About Xcel Advisory
Your partner in business excellence
Xcel Advisory is a Chartered Accounting firm based in Greenslopes, supporting business owners across Brisbane and South East Queensland. We bring bookkeeping, tax and compliance, and business advisory together in one team, for one fixed monthly fee agreed upfront.
Why we started
Growing businesses deserve a finance team that sees the whole picture.
Too often, business owners manage their finances in pieces. The bookkeeper looks after the day-to-day, the accountant prepares the tax return once the year is over, and advice, if it comes at all, arrives separately and too late to act on. Each provider sees only part of the business, and the owner is left to connect the dots.
We built Xcel Advisory to change that. By bringing bookkeeping, tax and compliance, and business advisory together in one team, we give every client a consolidated, holistic view of their finances. The same people who keep your books current also plan your tax and advise on your growth, so every decision is informed by accurate, up-to-date numbers and a full understanding of your business.
Large organisations have this as standard. They employ a bookkeeper, an in-house accountant and a CFO, backed by a wage budget most small and medium businesses simply can’t justify. Our vision is to make that same level of support accessible to growing businesses: monthly reporting, forward planning and strategic insight, delivered by a senior team that knows your business inside and out, for a single fixed fee and a fraction of the cost of building it in-house.
What that experience changes
James Ginty
Director
James has spent almost 20 years working on both sides of the accounting relationship. After beginning his career in public practice on the Gold Coast and progressing through a mid-tier Brisbane firm, he moved into industry as a Financial Controller, leading finance teams across the United Kingdom and the United States.
That time inside businesses shaped how he works today. It showed him that good decisions depend on current, accurate numbers, and that most small business owners rarely have them when they need them most.
Returning to the tax space, James obtained his tax agent licence and qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser,. In 2023, he founded Xcel Advisory to give growing businesses the same calibre of financial insight and support as larger organisations, with reporting that stays current and advice that arrives while there’s still time to act.
Grant Howard
Accountant and Business Advisor
Grant brings more than 20 years of experience in accounting, tax and business advisory, working almost exclusively with SMEs and family businesses. His clients span real estate, technology, logistics, building and construction, professional services and the trades.
His focus goes well beyond compliance. Grant works with business owners to identify where profit is being lost, where margins can be improved and where cash is tied up unnecessarily, then puts practical strategies in place to address it. He also advises clients on due diligence when buying or selling a business.
Grant is known for his fresh approach to problem-solving and his ability to explain complex accounting, tax and structuring matters in plain English, so clients understand their position and feel confident acting on it.
What we believe
What we believe
Trust
We tell you how things really are, whether the news is good or bad. If your numbers start moving in the wrong direction, you’ll hear it from us straight away, along with clear options on what to do next.
Integrity
We do what we say we’ll do, and we hold ourselves to the professional standards that come with being Chartered Accountants and a Registered Tax Agent. Our advice is always in your best interest, even when that means recommending less, and we’ll never put you in a position that risks your compliance or reputation.
Mutual success
We are measured on whether your business is better run a year from now. That is why we meet monthly, why calls are not billed, and why we will tell you when you do not need the service you are asking about.
The rhythm
How we work with you
Each of our services can be engaged on its own, so you can start with what your business needs today. They are designed to complement each other, though, and clients who take up all three get the full benefit: one team, one set of numbers and one complete view of their business.
Bookkeeping
Every Month
Your accounts are reconciled, payroll is processed, and your lodgement and payment calendar is managed for you. You receive a one-page snapshot of your cash position, profit, debtors and what’s due next, and we meet with you monthly to keep everything on track.
Tax and Compliance
Throughout the year
Your tax, ASIC and regulatory obligations are managed and lodged on time. Between March and May, we review your position and plan ahead, so decisions that affect your tax result are made before 30 June, not after.
Business Advisory
Every month and every quarter
We meet to review your results and discuss what’s ahead. We step back and look forward: your rolling cash flow forecast, progress against budget, your tax position for the year and the key decisions in front of you, modelled before you commit to any of them.
Better together
When your bookkeeping, tax and advisory sit with one team, your advice is built on current numbers, your tax is planned with the full picture in view, and nothing is lost between providers. That’s why we recommend all three for businesses serious about growth.
Whichever services you choose, your fee is fixed and you can call us between meetings at no extra cost.
Credentials
Credentials and memberships
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
You get the same answer whether the news is good or not. If a number moves the wrong way, you hear it from us in the month it happens, with the options laid out.
Registered Tax Agent 26230491
Registration with the Tax Practitioners Board is what allows us to lodge on your behalf and deal with the ATO for you. It carries a code of conduct and mandatory professional indemnity cover.
Xero Platinum Partner
One of Xero’s highest partner tiers, reviewed regularly and earned through volume. Your file is handled by a team that works in Xero every day, with direct partner support when you need it.
Social proof
What our clients say
Common questions
Questions people ask before they switch
How much work is it to change accountants?
Very little on your part. We contact your current accountant, request your records, update your ATO agent details and reconcile everything before we take over. All you need to do is sign one form and have one conversation with us.
What’s the difference between a Chartered Accountant and an accountant?
Anyone can call themselves an accountant. Chartered Accountant is a protected designation that requires a postgraduate qualification, three years of mentored experience, ongoing professional development and adherence to the CA ANZ code of ethics. Our credentials can be verified through the CA ANZ member directory and the Tax Practitioners Board register.
Do I need to take up all three services?
No. Each service can be engaged on its own, so you can start with what you need today. That said, bookkeeping, tax and advisory work best together, and most clients add services as their business grows.
What if my books aren’t in Xero?
We can help you move across to Xero and make sure your file is set up properly from day one.
Can I change accountants partway through the financial year?
Yes. There’s no need to wait until 30 June. We pick up from your last reconciled position, confirm what has been lodged and what’s outstanding, and carry the year forward from there. Mid-year changes are routine.
What should I ask an accountant before switching?
Ask what the fee covers and whether it’s fixed. Ask who will do the work and how experienced they are. Ask how often you’ll meet, whether phone calls are billed and what you’ll receive each month. Then ask for it all in writing.
What size businesses do you work with?
We work with businesses of all sizes, from early-stage operators to established SMEs with large teams. What our clients have in common is ambition. They want to grow and they want a finance partner who can support them along the way, from getting the basics right through to strategic planning.
Can you work with my existing bookkeeper?
Yes. If you have a bookkeeper you’re happy with, we can work alongside them and focus on tax, compliance and advisory.
How quickly can we get started?
Usually within a couple of weeks of agreeing your fee, depending on how quickly your previous accountant releases your records.
Do I need to be based in Brisbane?
No. We’re based in Brisbane and work with clients Australia-wide.
Let’s talk about what’s next for your business
Book a free 15-minute call with a Chartered Accountant. Whether you’re weighing up a big decision or just want a second opinion on your current setup, you’ll get straight, practical advice with no cost and no obligation.
138 Juliette Street, Greenslopes QLD 4120 · Open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday