nuisance tax for Australian business Sydney, Australia (23 April, 2013) – CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business and global leader in tax, accounting and audit information, software and services for professionals today revealed the findings of its 2013 Fringe Benefits Taxation Survey. The CCH FBT Survey confirmed a renewed interest from financial team respondents now grappling with their impression of FBT as highly time-consuming, complex and an issue from a corporate productivity perspective. The CCH FBT Survey findings also highlighted an element of conflict in responses, indicative of an overall larger and greater concern. Around 80% of respondents confirmed a high level of confidence in meeting regulatory reporting requirements. Yet, those same respondents indicated that they were finding the collection, identification and calculation of data a complex challenge. For these finance teams the contradiction was spelt out in concerns raised regarding internal processes (87%), time taken for reporting (60%) and internal knowledge levels (39%). The CCH FBT Survey is based on the responses of more than 700 corporate tax, accounting and finance professionals registering for the annual CCH FBT Roadshow. The CCH FBT Roadshow is a platform for organisations to remain up to date on changes in FBT legislation and the practical implications of those changes. The 2013 CCH FBT Roadshow explored issues including the changes in treatment to salary packaging, Living Away From Home Allowance (LAFHA), motor vehicle transitional arrangements and airline travel benefits, together with expected legislation and penalties for late or incorrect lodgement of FBT returns.Tony Katsigarakis, Regional Director Client Development for CCH’s Corporate Reporting Solutions, said there is a discernible spike in interest in FBT administration and compliance driven by higher levels of uncertainty and regulatory change. “For particular organisations, such as those in the resources sector, the reforms to the LAFHA tax concession are a major concern with complex rules that vary depending on the status of the employee through the year.“In fact almost 60 per cent of our respondents across all industries confirmed that both LAFHA and transitional arrangements for motor vehicles were key to their renewed focus on FBT administration and this drove a record attendance at the CCH FBT Roadshow. The proposed reforms will require further updates and it's imperative that tax professionals understand transitional measures and compliance requirements,” he said.“Overall it was those respondents with great confidence in their internal operations, as well as those implementing specialist software or using external advisors in their FBT return process that reported the highest levels of satisfaction,” he observed. All CCH FBT Survey participants were also polled on the time it takes to complete FBT reporting. Over 40% of organisations admitted to 100+ hours for reporting, with some of the larger organisations reporting in excess of 1,000 hours being invested in annual lodgements of FBT returns. Interestingly, cost of compliance tables published by the Australian Taxation Office on “average hours to complete the FBT form” for 2009-2010 show an average of less than 15 hours across all market segments with the maximum average of only 87.2 hours for government sector employers with more than 1,000 employees. Technology was also covered in the CCH FBT Survey, highlighting an overall positive implementation of technology when producing FBT reports. Respondents rely on specialist software programs, at least in part, to assist the completion of returns. The use of this software ranked as the lowest operational concern for finance and management teams (17%). Notwithstanding, in relation to the effectiveness of third-party FBT software solutions, over 80 per cent continued to report difficulty in data collection.Wrapping up the CCH FBT Survey summary of findings, Katsigarakis provided timely advice for finance teams grappling with the reporting processes for FBT:Increase the knowledge and skills base of staff involved in FBT reporting, from educating staff on capturing activity when submitting expense claims to FBT data entry staff, and all the way through to those responsible for preparing and reviewing the returns. Develop internal policies and train staff and management on navigating the highly personal data disclosures required for LAFHA as these are unprecedented and are now the responsibility of each employer. Privacy considerations need to be handled with care. Implement specialist software platforms and programs supplemented by robust internal processes to streamline the production of FBT reports in line with transitional measures and compliance needs for the annual return process. Organisations ignoring this step are contributing to greater inefficiencies. Start early! Implement strategies to process data throughout the year to diminish the burden at the end of the FBT year. Ends.For more information, please contact: Cathryn van der Walt 12 Worlds on behalf of CCH T: +61 (0) 402 327 633 | cathryn@12worlds.com Tony KatsigarakisRegional Director Client Development, CCH Corporate Reporting Solutions, Wolters Kluwer Asia PacificT: +61 2 9857 1350 | tony.katsigarakis@cch.com.au About CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business CCH (www.cch.com.au) is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company focused on professionals with annual revenues of (2012) €3.6 billion ($4.7 billion) and approximately 19,000 employees worldwide. Please visit our website or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook for more information. Forward-looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by words such as “expect,” “should,” “could,” “shall,” and similar expressions. Wolters Kluwer cautions that such forward-looking statements are qualified by certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from what is contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, general economic conditions; conditions in the markets in which Wolters Kluwer is engaged; behaviour of customers, suppliers, and competitors; technological developments; the implementation and execution of new ICT systems or outsourcing; and legal, tax, and regulatory rules affecting Wolters Kluwer’s businesses, as well as risks related to mergers, acquisitions, and divestments. In addition, financial risks such as currency movements, interest rate fluctuations, liquidity, and credit risks could influence future results. The foregoing list of factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Wolters Kluwer disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

