RSM

About RSM

RSM turns 100 years old in 2022 and is a full service international accounting firm with a global network, encompassing more than 820 offices in over 120 countries around the world, with a combined staff in excess of 48,000. With this network, RSM has the ability to service both local clients and those with cross-border issues. In addition to local knowledge provided by our advisers in 32 offices across Australia, we draw on our international reach and scale to ensure clients stay at the forefront of the world’s best practices, technology and innovation within a rapidly changing global economy.

Despite being a global firm with an international network, RSM’s specialisation in the mid-market in Australia means that the approach adopted is one which is focused on client relationships and care to deliver the best outcomes. RSM’s client focused approach has been recognised in a large number of awards over the past 5 years, including:

• 2020 and 2021 Winner of Client Choice Awards for Best Accounting & Consulting Firm (Revenue >$200m)
• 2021 Joint-Winner of Client Choice Awards for Best Professional Services Firm (Revenue >$200m).
• 2019 Winner of Client Choice Awards for Best Accounting Firm (Revenue $50m – $200m).
• 2019 Winner of Xero Awards Enterprise Partner of the Year.

With a focus on Innovation, RSM boasts its own dedicated Pharmaceutical sector Focus Team and a National R&D Tax and Government Incentives team with over 30 staff across Australia. The RSM team have been heavily involved with Innovation and Tax related thought leadership, assisting with policy discussions for the R&D Tax Incentive program for over a decade and most recently being involved in the consultation for the upcoming Patent Box. Holding a true 100% record with R&D Tax claims by virtue of a collaborative approach with Government authorities, the RSM R&D Tax and Government Incentives team focus on delivering optimal outcomes whilst minimising risks associated with traditional approaches to R&D Tax compliance.

Matthew McCarthy

Matt is a R&D Tax Incentive and innovation specialist with a key specialisation in STEM based innovations. Being awarded the top specialist consultant in Australia in the Accountants Daily 30 under 30 awards 2021, Matt’s passion lies in bridging the gap between scientific ideation, research and commercialisation through Government funding and strategy for start-ups, SMEs and multi-national corporations alike.

Leveraging a Bachelor of Medical Science majoring in Neuroscience, a Master of Commerce majoring in Accounting and Finance, and being a qualified Chartered Accountant, Matt develops a deep understanding of client scientific and financial endeavours, allowing the unique formulation of holistic strategies and the optimisation of R&D and innovation funding opportunities.

Matt boasts extensive experience in the delivery of specialist R&D and related innovation tax advice in the Life Sciences sector, ranging from all phases of clinical trial activity, medical device development, pharmaceutical and alternative medicine formulation, to genetic mutation studies to name a few. This includes obtaining successful outcomes for numerous R&D Overseas Advance Finding applications, resulting in extended funding certainty based on collaboration with, and upfront review by, the relevant R&D authorities

Peter Xi

Peter is a Principal in the RSM R&D Tax and Government Incentives team, providing specialist R&D tax and innovation taxes related (e.g. Early Stage Innovation Company Incentives) advice to businesses ranging from start-ups to some of the world’s largest enterprises. Over the past 10 years, Peter has worked across RSM and PwC in both Innovation Taxes related advisory and Private Clients accounting and tax services. Peter is a CA member and holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Professional Accounting, a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Master of Laws at University of Sydney.

Peter is actively involved in the Australian Chinese Business community, have been involved as a Senior Member of the Association of Chinese Accountants Australia (“ACAA”) and the RSM China Practice Group. Through this, Peter has assisted with a large number Mandarin speaking businesses with their R&D tax affairs, including Chinese-inbound pharmaceutical businesses looking to take advantage of the fantastic clinical trial infrastructure in Australia.

Peter has a passion for thought leadership and policy in relation to the Australian R&D Tax Incentive program. In addition to writing thought leadership pieces for RSM, Peter has represented RSM as an expert witness at the 2018 Federal R&D Tax Incentive Senate Inquiry where only 3 firms were invited. Peter often represents RSM in collaborative engagement with the government authorities in relation to Innovation Taxes and promotes the RSM value of collaboration with the administrators of Innovation Support programs to deliver the optimal outcomes for clients.

From an industry experience perspective, Peter’s key areas of specialisation are Engineering, Pharmaceuticals, Technology, Manufacturing and Construction.