Australian Cattle Enterprises thrives with the support of PKF’s business advisers

Australian Cattle Enterprises thrives with the support of PKF’s business advisers

Moving thousands of cattle across Australia and into international markets is no
simple task.

For Australian Cattle Enterprises (ACE), every day involves coordinating livestock
across vast distances, managing relationships with producers and customers,
navigating strict regulatory requirements, and ensuring the welfare of cattle from
paddock to processing.

It's an operation that spans the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland, with livestock travelling more than 1,500 kilometres before being exported to markets throughout Southeast Asia.

Behind the scenes, however, there's another challenge just as important as the logistics.

Operating in one of the world's most heavily regulated industries means financial reporting, governance and compliance must be right every time. Banks, insurers, regulators and stakeholders all rely on accurate, timely information, making trust one of the business's most valuable assets.

When Australian Cattle Enterprises was established as an independent business, it meant building those financial foundations from scratch. Having previously operated with the support of a listed company's corporate finance function, the team suddenly found themselves responsible for everything from BAS lodgements to financial statements, foreign exchange transactions and livestock accounting.

"The support from PKF Merit has genuinely been vital to our business," says Chief Financial Officer, Louis Le Roux. "When we started out on our own, we suddenly had to do everything ourselves - from lodging activity statements to producing financial reports and reporting to the bank each month. Having PKF Merit alongside us through that journey has given us the confidence to focus on growing the business." 

For Louis, engaging with an adviser who is an extension of the business is essential. "We are a small team, and I don't have other technical financial expertise within the business that I can rely on. I lean on the PKF Merit team. Whether it's weekly or daily enquiries, they've always been there to provide the support we need."

While having advisers who understand the local operating environment is invaluable, the business also needs access to specialists with expertise that extends far beyond Darwin.

For Managing Director Patrick, that combination of local relationships and national capability has been invaluable. "It's absolutely critical to work with someone who understands your local environment because they're on the ground here. But our challenges aren't merely local - we operate across Australia and internationally. We need people we trust who can also connect us with expertise wherever it's needed."

For a business built on reputation, confidence in its financial reporting is critical. From maintaining the trust of banking partners and insurers to meeting regulatory obligations and supporting long-term growth, having reliable advisers has become an integral part of the business.

PKF continues to provide confidence that financial information is accurate. Confidence that complex challenges can be solved. And confidence that, no matter how the business continues to grow, trusted advisers are there to support every step of the journey.