Brighton Accounting & Tax Specialists
SMALL BUSINESS BOOKKEEPING & BAS SERVICES IN BRIGHTON
Be empowered through innovative and accurate Brighton bookkeeping solutions, creating an environment for growth in your financial and business success.
At Brighton Tax Accountants, our mission is to provide innovative financial solutions that help our clients to be successful. Our purpose is to see you grow your business and reach your goals, both business and personal. The Brighton Tax team love to help individuals and business owners save money on taxes and time on bookkeeping.
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Bookkeeping Solutions tailor-made to suit you
Automated Bookkeeping Services
We do all of our reliable bookkeeping services through the cloud. We aren’t just using it. We are a part of it. This means that you can see your business financials in real-time, from anywhere, with no hidden figures. You get full transparency at every stage, from reliable bookkeeping services to payroll, financial statements and reporting.
We know that every second is precious. That’s why we use time-saving technology with our cloud to make payroll tasks and reporting truly efficient. Our team update your financial records daily, so you know exactly where your business is at, and what it needs to succeed. No travel, slow internet or unnecessary computer hardware to slow you down, just accurate, rapid accounting direct to your inbox, every day.
We are Xero Platinum Partners. This means we work with one of the largest portfolios of Xero Business in Australia. Our collective experience within stacks of industries means we have the right team members to help your business grow, no matter what stage you’re at.
Quality BAS Services
Let us take the uncertainty out of your BAS and Books. With this package we work alongside you to keep you on track and in check with your financial statements. Once you’ve reconciled, we prepare and lodge your BAS, check over your accounts and make sure everything is accurate, compliant and ready to go.
- You are responsible for monitoring your data entry and completing bank reconciliations
- We will manage and oversee your accounting compliance
- Starting at just $100/month, this is the cost-effective solution for micro-businesses and lean start-ups
Engaging a bookkeeper should be easy!
We understand you are busy and basic bookkeeping is not your priority. That is why we are here! You will regain the time to run and grow your business.
We have a fast tracked onboarding process so we get you started and up to date on your financial information as efficiently as possible.
Make the decision to be a data based business and rely on accurate figures. Know where you stand at all times with live data feeds daily.
Since 1998, Brighton Tax Accountants has grown to a team of over 12. With a core focus on our client needs for accurate, timely reports and clear communication, we are fortunate to continually receive referrals from our clients and their business advisors.
We are proud to say that all staff are employed in Australia only.
Brighton Tax Accountants is more than a reliable bookkeeping services, because we offer a bridge between bookkeeping and tax accounting for small to medium sized businesses.
For a start, our team of qualified bookkeepers is supervised by fully qualified Chartered Accountants. This way you can present a complete set of accounts to your Tax Accountant so that they can concentrate on finalising your small business taxation.
Secondly, our bookkeepers are all highly experienced, with a minimum of 10 years experience working in small, medium and large businesses.
And most importantly, they are all fully trained with both Xero and MYOB, two of Australia's most popular small business software programs.
This way you can get the most out of your business.
Specialising in Reliable Bookkeeping Services, Payroll, Business Advisory Services and Xero
We partner with you to review and provide recommendations for the setup of your accounts and workflow that aligns to the needs of your business.
Our professional team of certified bookkeepers and BAS agents ensure you are complaint and up to date with your ATO deadlines and requirements.
We specialise in Xero and other cloud based accounting platforms.
We understand the challenges associated with running a profitable and sustainable business. Having our team of trusted financial advisors gives you peace of mind to scale your business and achieve your goals.
In order to make informed decisions, real time information is a “must have”. Analysing reports and understanding your business is critical for making the right decisions and at the right time.
Brighton Tax Accountants specialises in four key areas:
- Bookkeeping
- Payroll
- Business Advisory
- Xero including training, setup, onboarding and moving to Xero
With over 20 years of knowledge, experience and wisdom, our team specialises in improving your business through automation, integration and finding solutions that are tailored to your business.
Do what you do best and leave reliable bookkeeping services and compliance to accounts all sorted.