2013-04-19T01:23:00Z deloitte-offers-xero-to-clients-for-small-business-accounting

MARKET RELEASEDeloitte offers Xero to clients for small business accounting 19 April 2013Online accounting software provider Xero Limited (XRO) is pleased to announce that in Australia professional services firm Deloitte, in response to growing client demand for cloud accounting solutions, is now offering its clients the ability to migrate to Xero’s single ledger accounting solution. Based on current client demand for cloud-based accounting solutions, Deloitte expect that by the end of its financial year approximately 2,000 ledgers will have been migrated to Xero’s platform alone. For clients wishing to move to the cloud, single ledger accounting solutions provide business owners with real-time visibility of their financial performance and position. Xero’s Australian Managing Director, Chris Ridd, says Deloitte’s decision signals Xero’s growing stature in the Australian financial marketplace. “We are excited to be working with Deloitte who are well known for their technology leadership. Deloitte has strong reach in the private and family business market, which gives us the opportunity to expand our brand in the Australian market alongside a leading global professional services organisation.” David Hill, National Managing Partner for Deloitte Private, says “the professional services sector is being digitally disrupted. Our response is to embrace this disruption to improve the efficiency of our operations and enhance the way we deliver value to our clients.” “Cloud or single ledger accounting solutions give clients the ability to access their financial data and reports from anywhere and at any time. Such solutions also provide us with the opportunity to regularly connect with our clients and offer timely insights and solutions to create and deliver value.” For more information contact:Chris RiddXero Australia Managing DirectorMobile: +61 414 987 026chris.ridd@xero.com Jane KneeboneDeloitteCorporate Affairs & CommunicationsMobile: +61 416 148 845Tel: +61 3 9671 7389jakneebone@deloitte.com.au About XeroXero provides beautiful, easy to use online accounting software for small businesses and their advisors. The company has over 150,000 paying customers and 200,000 users in more than 100 countries around the world. The company is listed on the NZX and ASX.See http://xero.com

2013-04-18T08:25:31Z data-indicates-that-high-end-residential-property-is-due-for-a-better-2013

Rockingham, WA, April 18, 2013 - Currently, real estate market statistics are moving in a pattern similar to the beginning of the housing market recovery at the end of 2008. After property had bottomed out in the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), it was the more affordable properties that showed the first movement, followed by movement in the premium property market. According to current data, home values in the capital cities have started to rise in the recent months, even as prices are still slightly lower than the same time last year. According to new information published by RP Data, home prices across all three major sectors are beginning to exhibit the same market patterns, with the affordable end, the middle 60%, and the premium end nearly intersecting as one line when the information is shown on a graph. From September 2011 to September 2012, both the affordable end and the top end areas in the capital cities and suburbs reported a decline of -1.7%, while the middle 60% reported a fall of -0.3%. In the most volatile capital city markets, those with the most severe drops are the most affordable areas around Brisbane, down -13.2% from their pre-GFC peak, and the premium areas in the Brisbane market, which are down -10.8%. Melbourne’s top end property is down -10.4%. In the capital cities, the average home value has fallen by 6.1% from the onset of the GFC to September 2012. The largest decreases in value were in Melbourne, at -8.3%, and Perth with -6.8%, while the least change was in Canberra at -3.2%, and Adelaide and Darwin, both at -3.3%.  From the post-GFC to market peak to the current trough, home values have fallen -7.4% individual cities with the largest declines have been Darwin, with -19.7%, and Hobart, with -14.6%. Those capital cities least affected were Sydney, at -5.0%, and Canberra, with -5.3%.  However, capital city housing prices are currently on the rise. They bottomed out in May 2012, but rose 2.1% by October 2012. Justin Smith, Principal of The Mortgage Gallery Rockingham, is encouraged by the statistics: “It’s been quite an interesting journey the last few years. Before the Global Financial Crisis, most investors acted as though one could count on real estate prices to rise every day with the sun. If there’s one thing the last few years have taught us, it’s that even real estate is subject to market peaks, valleys, and troughs.” Smith continued, “Many in the housing, property, and mortgage industries are surprised that prices haven’t recovered to peak level yet. In the Perth area and in Western Australia, if the past and other economic factors are any indication, prices should recover fully to peak prices. The mining boom has brought a lot of jobs and a lot of money into Western Australia and most builders are expecting a labour shortfall by the end of the year. Demand for houses is rising and it is only a matter of time before supply dwindles and prices once again rise to former levels.” Smith concluded, “It certainly appears that prices are about to rise on all levels. For anyone who is thinking about buying a new home or upgrading their current one, it might be a good time to act.” The Mortgage Gallery Rockingham are the premier mortgage brokers in the Baldivis, Kwinana, and Rockingham areas. For more information about a home loan, call 08 9527 1800 or visit their website: http://www.themortgagegalleryrockingham.com.au/

