We have first-hand knowledge of the challenges freight forwarding and custom broking businesses face on a day-to-day basis.

With a significant number of clients across the country, and internationally, ranging from large international businesses as well as small family businesses we have the breadth of experience and industry knowledge to understand the financial l and operational drivers of the freight forwarding sector. 

Some of the main challenges we see facing the freight forwarding industry are:

OPERATIONAL

  • Minimising environmental impact
  • Working capital management and pressures on profitability
  • Type of arrangements entered into with customers – including rise and fall clauses relating to the price of fuel
  • IT requirements which are complex
  • Increasing government regulation
  • Strategic planning
  • Succession planning.

ACCOUNTING 

  • Job costs – ensuring profit is being calculated correctly and in the correct period
  • Foreign currency transactions
  • Related party transactions (particularly for companies’ part of a network)
  • Financing of assets
  • Forecasting & OPEX budgeting.

TAXATION

  • International dealings with related parties – a major area of ATO activity especially in regard to overseas pricing documentation required.
  • Fringe Benefit Tax – in identifying & valuing fringe benefit
  • Superannuation – new director responsibilities and executive retirement funding
  • Tax effective salary packaging under current regime
  • Eligibility for tax concessions.

How we help clients

AUDIT & ASSURANCE

  • Ongoing statutory audit
  • Process improvement control review
  • Special reviews
  • Fraud prevention
  • Internal audit services.

BUSINESS ADVISORY

  • Reporting and forecasting
  • Performance analysis
  • Executive & management support
  • Succession planning
  • Lending reviews
  • Global workforce
  • Finance function reviews.

CORPORATE ADVISORY

  • Investigative accountant’s report
  • Due diligence
  • Mergers, acquisitions, divestment
  • Business valuations
  • Strategic planning
  • Process improvement
  • Financial Transformation.

COMPANY SECRETARIAL

  • ASIC compliance
  • Board reporting, advice and guidance
  • General accounting services.

DEBT ADVISORY

  • Reviewing working capital
  • Providing assistance with debt structuring.

INSURANCE ADVISORY

  • Personal risk advice
  • Buy/sell funding and key person cover
  • Property & Casualty, Professional Indemnity, Public Liability and Director’s Insurance.

TAX CONSULTING & COMPLIANCE

  • Income and indirect tax compliance including the deferred GST method
  • Corporate structuring
  • Tax advice and implementation including assistance with international tax issues
  • Tax risk management
  • Research and development
  • Year-end tax planning
  • Tax cash flow management
  • Extracting wealth
  • Assistance with Significant Global Entities requirements.

HLB Mann Judd is proud to partner with and provide advisory and accounting services to the International Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association of Australia Limited and its members.

2022 Freight Forwarding and Customs Broking Benchmarking Report

HLB Mann Judd Sydney has launched its 2022 Freight Forwarding and Customs Broking Benchmarking Report. The report looks at the disruption the sector has faced in the last two years and what businesses can be doing to future-proof themselves in these uncertain times.

Download the Report