Client Profiles
Our clients come from many industries and every single one requires a unique approach.
Stephen Michael Foundation
In 2019, GeersSullivan helped the Stephen Michael Foundation set up the financial and governance infrastructure that has seen this not-for-profit grow from five staff and a single funding stream to a multimillion dollar operation with over 30 staff.
We are exceptionally proud of the role we continue to play in ensuring the Stephen Michael Foundation can provide even more disadvantaged WA kids with their amazing programs.
Background
The Stephen Michael Foundation was established by the South Fremantle Football Club to help disadvantaged youth become valued members of their communities. It is named after one of WA’s most prominent footballers, Stephen Michael, who is a great role model and the foundation’s actively involved patron.
The Stephen Michael Foundation runs sports-based wellbeing, education, leadership, training and employment programs in metropolitan and regional communities. Research has found that sport helps to increase school participation for those who are disengaged and experiencing challenges at home or school. Beginning with a pilot program in partnership with Fremantle College and the Town of Meekatharra, the foundation now reaches over 10,000 young people across WA.
GeersSullivan was first became involved with the Stephen Michael Foundation in 2019, with Director Ashley Dawson being a Board Member. The foundation was growing rapidly. Though the South Fremantle Football Club initially offered administrative support, the Stephen Michael Foundation soon needed their own dedicated level of governance and financial management services.
Our Approach
GeersSullivan offers the Stephen Michael Foundation our specialised CFO suite, as a cost-effective alternative to an internal financial management role that we can scale to suit an organisation’s particular size and needs. We maintain an ongoing operational understanding so that we can offer the following services:
- Financial management (e.g. budgeting, accounts payable/receivable and payroll)
- Strategic advice, including financial analysis and reporting at an executive and Board level
- Supporting human resources requirements, including the development of policies, governance strategies and processes,
- Regulatory compliance
- Supporting funding applications and acquittals
This means regular contact to ensure that all of the Foundation’s needs are being met and that we’re accessible to the management team and all employees. Like in footy, it’s a team effort when it comes to achieving (kicking!) our goals.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we increased the frequency of our discussions with Chief Executive Officer Paul Mugambwa and the management team to a daily touchpoint. We assessed different potential scenarios and opportunities, to ensure that all available government support could be accessed and the Foundation could continue its operations during the pandemic.
Outcome
GeersSullivan has helped the Stephen Michael Foundation by:
- Professionalising the foundation to a very high level, increasing its capacity and performance in terms of its systems and processes, and ensuring sustainable growth (in Paul’s own words)
- Increasing internal and funding body confidence in the organisation’s financial and governance processes
- Ensuring compliance with the regulations for not-for-profit entities, including the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Improving insight in both day-to-day financial management and strategic direction (including assisting with the Stephen Michael Foundation Strategic Plan)
- Increasing cashflow resilience as a not-for-profit relying on multiple income streams, including weathering the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring no staff were lost
- Supporting successful grant applications with strategically targeted funding streams and streamlined grant acquittal processes, including effective reporting and allocation of staff time
- Offering personal tax support to all staff, including income tax returns, understanding salary sacrifice opportunities and how to best structure their personal finances
“What we receive from GeersSullivan is far beyond what we’re paying for – not only is their capability extraordinary, they share a genuine passion for what we do.
The access to their team for all levels of our staff, no matter how big or small a query, is unparalleled. We can’t thank GeersSullivan enough for the difference they’ve made to us, or recommend them highly enough.” – Paul Mugambwa, Stephen Michael Foundation
If you’d like to know more about the Stephen Michael Foundation or get involved, visit their website.
Kimberley Aboriginal Law & Cultural Centre (KALACC)
We’ve helped the Kimberley Aboriginal Law & Cultural Centre (KALACC) achieve greater financial insight. In turn, they’re now in a better position to allocate funding to their programs and create an even greater positive impact on their community.
Background
KALACC is an Aboriginal corporation, which is a specific type of not-for-profit legal entity. They support the traditional cultural practices of the 30 Aboriginal language groups of the Kimberley region in Western Australia.
KALACC receives funding from up to 30 streams at any time, including government bodies and private sector corporations. Therefore, their financials are especially vast.
When GeersSullivan first started working with KALACC in October 2015 their financials were approximately 6–12 months behind. This made it difficult to aptly allocate funding to their activities or know exactly what was left to spend within their grants.
Additionally, with programs often funded by several grants there’s more to track than your average not-for-profit. As Wes says, KALACC’s finances are “a bit like a juggling act – there are always balls in the air and things being shifted from one place to another!”
Our Approach
We have a very hands-on, responsive approach to working with KALACC. Our Senior Manager, Tom Francis, is the primary contact for their day-to-day needs, with assistance from Director Chris Grieve.
GeersSullivan’s role can be likened to an external Chief Financial Officer and accountant in one. As well as completing financial reports and assisting with grant acquittals, we also help with strategic planning, provide guidance regarding salary issues and so on. Tom even travels to Broome every 6 months to be part of KALACC’s Annual General Meeting or brief the Board.
It’s a collaborative relationship where we’re responsive to KALACC’s specific needs, such as holding training sessions with staff. We translate the financial things so that KALACC’s team can make informed decisions about how best to spend their funding.
In fact, Tom exchanges emails with Wes most days and has such an extensive knowledge of the organisation and its staff that he feels like one of the team. You might say that we’re KALACC’s southern division, 3,000 kilometres away.
Outcomes
GeersSullivan has helped KALACC by:
- Implementing systems that increase operational efficiency and the effectiveness of financial data
- Providing a comprehensive, up-to-date snapshot of their financials
- Increasing the timeliness of reliable, accurate information
- Allowing for better allocation of funding streams to relevant programs and eliminating incidents where funding has had to be returned
- Empowering staff with the knowledge and surety to make informed decisions and plan strategically
- Allowing Wes to divert his attention to more pertinent matters for the organisation, such as sourcing new funding and developing new programs
- Listening to the staff’s needs, helping them to learn and building their confidence in their own financial management
Through our work with KALACC we’ve seen the subtle yet large impact this increased financial insight has had for their organisation and the wider community. It’s very rewarding work.
“I really appreciate how enthusiastically GeersSullivan has entered our juggling act – learning about our organisation, really understanding what’s needed, being extremely responsive and working in a collegial way. It’s good to work with people who have such a commitment to us.” – Wes Morris, KALACC Coordinator