McGrathNicol

What McGrathNicol does

McGrathNicol is an independent Australian boutique advisory firm founded in 2004 by 14 former KPMG partners and 140 staff, created in response to US Sarbanes-Oxley requirements separating audit from corporate recovery services. The firm operates through six core service lines — Cyber, Deals (M&A and transaction advisory), Forensic (accounting and investigations), Performance (business performance consulting), Restructuring & Insolvency, and Risk & Compliance — plus six sub-services under Performance including Data Analytics, Finance Transformation, Operational Improvement, Supply Chain Performance, Strategic Business Reviews, and Transformation PMO. Services are delivered by partner-led teams across seven offices in Sydney (headquarters), Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, and Auckland, with the Australian market as primary and New Zealand as a secondary geography.

The firm generates revenue through professional services fees on advisory engagements, structured as project-based or time-and-materials mandates, with no publicly disclosed pricing. The customer base spans large multinationals, government and public sector entities, not-for-profits, and mid-market independent businesses across industries including entertainment, mining, healthcare, retail, and aged care. Notable mandates include the HIH Insurance collapse (Australia's largest corporate collapse), the Centro Properties Group A$4.5bn lender group stabilisation, ABC Learning Centres restructuring, the Banksia Financial Group investor recovery, the Star Entertainment A$540m refinancing, and the Technicolor Creative Studios Australia liquidation.

McGrathNicol operates as a private partnership under multiple legal entities (McGrathNicol Partnership, McGrathNicol Advisory Partnership, McGrathNicol Services Pty Ltd, ACT Super Management Pty Ltd, McGrathNicol Limited NZ), with 55+ partners and 350+ professionals. Distribution is exclusively direct: partner-led enterprise field sales targeting C-suite and board-level stakeholders, supported by thought leadership (273 insight articles), Inside Edge podcast sponsorship with The Australian Financial Review, and the Eight International network membership (joined March 2025). The firm has no products, technology platform, or proprietary software disclosed; technology is positioned as an enabler through the Data Analytics practice rather than a separate revenue line.

Name

McGrathNicol

Legal name

McGrathNicol Partnership ABN 41 945 982 761

Website

https://mcgrathnicol.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

McGrathNicol is an independent Australian boutique advisory firm founded in 2004, offering restructuring, insolvency, forensic, M&A, cyber, performance, and risk advisory services to large corporates, government, not-for-profits, and mid-market clients across Australia and New Zealand, with 55+ partners and 350+ professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting & Advisory Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services (541614), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Restructuring & Turnaround Advisory (BPAHAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

M&A Advisory (Buy-side/Sell-side) (BPAHADAC), Corporate Strategy Advisory (BPAHADAA), Debt & Capital Advisory (Debt Raising, Refinancing, Private Credit) (BPAHAOAD), Corporate Finance Advisory (Strategic Finance, Capital Structure & Recaps) (FSAEAGAE)

Keywords

• Restructuring advisory
• Forensic accounting
• Insolvency services
• Transaction advisory
• Cyber consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Advisory Services: Revenue is generated through professional services fees charged for advisory engagements including restructuring and insolvency, forensic investigations, M&A and deal advisory, cyber security consulting, and performance improvement services. Fees are typically structured as project-based or time-and-materials engagements with partner-led teams.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

McGrathNicol is an independent boutique advisory firm delivering professional services across six core practice areas: Cyber, Deals (M&A and transaction advisory), Forensic (accounting and investigations), Performance (business performance consulting), Restructuring (restructuring and insolvency), and Risk & Compliance. Services are delivered by partner-led teams to corporations, government and public sector organisations, not-for-profits, and mid-market companies navigating complex, high-stakes situations. The firm also operates a Data Analytics practice supporting client engagements.