Accounting
Our services include all aspects of tax accounting and planning, pre-30 June reviews, tax cost minimisation strategies, capital gains tax record keeping, BAS and IAS requirements, and cloud bookkeeping services. We will make sure you comply with all statutory requirements at both state and federal levels – it is our job, not yours, to keep up with all the legislation.
Bookkeeping
Let Brighton Tax Accountants, we take care of your XERO and MYOB bookkeeping needs while you focus on growing your business! We offer bookkeeping services for small businesses in all the major suburbs in Brighton. We will take care of your books while you focus on making more sales for your small business. Check out our accounting solutions and see which suits your needs.
Taxation
We ensure that you are structured in the most tax-effective manner so that you can be confident that you are paying the least amount of tax possible. Legally minimising the amount of tax payable is strongly dependent on having the appropriate structure in place so that you can apply the funds towards growing a sustainable business.
Bookkeepers With Simple Easy To Understand Fees
Our reliable bookkeeping services go beyond “facts and figures”.
The complexities of managing a small business requires specialist knowledge and experience to meet the financial demands and compliancy requirements. This takes time, time you may not have when growing and sustaining your business.
It is essential for the success of your business to partner with a bookkeeping service provider who understands your business goals. We partner with our clients across a variety of industries including professional services, trades and construction, hospitality, legal, childcare, agriculture, not for profit, health and wellness. Getting the numbers aligned is important for any growing business.
Whether you are a sole trader or a business with employees, we are here to help. Our service offerings for bookkeeping include;
- Full Service: We take care of all your bookkeeping requirements
- Shared Service: We work with you to ensure you remain complaint
- Catch up Bookkeeping: Ideal for those who have fallen behind and need assistance in getting their books up to date.
Whilst we love working with Xero, we are also experienced with numerous apps and other cloud based accounting software packages.
Experienced Bookkeepers Who Care About Your Business
- While you focus on building your business and achieving your business goals, accounts all sorted will conduct reliable bookkeeping services on your behalf. All financial information will be kept up to date using online accounting software.
- If you like looking after your own bookkeeping and payroll, our team can help you remain compliant. We can review your work, manage your quarterly BAS and superannuation.
- If you have fallen behind on your bookkeeping and accounts, now is the time to ensure you get back on track. Let our team work with you to ensure your business is compliant and avoid any fines.
BAS Agents
Bookkeeping Services
- Entering and/or verifying the entry of customer and supplier invoices into accounting software
- Entering and/or verifying the entry of payments and receipts from bank
- Emailing / communicating any queries related to the accounts for the period
- Ensuring the correct integration of different business systems into the accounting record, (for example point-of-sales systems or add-on solutions)
- Reconciliation and/or verification of the of all bank, loan and credit card accounts
- Reporting Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss, other reports as required
- Reporting outstanding debtors and creditors (if applicable)
Payroll
- Setup employees in payroll system
- Prepare payroll weekly/fortnightly/monthly
- Monitor employee entitlements
- Lodge Tax File Number declarations
- Review, advise and lodge PAYG Withholding and Superannuation
- Reconcile End of Year wages
- Report, lodge and send employee payment summaries
BAS Services
- Review and report on monthly/quarterly BAS
- Email reports and declarations
- Lodgment of BAS upon receipt of authority
- Yearly GST reconciliation and relevant BAS adjustments
Individual accounting services, wealth strategy, insurance, and financial management. Prepare and lodge your tax return with Brighton Tax Accountants, a registered tax agent in Brighton. Let us do the hard work, with professional advice and ensuring maximum refund and paying minimum tax.
Are you already operating or considering starting a business as a sole trader? Brighton Tax Accountants can help as we are a 'one-stop-shop' for accounting services and tax advice for sole traders and small businesses.
Professional Services
Providing accounting, tax and business advisory to professional services industries comes naturally to Brighton Tax Accountants. We have a large clientele of professional services clients who seek advice and knowledge specific to their industry.
Bookkeeping in the Cloud
At Brighton Tax Accountants, we focus on cloud based solutions. Using the benefits of the cloud and the powerful features available in the competitive accounting software space, real time data is allowing businesses to make better informed business decisions faster than ever before!
