About Us
The team at AS Advisory is focussed on assisting business owners turn set backs into comebacks. Whether you are facing financial challenges, striving for growth or looking to have something investigated we have the team, resources and expertise to rebuild, strengthen and future proof your business.
Our Why
My father taught me early on the power of compound interest and long-term investment in quality companies. This inspired a willingness to learn about business and what made some businesses successful and others not.
I was also fortunate to have an excellent education as a child through attendance at a quality school that promoted self-development, responsibility and living a well-balanced life.
Through a long and active involvement in scouting, I learnt leadership, teamwork and the power of helping other people and giving back to the community. I highly value these traits to this day.
This background led me to study accounting and to work in business and professional services. Following a long period of working in large accounting firms, I saw an opportunity to start my advisory firm that was focused on client outcomes, helping people achieve their goals and developing young people.
AS Advisory was established in 2014 with a vision of providing quality advisory services at a reasonable price to business owners.
Over the journey, I have learnt that business and life are a series of ups and downs and although you set a path to follow, it is never a straight line. Along the way, problems consistently appear and must be considered and dealt with. At AS Advisory we recognise that sometimes owners do not have the required skills or the resources available to deal with the challenge or problem they face. This is where AS Advisory can assist, we are experts at problem-solving and have a team of experts with years of experience across a range of industries that can be deployed at a moment’s notice.
I am proud of the development of AS Advisory which now has a quality team of people in each of the major centres along the east coast. All with a focus on solving business problems and delivering genuine outcomes for our clients.
Our Vision
“To give business owners their freedom back”
Our Mission
Our Values
- Client and outcome focused in everything we do
- Fee charge is secondary to the outcome
- Innovative in the way we operate and deliver services
- High morals, integrity and a can-do attitude
- We value our people and seek to encourage and develip them at every opportunity
- Supportive (family) office environment – the welfare of staff & contractors are key
- work had but also value downtime and celebrate success
- When things go wrong, we all share in the downside and support each other
- Focus on helping others and contributing to society
Our Approach
AS Advisory was established to provide a fresh approach to Corporate Advisory with the sole focus of providing real time solutions to real time business problems.
Although every engagement is different, the overriding principles that we apply remain the same. With every role you can be assured that your problem will become our focus and we will apply our knowledge, expertise, contacts and imagination to create optimal results for you.
When you engage with AS Advisory you get:
- Professionals who have over 25 years’ experience partnering with business owners and financiers to resolve business problems;
- A dedicated team with the skills and expertise to quickly identify and resolve the issues impacting your business in a timely and cost effective manner;
- People who care about your situation and who will work tirelessly to solve the problem your business faces;
- Expertise at the right price. Our contractor and outcome focussed model ensures that we will deliver outcomes that make a real difference at the right price;
- Integrity and professionalism is at the heart of everything we do. We are members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, CPA Australia and the Australian Reconstruction Insolvency and Turnaround Association
Our Team
AS Advisory is lead by Andrew Schwarz, an experienced and personable business advisor. To create the best outcomes for clients, he brings together a team of experts for each project based on the skills required. This helps to directly match talents to the position and maximise returns to the clients.
AS Advisory has built a reputation for delivering high-quality, trusted advice and outstanding execution for all of its clients. Details of our industry credentials can be found in our Insights tab.
Andrew Schwarz
Director CA, CPA
Andrew is an experienced and personable Business Advisor who specialises in partnering with SMEs to resolve financial issues and maximise their success.
He has over 20 years of experience in accounting and finance, working in public practice providing accounting and financial advice to small and medium-sized business owners and held senior finance roles in large private corporate entities.
This depth and breadth of experience add significant value to his clients in the three focus areas of insolvency, forensic accounting and corporate advisory.
Andrew favours strong relationships with prominent banks and financiers since he regularly assists them in dealing with their distressed assets.
Andrew is an expert witness that many seek on matters such as litigation that has a strong emphasis on family law, insolvency and loss of profit claims.
Ben Conrad
Director CA
Ben has over 20 years of experience in the insolvency industry, including roles in professional practice, the credit management division of a major Australian bank and ASIC.
Ben’s areas of expertise include: dealing with a wide range of stakeholders and industries, having undertaken insolvent trading reviews of a diverse range of companies, managing impaired corporate loans and working at a senior level on various Voluntary Administrations, Deeds of Company Arrangement, Creditors Voluntary Liquidations, Receiverships and Court Appointed Liquidations.
Having worked in banking, as a regulator and in the corporate insolvency practice space, Ben has an extensive insolvency and restructuring skill set. In these roles, he has prepared detailed solvency, finance and regulatory reports for both internal and external stakeholders. He has experience in formal and informal appointments and an in-depth knowledge of the regulatory and banking framework that underpins corporate insolvency in Australia.
Matt Adams
Director
Matt is a highly regarded and experienced finance professional, developed throughout an impressive span of over 25 years in executive-level positions.
During his career, he is highly analytical and deadline-driven, delivering effective outcomes for stakeholders through engagement and providing commercial advice in complex and challenging circumstances.
Matt has vast experience in the corporate finance, restructuring and turnaround sectors whilst acting in executive positions (CEO, CFO and CRO) for unlisted and listed entities.
Matt commenced his career at a mid-tier restructuring firm. He was a partner for many years until his firm was acquired by an NYSE-listed consulting firm where Matt became its Senior Managing Director.
After leaving the professional services sector in 2015, he founded a boutique corporate finance firm, Dynamic Corporate Investments (DCI). As Managing Director, he completed many assignments ranging from formal C-suite roles to non-executive directorships to engagements on behalf of various stakeholders.
Matt currently acts as a director of various ASX and NZX listed entities.
Jon Howarth
Director CA
Ben has over 20 years of experience in the insolvency industry, including roles in professional practice, the credit management division of a major Australian bank and ASIC.
Ben’s areas of expertise include: dealing with a wide range of stakeholders and industries, having undertaken insolvent trading reviews of a diverse range of companies, managing impaired corporate loans and working at a senior level on various Voluntary Administrations, Deeds of Company Arrangement, Creditors Voluntary Liquidations, Receiverships and Court Appointed Liquidations.
Having worked in banking, as a regulator and in the corporate insolvency practice space, Ben has an extensive insolvency and restructuring skill set. In these roles, he has prepared detailed solvency, finance and regulatory reports for both internal and external stakeholders. He has experience in formal and informal appointments and an in-depth knowledge of the regulatory and banking framework that underpins corporate insolvency in Australia.
Community
Why Community is Important
AS Advisory believes strongly in corporate responsibility and giving something back to the community.
We provide support to community partners via:
- Financial donations;
- Pro bono work; and
- Volunteering by our people.
Some of the causes we are passionate about including the following:
- Development and empowerment of youth
- Agriculture and primary production
- Small business
The charities and organisations that we are currently supporting include the following:
Scout Association
Our principal Andrew Schwarz has had a lifelong involvement with Scouting and is currently a member of the Scout Fellowship and actively supports scouting activities and assists with youth activities at the local scout group.
Glen Eira Council
Andrew Schwarz is a business mentor for the Glen Eira council where he assists small business owners on a voluntary basis with business strategy, financial accountability and operational support.