CountPlus teams up with Melbourne Business School


CountPlus has partnered with Melbourne Business School to help address what it said was one of the biggest challenges for most Australian businesses – talent management.
The partnership built the CountPlus Leadership Development Framework that comprised of programs for new managers and emerging leaders as well senior leaders and a master’s program for future managing principals and senior executives.
In its address to the annual general meeting (AGM), CountPlus’ chief executive and managing director, Matthew Rowe, said the programmes would commence in February, 2022.
The company also announced an adjusted net profit after tax (NPAT) attributable to shareholders for the 12 months to 30 June, 2021, of $5.3 million and, on a reported NPAT basis, earnings per share reduced to 4.43 cents compared to 14.30 cents per share in 2020, the firm said.
In 2020 CountPlus recorded a gain on bargain purchase of Count Financial of $10.95 million.
At the same time, earnings from associate firms under the company’s owner, driver-partner model rose to $2.5 million, representing a 15% increase counting year-on-year.
Count Financial, which said it operated a “clean” model, delivered earnings before tax (EBT) of $0.272 million in the six months ended 30 June, 2021, and following the ending of grandfathered revenue streams on 31 December, 2020.
In the first quarter of 2022 financial year, it delivered EBT of $0.278 million, the company said.
The firm reported it dealt with 2,013 legacy client remediation matters with $5.67 million in client detriment payments made under its $300 million indemnity from the CBA.
Count Financial currently had 244 financial advisers in the network, with 18 new advisers in the process of being onboarded.
As at September, 2021, average funds under administration (FUA) per adviser sat at $47.5 million, compared to $31.8 million a year before.
In November, CountPlus acquired supplier of self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) actuarial certificates Accurium, with revenue reported for FY2021 at $7.1 million and EBITA standing at $2.8 million.
CountPlus also announced to its shareholders at its AGM that Rowe has been reappointment as chief executive and managing director.
Chairman, Ray Kellerman, confirmed that Rowe’s continued tenure beyond his current contract, which was due to expire in February, 2022.
“I am pleased to advise that Matthew will remain in his capacity as the CountPlus Limited CEO and Managing Director. We will disclose details regarding Matthew’s reappointment to the market at the appropriate time,” Kellerman said.
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