In July 2003, Tony established an independent private corporate consultancy business providing finance mentoring, corporate governance, human resources, company secretarial, and accounting services to companies/ Board of directors interested in out-sourcing support for their needs in these areas.

Tony is qualified and experienced in all manner of accounting, financial and corporate governance issues. Tony has extensive (”Hands-on”) experience in the practical application of:

• “Start-up” & “emerging” companies
• Australian Corporations Law,
• Australian Accounting Standards
• Corporate Governance procedures.

Services

• Part time or interim finance executive,
• Financial modelling, (Business valuations, Profit & Loss and Cash-flow Budgets)
• Financial mentoring consultancy,
• New business establishments or corporate re-structures,
• Managing a “due diligence” process preparation for either acquisition or disposal of a business,
• The streamlining of Board reporting,
• Company secretarial and corporate governance issues,
• Contract company secretary,
• Human resources management for senior executives,
• Accounting and financial systems review.

Contract Company Secretary

Value proposition: Utilise the services of an experienced Company Secretary, on an agreed contract rate, for a significantly lower cost than employing a full time Company Secretary or diverting the CFO away from critical financial duties.

Company secretary duties include:

• Assist the Chairman as to the agenda for Directors meetings,
• Liaison with management as to the inclusions in the Board papers,
• Co-ordination, compilation and circulation of Board papers,
• Attendance and minute taking at all Board meetings,
• Preparation, confirmation and circulation of Board minutes,
• Filing of statutory returns and other ASIC requirements,
• Liaison with auditors on all relevant matters.

Quality expertise is available to small-to-medium businesses from an innovative consultant, writes David Peters.

 “Have expertise, will advise” is the motto of Tony Boulden. A qualified chartered director, Tony has responded to the growing demand for part-time financial expertise. Tony is not a traditional accountant who only prepares historical accounting reports. His mission is to change the way people think about their business and its financial future. Tony believes that, with knowledge, hard work and a client’s dream, anything is possible. His background in large companies and a start-up business enables him to analyse the past but focus on the future.

 Tony has left the corporate sausage grinder and in July 2003 established a thriving management-contracting consultancy business targeting part-time work in small-to-medium companies, focusing on financial guidance and corporate governance.

 Tony recognised that many organisations require financial and management skills when the need arises but not permanently. “Every growing business faces the same dilemma. How to set in place the systems and framework of a large business without draining the company of cash flow,” he says.

Tony believes there is a huge market for experienced management accounting people servicing small-to-medium enterprises that lack the resources to pay full-time, permanent financial staff. “There are plenty of small-to-medium businesses with revenues of $2m to 5m that want a financial controller or internal accountant but can’t afford one, and in fact, don’t need one full-time.

“Many smaller businesses have external accountants with superior skills in compliance work (auditing, statutory accounts, BAS statements and tax returns) but no work-place management accounting experience. What is often lacking is someone who can come in and structure business management reporting systems, review and interpret gross profit margins, and undertake cashflow, debtors and sales analysis, thereby complementing the services provided by external accountants.”

Business Approach

Tony believes that success is a journey and not a destination. No matter how successful he has been Tony wants to avoid the natural tendency to become complacent. Tony is an agent for positive change. Tony recognises that he operates in a competitive environment and he continually embraces new ideas and changes the way he does things in order that he may stay ahead of my peers. Tony believes that he cannot stay ahead necessarily by repeating the past, because as in nature, anything that does not improve and evolve will face extinction. Tony has an inquiring mind that constantly challenges existing practices; Tony has the ability to see the situation with a fresh perspective. He makes sound appraisals with complete objectivity and offer unbiased opinions and advice that can cover review, analysis, problem solving, recommendations and implementation

Attributes, Tony’s key attributes include:

• High levels of energy,
• Long term commitment,
• A visionary approach to financial management,
• A commonsense approach to business issues,
• Flexibility and innovation.

Experience, Tony’s employment history.

• Since Jul 03 Various private consultancy rolesÂ
• 1999 – 2003 Dexta Corporation Limited, (Finance Director,Chief Financial Officer, Company Secretary and Public Officer)
• 1990 – 1999 FAI General Insurance Company Limited, (Financial Controller)
• 1988 – 1990Â Hurtwood House, England, (School Teacher and Boarding Master)
• 1983 – 1988 HLB Mann Judd, Chartered Accountants, (Accountant)

Key strengths/ Talents

To successfully produce results Tony uses his personal skills in:

• Integrity and a perceptive mind, that engenders trust,
• Self-confidence, in dealing with strong-minded individuals,
• Diplomacy, to get points across that are sometimes unwelcome,
• Communication, to persuade others to follow advice that is accurate, easy to follow and understand, simplified, summarised and able to withstand scrutiny.
• Tenacity, if his initial advice or recommendations were not accepted.

Practical Experience

• 20 years in financial & general management in both private and public companies in Australia.
• 2 years experience UK and Europe
• Experience in building & managing “start-up” & “emerging” companies.

Industry Experience

• Real Estate
• Financial Services
• Insurance
• Education

General Management Experience

• Licensed Real Estate Agent (2008+)
• CFO of an Australian Public Company (1999 – 2003)
• NED of an Australian Public Company (2003 +)
• NED of an Australian Private Companies (1999 +)
• Chairman, Audit and Risk Management Committee for an Australian Public Company (2003 – 2004).

Financial Management Experience

• Preparation of Annual Reports,
• Preparation of half-year reports,
• Preparation of Strategic Company Reviews and Business Plans,
• Preparation of Cash Flow, Revenue & Balance Sheet,
• Implementation of computerised accounting & management systems.

Human Resources Management Experience

• Management of Insurance agency employing in excess of 100 people.
• Negotiation of Human Resources manual
• Employment of entire finance management teams for start-up businesses

References

Tony has available a number of references from colleagues that he has had the pleasure to work with during his career, these are available upon request.

Professional Memberships

Having obtained the prerequisite academic qualifications listed below, Tony has been accepted as a member of:

• Corporate Directors Association (#591), Since 2003; Chartered Director
• Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) (#0024286), Since 2002; Fellow
• Queensland Government Licenced Real Estate agent – 2008, Licence # 321 9610
• Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) – accredited agency

Tony has the highest designation possible within each of the abovementioned professional associations. All memberships are current and active, consequently he is required to undertake 20+ hours CPD training annually.

Academic Qualifications

• Certificate IV in Property (Real Estate), Real Estate Institute of Queensland, Brisbane, 2007
• Diploma, (Company Directors Course), Australian Institute of Company Directors, Sydney, 2004
• Bachelor of Commerce (B Comm), Accounting, Finance and Systems, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 1988.

Other Qualifications

• Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Rugby Union – Australian Level II Referee
• Student Pilot.

Published Articles

The following articles have been published regarding Tony’s activities.

• Gosford Chamber of Commerce – September 2004
• Microsoft Business Solution – Case Study (April 2004) FRx Financial Reporter – Case Study (2002)
• FAI Internal News (1992) – Profile, Tony Boulden

(Copies are available upon request)