Help financially distressed clients recover – without losing the relationship
Give your clients access to specialist restructuring support while you remain their trusted accountant.
Halo Advisory works alongside accounting firms as a specialist extension of their practice. We advise and represent the business owner through restructuring and recovery while you continue supporting the client with the accounting, taxation and advisory services they already trust you to provide.
We achieve a 98% success rate.
You retain the relationship. We provide the specialist restructuring capability.
Together, we give the client a clearer path forward.
HOW WE HELP YOU
Give clients an alternative to liquidation
When a client’s financial position deteriorates, there is a risk of losing more than the business.
If liquidation becomes the default pathway, the client relationship—and the ongoing accounting, tax and advisory work attached to it—may disappear with it.
Halo Advisory gives you another option. By referring the client early, you can help them explore viable restructuring and recovery pathways before liquidation becomes inevitable, while remaining their trusted accountant throughout the process.
We help you:
- identify practical alternatives to liquidation for clients in financial distress;
- give viable businesses a greater opportunity to continue trading;
- retain client relationships that may otherwise be lost;
- provide specialist restructuring support without introducing a competing accounting firm;
- reduce the pressure of managing matters outside your core expertise;
- remain informed and involved throughout the engagement; and
- support the client’s return to a more stable, compliant and valuable long-term position.
Halo Advisory helps you offer clients a way forward—while protecting the relationship your firm has worked hard to build.
Halo Advisory complements your service.
We do not replace it.
AS SEEN IN
A TAILORED APPROACH
A director-focused alternative for clients in financial distress
During a formal insolvency appointment, a practitioner must act independently and fulfil obligations to creditors and other stakeholders.
That does not mean the director should navigate the process without their own specialist adviser.
Halo Advisory represents the director’s interests before and throughout the process. We help the client understand their obligations, assess the commercial implications of each option and work towards an outcome that protects viable business operations wherever possible.
Depending on the client’s circumstances, this may include:
Small Business Restructuring
In successful matters, creditors may agree to accept a portion of the amount owed, providing the business with an opportunity to address legacy debt and rebuild on a more sustainable footing.
Voluntary Administration
Director-focused wind-down planning
Informal restructuring and recovery
One client.
Three clearly defined roles.
Halo Advisory works with the practitioner on behalf of the director, helping the client understand the process, meet their obligations and make informed decisions.
The practitioner administers the formal process. Halo Advisory stands beside the director. You remain the client’s accountant.Â
ONE
Your Accounting Firm
Remains the trusted adviser
You continue providing the accounting, taxation, compliance and broader advisory services your client relies on.
Your relationship is protected, and you remain involved in discussions where your knowledge of the business can support the outcome.
TWO
Halo Advisory
Advises and represents the director
We assess the business’s position, explain the available pathways and guide the director through the restructuring, recovery or wind-down process.
We coordinate the strategy, documentation, stakeholder communication and commercial decision-making required to protect the director’s position and pursue the most practical outcome available.
THREE
The appointed practitioner
Performs the independent statutory role
Where a formal process is required, the registered Small Business Restructuring Practitioner or Liquidator carries out their duties independently and in accordance with their statutory obligations.
Working together
Unrepresented
If your client does not engage a representative, they will be required to personally fulfil all Director obligations and liaise directly with the SBR Practitioner or Liquidator throughout the process.
Represented
If your client appoints Halo Advisory as their representative, we’ll manage all aspects of the SBR process in collaboration with the SBR Practitioner — allowing your client to focus on running the business day to day.
What happens when you refer a client?
A structured, collaborative process from first conversation to recovery
Make the introduction
Introduce your client to Halo Advisory or contact us first for a confidential discussion about the situation.
We will establish whether the matter appears appropriate for our services and explain the next step.
Assess the client’s position
We review the company’s financial position, cash flow, liabilities, operations and immediate risks.
Where appropriate, we work with information already held by your firm, reducing duplication and helping the client move forward more efficiently.
Explain the available pathways
We give the director a clear, practical assessment of the available options.
This may include an informal turnaround, Small Business Restructuring, Voluntary Administration, a compliant wind-down or another recovery strategy suited to the company’s circumstances.
Define everyone's role
Before proceeding, we make the working relationship clear.
You remain responsible for the client’s accounting, taxation and ongoing compliance work. Halo Advisory manages the specialist restructuring and director-advisory component. Any formally appointed practitioner performs their role independently.
Develop and manage the strategy
We prepare a practical plan, coordinate required information and manage communications with relevant creditors, stakeholders and appointed practitioners.
Throughout the engagement, we keep your firm informed so that you can continue supporting the client within your area of expertise.
Support recovery beyond the crisis
Resolving the debt or completing the formal process is not necessarily the end of the engagement.
Where appropriate, Halo Advisory can provide Virtual CFO and corporate advisory support to help the business improve cash flow, financial reporting, profitability and commercial discipline.
The client then continues working with your firm for accounting, taxation and compliance—with a stronger business and a clearer financial structure.
Specialist experience on the director’s side
Greg Bartels
MAcc PGDipMgt MIPA
Director, Halo Advisory
Greg Bartels is the Director of Halo Advisory and the founder of Halo Tax + Accounting. He brings over 25 years of experience of running his own businesses as well as working in senior roles inside large organisations — which gives him a practical, grounded view of what actually helps businesses move forward.
Over the years, Greg has owned and operated businesses across finance, retail and personal services, including finance companies, retail stores, hairdressing salons and even a laundromat.
Alongside this, he’s held executive and product management roles in Australia and overseas, where he saw first-hand the value of strong systems, clear thinking and good people around you.
