About Cleary Bentley
Founded by Director Dr Jo Cleary in 2003, Cleary Bentley exists to support advisors serving clients who have complicated business structures or SMSF investment structures. These clients may be facing a complex audit or dispute with a federal agency or may require assistance with a structure/restructure.
As a specialist tax advisory firm, Cleary Bentley provides professional advisers specialist advice on taxation strategies, issues, and disputes. At its core, Dr Cleary envisions fostering goodwill and a deep belief in the principle of the law. This empowers clients to make informed decisions through knowledge and understanding of the intention and purpose of Australian tax legislation.
About Dr Jo Cleary (MBL, PhD, CTA)
Dr Jo Cleary is the sole director and specialist tax advisor at Cleary Bentley. Whilst Dr Cleary has built a reputation as an authority in taxation law in Australia, her deep desire to serve her clients by supporting them to do the right thing by the law allows for Dr Cleary’s practical, down-to-earth, and caring nature to shine through. Both accountants and their clients feel at ease working with Dr Cleary, making the process of navigating complex tax issues and managing complex structure/restructures as simple and stress-free as possible.
Dr Cleary achieved degrees from Bond University’s Faculty of Law, including a Masters of Business Law in taxation (based on the analysis of the application of Federal and State taxes in the life cycle of business, restructuring and exit strategies) and a PhD (with a thesis on the law governing superannuation funds). Dr Cleary has a profound understanding of the way tax law has evolved and the intent behind the tax legislation.
In her early career, Dr Cleary established and ran a public practice firm before moving into a consultancy role providing specialised taxation advice to construction sector and property development clients. After finishing her Masters degree, Dr Cleary was employed as a Senior Associate and a Taxation and Superannuation Specialist at two law firms and an accountancy firm before establishing Cleary Bentley in 2003.
Dr Cleary’s current services offering include:
- complex and large scale ATO audit management;
- ATO dispute resolutions and negotiating settlements if appropriate;
- assisting trustees of SMSFs with rectification of contravention of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993;
- large scale trading structure establishment and restructure advice;
- advice on the Australian tax consequences for inbound and departing entities.