2013-04-18T02:16:00Z research-proves-accountant-advice-revenue-rise

18 April 2013Research proves accountant + advice = revenue rise Business advice from accountants proves valuable yet most SMEs have tax-only relationshipFinancial ignorance apparent in almost 10% of who don’t use an accountant Wellington businesses least likely to engage an accountant New research released today reveals that small to medium business operators who use their accountant as a business advisor rather than simply for compliance purposes have a greater likelihood of financial success than their peers. The March 2013 MYOB Business Monitor discovered that SMEs who have an advisory or consultative relationship with their accountant were much more likely to see a revenue rise in the past year. They were also more optimistic about revenue in the year ahead and had significantly more work in their pipeline for the next three months. Despite survey results showing an advisory/consultative relationship is best for business, findings reveal the majority of New Zealand SMEs have a tax-only relationship with their accountant. 57% defined their relationship as being for tax return completion or GST reporting only. 28% had an advisory/consultative relationship, meeting with them regularly throughout the year for strategic business advice. The remaining 15% did not have an accountant. Over one in three (36%) of those with an advisory/consultative relationship reported a rise in revenue over the past year. Just 30% of the other SMEs reported a rise. According to MYOB’s New Zealand Executive Director, Scott Gardiner, accountants are in a good position to give valuable business advice to small and medium business owners. “Many business operators only use their accountant for tax compliance at the end of the financial year, not realising the potential breadth of their service offering. Yet the costs of a working relationship with an accountant should be considered in terms of the value brought to the business and not just the up-front payments,” he says. “Our research discovered SMEs using an accountant for financial analysis, general business advice and/or consulting on profit strategies, strategic planning and the like are 20% more likely to enjoy increased revenue than their peers. That’s a strong case to dig a little deeper and explore the possibilities of the relationship.” Tellingly, 9% of businesses without an accountant said they didn’t know if their revenue rose or fell in the past year. When comparing the major cities, Wellington-based business operators were the least likely to have an accountant. Over a quarter (26%) of respondents based there had no accountant relationship, compared to 17% in Auckland. Business owners in Christchurch were the most likely to use an accountant, with only 12% having no relationship. Revenue increase a key benefit from engaging accountantWhen looking to the year ahead, those business operators who enjoyed an advisory/consultative relationship were most likely to expect a revenue increase, at 43%. 41% of those with a tax relationship and 36% of respondents with no accountant relationship expected the same. When those without an accountant were asked if they expected their revenue to increase, 10% said they didn’t know. Only 5% of those with an advisory relationship and 4% of those with a tax relationship were unsure. “Of concern is the financial confusion that seems to result when an accountant isn’t consulted at all. They’re skilled at providing clarity around finances, including cashflow and revenue trends. By receiving this important advice business owners will be in a better position to understand where to allocate resources for the year ahead,” says Mr Gardiner. Accountant advice can relieve pressures and create investment opportunitiesBusiness operators who had no accountant relationship also reported differing pressures and investment focuses than those who employed the services of one. The pressures of competitive activity and retaining existing customers ranked higher for the former group, with 63% and 62% respectively saying these would likely affect their business in the next year. Those with an advisory relationship reported these pressures at 61% and 55% respectively whereas those with a tax relationship only were even lower still at 55% and 51%. When rating their likely investment areas for the coming year, over one quarter (26%) of those whose accountant was an advisor said they planned to increase the amount they pay employees. This percentage was much lower for those with only a tax relationship (14%) and those with no accounting relationship (15%). “Getting sound business advice from someone outside of your business can make it easier to identify the areas within your business that need particular focus. Working across a wide range of industries and clients, accountants are in a prime position to evaluate key areas that a business can build upon in order to succeed,” says Mr Gardiner. Advice on compliance most valuableNine out of 10 business operators who have an advisor/consulting relationship with their accountant find value in the service the accountant provides. 49% of this group said the service provided was ‘very valuable’ and 41% said it was ‘valuable’. Only 8% said it was neither valuable nor invaluable and 3% said it was ‘relatively invaluable’. A resounding 91% of those with an advisory relationship believed the most valuable service they receive was ‘keeping my business compliant with tax, payroll and other regulations’. This was followed by ‘advice on how best to manage the money that flows through my business’ (43%) and ‘advice on strategies that will help me grow my business’ (33%). Top 5 valuable services accountants provideKeeping my business compliant with tax, payroll and other regulations. 91%Advice on how best to manage the money that flows through my business. 43%Advice on strategies that will help me grow my business. 