DISCOVERY CALL
DISCOVERY CALL

Guide for Financial Planners

A Guide for Financial Planners
Including Case Studies

Guide for Financial Planners

Managed Resource Model vs Offshore Recruiter

Experienced Administration Support

Experienced Paraplanners

Client Case Studies

From the Directors

Drawing on over 20 years of experience in the Outsourcing and Offshoring Industry, we started CountHQ to offer something different, a hands-on managed service focusing on the Australian Accounting Industry.
Shortly after, we commenced offering solutions to Financial Planners’ support and administrative staffing needs.
Our approach has resonated and after a short few years we have developed offshore teams for over 60 high performing firms across the country, including those in list of the Top 100 Accounting Firms published by the Australian Financial Review yearly.
In traditional outsourcing and offshoring models the risk in hiring, staff turnover and training is unfairly passed onto the Australian Firm. We don’t think this is right.
We believe in a relationship approach where we view the implementation and outcome of each project as a shared opportunity for success.
Our Management Structures and Support Networks ensure our team members grow and learn in a more supportive and natural environment and identify as part of CountHQ, and our client. This means the team is quicker to positively influence workflow and stay engaged and retained for longer.
Firms tell us daily that the traditional recruiter model they have experienced simply does not work long term for them. Guided by this, we strive to improve what we do and how we do it every single day.

The CountHQ Difference

Why our clients prefer CountHQ for their Outsourcing Projects and Offshore Staffing Solutions

We're not just Recruiters

We're interested in onboarding, workflow and processes

Internal Management Structures

Our team are part of internal management structures, and part of an organisational culture

Efficient Onboarding (Speed)

We hire and train ahead of time, and give conclusive commencement dates

Solution Oriented

We're not recruiters. We implement solutions for our clients and share responsibility for the outcomes

Shared Responsibility

We partner with our clients at the process level, and ensure our clients spend less time training, onboarding and managing

Scalability and Succession Planning

We onboard knowledge and processes at the Management level, reducing any hiring and turnover risks while improving scalability

What We Offer

Disciplines we specialise in

Experienced Administration Staff

  • We provide experienced Part-Time and Full-Time team members
  • Product Research & Recommendations
  • Fact Find
  • General Administrative duties

Experienced Paraplanners

  • We provide experienced Part-Time and Full-Time team members
  • SOA preparation
  • ROA preparation
  • Financial Modelling

Self-Managed Superannuation Funds

  • Complete SMSF processing solutions (Daily; Monthly; or Annual Processing)
  • Financial Statement Preparation
  • Tax Return Preparation
  • Compilation of Workpapers

Typical Process

What you can expect initially

01

Introductory Call

  • We'll discuss the kinds of services you may need assistance with
  • We'll discuss the initial requirements and technologies used
  • We'll explore if CountHQ may be a fit with your firm

02

Workflow Call

  • We'll look at the core tasks in more detail, and include a processing team member
  • We'll discuss volumes and expectations

03

Proposal

  • We'll propose a solution, after reviewing our capacity against the core tasks identified during the Introductory and Workflow calls
  • The proposal will include an implementation plan and timeline

04

Rolling Implementation Calls

  • We'll set up recurring calls with relevant Team Leaders to ensure a streamlined, outcome focused onboarding

F.P Support Case Study 1

Melbourne Financial Planning Firm
Melbourne Firm engages 2 FTE’s with CountHQ to support their Paraplanning and Administration functions.

AT A GLANCE

Outcomes

Reduced costs 35% when compared to the hiring cost of one Graduate, and one Intermediate

Successfully commenced onboarding within 2 weeks of contact

Commenced with 1 Admin FTE, and added an Intermediate Paraplanner FTE within 60 days

THE CLIENT

Our client is based in Melbourne, with a team of 6 Advisers and 3 support staff

THE SOLUTION

  • 1 Admin FTE (1 year prior experience), assists with Document Management, Portfolio Reconciliations and Cash Matching, as well as other general admin-related tasks
  • 1 Paraplanner FTE (with 2.5 years prior experience) assists in the preparation of ROA’s and SOA’s
  • Currently the SOA’s are Risk Insurance and Super focused
  • Currently expanding the team to 3.0FTE’s, with a focus to be on adding other streams of SOA’s
  • Weekly feedback and planning calls are attended by the Team Leader and Manager from CountHQ

F.P Support Case Study 2

Brisbane Financial Planning Firm
Brisbane Firm engages 1.5 FTE’s with CountHQ focused on supporting their Senior Paraplanner.

