Frequently Asked Questions — Adelaide Accounting & Advisory

At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, we provide a comprehensive range of services including accounting and tax compliance, audit and assurance, tax planning and advisory, business advisory, succession planning, SMSF, wealth management, and family office services. Based at Level 5, 80 Flinders Street in Adelaide CBD, our team of accountants, auditors, tax agents and business advisers serves family businesses and growing companies across South Australia.

Yes. UHY Sothertons Adelaide has a long and proud history of working with family businesses across South Australia. In fact, a number of our clients have been with us for three generations. We understand the unique dynamics, challenges, and opportunities that come with family business ownership — from succession planning and business structuring to tax planning and wealth management.

UHY Sothertons Adelaide is a well-established mid-sized firm with a long track record of serving businesses and families across South Australia. Based at Level 5, 80 Flinders Street in Adelaide CBD, we have built lasting relationships with clients across a wide range of industries — many of whom have been with us for multiple generations.

Yes. UHY Sothertons Adelaide is a a member firm of the UHY Haines Norton association across Australia and New Zealand, and of UHY International — one of the top 20 accounting networks in the world. This gives our Adelaide clients access to global expertise and international connections, while benefiting from the personal, in-house service of a local Adelaide firm. Clients should note that we are an independent firm and neither the UHY ANZ association or UHY International provides services to you.

You can contact our team by phone at 08 8223 7311, by email at info@uhysothadl.com.au, or through the contact form on our website. We’ll connect you with the right adviser based on your business needs.

At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, all work is completed in-house by our own team — we never outsource client work to third parties. This is a deliberate commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality and ensuring the utmost security and confidentiality of your sensitive financial information. You can trust that your affairs are handled directly by the professionals you work with.

At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our audit team provides a comprehensive range of audit and assurance services including external audits for listed companies, large private companies, not-for-profit organisations, and subsidiaries of multinational groups. We also provide regulatory and compliance audits, internal audit, agreed-upon procedures, SOC 1 & SOC 2 audits, and sustainability and ESG assurance.

Whether you require an external audit depends on your organisation’s size, structure, and any regulatory or contractual obligations. Large private companies, listed entities, not-for-profit organisations, and subsidiaries of multinational groups often have mandatory audit requirements. Even where it’s not compulsory, an independent audit can strengthen stakeholder confidence and identify opportunities for improvement. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our audit team can assess your situation and advise on your obligations.

Yes. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our team has extensive experience auditing not-for-profit organisations, charities, incorporated societies, and community groups. We understand the specific reporting requirements under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and provide tailored audit and assurance services to meet your compliance obligations.

An internal audit is an independent review of your organisation’s internal controls, risk management processes, and operational efficiency — separate from the statutory external audit. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our internal audit service helps management identify risks, strengthen controls, and improve processes. It’s particularly valuable for growing businesses and organisations that want to operate with confidence.

ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) assurance is an independent verification of your organisation’s sustainability reporting. As regulatory expectations around sustainability disclosure grow in Australia — particularly with AASB S1 and S2 standards — ESG assurance is becoming increasingly relevant for businesses of all sizes. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our team provides sustainability and ESG assurance services to help you build credibility with stakeholders.

Agreed-upon procedures (AUPs) are a targeted assurance engagement where we perform specific, agreed steps and report factual findings — without expressing an overall opinion. They are used when stakeholders need assurance over a specific area, such as grant expenditure verification, specific compliance requirements, or targeted due diligence. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our team can tailor an AUP engagement to your exact needs.

At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our advisory team works proactively alongside family businesses and growing companies to help you understand your financial position, plan for growth, and make confident strategic decisions. We offer KPI development, cashflow and budget management, strategy planning, management reporting, Virtual CFO support, and succession planning — all delivered by experienced, partner-led teams.

Absolutely. Succession planning is one of the most critical decisions a family business owner will make. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our advisory team specialises in helping family businesses plan for ownership transition — covering business valuation, management handover, estate planning, and tax-effective structuring. Whether you’re transitioning to the next generation, selling to management, or preparing for an external sale, we help you protect value and ensure continuity.

A Virtual CFO provides senior financial leadership on a flexible, outsourced basis — without the cost of a full-time hire. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our Virtual CFO service is ideal for growing Adelaide businesses that need experienced financial oversight, cashflow management, and strategic direction but aren’t yet ready for a full-time CFO.