33%Providing me with the right advice and documentation for obtaining funds to grow the business.25%Advice on what operational business moves to make e.g. setting pricing.17% “As businesses are realising the revenue and other growth potential to be had through such simple actions as meeting with their accountant more regularly, they begin to value that relationship a lot more. It is this value that we hope more and more New Zealand business operators will begin to experience for themselves as they realise the true potential of their business,” says Mr Gardiner. -ends- For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:Gerard Blank Elaine KollerThe Agency Communications Limited MYOBTel: 03 341 5841 Tel: 09 925 3514Mob: 0275 243 629 Mob: 029 777 0256Email: gerard@theagencynz.co.nz Email: elaine.koller@myob.com About the MYOB Business MonitorThe MYOB Business Monitor is a national survey of 1,000+ New Zealand small and medium business owners and managers, from sole traders to mid-sized companies, representing the major industry sectors. It has run since 2009, commissioned to independent market research firm Colmar Brunton. This most recent survey ran late January/early February 2013. The Monitor researches business performance and attitudes in areas such as profitability, cash flow, pipeline, technology usage and the government. The weighting of respondents by both geographical location and sector is based on overall market proportions as established by Statistics New Zealand and is drawn from an independent survey group, which includes both MYOB clients and non-clients. Respondents were asked to define their relationship with their accountant in the following terms: Types of Accounting RelationshipTax RelationshipSee the accountant mainly for tax return or GST reporting purposes, typically once or twice a year. Not general business advice. Accountant does not know the ‘ins and outs’ of the business very well but knows what they need for tax purposes.Advisor/Consulting RelationshipAdditional to above (e.g. GST), also see the accountant for financial analysis or general business advice and/or consultancy on profit strategies, financial planning, general business planning and guidance, etc. An on-going relationship, accountant keeps regular contact and knows the business well.No Accountant RelationshipI don’t have a regular accountant. Either do it myself or rely on a bookkeeper. About MYOBEstablished in 1991, MYOB is one of New Zealand’s largest business management software providers. Its 50+ products and services have been employed by over one million businesses in New Zealand and Australia. MYOB serves businesses of all ages, types and sizes, delivering solutions that simplify accounting, payroll, client management, websites and much more. With a network of more than 20,000 accountants and other professional partners, it provides the support and tools that help make business life easier. Today, MYOB is extending its solutions online and delivering innovation through cloud computing, enabling clients to make smarter connections with business partners and customers. Visit myob.co.nz/smarterconnections.

2013-04-16T03:03:00Z adaptive-planning-introduces-adaptive-consolidation-product-and-new-enhancements-for-complete-integrated-cloud-based-analytics-suite

Adaptive Planning, the worldwide leader in cloud-based business analytics solutions for companies and nonprofits of all sizes, today announced the introduction of Adaptive Consolidation, a breakthrough new integrated cloud-based solution for comprehensive close-and-disclose financial consolidations and analysis. The new product release extends Adaptive Planning’s leadership in business analytics, establishing the company as the first and only vendor to offer a complete, integrated cloud-based suite of products spanning corporate performance management (CPM) and business intelligence (BI). In addition to Adaptive Consolidation, the new release also includes significant enhancements to the company’s Adaptive Planning and Adaptive Discovery applications, demonstrating continued product innovation that empowers finance and management teams to automate budgeting, forecasting, reporting, consolidations, and data visualisation. With the introduction of this new solution, Adaptive Planning now provides the industry’s only complete cloud-based BI and CPM suite. Each of the company’s products – Adaptive Planning, Adaptive Consolidation, and Adaptive Discovery -- is available both as part of the Adaptive suite, as well as on a standalone basis. Together, the suite of products offers a holistic solution that is even more powerful than the sum of its components. Adaptive Consolidation addresses the need for enterprises to manage increasingly complex and changing business ownership structures across geographies and currencies and to consolidate across multiple different general ledger systems. According to a recent study of finance professionals conducted by the Business Performance Innovation (BPI) Network and Adaptive Planning, 84 percent of companies need to manage multiple business units, two-thirds have multiple geographic entities, and more than a third have merged and acquired businesses and deal in multiple currencies. More than 70 percent are not completely satisfied with their current consolidations process, and 58 percent would like to improve the accuracy and quality of data in their month-end consolidation and reporting process. The Adaptive Consolidation solution introduces powerful new capabilities, coupled with an intuitive user interface, that make incredibly complex and time-consuming processes appear to be easy. Businesses can close their books accurately, quickly, and painlessly, with intuitive definition of rules that are automatically applied to the consolidation process each period. They can automate the import data that needs to be consolidated, as well as calculations for intercompany eliminations, minority interest, allocations, currency exchange and cumulative translation adjustment. “We are seeing increasing importance placed on financial consolidation in the marketplace,” said Craig Schiff, president and CEO of BPM Partners. “Over the past year, many projects, even those ostensibly focused on budgeting, added some consolidation functionality to their requirements. In some cases it was driven by the need for intercompany matching and eliminations, in