There are many benefits to cloud based accounting software, the daily bank feeds, online availability, allowing you to access your numbers anywhere and anytime, across multiple devices. The ever increasing application ecosystem, the ease of invoicing and accepting payments, the power of dashboards, which give you a birds eye view of how your business is operating.
Simplify your processes, go paperless & de-clutter your office (& life), gain better visibility of your numbers, build a better relationship with your financial adviser/accountant/bookkeeper and have real conversations about real numbers.
Brighton Tax Accountants is a Xero Gold Partner, we offer basic bookkeeping services, training, software advice & support , business health checks and compliance services to ensure your business is on track.
Whether you just need software training, support or a full bookkeeping solution, we can assist with your needs.
If you are an Accounting Practice, we offer implementations, conversions of software & assistance in rescue work. We get the file up to date and ready for your practice to maintain.
As a small business owner, it is important to ensure your accounts are up-to-date and compliant with both your Industry Standards and the latest ATO and Fair Work regulations.
Small business owners often struggle to come to terms with increasingly complex and changing taxation compliance issues, while at the same time facing ongoing challenges to managing their business.
These tasks form the solid foundation of your business accounting system:
- knowing when your customers owe you money;
- chasing outstanding payments to alleviate debt recovery;
- timely processing of outstanding invoices to keep your suppliers happy;
- lodging your BAS on time;
- paying your employees correctly;
- paying your Superannuation on time;
- keep up-to-date with legislation and compliance requirements.
At Brighton Tax Accountants we implement efficient ongoing cloud-based bookkeeping solutions to help you keep on track of your financial statements and freeing up your time, so you can focus on running your business.
Our reliable bookkeeping services are cost-effective and, in most cases, based on a fixed monthly price. This allows you to budget a set cost for your day to day bookkeeping requirements.
Our services are flexible and tailored to suit your needs. We have the knowledge and experience to deal with simple bank transactions right through to the most complex reconciliations.
Business Advisory
Building and maintaining a successful business in today’s rapidly changing environment is a balancing act. Sustaining year on year growth, while keeping up to date with commercial and legislative compliance and managing the challenges of daily business operations, places huge demands on business owners and directors.
Our specialist advisors work with you in a role to help you plan and implement contemporary business practices that will allow you to keep a close eye on the detail while not losing sight of the big picture.
Our Self Managed Super administration service can help you achieve the benefits of an SMSF by taking care of the administration and compliance of your SMSF, creating free time for you to focus on the critical job of managing the investments of your fund.
With a self-managed super fund, you are in charge of your super and where it is invested, plus you manage those investments yourself.
Financial Advisory
At Hillyer, Richeswe provides comprehensive financial advice to our clients with an enthusiastic and proactive approach. Our strong team of experienced professionals will work with you towards identifying valuable solutions on how best to achieve your goals. Brighton Tax Accountants is a Brighton based Chartered Accounting firm offering timely and cost-effective services to both individuals and businesses. We consist of a team of accountants and business consultants dedicated to providing the highest quality accounting, taxation, bookkeeping, and business advisory services.
Our BAS Services
Review, preparation and lodgment of your Activity Statements are included in all our standard Bookkeeping Packages. Using our end-of-period processes, we will audit your file and professionally prepare your BAS before sending it to you for approval.
Your BAS will be lodged electronically after obtaining an e-signature approval from you. We believe in streamlined, paperless processes. We will ensure your ATO deadlines are met on time and you will automatically receive 4 weeks extensions on both lodging and paying your Activity Statements, as you are lodging them through a Registered BAS Agent.
Our BAS Audit and Lodgment services include:
- Reconciliation of all your bank accounts and clearing accounts;
- Reconciliation of your Wages, Superannuation and PAYG-W;
- Reconciliation of your GST;
- Preparation and electronic lodgment of your Activity Statement;
- Reconciliation of your ATO Integrated Client Account;
- Liaison with the ATO on your behalf;
- Arrangement of payment plans with the ATO;
- Preparation of quarterly Management Reports.
Registered BAS Agents
When searching for a professional to look after your financial and compliance needs, your first step is to ensure you hire a Registered BAS or Tax Agent.