Yes. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our Family Office service is designed for high-net-worth families who need integrated advice across their personal, business, and investment affairs. We coordinate tax planning, superannuation, estate planning, cashflow management, and wealth management under one roof — giving families a single trusted adviser for all their financial needs. This is a natural fit for the multi-generational family business clients we serve.

Yes. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our advisory team assists Adelaide businesses with cross-border matters including international tax planning, transfer pricing, doing business overseas, and foreign inbound advisory for overseas companies looking to establish operations in Australia. As a member of the UHY International network spanning over 96 countries, we can connect you with experienced advisers in virtually any jurisdiction.

Yes. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our wealth management advisory helps Adelaide business owners and families take a holistic view of their financial position — covering estate planning, SMSF, superannuation planning, asset protection, and risk management. We work alongside your financial planner to ensure your personal and business wealth is structured effectively for the long term.

At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our business services team helps you manage the fundamentals — from financial statement preparation and accounting review through to BAS lodgement, tax compliance, entity formation, and cloud accounting. All work is completed in-house by our own team, ensuring the accuracy, security, and quality you would expect from a trusted Adelaide accounting firm.

Yes. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, we assist Adelaide entrepreneurs and business owners with entity formation and effective structuring from day one. Choosing the right structure — whether that’s a company, trust, partnership, or sole trader — has significant implications for tax, liability, and growth. For family businesses in particular, getting the structure right from the start is critical. Our team provides practical, plain-English advice tailored to your situation.

Yes. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our team works with all major cloud accounting platforms. We help businesses transition to the cloud, set up efficient workflows, and get the most from their software. Cloud accounting gives you real-time visibility of your financials — particularly valuable for family businesses managing multiple stakeholders or growing companies that need up-to-date information to make quick decisions.

Yes. Cashflow management is a core part of our business advisory service. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our team helps you build realistic budgets and cashflow forecasts, identify pressure points before they become problems, and maintain healthy liquidity — whether you’re a growing family business or an established South Australian company.

Tax compliance for an Adelaide business covers financial statement preparation, income tax returns, BAS lodgements, payroll tax, and other ATO obligations. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, we manage all aspects of your compliance obligations accurately and on time — and because all work is completed in-house, you can be confident in the security of your sensitive information.

Yes. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our better bookkeeping service helps Adelaide businesses maintain accurate, up-to-date financial records. Sound bookkeeping is the foundation of good financial management — and for family businesses in particular, it ensures you always have a clear picture of where your business stands.

At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our tax team provides a comprehensive range of services including income tax compliance, BAS preparation, tax planning, business structuring and taxation, SMSF tax compliance, estate planning, international tax, transfer pricing, and transaction tax advisory. We help individuals, family businesses, and growing companies meet their ATO obligations while identifying lawful opportunities to optimise their tax position.

Proactive tax planning is one of the most valuable services we provide to Adelaide businesses. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our tax advisers work with you throughout the year — reviewing your structure, identifying deductions, planning for major transactions or events, and ensuring you’re not paying more tax than legally necessary. For family businesses and growing companies, the right tax strategy can make a significant difference to long-term wealth.

Business structuring and taxation refers to how your business and personal affairs are arranged from a legal and tax perspective. The right structure — whether that’s a company, trust, partnership, or combination — can significantly reduce your tax burden, protect your assets, and support your long-term goals. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our tax advisers review your current structure and recommend improvements tailored to your specific situation.

A Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) is a private superannuation fund that gives you direct control over your retirement savings and investment strategy. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our SMSF specialists handle fund setup, compliance, financial statement preparation, tax return lodgement, and coordination with your auditor — helping trustees meet their ATO obligations with confidence.

Yes. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our tax team assists Adelaide businesses and individuals with cross-border tax matters including international tax structuring, transfer pricing, doing business overseas, and foreign inbound advisory for overseas companies operating in Australia. As part of the UHY International network, we can draw on specialist expertise in virtually any jurisdiction.

A registered tax agent is licensed by the Tax Practitioners Board to prepare and lodge tax returns and provide tax advice on behalf of clients. At UHY Sothertons Adelaide, our team includes registered tax agents who handle all aspects of your tax compliance, as well as experienced advisers who go beyond compliance to provide proactive tax planning, structuring, and strategic advice.