others it related to currency conversion and partial ownership, and for some it involved the ability to make journal entries in their performance management system. “Adaptive Planning’s design and user experience is elegant and intuitive, and the allocations capability could be a huge improvement over both Excel and older enterprise software applications. At Adaptive Planning, we work with organisations of all sizes, from nonprofits to midsized companies to large enterprises, across the globe,” said John Herr, CEO of Adaptive Planning. “As such, our customers are increasingly facing complex business scenarios, including multiple currencies, multiple departments, and multiple ownership structures that require the robust consolidation features that our new product offers. We’re particularly proud that the design point of Adaptive Consolidation leapfrogs existing solutions, featuring numerous different design touches that embrace the ‘consumerisation of enterprise software,’ and making the application a great fit for a large, global user base.” A key element illustrating the new design of Adaptive Consolidation is the robust, flexible, and visually intuitive Process Tracker, which provides easy ways to define and monitor one-time and repeating processes. Users can define specific deliverables, assign them to users, monitor their status, and track their closure. With its leading-edge visual impact, rich functionality, simple usability, and ease of management, it will be the “must-have” among task and process management tools. Adaptive Consolidation includes simple setup and intuitive definition of rules that are automatically applied to the consolidation process each period. The product features out-of-the-box, seamless integration in the cloud with planning and visual discovery capabilities. Adaptive Consolidation offers immediate results with no waiting for jobs or processes, and speedy, integrated validations that instantly highlight any issues. And the new product includes the ability to partition financial data by data source, enabling users to identify data by the system or consolidation activity from which it originates, control access to that data, and isolate the effects of consolidation processes into designated compartments. These compartments all roll up into a “single source of truth” for all financial figures. With this application, companies will be able to: · Achieve faster and more accurate close and reporting cycles, with greater transparency · Improve visibility, audit, and control during financial consolidations · Easily define elimination & allocation rules with a user-friendly interface for finance and accounting · Enhance flexibility with date-effective rules for eliminations and allocations · Perform what-if scenario planning with version-specific rules and ownership percentages · Comply with IFRS and GAAP requirements to report ownership changes when and as they occur · Provide clear and accurate view of financial results · Accelerate reporting cycles to internal and external stakeholders A number of new features included in the new Adaptive Consolidation solution are also available as enhancements to the to the Adaptive Planning solution for budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and analysis, including a new Allocation Manager, enhanced currency support, and new options for managing versions. The new Allocation Manager streamlines the process of reassigning values from one part of an organisation to others. It eliminates the substantial time and complexity typically required for allocations using Excel or enterprise applications. Adaptive Planning’s new Allocation Manager has an intuitive interface designed to facilitate the creation of balanced allocations based on source and target departments and accounts, and an allocation method (e.g., Square Feet, Number of Employees, Percent Ownership, etc.). This provides a way for businesses to easily distribute shared costs to consuming departments, or to allocate P&L items to product lines or brands. The new release also delivers numerous usability advancements for Adaptive Discovery administrators and end users, including enhancements to make it easier than ever to create dials to compare versions and a new Table Settings Editor to configure the display of table dials. Availability The new releases of Adaptive Planning and the Adaptive Consolidation solution are both currently available. For more information visit: http://www.adaptiveplanning.com/uploads/docs/datasheets/ds_application_update_2013.1_screen.pdf About Adaptive Planning Adaptive Planning is the worldwide leader in cloud-based business analytics solutions <http://www.adaptiveplanning.com/products/products-overview/> for companies and nonprofits of all sizes. The company’s software as a service (SaaS) platform allows finance and management teams to work together to plan, monitor, report on, and analyse financial and operational performance. With capabilities for budgeting, forecasting, reporting, consolidation, dashboards, and business intelligence, Adaptive Planning enables finance, sales, and other business leaders to make better, faster, more collaborative decisions that drive a true competitive advantage. Adaptive Planning is used by over 1,500 organisations worldwide, from midsized companies and nonprofits to large corporations, including AAA, Boston Scientific, CORT, Konica Minolta, NetSuite, Philips, and Vail Resorts. The company is the 5th fastest growing software company in Silicon Valley on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ list; has the #1 brand in midmarket CPM; and ranks #1 in customer satisfaction in independent industry surveys. With customers and partners in 80 countries worldwide, the company has the strongest channel ecosystem in the cloud CPM space, with worldwide partners including Armanino McKenna, Intacct, IntuitiveTek, Plex Systems, SAP, and NetSuite, which offers a specialised version of Adaptive Planning as the NetSuite Financial Planning module. Adaptive Planning is headquartered in Mountain View, Calif. and is funded by Norwest Venture Partners (NVP), Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), ONSET Ventures, Monitor Ventures, and Cardinal Venture Capital.

