Business pioneers a new field in farm services

Hamish Heard
A new Geelong business is pioneering the integration of farm management consulting with taxation and financial planning services to help region’s primary producers through challenging times.
PrincipleFocus farm management consultant Jim Cumming said the company was Australia’s first professional services organisation to offer a holistic approach to improving profitability for farmers and agribusiness investors.
“A farm management consultant helps make the farm profitable and once it’s profitable our accounting arm will ensure tax efficiency,” he said.
“Once you’re efficient with regards to tax then our financial planning arm will help you leverage your money.”
The company has been running in Geelong for nearly a year and offers a range of services from succession planning, training and accounting to diversification of income streams through the acquisition of offfarm assets like shares and property.
“It’s difficult to get a decent return from your farm and you want to maximise the benefit from that return,” Mr Cumming said.
The company sprang from the amalgamation of Resource Consulting Services with the accounting capabilities of Andrew Dunbabin and his team of six accountants.
Mr Dunbabin’s son, Sam, completes the package with his experience in managing investment portfolios.
The company’s managing director, Sean Martyn, oversees PrincipleFocus offices in Geelong and several other areas of regional Australia from his Coffs Harbour base.