Hampshire Accountants is preparing for a major expansion into Australia, with Bounce Funding founder and CEO Matt Travis expected to play a central role in developing the group’s SME finance and professional services strategy.
The move comes as Australia continues to offer a large and growing market for SMEs, accountants, advisers and finance providers.
Hampshire Accountants already has established operations and commercial relationships across the United Kingdom, UAE and Singapore, and has identified Australia as one of its key international growth markets.
The group plans to build an integrated professional services business offering accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, tax, business advisory, virtual CFO services and access to specialist SME finance.
Matt Travis brings more than a decade of experience in SME finance, lender partnerships, accountant-led distribution and business growth through Bounce Funding.
The initial strategy will focus on Queensland and Victoria, with Brisbane and Melbourne forming the first stage of the expansion before the group develops a broader presence across Sydney and Perth.
A central part of the strategy will be improving the connection between accountants, business advisers, lenders and Australian SMEs.
Travis believes there is a strong opportunity to combine traditional professional services with better access to funding and commercial support.
“Australia has an enormous SME community and that is what makes the market so exciting for us,” said Travis.
“Business owners shouldn’t have to speak to an accountant in one place, a finance broker somewhere else and then another adviser when they want help growing their company.
“We want to bring those relationships much closer together and build an ecosystem where accountants and advisers can help their clients access the funding and commercial support they need.
“We’ve spent years developing that model in the UK and Australia gives us the opportunity to take what has worked, adapt it properly for the Australian market and build something substantial.”
Hampshire Accountants’ investment in Bounce Funding forms an important part of the group’s international strategy.
Bounce Funding has developed an established UK SME finance business built around lender relationships and accountant-led distribution, enabling professional firms to introduce business clients requiring finance.
Revenue generated through Bounce Funding is expected to contribute towards Hampshire Accountants’ wider international investment programme, with Australia planned as one of the principal beneficiaries of that investment.
Travis has also developed existing relationships with lenders and finance providers operating within the Australian market.
Those relationships are expected to allow the group to begin commercial discussions quickly and accelerate the development of suitable lender, broker and referral partnerships as the Australian business expands.
“Coming into Australia with existing relationships is important,” Travis said.
“We aren’t starting with a blank sheet of paper. I already know lenders and people operating within the Australian finance market, and we want to build on those relationships and establish long-term commercial partnerships.
“The aim isn’t simply to enter Australia. We want to become a meaningful part of the SME and professional services market here.”
Hampshire Accountants also intends to build an Australian workforce as the operation grows. The group’s expansion plans include recruitment across accounting and advisory, business development, lender and partner relationships, client support and operational roles.
“If we’re successful, that should translate into Australian jobs,” Travis said.
“We want to recruit locally, work with Australian accountants and advisers, develop relationships with Australian lenders and build a business that contributes to the market rather than simply servicing it from overseas.
“This is a long-term investment for us. We believe Australia can become one of the most important markets within the wider Hampshire Accountants group.”
Hampshire Accountants intends to continue investing in its Australian infrastructure, partnerships and workforce as the operation develops, with further announcements regarding the leadership and rollout of the Australian business expected in due course.