WESTERN Australian accounting firm McGillivray has joined a national alliance of chartered accountants as part of an effort to expand into new areas of the market and strengthen existing services.
Previously trading as McGillivray Fresh Expert Accountants, the firm has started trading as Lawler McGillivray after joining the Lawler alliance.
The alliance has offices in every east coast capital except Canberra, as well as a presence in some regional hubs; its annual turnover is about $63 million.
Based near the domestic airport, Lawler McGillivray employs 42 accountants and will leverage the alliance’s expertise in franchising and auditing to expand in to these areas in the WA market.
“The Lawler group is able to provide us with assistance, advice, templates and documents, and they’ve already started to do that,” McGillivray managing director Wayne Healy said.
“It was always going to be difficult for a WA accounting firm to develop a presence in the audit space,” he said.
Lawler chairman Terry Lawler said his group approached owner-operated firms to be part of the alliance, based on their culture and governance structures.
Once firms join, they’re able to access knowledge from other firms within the aliileverage the alliance’s expertise in franchising and auditing to expand in to these areas in the WA market.
“The Lawler group is able to provide us with assistance, advice, templates and documents, and they’ve already started to do that,” McGillivray managing director Wayne Healy said.
“It was always going to be difficult for a WA accounting firm to develop a presence in the audit space,” he said.
Lawler chairman Terry Lawler said his group approached owner-operated firms to be part of the alliance, based on their culture and governance structures.
Once firms join, they’re able to access knowledge from other firms within the aliiance.
McGillivray’s main client base includes small businesses, mining services companies and franchisees, and Mr Healy said his firm needed to keep up with clients as they expanded interstate.
“There are lots of mid-tier accounting firms pitching in the company audit space,” he said.
“Large private entities with a turnover of $25 million to $100 million would be our target.”
Mr Lawler said the alliance was seeking to further its expansion by partnering with firms in Adelaide, Canberra and New Zealand.
This alliance, or network, model has gained the attention of other Perth firms, particularly as they provide technical assistance and expertise in new areas of knowledge, while at the same time allowing members to retain their independence.
Earlier this year, MGI Perth left MGI Australasia to join the Nexia network, citing its desire to be a part of a national federation of accounting firms.
