Certus Group

What Certus Group does

Certus Group (legal entity: Certus Business Solutions Pty Ltd) is a privately held accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Morayfield, Queensland, Australia, founded in 2002 and led by David Thomson. The firm operates with a team of seven professionals providing cloud accounting, financial reporting, cash flow forecasting, risk and compliance, and CRM systems advisory, with registered Tax Agent status enabling recurring compliance work alongside project-based advisory engagements. Its core product surface centers on Xero cloud accounting implementations (with 30+ completed conversions), supported by Karbon HQ as a client portal and workflow backbone, integration with business apps such as Entryless for OCR invoice capture, and an online appointment booking system for low-friction client onboarding.

The firm's go-to-market combines a sales-led motion with a community-led content engine, most visibly the Bright Sparks Podcast and a three-phase growth program targeted at electrical and HVAC trade businesses, which functions as both a vertical authority asset and an inbound demand channel. The customer base is SMB-focused with a deliberate tilt toward the Australian trades sector and a claimed international client footprint, served via recurring advisory retainers and discrete conversion projects.

Revenue mechanics are typical of a professional services micro-firm: partner-led advisory fees, recurring compliance retainers (tax), and project-based cloud migration engagements. There is no external funding, no M&A activity, and no public financial disclosure; growth has been funded organically over more than two decades, with the firm's recent moves focused on operational tooling, content-led marketing, and vertical deepening rather than headcount or geographic expansion at scale.

Name

Certus Group

Legal name

Certus Group Accountants

Website

https://certusgroup.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Certus Group is a Queensland-based accounting and advisory firm serving Australian SMBs, with a vertical focus on electrical and HVAC trade businesses, delivering Xero cloud accounting, compliance, and advisory services via a seven-person team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accounting and Business Advisory Services

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211), Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (54121), Other Accounting Services (541219), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

General Ledger & Close (Journal Entries, Month-End Close, Reconciliations) (BPAAAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Tax Operations Support (Indirect Tax, Withholding, Compliance Admin) (BPAAAGAI)

Keywords

• Cloud accounting services
• Tax accounting services
• Cash flow management
• Business growth advisory
• Self-managed super funds

Headquarters

HQ city

Morayfield

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Accounting and Tax Services: Professional accounting services including bookkeeping, tax return preparation, tax planning and advisory, delivered through ongoing client relationships.
2. Business Advisory Services: Advisory services including cash flow management, growth strategy, business structuring, succession planning, and business sales/acquisitions.
3. Appointment-Based Consulting: Billable appointments for tax and accounting consultations offered through online booking system with David or Priscilla.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Certus Group is a professional services firm that provides accounting and tax services, including bookkeeping, tax return preparation, tax planning, and advisory, through ongoing client relationships. It also provides business advisory services covering cash-flow management, growth strategy, business structuring, succession planning, and business sales and acquisitions.

