SMSF Outsource Solutions provides independent Self Managed Super Fund audit services to Accountants, Advisors and Trustees Australia-wide. SMSF currently audits over 2,000 Self Managed Super Funds via an online SMSF audit portal. Located in Gosford on NSW’s Central Coast, SMSF employs six staff and has clients all around Australia. SMSF achieved a paperless office in 2009 and technology enhancements have bolstered productivity, resulting in a significant amount of growth being achieved in the past five years. Market share has soared, with revenue doubling in 2010. SMSF is now one of Australia’s leading and most respected SMSF specialist audit firms.
Jo Heighway, Director and Founder, shares her insights on running a successful business, the importance of being a member of NSW Business Chamber and what excites her in the business world…
What recent business achievements, successes or wins have helped grow your business or raised your profile locally, nationally or overseas?
Winning the prestigious 2010 NSW Business Chamber awards for Excellence in Small Business Growth and the President’s Prize has significantly raised our profile both locally and nationally. It has resulted in a significant amount of publicity for our business at both a local and national level and opened doors with CPA Australia and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA).
I was also proud to receive the Central Coast Women in Business Services award in 2010 and was the top graduate of the University of Adelaide Professional Certificate in SMSFs for 2010. These awards have resulted in me being interviewed by a number of national magazines including SMSF Magazine (Morningstar) and Marie Clare; and I am now regularly asked to present on SMSF topics around Australia.
Receiving these awards also validated my view of the critical importance of audit independence in the self-managed super funds area.
What NSW Business Chamber services or products have you used and how have these helped your business?
We use HR Advance (a comprehensive online library of HR documents that can be customised) and attend NSW Business Chamber networking events. HR Advance has provided us with a safety net in relation to Human Resources, an area that we had struggled with in the past. We can now employ and retain staff knowing that our policies and procedures are all current and up to date. Any questions we have regarding HR and relevant legislation can easily be answered by a quick search of the HR Advance website.
How has your membership of NSW Business Chamber enhanced your business activities?
Winning the NSW Business Chamber Small Business Growth award and the President’s Prize in 2010 has definitely opened many doors for us and given a great endorsement for our business. It has ensured that we have a very solid foundation to continue to grow and achieve our goals. The Chamber’s networking events also give us the opportunity to meet with other business owners and potential new clients. We have found these events very useful for sourcing service providers for our business.
Is there anything in the business world that is exciting you?
The constant advances in technology and the new opportunities that this creates for us in terms of improved productivity and efficiency, and just improving our service offering in general, is very exciting. As a business we really embrace constant change, and we’re always on the lookout for better ways of doing things. We are getting more and more involved in social media as a vehicle to brand ourselves and meet potential clients.
Hear from Matthew Heighway of SMSF Outsource Solutions
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