Liz Jackman Consultancy Group

18/03/2026

17/03/2026

📉 Interest Rates Are Rising… But There’s More Going On Behind the Scenes
With the latest rate increase from the Reserve Bank of Australia, many business owners are already feeling the pressure…
But this isn’t just about interest rates anymore.
There’s a bigger picture unfolding globally that is now flowing directly into Australian businesses.
🌍 What’s Driving This?
Right now we’re seeing:
Rising fuel prices due to global instability
Ongoing conflict in the Middle East (including Iran)
Supply pressures pushing up costs
Oil prices have surged above $100 per barrel in recent weeks, which is already flowing through to petrol, transport, and everyday goods. �
theaustralian.com.au
This is one of the key drivers pushing inflation higher again.
Treasury has warned that sustained high oil prices could add up to 1% extra to inflation in Australia alone. �
ABC News
💸 What This Means for Business
This combination creates a perfect storm:
➡️ Higher interest rates
➡️ Higher operating costs
➡️ Reduced consumer spending
Across my clients, I’m already seeing:
🛠️ Tradies:
Work slowing or being delayed
Clients more price-sensitive
Margins tightening
Fuel + materials increasing costs
🛍️ Retail:
Reduced foot traffic
Smaller purchases
More discounting needed
Cash tied up in stock
🚨 The Biggest Issue: CASH FLOW
This is where it’s really hitting:
Clients taking longer to pay
BAS becoming harder to meet
Super starting to fall behind
⚠️ Why This Matters (Recession Risk)
When you combine:
Rising costs
Falling spending
Ongoing rate increases
You start moving toward what economists call a slowdown or potential recession environment.
There are even growing concerns globally about “stagflation” — where:
Prices keep rising
But economic growth slows �
The Guardian
💡 My Advice to Business Owners
Now is NOT the time to take a “wait and see” approach.
✔ Know your cash position
✔ Stay on top of ATO obligations
✔ Review pricing and margins
✔ Act early — not when you're under pressure
📣 Final Thought
This isn’t just a rate rise cycle…
👉 It’s a combination of global pressure, rising costs, and tightening cash flow.
The businesses that stay proactive now will be the ones that come out stronger on the other side.
If you’re starting to feel the squeeze or want clarity around your numbers, reach out — happy to help.
— Liz Jackman
BAS Agent | Payroll | Small Business Support
👉 Good bookkeeping isn’t just about compliance anymore — it’s about helping you navigate what’s coming.

11/03/2026

Over the past couple of days I’ve had some interesting conversations with business owners about how procedures and operational knowledge are organised within their organisations.
A very common comment was:
“We know how things are done… but it’s mostly in people’s heads.”
That works while the same people are always there, but it can quickly become challenging when new staff join, when experienced staff are unavailable, or when someone leaves the organisation.
As a business owner myself — and working professionally as a BAS Agent and payroll professional — I see firsthand how many businesses operate with processes that are understood but not clearly documented.
As an NDIS provider as well, I also understand how important clear procedures and operational documentation are in organisations that must meet compliance requirements.
With AI tools now starting to appear in many workplaces, having organised procedures and operational knowledge is becoming even more important, because AI can only provide reliable answers when the information behind it is structured properly.

Through Liz Jackman Consultancy Group I’m currently speaking with a few businesses and organisations about helping them organise their procedures and internal knowledge so staff — and modern AI tools — can quickly access reliable information.

If you’ve ever thought
"we really should organise how things are done around here"
feel free to send me a message and we can have a quick chat.

11/03/2026

Business owners & NDIS providers – a quick question.
If a new staff member started tomorrow, would they easily find clear instructions for how your organisation operates?
Things like:
• client or participant onboarding
• incident or issue reporting
• service delivery procedures
• admin workflows
• internal processes
In many businesses and organisations, this knowledge is spread across emails, folders, documents, or simply known by a few experienced staff members.
It works… until someone is away, someone new joins the team, or a key person leaves.
As both a business owner and an NDIS provider myself, I understand how complex operational processes can become.
With AI tools now starting to appear in many workplaces, having clear and organised procedures is becoming even more important — because AI can only provide useful answers when a business’s knowledge and documentation are structured properly.

Through Liz Jackman Consultancy Group, I’m starting to help businesses and organisations organise their procedures and operational knowledge so staff — and modern AI tools — can quickly access reliable information.

If you’ve ever thought:
"We really should document how things are done around here."
feel free to send me a message and we can have a quick chat.

18/11/2025

If your ute looks like this meme… it might be time for a bookkeeping tune-up. 😅

Tradies are absolute legends on the tools — but when it comes to receipts, invoices, BAS and super… let’s just say the glovebox isn’t always the best filing system.

A few quick tips to save you stress (and money!) this quarter:

🔧 1. Take photos of receipts as you go
Fuel, supplies, parts — snap it and upload to Xero/QuickBooks. Faded receipts = disallowed deductions.

🔧 2. Keep work and personal spending separate
Even if you’re a sole trader, having a business account makes BAS so much cleaner.

🔧 3. Track your kilometres properly
The ATO doesn’t accept “I reckon I drove about this much.” Use an app or jot it in a logbook.

🔧 4. Pay your super on time
On-time payments = deductions. Late payments = no deduction + penalties. Easy win.

