Moore Stephens Canberra, previously known as Ascent, joined the Moore Stephens network in March 2010.

The firm has 25 professional staff, including five partners, and has operated in the Canberra market since 1992. Moore Stephens Canberra offers external audit, internal audit, risk management and financial consulting services and has developed a reputation as a provider of high quality audit and governance services, with extensive contacts within Australian Government agencies.

Moore Stephens Canberra provides external audit services to Australian Government, not for profit associations and companies and has one of the largest external audit practices in Canberra. The firm has developed an especially strong relationship with the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO). Agencies that the firm audits on behalf of the ANAO include:
  • Austrade
  • Australian Electoral Commission
  • Australian Federal Police
  • Australian Government Solicitor
  • Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  • Australian War Memorial
  • Indigenous Business Australia
  • National Archives of Australia
  • National Capital Authority
  • National Library of Australia
  • National Museum of Australia.
Among a client list of more than 100 associations and companies, other external audit clients include IDP Education Pty Ltd, the YMCA and YWCA, St Andrews Retirement Village, Co-operative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity Ltd, Lifeline Australia and National Disability Services Ltd.

Over the past four years the firm has established and developed expertise in internal audit in the Australian Government, ACT Government and not for profit association sectors. Considerable investment in the development of a robust methodology and quality assurance regime has assisted Moore Stephens Canberra win a foothold in the Canberra market. Recognising that internal audit is becoming more focused on business improvement and less on compliance, the firm’s service approach assists its internal audit clients achieve their strategic business goals. A high level of partner and senior manager involvement on assignments
ensures that clients receive practical and insightful outcomes.

The firm’s internal audit clients include Engineers Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Professional Services Review, the ACT Department of Education and Training, the ACT Planning and Land Authority, the ACT Cultural Facilities Corporation, ACT Department of Health and the ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services.

Other services provided by Moore Stephens Canberra include:
  • risk management and advisory
  • financial accounting, reporting and budgeting
  • financial viability assessments
  • fraud risk assessments and fraud control plans
  • legislative compliance framework - establishment and reviews
  • strategic asset management
  • business continuity management
  • capital infrastructure investment
  • capital management planning
  • controlling frameworks
  • internal budgeting
  • gateway reviews
  • funding reviews
  • financial management quality assurance
  • audit readiness reviews
  • audit finding remediation.
The firm is currently assisting the ANAO develop the Asset Management Better Practice Guide and has just released a suite of better practice guides that assist Chief Financial Officers address the strategic needs of Chief Executive Officers.


Adrian Kelly, Canberra
akelly@moorestephens.com.au