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Proliferation financing frameworks help businesses understand who they deal with and where funds end up. Organisational risks can arise indirectly through supply chains, even when they think exposure is low. As Australia’s AML/CTF reforms took effect on 1 July 2026, most of the focus was on compliance for Tranche 2 entities, but the reforms also strengthen expectations around sanctions and proliferation financing risk management that businesses need to address. So, should businesses integrate proliferation financing risk frameworks into their operations, even if they believe the risk is low? 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗒️Neil Jeans' LinkedIn

Lea Hicks and Richard Fox reflect on the roadmaps that have guided them to success throughout their careers in Western Sydney. Lea Hicks co-founded the Hix Group with her husband in 1992. From its base in Penrith, the business grew into a multi-trade organisation servicing customers across New South Wales before being successfully sold in 2024. Lea shares the importance of having the courage to take the first step, learning from those who have gone before you, and keeping family at the centre of business decisions. Richard Fox arrived in Australia in 1998 alongside his wife, Myriam, with both pursuing elite careers in canoe slalom. Today, Richard is President of the Penrith Chamber of Commerce, Executive General Manager Engagement & Partnerships at Paddle Australia, and proud father of Olympic champions Noemie and Jess Fox. Drawing on his experiences in high-performance sport and leadership, Richard explores the parallels between sport and business, highlighting the power of community and the reality that success in any field is rarely achieved alone. 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗒️Beau Chaperon's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn 🗒️Lea Hicks's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn 🗒️Richard Fox's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Cybercrime remains a major threat, with more than 84,700 reports recorded in Australia each year. For Boards and executive teams, the question is no longer whether an attack will occur, but whether the organisation is prepared to respond and recover. The most effective cyber awareness programs build capability year-round through tailored, bite-sized learning that keeps risks front of mind. Just as important is preparing teams to act when an incident occurs. Regular tabletop exercises help employees understand their roles, test response plans and build confidence under pressure. While ransomware attacks often dominate headlines, paying a ransom is not a recovery strategy. Restoring access to systems does not guarantee a return to normal operations. That's why organisations should focus on prevention, resilience and minimising disruption before an attack happens. 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗒️Kate Monckton's ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠ 🗒️Matthew Green's ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

A small number of Group 1 sustainability reports from December 2025 year-end businesses are now publicly available, with early examples varying significantly: some are detailed, others are concise, and report length does not always align with business size. This creates a valuable opportunity for Group 2 and 3 reporters to review what is being disclosed, how reports are structured, and what lessons can be applied to their own reporting journey. However, businesses should avoid viewing sustainability reporting as a one-off compliance exercise. Instead, it should be seen as a way to generate valuable data that can inform strategic decision-making, both now and in the future. 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗒️John Askham's ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠ 🗒️David Pitts's ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠

It’s been a couple of weeks since the Government handed down its 2026-27 Federal Budget, and commentary on the potential impacts for businesses and individuals has been constant. With many announcements making headlines ahead of the night, there were few surprises left. That said, the Budget did introduce notable changes, including adjustments to CGT, negative gearing and a minimum tax rate of 30 per cent on discretionary trusts. One unexpected development was the proposal to bring pre‑1985 assets into the net. So, what should businesses be doing now to prepare ahead of 1 July 2027? 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗒️Vince Tropiano's ⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠

As of 1 January 2025, changes to the Fair Work Act in Australia made wage underpayments a criminal offense. This means payroll compliance is now a Board-level issue, not just for Payroll or HR teams. Organisations must understand their obligations, keep clear documentation, and consult experts if needed due to the complexity of Awards. So, how can businesses be confident in their approach and ensure they maintain trust with their people and the public when it comes to payroll compliance? 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗒️Katherine Shamai's ⁠LinkedIn ⁠ 🗒️David Mintz's ⁠LinkedIn

Today’s business leaders navigating Australia’s M&A landscape need to look beyond short‑term performance and financial metrics alone. What matters most to investors is a strong, scalable and defensible business, particularly in an environment shaped by geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Increasingly, ESG and sustainability considerations are not add‑ons, but core to business strategy and long‑term value creation. So, what does a sustainable business model really look like, and which metrics do investors prioritise? Or does it depend on the industry and type of investor? 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗒️Pete Burgess' LinkedIn 🗒️Michaela Pogson's LinkedIn