2013-04-15T04:35:17Z 2013-myob-business-monitor-cloud-amp-web-savvy-smes-continue-to-enjoy-better-business

Small and medium business operators (SMEs) who embrace cloud computing and business websites are much more likely to enjoy rising revenue than others, according to Australia’s largest accounting software provider, MYOB. In fact, those who say they are in the cloud were twice as likely to see an earnings uplift in the past year. The March 2013 MYOB Business Monitor also found the financial chasm between the online-savvy and the online-cautious is widening, while the take up of online technologies has changed little in the past nine months. In the latest study of 1,000+ SMEs commissioned to research firm Colmar Brunton only 16% said they use cloud computing in business, up on 14% in the July 2012 report. Only 38% have a business website, unchanged on July. Those who do use cloud were 106% more likely to see a revenue rise in the past year than those who don’t, up on 53% in July. Similarly, those with a website were 60% more likely to see a revenue rise, also up on 53%. CEO Tim Reed says, “It’s obvious that as time goes on Australian business operators using cloud computing are increasingly likely to achieve positive financial results. That said, I’m surprised fewer than one in every six say they use cloud in business. This ubiquitous technology has helped so many smaller businesses become better connected, more productive and more competitive. “Our research findings provide a clear cut case for embracing online technologies in business. The latest study reveals SMEs using cloud were twice as likely to see a revenue rise in the past year than those who aren’t. It’s similar for those with a business website, who were almost two thirds more likely to see a rise than their peers. “These ratios have increased significantly since the Business Monitor study conducted nine months ago, which suggests the gap in financial performance is widening between the online-savvy and the online-cautious. “Interestingly, more than half our respondents said they would vote for the political party that proposed ‘providing free government-funded training to all small businesses on how to use the internet to enhance and grow their business.’ This says the majority realise they require further education on how to best employ online technology. “It’s also clear the majority are unaware of the value in having even a simple website that contains their contact details. Many businesses have first-hand experience of the benefits of being found online, being able to attract and retain customers in this way. Our research proves it can have a tremendously positive financial effect.” Financial benefitsBusiness operators in the cloud were not only more likely to see a revenue rise in the past year (33% versus 16% of those who weren’t) they were more likely to expect one in the next year (37% versus 28%). They were also more positive about the domestic economy improving within 12 months (33% versus 23%). Further, those using cloud computing were more likely to plan to increase these activities in the next year:§  Focus on customer retention/acquisition strategies: 52% versus 34% who don’t use cloud§  Prices and margins on products/services sold this year: 36% versus 22%§  The number or variety of products or services offered: 33% versus 24%§  Working with business advisers to enhance the business: 30% versus 15%§  Spending on marketing and advertising  their business online: 29% versus 18%§  Pay their employees more: 28% versus 20%  §  Boost staff numbers this year: 25% versus 11%.Similarly, those with a business website were not only more likely to see a revenue rise in the past year (24% versus 15%) they were more likely to expect their revenue to increase in the next year (35% versus 27%).They were also more likely to plan to increase these activities in the next year:§  Focus on customer retention/acquisition strategies: 49% versus 29% without a website§  The number or variety of products or services offered: 37% versus 20%§  Spending on marketing and advertising their business online: 36% versus 10%§  Their prices and margins on products/services sold this year: 28% versus 19%§  Pay their employees more: 28% versus 16%  §  Working with business advisers to enhance the business: 22% versus 14% §  Boost staff numbers this year: 21% versus 8%. Key drawcardsThe most popular reason for cloud use was the ability to access data from whatever location they wanted (52%), well ahead of other reasons. Over one third pointed to being able to have their team members work remotely (36%), while 30% said they used it because their data was better protected and safer online on external servers.Business operators were also asked what business tasks they used cloud computing for. The top five were: file sharing (50%), file back-up (49%), email (44%), file storage (42%), and online banking (41%).Those who didn’t use cloud computing were asked why and the top reason was ‘I don't know enough about it to make the right business decisions about it’ (35%). Ranked second was ‘I am not very tech-savvy and don't feel confident about even starting to look at it for my business’ (22%), followed by ‘It is of interest, but there are many more important other business priorities to take care of first’ (21%). Other recent MYOB research found the top three reasons why SMEs without a website hadn’t set one up were ‘we prefer to advertise and market our business using other methods’ (68%), ‘it’s not a priority right now, we have all the work we can handle’ (66%) and ‘we don’t see any value in having a business website’ (60%). Businesses most likely to be online-savvyThe business types most likely to use cloud computing and have a business website were:   Cloud computing Business website Businesses exporting goods and services 31% 58% Businesses whose revenue was up in the last 12 months 29% 48% Business, professional and property services sector 27% 50% Businesses importing goods and services 26% 64% Small businesses (5-19 employees) 25% 66% Metropolitan-based businesses 18% 42% Across