Registered Agents are accredited by the Australian Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). They receive a BAS Agent number which can be found on the TPB Register. They are the only professionals allowed to lodge Activity Statements on behalf of a business.
The conduct of a BAS Agent is regulated by the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and by the Code of Professional Conduct (Code), a legislated code that sets out the professional and ethical standards designed to protect your business from any breach of compliance.
All our work is done in Australia - not offshore!
- Your work is carried out entirely by our locally employed staff
- This work is supervised by a registered BAS agent here in Australia
- An Australian CPA will also be supervising your work
- Being local, we can provide onsite as well as the offsite services
- Offshore sourced services could cost you more than you think
Since its inception, Brighton Tax Accountants has been at the forefront of tax and accounting, providing a broad range of services to local businesses in Brighton. We offer Individual Tax Returns, Business Taxation and Accounting, Financial Planning, Self Managed Superannuation Funds, and Bookkeeping services.
Brighton Tax Accountants understand Doctors and Healthcare professionals require specialist attention. Our team of experts offers friendly, industry-leading advice relating to tax, GST and compliance that will maximise your return, addressing all your financial requirements.
We have extensive experience in servicing the manufacturing industry, including the provision of accounting, information technology, and audit services, and regular periodic management reporting. Supplemented with more detailed financial analysis, this lies at the heart of astute commercial decision making.
Brighton Tax Accountants Tax Accountants in Brighton also specialise in helping small businesses to achieve great things. Whether you run a bar, restaurant or coffee cart, our accountants are here to offer an extensive range of accounting support services for your hospitality business.
Why Choose Brighton Tax Accountants?
Whether you’re a business owner or senior finance team member - we get it. We offer a senior team who’s been in your shoes. We have experienced the same frustrations as you, witnessing bookkeepers who fail to see the big picture. When bookkeepers lack the skills or desire to help you find productivity gains, you can’t implement best practices across your multiple locations, or improve the financial management of your business. It might be that you don’t even have a bookkeeper and instead depend on a tax accountant who fails to provide real-time business information and insights.
If all your accounting service providers are focused on bookwork and taxation, you miss out on the key real-time information you need. As a result, it is impossible to make informed, data-driven decisions and take a proactive approach that allows you to move your business forward. This problem compounds dramatically if you’re a business group or franchise that operates across multiple separate and discrete locations.
We have a team that takes the time to understand your business, and we offer a free, no-obligation Health Check to reassure you that you aren’t missing key requirements or overlooking important business drivers.
This detailed assessment also provides us with the information that we need to understand your business and then create a customised plan allowing you to increase the control of your business. Brighton Tax Accountants becomes a true partner, reporting the numbers that drive success and helping you make informed, real-time business decisions.
We're a different kind of digital bookkeeping firm
We are early adopters. Beta testers. Experimenters. We invest time exploring the leading edge of accounting and financial technology to understand how it impacts your business today, and into the future.
100% cloud and completely paperless. We love learning new skills, and solving fresh puzzles. We enjoy complex accounting, bookkeeping and payroll work, and collaborating with interesting business owners driven by purpose.
We love helping small to medium businesses leverage technology to work smarter, not harder. We help them punch above their weight and make a greater impact.
Starting with Xero setup, conversion or training.
Tailored Xero bookkeeping, payroll and strategic advisory services to help you grow. Helping you implement apps and automations to supercharge how you run your business.
Every business owner wants to spend more time on activities that generate profit for their business and less time worrying about whether the accounts have been reconciled correctly - Brighton Tax Accountants will help you achieve this.
Based in Brighton, supporting local businesses
We have extensive experience in financial services for medium-sized trade businesses. The services we offer are all aimed at doing what really matters – ensuring your financial growth and freeing up your time so that you can enjoy life.
We understand what farmers require to effectively manage the finances of their farming operations. We have been a leading provider of business and financial advice, taxation, and accounting services to Primary Producers and the rural sector for more than 30 years. Enquire today to find out how we can help you with your farm.
Our experience and relationship with franchise groups give us real-time insight into franchise systems and their performance. We provide franchises with business, taxation and accounting services. We can also act as consultants to the head franchisors in setting up cloud accounting & business and structures.
