Beyond the Numbers with Grant Thornton

Hosted by Grant Thornton Australia

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Oct 2026

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From business strategy, to industry innovation and economic landscape analysis, we’ve brought together our experts to unpack how Australian businesses are doing things differently.

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October 13, 202619 min

Where sanctions, proliferation financing and AML/CTF collide

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

September 15, 202643 min

‘Where to’ for Western Sydney? Legacy in business, sport and the community

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

August 17, 202633 min

The stakes are high: why cyber belongs in the boardroom now more than ever

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

July 9, 202622 min

The questions Group 2 and 3 reporters should be asking about their disclosures

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 ⁠⁠

May 26, 202617 min

Breaking down the Budget

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 ⁠⁠

May 20, 202621 min

Will your business withstand a payroll compliance issue?

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

April 12, 202620 min

A sustainable business model: metrics that matter for sale or growth

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

February 4, 202631 min

Is your business showing signs of distress?

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

December 2, 202520 min

Shifting mindset from compliance to strong change management

With 2026 fast approaching, AUSTRAC has announced it will release ‘starter kits’ to help current reporting entities and Tranche 2 entrants ahead of the 1 July deadline. These kits are designed to help businesses achieve baseline compliance and will be tailored to each sector. By releasing the starter kits early next year, AUSTRAC is making the compliance journey more accessible. But this isn’t just about meeting requirements – with a changing landscape and a fast-approaching deadline, how can businesses embed AML/CTF compliance into their operations and bring everyone along on the journey? 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗒️Neil Jeans' LinkedIn 🗒️Katherine Shamai's LinkedIn 🎧Follow The Remarkables on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or ⁠Spotify

October 12, 202530 min

Reframing succession planning to empower the rising generation

The Grant Thornton 2025 Family Business report revealed that succession planning remains a top challenge for Australian family businesses. With more generations active in the workplace than ever before – and an estimated $3.5t in wealth about to transfer to the next cohort of successors – the stakes have never been higher to get succession right. So, how can the rising and incumbent generations work together to showcase the emerging knowledge and expertise in the business, while acknowledging the experience and legacy of those who built the business? 🎧Follow Beyond the Numbers on ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ 🗒️Kirsten Taylor Martin's ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ 🗒️Heather Gouveia's LinkedIn

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