the mainland states, South Australia had the highest proportion of cloud users (22%) and business website owners (42%). In the prior report, New South Wales had the highest proportion of cloud users (15%) while Queensland had the highest proportion of business website owners (47%). For MYOB product information, research results, business tips, discussions, customer service and more visit the MYOB Business Monitor webpage, The Pulse blog, MYOB Twitter, MYOB Facebook or MYOB YouTube. -ends- For further comment or other information please contact:Angely Grecia, MYOB Public Relations ConsultantP: 02 9089 9071 / M: 0449 169 997 / E: angely.grecia@myob.com            Symon Madry, Haystac Public Affairs Senior Account ManagerP: 02 8094 7779 / M: 0409 919 508 / E: myob@haystac.com.au   About the MYOB Business MonitorEstablished in 2004, the MYOB Business Monitor is a national survey of small and medium business owners and managers, commissioned to independent market research firm Colmar Brunton. The most recent study ran in January and February 2013, surveying 1,005 operators from sole traders to mid-sized companies, representing the major industry sectors. The Monitor researches business performance and attitudes regarding areas such as profitability, cash flow, pipeline work, technology usage and the government. Note: the weighting of MYOB client and non-client respondents is reflective of overall market proportions.About MYOBEstablished in 1991, MYOB is now Australia’s largest business management solutions provider. It simplifies accounting, payroll, tax, CRM, websites, job costing, inventory management and much more for businesses of all ages, types and sizes. Over one million businesses in Australia and New Zealand have used one or more of MYOB’s 50+ products and services. Today, its solutions extend online, delivering innovation through cloud computing. This enables its clients to be more productive and make smarter connections with their staff, business partners, business advisors and customers. With a network of 20,000+ accountants, book keepers, certified consultants and other professional partners, MYOB provides support and tools that help make business life easier. Visit: http://myob.com.au/smarterconnections.

2013-04-08T05:02:00Z australian-decline-in-finance-jobs

Australian decline in finance jobs opportunities eFinancialCareers Quarterly Finance Jobs Barometer Media Release SYDNEY, 08 April 2013 - Australia’s financial services job opportunities declined 34% in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. It was the largest decline experienced across the leading global financial centres according to the quarterly Jobs Barometer from eFinancialCareers, the leading career site for professionals working in investment banking, asset management and the securities industries.Australia was not alone with significant declines in finance opportunities also prevalent across the region with Singapore and Hong Kong registering decreases of 13% and 24% respectively. The UK also experienced a significant reduction (-27%) for the period. eFinancialCareers Managing Director Asia-Pacific, George McFerran, said: “the decline of job opportunities in Australian financial services is reflective of a shift in organisation priorities, there is currently a definite focus on retrenchment. We are also perhaps starting to see the results of the offshoring programmes that many banks have been utilising.However, despite the overall decline the new environment of regulation and capital adequacy requirements are driving strong growth in the areas of compliance and legal, risk management and retail banking.”APAC Top performers - Despite an overall decline for the period recruiting in key areas is occurring. The year-on-year job posting figures (Q1 2013 – Q1 2012) show growth across APAC in:• Compliance/Legal (+54%) – banks have been steadily hiring (and are likely to continue) for compliance positions since the onset of the Global Financial Compliance. New compliance roles have been created on the back of new regulatory requirements including Basel III. “It is anticipated this will remain a solid employment area as it is an essential function, with a need to replace departing staff,” said Mr McFerran.• Risk management (+29%) – as banks expand their Asian presence managing operational, credit and market risk will remain a crucial process, increasing demand for risk talent.• Retail banking (+25%) – unlike investment banking in the region which has been hit by falling deal-flows and fee income, the comparative stability of revenue in retail banking will keep recruitment healthy. This is partially driven by the shifting focus of Australian domestic banks to develop new products and increasingly use their branch network as a sales channel. APAC Bottom Performers - Derivatives (-58%), Trading (-53%) and Equities (-43%) - continued market volatility and budgetary pressures imposed by cost -conscious investment banks are combining to subdue front-office recruiting in Asia, especially in equities, trading, and derivatives. Positions in these fields are typically well paid and banks need to submit a cast-iron business case to head office to get the extra headcount expense approved. Firms prefer to make do with current resources and are keeping trading teams at current levels unless there is a prolonged global economic recovery. 2013 Outlook - “While 2013 is unlikely to be a bumper year for recruitment in Australian financial services, a gentle and sustainable recovery in job opportunities compared with last year is expected,” said Mr McFerran.“We anticipate the job market will be more buoyant in insurance, and retail, corporate and transaction banking, where revenue will be more stable and banks will continue to expand to meet client needs. In investment banks deal flows in M&A and capital markets will need to consistently improve to justify more hiring in the second half of this year.”