At Brighton Tax Accountants, our specialist property tax accountants in Brighton are renowned for their property tax accounting services for property investors. Our property tax accounting and tax advice extend to the various estate planning factors including ownership and control of assets.
We sure can! Our payroll services cover everything from setting up STP to superannuation. We regularly attend bookkeeping training to keep ourselves up to date on the latest industry updates (including the recent award changes) and pride ourselves on keeping clients compliant with ATO requirements and streamlining business processes.
If you are not yet signed up for Single Touch Payroll, the ATO due date has long passed! The first step is to have a chat with us. As a registered BAS agent, we’re in the best position to help you with this and can help you decide on the most cost-effective software for your needs.
If you’re just getting started with your business, bookkeeping might be completely new to you. Although we do highly encourage you to engage the services of a bookkeeper (at least to get started!) we do have a range of resources available on our website to help you if you’re stuck.
They include:
- Xero Resources
- MYOB Resources
- Quickbooks Resources
- Business Resources
- Cloud Accounting
- Blog
Bookkeeping and accounting are often assumed to be the same profession. This is not the case!
Both are extremely important for every business, especially when used together. While bookkeeping is responsible for the recording of financial transactions, accounting is responsible for interpreting and analysing the financial data.
A bookkeeper will be the person who assists you with the ongoing financial recording, transactions, compliance and lodgements that keep your business running smoothly. Your accountant will be the person who analyses the data produced by your bookkeeper to minimise your taxation and make recommendations. Accountants have a strong understanding of tax law & requirements and will be best to assist in this area.
Instead of perceiving a “bookkeeper vs accountant” situation, it is important to understand that your accountant and bookkeeper work best together to serve the financial requirements of your business. At The BookSitters, we focus on working closely with our clients chosen accountant.
Due to the varying complexities of businesses and their requirements, it is impossible to put a definitive number on the overall cost of bookkeeping services. For example, a sole trader’s bookkeeping needs will differ greatly from a retailer that pays staff!
We offer a complimentary one-hour consultation to discuss your business needs and identify ways we can help you to grow your business. Once we have a strong understanding of your business and expectations, we can discuss a package that suits.
In the meantime, our packages page highlights some of the most popular bookkeeping packages available depending on software and business size.
Create time for your business
It’s amazing how many clients first came to us as time poor individuals! During our initial consultations and enquiries, we often hear “I just do not have enough hours in the day” or “accounts is just not my thing”. We love what you don’t! Give us the paint and we will bring the brushes! Creating more flexibility for you inside and outside of your business is one of the many things that drives us.
Keep you compliant
As a small business owner, you’ve got enough to worry about without having to stay up to date with all the legislative compliance changes. That’s exactly how your bookkeeper can help; it’s our job to know about industry updates and compliance changes so you don’t have to. We bookkeepers stay aware of changing laws, so we can ensure your company is compliant with payroll and tax laws, as well as any other financial rules and regulations that affect your business.
Teach you about your business numbers
A great bookkeeper is someone who doesn’t mind sitting down with you and running through the “ins and outs” of all things bookkeeping. They will take the time to explain your business numbers, show you the insights behind them, provide suggestions, tips of the trade and answer your questions without any accounting jargon.
A bookkeeper also keeps track of your company’s financial health and advises you on decisions that can help you grow your business. They can also warn you if you’re about to make a decision that could hinder your longer-term growth.
In addition, bookkeeping services usually include support for you to ask questions around payroll, software or general bookkeeping (for example, common questions we are asked is, “What is double entry bookkeeping?” and “Why is my net profit not in my bank account?” – we have answered these for you below.
Bringing a professional on board can seem pricey for a small business owner, but a bookkeeper’s expertise could mean considerable long-term benefits for your company. We can grant you with peace of mind and added time to get back to running and growing your business.
We absolutely love setting up fresh books from scratch! Squeaky clean, all ready for you to use so that you can set off on the right path to fly with your new business!