Product overview

McGrathNicol is a specialist advisory firm offering a unified portfolio of professional services rather than a technology product platform. The core service lines include Cyber, Deals (M&A/Transaction Advisory), Forensic (Accounting & Investigations), Performance (Business Performance Consulting), Restructuring & Insolvency, and Risk & Compliance. Under the Performance practice, the firm offers six specialized sub-services: Data Analytics, Finance Transformation, Operational Improvement, Supply Chain Performance, Strategic Business Reviews, and Transformation PMO. These services are delivered through consulting engagements across all industry sectors and business sizes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cyber Advanced cyber solutions to safeguard business, strengthen resilience, reduce risk, and guide organisations through cyber incidents, recovery, and compliance.
• Deals M&A and transaction advisory services helping clients sell, merge, or acquire businesses to achieve optimal value, manage risk, and support successful integration.
• Forensic Forensic accounting and investigations services applying rigorous analysis and industry best practice to deliver findings that stand up to legal and regulatory scrutiny.
• Performance Business performance consulting delivering tailored solutions, strategic insights, and hands-on support to improve operational and financial performance.
• Restructuring Restructuring and insolvency advisory services helping to restore stability and maximise value when navigating financial and operational challenges.
• Risk & Compliance Risk and compliance consulting helping organisations identify risks and provide practical, evidence-based recommendations to strengthen compliance.
• Data Analytics Data analytics services supporting business growth, efficiency, and innovation through cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights.

Quantifiable outcome

• Technicolor Creative Studios Australia: 100c in the dollar for wages and super, 70.11c for priority retrenchment claims
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eight InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 March 2025McGrathNicol joined Eight International, a global advisory organisation specialising in transactions, restructuring, forensic disputes and litigation, and transformation. This membership enhances McGrathNicol's global services offering and provides international reach through cross-referrals with member firms.
• Grace PapersminorOthersMcGrathNicol partners with Grace Papers to provide extensive return-to-work support for employees taking parental leave, demonstrating commitment to supporting families and diversity.
• YalariminorOthersMcGrathNicol is actively involved in community initiatives including NAIDOC Week activities with Yalari, supporting Indigenous education and community.
• Red DustminorOthersMcGrathNicol has raised $500,000 for Red Dust and participates in their programs supporting Indigenous communities and health initiatives.
• Beyond BlueminorOthersMcGrathNicol supports Beyond Blue's Beyond Bitumen initiative, contributing to mental health awareness and support programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KordaMentha: Australia's leading independent boutique advisory firm specializing in restructuring, forensic, cyber, real estate and transactions. Direct competitor to McGrathNicol with a comparable boutique, partner-led model and overlapping service lines across restructuring, forensic and M&A advisory.

Broad incumbents

• BDO Australia: Mid-tier professional services firm offering restructuring, forensic, deal advisory and risk consulting services. Competes with McGrathNicol primarily in mid-market and SME restructuring and insolvency mandates.
• FTI Consulting: Global advisory firm with deep restructuring, forensic, disputes and cyber practices, including a substantial Australian presence. Overlaps McGrathNicol across restructuring, forensic and M&A advisory but at significantly larger global scale.
• Deloitte Australia: Big 4 firm offering restructuring, forensic, M&A, cyber and consulting services across Australia. Competes with McGrathNicol across virtually all service lines, leveraging global scale and cross-sell with audit and tax practices.
• KPMG Australia: Big 4 firm and McGrathNicol's direct progenitor — 14 KPMG partners and 140 staff formed McGrathNicol in 2004 following Sarbanes-Oxley. KPMG Australia's restructuring, deals and forensic practices compete head-to-head with McGrathNicol.
• Alvarez & Marsal: Global professional services firm with a leading restructuring practice, performance improvement and disputes services. Direct competitor for large Australian and cross-border restructuring mandates that McGrathNicol also targets.
• EY Australia: Big 4 firm providing restructuring, transactions, forensic and risk consulting services. Competes with McGrathNicol for mid-market and large-cap restructuring and performance improvement mandates in Australia and New Zealand.
• PwC Australia: Big 4 firm offering transactions, restructuring, forensic, cyber and consulting services. Active competitor for McGrathNicol's restructuring, deals and government advisory mandates in Australia.
• Grant Thornton Australia: Mid-tier advisory firm with restructuring, forensic and corporate advisory practices. Competes with McGrathNicol for mid-market restructuring and insolvency appointments and advisory mandates across Australia.

Regional players

• HLB Mann Judd: Australian mid-tier accounting and advisory network with restructuring and forensic practices. Competes with McGrathNicol for SME and mid-market insolvency appointments and advisory engagements primarily in regional Australia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mcgrathnicol
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/41028

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McGrathNicol