🔧 5. Ask for help early, not at tax-time panic hour
A quick check-in during the quarter can save hours of sorting later.

If you want help getting sorted, cleaning up your books, or setting up better systems so BAS isn’t a nightmare every three months, I’ve got your back.

Liz Jackman Consultancy Group
Clear advice. Simple systems. Less paperwork stress — so you can get back on the tools. 🛠️

05/10/2025

😉😂

21/08/2025

🚨 Important Update for Small Business Clients 🚨 The ATO has announced that the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (SBSCH) will be closing to new users from 1 October 2025, and fully shutting down by 1 July 2026 as part of the Payday Super reform.

If you're currently using SBSCH, now is the time to start planning your transition. Many payroll and accounting platforms already offer integrated super clearing options.

✅ Need help reviewing your payroll software? ✅ Unsure which clearing house suits your workflow? ✅ Want a step-by-step transition plan?

📩 Reach out to Liz Jackman Consultancy Group for tailored advice and support to make sure your super obligations stay compliant and stress-free.

🔗 For more info, visit the ATO’s official update.

28/06/2025

🧾 Tax Time Tips for Small Business – Plus Tools Everyone Can Use 💼📱
By Liz Jackman Consultancy Group

As a Registered BAS Agent, I specialise in supporting small businesses with bookkeeping, BAS, payroll, and EOFY compliance. While I don’t lodge personal tax returns, I’m often asked for tips to stay organised—so here’s a quick roundup of trusted apps that can help make tax time easier for everyone:

📌 For Small Business Owners & Sole Traders:
✅ Xero – Manage your books, expenses & BAS in one place
✅ TaxTank – Ideal for sole traders or investors tracking real-time tax positions
✅ ATO App (myDeductions) – Log work-related expenses and share with your tax agent
✅ Etax – Online tax return tool with accountant support

📌 For Individuals Looking to Get Organised:
✅ TaxFox – Suggests deductions based on your job type
✅ Pocketbook – A handy free budgeting and expense tracking app
✅ Tax App Australia – Lodge your return with help from registered tax professionals

💡 My tip: Keep your receipts, vehicle logs, and business expenses up to date throughout the year—it’s the easiest way to reduce stress at EOFY!

🎯 If you're a small business owner and need help with your books, BAS, or payroll—I’m here to help.

📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.jackmanconsultancy.com.au

14/06/2025

📢 Attention Aussie remote workers! The ATO has updated its guidelines for claiming working-from-home (WFH) expenses in the 2024–25 financial year. Ensure you're maximizing your deductions by understanding the available methods and requirements.

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🏠 Eligibility Criteria

To claim WFH expenses, you must:

Be working from home to fulfill your employment duties (not just minimal tasks like checking emails).

Incur additional running expenses as a result of working from home.

Maintain records that show you incur these expenses.

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📊 Methods to Calculate Your Deduction

1. Fixed Rate Method – 70 cents per hour

Covers expenses such as electricity, gas, internet, mobile and home phone usage, stationery, and computer consumables.

Does not require a dedicated home office.

You can separately claim depreciation for assets like computers and office furniture.

Record Keeping: Keep a record of all the hours you work from home and at least one record for each of the expenses covered by the fixed rate.

2. Actual Cost Method

Claim the actual expenses you incur as a result of working from home.

Requires detailed records of all expenses, including receipts and a record of hours worked.

You must apportion expenses between work and private use.

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❌ Expenses You Cannot Claim

Coffee, tea, milk, and other general household items.

Costs related to your children's education, such as iPads and desks.

Items provided by your employer, like a laptop or mobile phone.

Expenses reimbursed by your employer.

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🧾 Tips for a Smooth Tax Time

Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records of your working hours and expenses.

Use the ATO's Home office expenses calculator to assist in calculating your deductions.

Avoid "double-dipping" by not claiming additional expenses already covered under the fixed rate method.

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For more detailed information, visit the ATO's official page on Working from home expenses.

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Note: This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. For personalised guidance, consult a registered tax professional.

12/06/2025

🚨💰 FINAL SUPER RATE INCREASE IS HERE! 💰🚨
From 1 July 2025 → 12% Super Guarantee (SG) rate applies!

🔹 More $$ going into your super
🔹 Final step in the scheduled SG increases
🔹 Employers — is your payroll ready?

👉 Don’t get caught out — now’s the time to check your systems and stay compliant.

Need help? I’ve got you covered.

📞 Contact Liz Jackman Consultancy Group today!

11/06/2025

📢 **Tax Time Made Easy with ATO Toolkits!** 📢

Tax time doesn’t have to be stressful! The **ATO Tax Time Toolkits** provide **industry-specific** guidance to help you understand deductions, reporting requirements, and common mistakes to avoid.

🔹 **For Individuals** – Find resources on work-related expenses, residency, foreign income, and investment properties.
🔹 **For Small Businesses** – Get fact sheets on home-based business expenses, motor vehicle costs, travel deductions, and more.
🔹 **For Investors** – Learn about tax implications for rental properties, shares, crypto assets, and capital gains tax.

💡 **Pro Tip:** Stay informed and maximize your return by checking out the full toolkit [here](https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-and-super-professionals/for-tax-professionals/prepare-and-lodge/tax-time/tax-time-toolkits)!

Use our toolkits as an educational resource to guide conversations with your individual and small business clients.