***ENDS*** The eFinancialCareers Quarterly Job Barometer tracks APAC positions advertised on eFinancialCareers in sectors where there is a minimum level of 150 advertised jobs a month for three consecutive months. Sectors qualifying for the APAC Job Barometer for the three months ended 31 March 2013 were Risk Management, Compliance / Legal, Retail Banking, Information Technology, Accounting & Finance, Private Banking / Wealth Management, Operations, Quantitative Analytics, Capital Markets, Corporate Banking, Credit, Investment Banking / M & A, Commodities, Insurance, Information Services, Asset Management, Consultancy, Equities, Sales & Marketing, FX & Money Markets, Trading, Debt / Fixed Income, Derivatives.About eFinancialCareers eFinancialCareers, a Dice Holdings, Inc. service, is the leading global career site network for professionals working in the investment banking, asset management and securities industries. The website provides financial services professionals with job opportunities, job market news and analysis, salary surveys and career advice. Recruiters and employers can post jobs targeting specific sectors within the financial services industry, both buy-side and sell-side, and can search the resume database for highly qualified and specialized professionals. eFinancialCareers has a network of co-branded career sites with industry-leading trade publications and offers local websites in 19 markets and five languages primarily across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and financial centres of the Middle East. Please visit www.eFinancialCareers.com.au for more information.For further information please contact: Cape Public Relations +61 2 8218 2190 Luke Roberts luke@capepublicrelations.com M: 0422 855 930 Sara Crow sara@capepublicrelations.com M: 0413 682 377

2013-04-03T22:50:20Z three-in-five-smes-now-have-teleworkers-within-their-business

New research by Australia’s largest accounting software provider, MYOB, reveals almost three in five small and medium businesses now have employees who telework to some extent.MYOB commissioned independent market research firm Colmar Brunton to conduct a nationally representative survey of 1,005 SMEs. One in four (25%) said their employees worked ‘mainly away from the office’, one in three (32%) said they worked ‘partly from home and from the office’ and the remainder did not have remote workers. One key finding was that SMEs whose employees worked mostly from a location other than business premises were 24% more likely to see a revenue rise in the past year. They were 32% less likely to see a revenue fall. CEO Tim Reed says, “The link between teleworking and improved business results is clear in MYOB’s research. SMEs whose employees worked remotely most or all of the time were 24% more likely to experience a revenue rise in the past year. 21% experienced a rise, compared to 17% whose staff only worked from the office.“The link became even clearer when we investigated revenue falls in the past year. 44% of the SMEs without teleworkers saw a fall, versus 30% of those whose staff teleworked most of the time. This speaks volumes as to why empowering employees to work outside the traditional confines of an office is becoming increasingly prevalent. Businesses are realising the bottom line benefits and rewards from more engaged employees.”Business advantagesKey benefits experienced by the 57% of SMEs whose staff teleworkinclude improved employee satisfaction, travel savings, reduced overheads and increased productivity.  Business benefits of teleworking technologies Employees are happier 31% Travel costs have been reduced 28% Employees are more productive 27% I can hire employees living in any location/s 17% IT costs have been reduced 16% Overall IT performance has been improved 15% Business manager(s) is/are happier 13% My business’s carbon footprint has been reduced 12% Premises rental costs have been reduced 11% The number of employee sick days has dropped 10% I can attract higher quality staff 10% IT issues have been reduced 9% Other 12%                         Mr Reed says, “Technology is a key enabler of teleworking and nowadays you don’t need to spend much money upfront to get started. There are plenty of simple free online technologies and applications available such as Skype, Dropbox and Gmail. And the cloud-enabling of new versions of more fully featured applications such as Microsoft Office 365 and MYOB AccountRight Live makes for an easy transition for working remotely.“The initiatives emerging from the Federal Government’s National Digital Economy Strategy should also make the move an easier process. The government is running a range of programs that support its efforts to reach a target of one in eight Australian employees having a regular telework arrangement by 2020.”Teleworking technologiesRespondents whose employees worked away from the office to some extent were asked what technologies they used for teleworking. Two in three used email, nearly three in five used laptops/computers and more than one in two used smartphones. Interestingly, fewer than one in 10 respondents used VPN and video conferencing. Technologies used to assist teleworking Email 66% Laptop/computer 58% Smartphone 55% Instant messaging 25% Telephone conferencing 19% Security software / firewall 18% Cloud computing services 11% VOIP 9% VPN (virtual private network) 7% Router at the teleworker’s premises 6% Video conferencing 6% Other 6%                      Those most likely to teleworkDelving further into the research, SME operators most likely to use teleworking include those in:·         Medium sized businesses (78% versus 53% in micro businesses, which were the least likely)·        Business, professional and property services (70% versus 35% in agribusiness, forestry and fishing)·         Gen Y (69% versus 50% of Baby Boomers)·         Start-up businesses (68% versus 47% of established businesses)·         Metropolitan based businesses (67% versus 45% of their rural counterparts)·         Western Australia (60% versus 54% in Queensland). For MYOB product information, research results, business tips, discussions, customer service and more visit the MYOB Business Monitor webpage, The Pulse blog, MYOB LinkedIn, MYOB Facebook or MYOB YouTube.