Tony Woods
Partner, Halo Advisory
A former Deloitte Australia Partner, Tony brings more than two decades of experience advising boards and executive teams across financial services and corporate environments.
His work extends beyond the immediate restructuring process to address the financial and operational issues that may have contributed to the distress.
Tony helps clients:
- identify operational and financial inefficiencies;
- develop practical business-improvement roadmaps;
- strengthen commercial and financial performance;
- manage complex recovery initiatives; and
- explore capital-raising or strategic repositioning opportunities where appropriate.
Together, Greg and Tony provide support across the full recovery journey – from protecting the director’s position during financial distress to rebuilding the business on stronger financial and operational foundations.
Demonstrated client outcomes
SMALL BUSINESS RESTRUCTURE
Engineering company
Total debt:
$834,000
Creditors agreed to accept:
$255,000
Debt compromised:
$579,000
Halo Advisory implemented a Small Business Restructuring proposal that received 100% creditor approval.
The restructure stopped enforcement action, stabilised the business and gave the directors a clear pathway to continue trading and rebuild.
SMALL BUSINESS RESTRUCTURE
Diesel mechanical workshop
Total debt:
$805,000
Creditors agreed to accept:
$240,500
Debt compromised:
$564,500
The Small Business Restructuring proposal received 100% creditor approval.
The successful restructure stopped enforcement action and eliminated approximately $600,000 in Director Penalty Notices, significantly reducing the directors’ personal exposure while allowing the business to continue operating.
CREDITOR’S VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION
Steel fabrication company
Total company debt:
$980,000
Commercial settlement:
$40,000
Historical liabilities resolved:
$940,000
Following a Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation, Halo Advisory negotiated a commercial settlement with the liquidator.
The directors fulfilled their statutory obligations, minimised their personal exposure and were able to move forward without the burden of the company’s historical liabilities.
VOLUNTARY ADMINISTRATION
Fire Protection company
Total liabilities:
$875,000
Creditors agreed to accept:
$118,000
Liabilities compromised:
$757,000
Halo Advisory implemented a Voluntary Administration strategy that resulted in creditors accepting a DOCA proposal of $118,000 against total liabilities of $875,000.
As a condition of the DOCA, approximately $500,000 in director loans were forgiven.
The outcome also addressed $375,000 in tax debt subject to Director Penalty Notices, substantially reducing the directors’ personal exposure while providing a pathway for the business to move forward.
Know when to start the conversation
A referral may be appropriate when a client is:
- carrying significant ATO or unsecured debt;
- falling behind on tax, superannuation or creditor obligations;
- receiving statutory demands or enforcement correspondence;
- experiencing sustained cash-flow pressure;
- concerned about Director Penalty Notices or personal exposure;
- unable to meet debts as they fall due;
considering closing the company; - being advised that liquidation is the only option; or
- operating a fundamentally viable business that is being held back by legacy debt.
The client does not need to have selected a formal restructuring pathway before speaking with Halo Advisory.
The purpose of the initial conversation is to understand the situation and determine which options should be explored.
Refer with confidence
A specialist extension of your practice
When you refer a client to Halo Advisory:
- you remain their accountant and trusted adviser;
- we work directly with the business owner on the restructuring matter;
- responsibilities and professional boundaries are established clearly;
- your firm is kept informed throughout the engagement;
- we do not seek to replace your accounting relationship; and
- the client receives specialist support designed to protect the director, preserve viable business value and pursue the best practical outcome available.
For accounting firms with multiple clients experiencing financial pressure, Halo Advisory can also establish an ongoing referral relationship, giving your team a clear and dependable pathway for escalating matters that require specialist restructuring advice.
Help your client act before their options narrow
Financial distress is easier to address when the warning signs are identified early.
A timely referral may give your client more opportunity to protect viable operations, address legacy debt and avoid an unnecessary liquidation. It can also protect the long-term relationship between the client and your firm.
Have a client who may need specialist support?
Speak with Halo Advisory confidentially about their situation and determine the most appropriate next step.
Our client experiences
I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to Josh & team for their immense hard work in bringing the best results for our SBR.
The entire process from commencing, signing the contract and achieving the positive outcome were smooth and efficient…
I would highly recommend they are professional, reliable and trustworthy.
Having been in the restructuring and insolvency industry for over 12 years, it is very easy for me to say that Halo Advisory are the absolute benchmark when it comes to client representation, professionalism and diligence as company/director advisors and tax agents.
The attention to detail, highly responsive and problem-solving approach from Greg, Tony, Josh and the team is no doubt the reason that all our matters result in the most positive outcome for all parties.
Highly recommended.
Very helpful walking me through the Whole process and reaching a workable solution.
I would highly recommend having a chat with the team to see what they can do.
It was a pleasure working with Halo Advisory. They provide clear guidance and are easy to communicate with.
I would absolutely recommend working with them.
It’s priceless to have a business advisor who genuinely cares about making my business thrive.
Asking the right questions, thinking big and setting it up to scale up.
To top it all off, Greg’s such a lovely, approachable human – not your average business advisor…
I reached out to Greg at Halo Advisory after some unfortunate personal circumstances left me with an ATO debt that was unmanagable.
Greg and his team were excellent and solved problems other accounting and advising firms deemed undoable.
They got my company through the SBR process and now business is thriving.
I’ll be forever grateful to the team at Halo Advisory.
I had suffered a loss in buying and selling a home and Greg took me in hand in order to effectively advise next steps.
I could not have achieved without the excellent, caring help of Greg and his Team. Greg leads Halo Advisory with a true sense of genuineness and expert guidance from a firm knowledge base.
It particularly has been helpful as a female small business owner too.