Small Business Restructuring (SBR) offers a pathway for small and medium sized Australian companies experiencing financial pressure to deal with unmanageable debt, reset operations, and continue trading through and beyond difficult times. SBRs are also a cost-effective solution to save a business compared to a liquidation shut down. Heading into 2026, the ATO has adopted a more disciplined approach when assessing SBRs. To give the SBR the best chance of success, a business owner working collaboratively with their existing advisors and small business restructuring practitioner needs to demonstrate to the ATO there was a genuine reason for the distress, a good history of tax compliance and corporate responsibility and future business viability exists. 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗒️John McInerney's LinkedIn 🗒️Wesley Eccles' LinkedIn

The recent three-day Economic Reform Roundtable in Canberra marked a pivotal opportunity to create change. Bringing together a mix of leaders across business, unions, civilians, government, economic experts, the final day focused on tax reform and budget sustainability into the future. While the discussions were perceived as constructive, fostering a sense of careful optimism, will the government seize this opportunity to implement meaningful tax reform and help shape a future-ready, more productive Australia? 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ 🗒️Daniel Kave's ⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🗒️David Montani's ⁠LinkedIn 🗒️Mark D'Angelica's ⁠LinkedIn 🗒️Anika Reside's LinkedIn

From starting his career at one of Australia’s Big 4 accounting firms and later forging a path as an insolvency practitioner, to leading the Financial Advisory practice at Grant Thornton, Said has built a successful career founded on resilience, leadership and commercial impact. Stepping into CEO comes with challenges and exciting opportunities, so what has the journey to CEO been like and what are the key learnings he’s noted along the way?

Preparing your business for a potential capital raise or exit requires a strategic and considered plan – and it’s never too early to prepare. The technology sector is rapidly changing, so it’s even more critical that tech businesses understand how to scale and position themselves effectively, ensuring they remain attractive to potential investors. With a shifting industry landscape and evolving investor expectations, there are some key steps business leaders should consider. So, what are the key considerations, opportunities and challenges for technology businesses thinking about future raises or exits? 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or ⁠Spotify⁠ 🗒️Holly Stiles' LinkedIn 🗒️Jace Gawne Buckland's LinkedIn Download the Unlocking Value technology report now

The recent release of the 10th Edition of Dealtracker shared insights from the last 18 months of deals in the Australian mid-market. Despite global uncertainty and geopolitical shifts, the Australian mid-market has remained resilient and maintained stability in the number of deals. There’s been strong focus in the IT and industrials sectors, with Australia remaining attractive to international buyers, particularly in the US and Canada. So what other trends were revealed in the findings? 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or ⁠Spotify 🗒️Jannaya James' ⁠LinkedIn

The Federal Budget was handed down less than a month ago, and since then, global changes have continued to unfold. The ever-evolving tariff landscape is impacting industries both in Australia and worldwide. The economy faces significant structural challenges, including rising costs in defence, aged care, health, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Additionally, the uncertainty brought about by tariffs and geopolitical volatility is creating further opportunities and challenges for Australian businesses. Given this complex environment, what is the current economic landscape, and how can Australian businesses remain resilient amidst the uncertainty? 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🗒️Vince Tropiano's LinkedIn 🗒️Richard Nutt's LinkedIn 🗒️Simone Barker's LinkedIn

The adoption of technology is positively influencing and driving efficiencies in many industries – the audit profession is no exception. From streamlining the audit process, to creating efficiencies in client communications, auditors can perform more complex and deeper analysis for their clients because of technology. They’re able to leverage the power of machine learning for repetitive tasks and can analyse large volumes of data. Instead of sample testing a population, certain tech tools can assist in analysing all data to identify discrepancies or outliers. So, how else can technology and AI empower auditors in their day-to-day work? 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🗒️Liam Te-Wierik's LinkedIn

Significant changes have been made to the AML/CTF regulations in Australia to better align with international standards. The new laws will require stricter governance from Boards and Directors and with so many changes, staying on top of what needs implementing will be their responsibility too. With limited experts in Australia, how can organisations that are currently reporting and new entrants into the regime be sure they’re compliant?  🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🗒️Neil Jeans's LinkedIn 🗒️Katherine Shamai's LinkedIn