Richard Wraith joins Matthews Steer Grants Advisory team
ESSENDON FIELDS – Monday March 28, 2022 – North West Melbourne’s preeminent accounting and advisory firm, Matthews Steer, has appointed Richard Wraith as Senior Principal – Government Grants Advisory.
A research and development funding specialist of more than 13 years standing, Wraith was part of KPMG’s Research & Development team from 2009 to 2016 before establishing RSM Australia’s Melbourne R&D tax incentives practice from scratch in 2016. His work spans a broad range of industries that align with Matthews Steer’s portfolio including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, engineering, agriculture, mining, technology, software, chemicals, health sciences, and electronics.
Matthews Steer founder and managing director, Ken Matthews, said Wraith’s depth of government funding knowledge, combined with his frontline industry experience as COO/CFO of an Australian software start-up, perfectly position him to help Matthews Steer clients navigate the complex government grant application ecosystem.
“Matthews Steer is committed to helping innovative Australian businesses to develop their strategic manufacturing capability, enabling them to live their potential and minimising Australia’s reliance on overseas products and suppliers,” said Matthews.
“Richard, along with Gary Twomey our Head of Government Grants Advisory, bring enormous capability and experience to our specialist Grants team, and have successfully applied for more than $560m of capital grants for clients over their years working in the funding space.”
Wraith said he was excited to join a Melbourne accounting and advisory firm with an established track record for supporting clients to secure funding via grants including the AusIndustry R&D Tax Incentive Program, the Modern Manufacturing Initiative, the Austrade Export Market Development grant program and the AusIndustry Accelerating Commercialisation Program.
“Matthews Steer is invested in the innovation space and to supporting local industry to leverage state and government funding, and strong in its support of research and development, of government funding and in strategic consulting. There’s a real passion to help our clients achieve their potential through entrepreneurship and innovation.” he said.
“Sovereign capability is a hot topic across the political spectrum at the moment, and there is a growing realisation that on-shore products, materials, manufacturing and technical capability is critical to our economy. As a result, we’re seeing a wide range of industry grant programs emerging.
“This funding is critical to the success of local industry and I urge clients to explore the opportunities government grants offer so they don’t miss out on capital and advantages being accessed by their competitors.”
Established in 1990, North West Melbourne’s premier business consultants, Matthews Steer, has evolved from a one-man practice, to a partnership of ten, with more than 50 staff working across a suite of accounting and taxation, wealth management and business advisory services.
Wraith is the fifth senior appointment at Matthews Steer since the start of 2021, as the firm aggressively pursues its goal of doubling the size of its business over the next three years.
To learn more about how state and federal government grants can offer your business strategic advantages, call (03) 9325 6300 or email info@matsteer.com.au.