
Our Style We are a partnership of trusted professional peers who enjoy working hands-on in the industrial environment with people who care for their businesses. We have a diverse range of professional qualifications, skills and experience to share with our clients.

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Introduction
Allan Morton
Elaine Opferkuch
Lindsay Schmalkuche
Kym Heffernan
Sue Seddon
Garry Guerin

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Kym Heffernan:
Introduces Business Turnaround

Member

Our Team of Experienced Skilled Professionals

We believe that ‘financial trouble’ is wider problem than an accountant can fix alone.

Poor business health arises from operational and organisational problems.

We have the range of skills and experience that has delivered successful business turnarounds for our clients.

Our team of professionals have deep empathy for owners and stakeholders.
We have been in your position, we know how it feels, and know what to do.

There is wealth of proven experience in accounting, insolvency, manufacturing, process design, engineering, sales, marketing, IT, human resources, financing.

We have the commercial acumen and a practical approach to assist you rescue,

restructure and rebuild your business.

Get in Touch

Mob: 0448 800 101

Allan Morton: Founding Partner

BEng (Hons), BBus, Exec MBA (Harvard)

Specialties
Strategic analysis, planning and tactical implementation, technical innovation, process development, problem solving, staff, negotiation, presenter, company directorships

Career Background
My engineering career started as a cadet with CSR Limited with whom I worked in 12 locations over 16 years in sugar, building materials, chemical processing and corporate office. I did well and I owe a lot to CSR particularly for embracing my innovations and sponsoring my Harvard Exec MBA.

In 1987 I left corporate life to create and grow several businesses in the printing, digital media and internet online space, in Australia & NZ. One we took public with some success, others have yielded good returns via M&A exits, two have crashed out due to external events. Through this period I invented and patented a method for automated mailing of CDs, DVDs & Blu-Ray discs. We expanded the business internationally with varying success.

Beyond business I founded a technology incubator, worked with government to grow the IT industry and mentored numerous small & medium business owners.

Industry Experience:
My experience is quite diverse; sugar, farming, materials handling, chemical, process, manufacturing, printing, packaging, IT, software, business services.

TBP Role & Philosophy
Through many businesses I experienced opportunities for a turnaround process to be applied many times. However I recognised that a sustainable positive outcome required more than just one skill set; ie an accountant with a funding solution, a HR consultant or a marketer. Also I witnessed owners equity value being diminished by self interest of 3rd parties.

My role is to maintain a pragmatic overview on our clients turnaround situation and find a solution whereby we guide them to preserve and grow their business value.

Get in Touch

Mob: 0419 745 483

Elaine Opferkuch Senior Partner
BBus (Acctg), CPA, Grad.dip CSP,

Specialties
Accounting, financial analysis, risk, cash-flow management, negotiations, funding, strategic planning, corporate restructuring, company secretarial.

Career Background
My career is based around accounting, initially in chartered accountants offices, later in corporate roles of increasing responsibility; mostly private businesses, some small cap public companies. This exposed me to managing and reporting for a diverse range of corporate structures. I recognise how structure impacts the ability of businesses to raise funds and what's available for businesses in trouble.

Since 1997 I've had CFO / Commercial Manager roles in organisations that were undergoing change and where relationships with banks and private funders were critical.

Through the corporate roles I've developed a deep understanding of how to manage cash-flow, funding, financial reporting and meeting governance regulations.

Industry Experience
I've worked in accountancy practice, property development, building, hotel management, education and technology industries.

TBP Role & Philosophy
As an accountant I recognise that a financial crisis in a business is often a symptom of a deeper unresolved operational issue. My ability to quickly assess and find a quick solution to a financial or governance situation provides time to move into the strategic turnaround stages. Then I work more on strategic restructuring process that will support long term growth.

Working with SME businesses better suits my hands-on style where there is less emphasis on office politics and more on getting it done.

Get in Touch

Mob: 0 418 731 331

Lindsay Schmalkuche Senior Partner - Operational Management

CAP Cert

Specialties

Accounting, financial analysis, risk & cash-flow management, creditor & funder negotiations, legal & corporate governance

Career Background
My career has mostly centred around accounting and management control in mid-size manufacturing and industrial businesses. Ownership has been large privately held, grower co-operatives and smaller owner operated enterprises.

For the past 20 years I have been retained by companies to manage their return to or improvement of their profitably which has been a management consulting role as it usually requires improvement of all aspects of the business. This led to development of strategic plans (the simplistic type that you can summarise onto an A4 page) and mechanisms to monitor progress. This provided the businesses with an appropriate level of corporate governance.

Industry Experience
Agricultural processing, industrial manufacturing, legal & financial services,

TBP Role & Philosophy
In mid-sized companies we find practical down-to-earth people who are owning and running their business. They have to deal with various crises pragmatically. I like to walk the shop floor to understand and feel what's going on, then I can see if the accounting records make sense.

