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Retail

A depth of service that only comes through unconditional market focus

Our specialist team

We provide tailored services that our clients want, need and value

The Fordham retail services team provides specialised business advisory and financial advice to the industry that is designed to make our client’s businesses – and their lives – better. Our depth of expertise is derived from having a focus on working with retailers of apparel, footwear, and accessories, as well as hospitality and e-commerce based businesses. We service a broad range of clients, from start-up businesses, right through to large national and multinational operations.

Our work goes far beyond traditional financial statement and tax return preparation. Instead, we aim to provide meaningful industry insight and advice on what works and what doesn’t. We share knowledge learned from our broader client base where we often act on advisory boards, in the development of strategy and in the day to day detail that is required to be a successful retailer.

We proactively assist our clients with the intention to grow, manage and optimise the performance of their businesses, which may, ultimately result in the transfer and protection of wealth from the business to their passive family entities and future generations.

We are active members of industry bodies and can help drive national policy for your industry through representation on these bodies’ committees.

We have a broad network of independent Bankers, Lawyers and industry participants to assist our clients to connect where there is a mutually beneficial outcome.

Our depth, knowledge and connectivity in the fashion and retail industry positions us well to assist an aspiring business.

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How can we help

Book a consultation with one of our partners

 

Our team are proud industry members of these industry groups.

As an active member of industry bodies in the retail industry, we can help drive national policy for your industry through representation on these bodies’ committees and can connect you to a strong network of industry participants.

 


Our service

All in one service, looking after your business, finances, future and wellbeing.

Like you, reputation is everything to us. With a dedicated team of Retail specialists, trust is at the core of how we help our clients achieve their business and life goals. Our advice is tailored to your industry.


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Michael Sutherland
BBus (Acc), CA, CTA, RG146, FBA, Specialist Accredited Advisor
Lead Partner
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Sharon Parker
BBus (Acc), CA
Lead Partner
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Michael Doughty
Partner
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Brett Marshall
BCom/BArts, CA
Partner
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Scott Douglas
MTax CTA CA
Associate Partner
Michael Sutherland
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Michael Sutherland

BBus (Acc), CA, CTA, RG146, FBA, Specialist Accredited Advisor Lead Partner
Bio

Michael joined Fordham in 2001 and is now the lead partner of a team of 30 with clients in Property & Construction, Retail/Ragtrade, Transport, Manufacturing and Franchising. He started his career in 1991 with one of the Big Four accounting firms and joined Fordham 10 years later to focus specifically on medium-sized, privately-owned businesses.

As a Chartered Tax Advisor with a wealth of experience in corporate advisory, as well as private businesses, Michael brings this unique perspective to help his clients’ businesses grow and overcome adversity. He helps clients across the broad range of business and personal issues they face including arranging external financing, modelling/forecasting, reporting, shareholder issues, structuring and valuations.

In this role Michael enjoys undertaking strategic planning for his clients and often participates as Board Chair. He runs executive leadership team meetings focused on driving accountability and meaningful improvements to operational performance. He is a regular presenter and author of industry articles for the building and property development sector, as well as Ragtrade industry segments. When not at work, he is chauffeuring four daughters to school, rep basketball and football.

Industry specialisation: Property & Construction, Retail, Manufacturing, Transport, Franchising

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Sharon Parker
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Sharon Parker

BBus (Acc), CA Lead Partner
Bio

Sharon assists business owner clients across a broad range of industries, helping them to navigate their personal and business wealth journey and weigh up important decisions along the way. She has broad experience in taxation and business with particular expertise in complex tax advice and structuring, planning for succession and retirement and dealing with complex family and community issues.

In addition to working with business owners, Sharon is passionate about leading Fordham’s Indigenous Consulting Team, which is part of Perpetual’s broader service offering to Aboriginal communities. This team provides Executive Office and consulting services to communities across Australia.

Clients enjoy Sharon’s attentiveness, responsiveness, her ability to listen, and to provide targeted and practical advice. She is exceptionally talented at developing strong, long-term relationships, and is known for her ability to communicate complex issues in a way that is easy to understand.

Industry specialisation: Property & Construction, Retail, Native Title

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Michael Doughty
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Michael Doughty

Partner
Bio

Michael Doughty has worked as a professional accountant for more than 30 years where he thrives on the continually evolving challenge of helping his clients, their families and businesses to succeed.

Michael guides businesses of all shapes, sizes and origins on every aspect of their success and is particularly skilful at assisting businesses with unusually complex structures. He advises on a broad range of strategic matters including finance, structuring, tax, compliance and capital gains as well as providing compliance services. Michael is passionate about assisting his clients with their private interests, helping them and their family members make strategic decisions to grow and protect their wealth while navigating the intricacies of areas like deceased estates, changes in circumstance and property ownership. His passion has developed from his own family experience working within family business.

He has an affinity for the issues faced by local communities and has significant expertise in this area. Michael has worked with communities, developers and agents to enhance their local areas by advising on local council issues and related matters. This interest is attributed to his early experience in real estate and community.

Keeping up to date with developments in taxation and business is a particular area of interest for Michael. He shares this knowledge with his colleagues at Fordham and has, more widely through the courses he has created and presented for the Australian Taxation Office via the University of New South Wales.

Industry specialisation: IT, Retail 

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Brett Marshall
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Brett Marshall

BCom/BArts, CA Partner
Bio

In Brett’s 15 years at Fordham, he has developed a very thorough understanding of the property & construction industry. During this time, he has advised a broad range of businesses from large land developers to residential and commercial builders, civil construction companies, and project management businesses. Brett also assists business owners and their families in the retail, publishing, manufacturing and finance industries.

For many of his clients, Brett acts as chair of both their operating and family boards. In these roles he plays a key part in facilitating discussion with business owners, their families, and senior management teams regarding business performance, profit improvement, optimal business structures, and business acquisition and sale opportunities. 

Brett has a deep knowledge of the Australian tax system and in particular the specialist tax issues applicable to the property and construction industry. He is also a leader of Fordham’s internal taxation excellence group. In this role he is responsible for strategies to assess the impact and maximise opportunities available with respect to the following:

 

  • Income Tax
  • Capital Gains Tax
  • Small Business Capital Gains Tax Concessions
  • GST (including the margin scheme)
  • Stamp duty
  • Land tax.

Brett is a member of the Taxation Institute of Australia and Advanced Property Development accredited (PCA). He is also a member of the Taxation & Finance Committee for the Urban Development Institute of Victoria, which advocates for policy improvements to the industry.

Industry specialisation: Property & Construction, Manufacturing, Retail

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Scott Douglas
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Scott Douglas

MTax CTA CA Associate Partner
Bio

As the child of a practicing accountant and private business owner, Scott has private business advisory in his veins.

Commencing his career in Perth as a graduate within the finance team of a large private business in 2006, he moved into professional services with the Big 4 spending almost 5 years working in the corporate tax and private client divisions before relocating to Melbourne at the end of 2012. Continuing his career with another member of the Big 4, Scott continued honing his skills before moving to Fordham in 2016 after being drawn to the private business owner focus and approach to the client relationship.

Since joining Fordham, Scott has worked on some of the highest profile clients in the team across many different industries, bringing his broad experience and technical acumen to the fore. As a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor, Scott is often sought out by colleagues internally for his opinion on matters and he brings an open mind to every conversation.

Constantly striving for improvement, Scott will challenge the status quo and interrogate assumptions. With particular focus on business planning, profit improvement and transaction assistance, Scott aims to deliver services to clients that they want, value and need.

Industry specialisation: Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare & Senior Living, Property & Construction

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