Product overview

Certus Group is an accounting and business advisory firm offering a comprehensive suite of financial and consulting services for small to medium businesses. The firm operates as a services-based practice rather than a software vendor, delivering their offerings through a combination of in-person consultations, a cloud-based client portal (Karbon), and Xero cloud accounting platform. Core services include cash flow management, growth strategy, cloud accounting implementation (Xero), tax strategies, business structuring, and self-managed superannuation. The firm also provides specialized programs for electrical and HVAC industries, plus advisory services for business sales, succession planning, and cloud application selection. All services are delivered by a team of seven professionals with 65 years combined experience based in Morayfield, Queensland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cash Flow Management Advisory service for businesses that builds cash-flow forecasts and scenario models to predict cash behavior under good, average, poor, and catastrophic conditions. It uses Xero's built-in forecasting tools to create self-updating systems.
• Growth Strategy Business growth advisory that sets financial targets, analyzes profitability, and develops a one-page strategic business plan to support growth from 5% to 50% or more annually.
• Cloud Accounting (Xero Implementation) Cloud accounting implementation and optimization service using Xero, including conversion from desktop systems such as MYOB and QuickBooks, system setup, staff training, and ongoing bookkeeping support. Certus Group is an accredited Xero partner with certified professionals.
• Tax Strategies and Accounting Tax and accounting advisory that helps clients structure efficient accounting systems and plan and execute legally compliant tax strategies.
• Business Structuring Business structure analysis and restructuring advisory for companies, trusts, superannuation funds, partnerships, and joint ventures, addressing tax optimization, asset protection, estate planning, and legislative compliance.
• Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) Self-managed superannuation fund establishment, administration, and advisory service covering fund setup, rollover from existing superannuation, investment advice for assets such as direct property, shares, and commodities, tax strategy, year-end accounts, and audit arrangements.
• Business Sales Advisory Business buying and selling advisory covering valuation, contract management, due diligence, financing, entity structuring, and presentation optimization for sellers seeking the best prices.
• Succession Planning Business succession planning service that facilitates generational handovers, mediates between parties, addresses important considerations, and develops solutions for stakeholders' needs.
• Cloud Apps Consulting Cloud business-application selection and implementation consulting that recommends and installs specialized applications including WorkflowMax, Entryless, and Xero-integrated applications for workflow, CRM, inventory, and point of sale.
• Three-Phase Growth Program (Electrical/HVAC) Specialized business growth program tailored to electrical and HVAC contracting businesses, with a three-phase approach addressing operational scaling, systems implementation, and sustained growth management.
• Tax Agent Services Annual tax agent service for clients' tax and accounting needs, with specific pricing not publicly listed.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully converted more than 30 businesses to Xero cloud accounting

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• XerocoreTechnology or IntegrationCertus Group is an accredited Xero partner with all staff certified as Xero professionals. They have successfully converted more than 30 businesses to Xero and use Xero for their own internal accounting.
• Karbon HQcoreTechnology or IntegrationKarbon HQ is the client portal platform used by Certus Group for client login and document management.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pilot.com: US-based bookkeeping and accounting service for SMBs and startups using cloud platforms. Directly comparable as an outsourced cloud-accounting practice serving small business clients, though at significantly greater scale.
• Bench.co: SMB-focused online bookkeeping and accounting service combining dedicated bookkeepers with software. Comparable business model of recurring monthly bookkeeping plus tax support for small businesses, delivered via cloud tools.
• HVAC Accountants (hvacaccountants.com.au): Australian accounting specialist for HVAC and electrical trades businesses. Directly comparable vertical specialist in the same niche where Certus Group focuses its trades program.

Emerging players

• Botkeeper: AI-assisted bookkeeping service for SMBs combining automated data capture with human accountants. Comparable in combining cloud accounting with outsourced professional service delivery for small businesses.
• 1-800Accountant: US SMB-focused virtual accounting and tax advisory firm. Comparable as a tech-enabled advisory practice for small business owners, though operating at larger scale and across a broader SMB segment.

Broad incumbents

• RSM Australia: Mid-tier Australian accounting and advisory network serving SMB and mid-market clients. Comparable as a full-service accounting/advisory firm in Australia, but with substantially broader scale, geographic reach, and service breadth.
• BDO Australia: Top-tier Australian accounting, tax, and advisory firm. Comparable in offering accounting, tax structuring, and advisory to businesses, but serving a much broader client base and offering far deeper specialist resources.
• Pitcher Partners: Australian mid-tier accounting and advisory firm with strong SMB and SME practice. Comparable in providing accounting, tax, structuring, and business advisory, but at significantly greater scale and geographic coverage.

Others

• Xero: Cloud accounting platform and core technology partner. Not a direct competitor but an ecosystem enabler — Certus Group is an accredited Xero partner and its service delivery is built around Xero's platform.
• Karbon HQ: Workflow and practice management platform for accounting firms. Functions as a technology partner (client portal and workflow backbone) for the firm rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CertusGroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/certusgroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Certus Group