When we are dealing with bankers, funders, shop floor employees, owners and other stakeholder our advise will be firm and fair. We instil confidence on how their interests will be preserved through the business turnaround process.

Get in Touch

Mob: 0 418 678 895

Kym Heffernan Senior Consultant - Sales & Mktg

Tickets
BBus (Marketing & IT), Grad Dip (Macquarie)

Specialties
Sales generation, leveraging loyalty, lead conversion & customer growth tactics, marketing strategy, point of sale, Internet & database marketing, exit planning & preparing for sale

Career Background
For over 30 years my career has always been about marketing and selling. In early days it was with multi-national corporate icons where marketing was (almost) everything; you learn from the best.

I held multiple roles in a fast growing marketing services company, working with some of Australia and Asia's leading companies. During this time I've set up international offices, numerous joint venture/alliance programs and hundreds of customer acquisition, retention, communication, cross-sell and upsell programs.

My interest is in applying a range of techniques learned with Australia’s leading experts in Capital Raising, Mergers, Acquisitions, Business Exits and How to buy and sell businesses, to maximise business value and grow SME businesses by ensuring their marketing gets the maximum ROI.

Industry Experience
I have personally worked with over 100 different companies across multiple industries in the retail, wholesales, hospitality, financial services, manufacturing and industrial sectors.

TBP Role & Philosophy
All businesses have to sell into a market. Often troubled businesses have not moved with their market nor efficiently leveraged what they already have. We can apply some short term survival tactics that create time to implement longer term market strategies that will restore growth and durable value.

By maximising marketing ROI a SME business builds sustainable profitability and in-so-doing optimises its exit valuation.

Get in Touch

Mob: 044 880 9997

Sue Seddon - Consultant Financial Systems
BCom, ACA.

Specialties
Management accounting, financial reporting systems, accounting controls, forensics.

Career Background
My career started with chartered accountancy which exposes one to many and varied businesses and situations. 1985 & 1986 was spent contract accounting in London for BT. My interest in technology companies took me to Apple Computer (NZ) and Compaq (NZ) as management accountant; for the time we had leading edge financial reporting systems.

The opportunity to build a technology related business (in pre-press and digital media) was hard but rewarding. I well know the work it takes, the stress involved and the sacrifices one endures to own a fast growing business.

In recent times I've converted this experience into consulting and contracting work with SME businesses.

Industry Experience
Accountancy practice, telecommunications, manufacturing, printing, packaging, IT, software, business services.

TBP Role & Philosophy
I've been through tough and rewarding situations as a business owner and director, both are stressful in their own way. I'm aware how vital good financial control and reporting systems are to running a business.

In times of crisis, reporting to banks and raising funds the ability to show the business position quickly and in best light instills confidence in the owner's management.

Get in Touch

Mob: 0409 171 317

Garry Guerin - Consultant HR & Staff Performance

Specialties
Sales team management, operational control, human resource, staff systems, industrial relations

Career Background
My career started on the shop floor which drills in how people can perceive 'management' and 'business owners'. Then I felt the other side in owning my own business. This experience enabled me to gain over 20 years’ leadership experience working with SME business in the areas of sales, operations and general management.

I now enjoy working with SME businesses to improve their total business performance by assisting them to identify areas for improvement with their people, processes and staff systems.

Industry Experience
Retail, light manufacturing, printing, digital media, IT, HR consultancy.

TBP Role & Philosophy
I recognise that business decisions are made by people. Therefore business performance must improve when the right people are in place, being rewarded for doing the right things.

With troubled businesses we will identify and rectify the 'people problems' that undermine business survival. Ultimately implementation of good staff management systems will ensure that changes introduced in the turnaround process enable long term growth.

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Get in Touch

Mob: 0448 800 101

James Tba - Consultant - IT & Telecommunications
BSci / BCom - IT

Specialties
IT systems & integration, software, internet, security, telecommunications, IT strategy, new media marketing

Career Background
I've worked in and around telecommunications and IT for most of my career. In early days my it was an adjunct to commercial responsibilities. Over time the strategic importance of sound IT systems and policy offered the opportunity to lead businesses (eventually) into Internet based technologies.

In my roles embracing technology change is a given to remain competitive. However I maintain its adoption and implementation of must be for valid business reasons. Both large and small businesses need to be pragmatic when making IT changes.

Industry Experience
Industrial, materials processing, manufacturing, retail, IT, telecommunications.

TBP Role & Philosophy
Reliable and effective IT systems have become increasingly important for SME businesses to survive and compete. Their complexity and extent also expose businesses to significant financial losses or an inability to serve customers.
Assessing IT system risks and addressing them forms integrates with a successful business turnaround process.

We specialise in successful turnarounds, workouts, strategic planning and operational restructuring to revitalise business performance and grow value.