Why do we love it so much? We find this to be far more cost-effective for business owners in terms of getting set up correctly from day one. This is because it minimises the risk of time and money spent fixing mistakes later. Some of the most common mistakes we see include:
- Accounts Payable – accounting for supplier payments twice / not clearing against payments
- Accounts Receivable – under-invoicing by GST portion, applying incorrect payments
- Accounts – incorrect opening balances, not linking bank accounts correctly
- Bank Reconciling – not reconciling or force reconciling
- Business Setup – not accounting for cash setup expenses or loans
- Loans – incorrectly splitting repayments
- Chart of Accounts – incorrect tax codes, linking to incorrect account types
- Payroll – lack of documentation for payroll setup, accruals not calculating correctly for leave, opening balances not entered or awards not being researched
What do bookkeepers do on a day-to-day basis? The answer is most likely “more than you might think!” The Brighton Tax Accountants handle all aspects of bookkeeping and more, including:
- Setting up or streamlining current systems
- Recommending and setting up bookkeeping software
- Data entry (NOTE: it is impossible to complete data entry without also being involved in determining tax codes and therefore the allocation of GST which requires tax invoice documentation)
- Expense Tracking
- Invoicing & Receipt Management
- Transactional Checks & Bank Reconciliations
- Accounts Payable & Receivable
- Online Banking
- Calculating GST
- Cashflow Management
- Budgeting
- Compliance & Reporting
- Payroll, Awards and Superannuation changes
- BAS Agent Services (IAS, BAS Preparation & Lodgement)
- Taxable Supplier Payments (TPAR)
- EOFY Processing
- Management Reports
- General Business Administrative Support
- Business Planning
- Profit & Loss Reporting
- Keeping educated on the industry, compliance, best practice bookkeeping and any changes that may affect clients
- Keeping up to date with legislative requirements (so you don’t have to!)
Bookkeepers can also provide clients with insights on business opportunities and potential financial issues that they may not have been able to see. Most often the bookkeeper will be happy to sit down with clients and explain their numbers (without the financial jargon) while delivering accurate and timely bookkeeping services.
For us at Brighton Tax Acccountants, it’s about so much more than bookkeeping and we always strive to go above and beyond for our clients.
Being a small business owner can be an incredibly awarding experience. However, running your business can be stressful enough without trying to understand and maintain your books! It is generally an area that small business owners don’t like, but must be responsible for.
One of our key roles as bookkeepers is to take the stress and pressure away from small business bookkeeping, allowing individuals to spend more time on what they are passionate about: their business!
But having a bookkeeper is about more than just saving time. A good bookkeeper is like having a built-in business coach, someone you can build a relationship with. They will take care of all the “boring” stuff while educating you on the picture behind your numbers so you can make better informed business decisions. Bookkeepers can help you to understand the ongoing costs of running your business, what your cash flow situation looks like and if you are really making a profit.
Every small business needs a bookkeeper; a mentor, business partner and cheerleader, encouraging you to succeed in your business and applauding you as you do so!
Put simply, bookkeeping is “the process of recording, analysing and interpreting the financial transactions of a business or individual.” The BookSitters aims to go further than this to partner with and educate our clients on their business, systems, operations and results.
A good bookkeeper can be a huge asset to your business as they have the knowledge, experience and passion to manage your records accurately. Most importantly, they provide you with an important insight into your business’ operations and profitability.
A BAS Agent (or Business Activity Statement Agent) is authorised to prepare and lodge BAS returns on your behalf and provide advice on BAS-related items, such as your day-to-day business taxes (GST and PAYG). Any bookkeeper who wishes to provide a BAS service for a fee (for example BAS preparation/lodgement), code expenses and provide bookkeeping services where decisions are made in relation to GST, must be registered as a BAS Agent.
This has been in place since 1st March 2010 and is a fantastic system because it provides protection to businesses and individuals who don’t have a strong understanding of BAS processes and are seeking the services of a bookkeeper. A BAS Agent must renew their registration annually which includes satisfying certain criteria, such as being a ‘Fit and Proper Person’, being up to date with personal tax returns, completing the necessary number of hours of recognised training, and having the appropriate Professional Insurance Policy in place.
As a registered BAS Agent, we are more than happy to provide our registration numbers for verification to our clients, potential clients or our client’s accountant.