AT A GLANCE

Outcomes

Our client saved $31,000 plus GST p.a by deciding to replace an outgoing Senior Paraplanner with 1.5FTE’s from CountHQ

Service commenced within 2 weeks of contact. Workflow was positively influenced by week 3 of service

Able to engage a PTE team member, as they wanted to avoid understaffing the solution, however didn’t require 2FTE’s

THE CLIENT

Based in Brisbane, our client is a boutique Financial Planning firm

THE SOLUTION

  • Our client needed continuity, and to support recent growth by providing capacity support to their Senior Paraplanner
  • They decided to engage CountHQ rather than replacing their outgoing 2nd Senior Paraplanner
  • The 1.5FTE’s are completing various SOA’s to review stage
  • Daily sprint calls between the Senior Paraplanner and the CountHQ team ensures efficient use of time, and removal of workflow bottlenecks

SYSTEMS

  • AdviserLogic

In Focus: SMSF

Why a growing number of Accounting Firms and Financial Advisers are choosing CountHQ’s SMSF Solutions

Pricing

We’re clearer, fairer and ultimately cheaper than our competition

Trial Jobs

We insist on handling a Trial job or two for our new clients, to give a clear indication of workflow prior to engagement

Better Workpapers

Our hyperlinked workpapers (Financials; Tax Return and Source Docs) reduce review time. We’re also happy to use your existing workpapers if preferred

Quality Assurance and Faster Turn-around Time

We’ve invested heavily in our prepare / review procedures, and guarantee no technical knockbacks, or the fund is free. We also guarantee turn-around times as part of the SLA with our clients

Workflow Flexibility

We offer the option to use a customised workflow portal. But we’re also happy to fit in with your existing workflows (something our clients love, reducing admin double handling)

Pricing:SMSF

Why a growing number of Accounting Firms and Financial Advisers are choosing CountHQ’s SMSF Solutions

Pricing Schedule:

Our levels are primarily based on time-spent.
We offer clients with more than 40 funds a fixed fee per fund after reviewing the funds.
Annual Accounts, Financials & Tax
Simple+
$350
Simple
$395
Moderate
$460
Complex
$595

Optional Extras:

Audit (optional): Delivered by one of our panellists
$375
Actuarial Certificates
$110
ASIC Search
$20
BAS’
$75
Full-Resource Daily Support
POD
Tax Agent Services
POD
Note: Prices are GST Exclusive. We also offer support for Complex+ jobs, these are rare and will be priced on a custom basis with prior agreement from our client

SMSF Case Study 1

Sydney Firm
Sydney based Financial Planning Firm outsources the preparation of their SMSF’s, and management of the audit process for 171 SMSF’s

AT A GLANCE

Outcomes

Reduced costs by 17.5% compared to their last outsourced provider

Average turn-around time of 6 days, an improvement of 40% from their prior provider

Engaged for Accounts; Tax and Audit Management

THE CLIENT

Our client has a team of 7 in Sydney’s CBD

THE SOLUTION

  • 171 SMSF's under management
  • Jobs allocated via our customised workflow portal
  • Weekly workflow and priority planning meeting
  • Audit prepared by a CountHQ Audit Panel member

SYSTEMS

  • Custom workflow portal
  • BGL / SimpleFund 360
  • FYI Docs
  • CountHQ's custom hyperlinked workpapers

SMSF Case Study 2

Brisbane Financial Advisors
Brisbane based Financial Advisers outsource the accounts; administration and tax return preparation of 365 SMSF’s

AT A GLANCE

Outcomes

Our client achieved cost reductions of over 45% when compared to internal production

Due to their reporting offering, our client engages us to complete monthly reconciliations

Consistently adding funds as the Advisory Practice grows

THE CLIENT

Our client is a member firm of a National Group, with operations across the country

THE SOLUTION

  • 365 SMSF's under management
  • Jobs uploaded in our custom portal, with a link to source documentation
  • Month-end reconciliations and report preparation for all clients
  • We assist in sending finalised jobs to their engaged auditor

SYSTEMS

  • Custom Portal
  • Class Super
  • CountHQ's custom hyperlinked workpapers (annually prepared)