Frequently Asked Questions — Melbourne Accounting, Audit, Tax & Advisory

At UHY Cohen Fasciani, we offer a comprehensive range of specialist accounting and advisory services including tax planning and restructuring, succession planning for family businesses, capital gains tax advice, multinational accounting, family office services, solicitors trust account audits, NFP establishment and advice, SMSF compliance and accounting, and audit and assurance. Based at Suite 29, Level 3/25 Claremont Street, South Yarra Melbourne, our team of accountants, auditors, tax advisers and business advisers is committed to delivering outcomes that truly matter.

UHY Cohen Fasciani has been building trust and delivering outstanding outcomes for Melbourne clients for many years. We have developed deep expertise across tax planning, audit, SMSF compliance, succession planning, family office, and multinational accounting — serving businesses, families, and organisations across Melbourne and Victoria.

Yes. UHY Cohen Fasciani is an independent member firm of the UHY Haines Norton association across Australia and New Zealand, and of UHY International — one of the world's top 20 accounting networks, spanning over 96 countries. This gives our Melbourne clients access to global expertise and international connections, while benefiting from the specialist, partner-led service of a local firm. Clients should note that we are an independent firm and neither the UHY ANZ association or UHY International provides services to you.

UHY Cohen Fasciani is based at Suite 29, Level 3/25 Claremont Street, South Yarra, Melbourne VIC 3141. Our office serves clients across Melbourne, Victoria, and nationally for specialist services including multinational accounting, solicitors trust account audits, and succession planning for family businesses. Contact us at +61 3 9826 2633 or info@cfca.com.au.

You can contact our Melbourne team by phone at +61 3 9826 2633, by email at info@cfca.com.au, or through the contact form on our website. We will connect you with the right adviser based on your needs.

At UHY Cohen Fasciani, we work with a diverse range of clients — from family businesses and high-net-worth individuals to multinational corporations, not-for-profit organisations, law firms requiring solicitors trust account audits, and growing Melbourne businesses. Our specialist expertise allows us to serve clients with complex needs across tax planning, succession, family office, and multinational accounting.

Yes. UHY Cohen Fasciani provides specialist solicitors trust account audits for law firms in Victoria, as required under the Legal Profession Uniform Law and the Legal Services Board + Commissioner's requirements. Our audit team has deep experience in the regulatory framework governing trust accounts, ensuring your firm meets its obligations accurately and on time. We understand the unique compliance requirements of legal practice trust accounting.

At UHY Cohen Fasciani, our audit team provides a comprehensive range of audit and assurance services including external audits for large private companies and subsidiaries of multinational groups, regulatory and compliance audits (including solicitors trust account audits), not-for-profit audits, and internal audit and agreed-upon procedures.

Yes. At UHY Cohen Fasciani, our audit team has extensive experience auditing not-for-profit organisations, charities, associations, and community groups. We understand the specific reporting requirements under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and provide tailored audit services to meet your compliance obligations.

Yes. At UHY Cohen Fasciani, we assist organisations looking to establish a not-for-profit entity — from choosing the right legal structure and applying for tax concessions to setting up governance frameworks and meeting ACNC registration requirements. We provide practical, end-to-end advice to help your NFP get established on the right foundation.

An internal audit is an independent review of your organisation's internal controls, risk management processes, and operational efficiency — separate from the statutory external audit. At UHY Cohen Fasciani, our internal audit service helps management identify risks, strengthen controls, and improve processes. It is particularly valuable for growing businesses and organisations with complex structures.

Agreed-upon procedures (AUPs) are a targeted assurance engagement where we perform specific, agreed steps and report factual findings — without expressing an overall opinion. They are commonly used for grant expenditure verification, specific compliance requirements, or targeted due diligence. At UHY Cohen Fasciani, our assurance team can tailor an AUP engagement to your exact needs.

Absolutely. Succession planning is one of the most important — and often most overlooked — decisions a family business owner will make. At UHY Cohen Fasciani, our advisory team specialises in helping family businesses plan for ownership transition — covering business valuation, management handover, estate planning, capital gains tax implications, and tax-effective structuring. Whether you are transitioning to the next generation, selling to management, or preparing for an external sale, we help you protect value and ensure continuity.

At UHY Cohen Fasciani, our family office service is designed for high-net-worth families and business owners who need integrated advice across their personal, business, and investment affairs. We coordinate tax planning, superannuation, estate planning, cashflow management, and wealth management — giving families a single trusted point of contact for all their financial needs. We work alongside your other advisers to ensure your affairs are structured effectively for the long term.

Yes. At UHY Cohen Fasciani, our advisory team provides specialist multinational accounting services including international tax planning, transfer pricing, subsidiary CFO services, doing business overseas, and foreign inbound advisory for overseas companies establishing operations in Australia. As a member of the UHY International network spanning over 96 countries, we can connect you with experienced advisers in virtually any jurisdiction.

Yes. At UHY Cohen Fasciani, our advisory team works alongside Melbourne businesses to develop clear, practical strategic plans — including strategy development, budgeting, cashflow forecasting, KPI frameworks, and management reporting. We help you understand your financial position, set meaningful goals, and build the roadmap to achieve them.

At UHY Cohen Fasciani, our wealth management advisory helps business owners and families take a holistic view of their financial position — covering estate planning, SMSF, superannuation planning, asset protection, and risk management. We work alongside your financial planner to ensure your personal and business wealth is structured effectively for the long term.

Yes. At UHY Cohen Fasciani, our Virtual CFO service provides senior financial leadership on a flexible, outsourced basis — without the cost of a full-time hire. Ideal for growing Melbourne businesses that need experienced financial oversight, cashflow management, and strategic direction, our Virtual CFO service can also include finance function review and ERP support.

A business performance accountant goes well beyond tax compliance — they work proactively alongside you to help you understand your financial position, identify opportunities to improve performance, and make confident business decisions. At UHY Cohen Fasciani, our Melbourne team acts as a genuine business partner — providing KPI development, cashflow management, management reporting, strategic planning, and practical financial guidance to help your business perform at its best.

Yes. At UHY Cohen Fasciani, we assist Melbourne entrepreneurs and business owners with entity formation and effective structuring from day one. Choosing the right structure — whether that's a company, trust, partnership, or sole trader — has significant implications for tax, liability, and growth. Our team provides practical, plain-English advice to help you start on the right foundation.

Yes. At UHY Cohen Fasciani, our team works with all major cloud accounting platforms. We help businesses transition to the cloud, set up efficient workflows, and get the most from their accounting software — giving you real-time visibility of your financials from anywhere.

Yes. Cashflow management is a core part of our business advisory service. At UHY Cohen Fasciani, our team helps you build realistic budgets and cashflow forecasts, identify pressure points before they become problems, and maintain healthy liquidity — whether you are a growing Melbourne startup or an established business.

Tax compliance for a Melbourne business covers financial statement preparation, income tax returns, BAS lodgements, payroll tax, and other ATO obligations. At UHY Cohen Fasciani, we manage all aspects of your compliance obligations accurately and on time — ensuring you meet your ATO requirements while identifying any opportunities to improve your tax position.

Yes. At UHY Cohen Fasciani, our better bookkeeping service helps Melbourne businesses maintain accurate, up-to-date financial records. Sound bookkeeping is the foundation of good financial management — ensuring your compliance obligations are met and giving you the reliable data you need to make informed business decisions.