Welcome to 2026 – and yet another insolvency hits the headlines.
This month, Zone RV has gone into liquidation, following the creditors’ meeting.
The administrators attributed the collapse to:
“Poor financial management and cash control. Internal capability gaps in finance and ongoing leadership changes led to weak decision-making and cost control, among other issues.”
It’s a tough reminder that our business environment remains VUCA — Volatile, Uncertain, Complex & Ambiguous.
💭 It got me thinking…
If Zone RV had implemented a strong Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) tool could they have avoided this outcome?
In today’s climate, visibility, control, and agility are essential for survival.
That’s where powerful FP&A tools come in — providing business leaders the clarity to make confident, data-driven decisions.
At Improcus, we’re proud to be a Gold Partner of Jedox, one of the top 8 FP&A solutions globally. Through our Jedox Managed Service, we deliver enterprise-level capability to SMEs — at an affordable cost.
📊 In upcoming posts, I’ll share some real success stories where focus, discipline, and the right tools have driven measurable business improvement.
“2026 is all about smarter decisions, stronger leadership, and better business performance.”
#CFO #SME #BusinessPerformance #FPandA #QueenslandBusiness #Leadership #Jedox
The 25 per cent Trump tariffs imposed on all imported steel and aluminum, including from Australia, is causing another disruption in an already volatile market. The ripple effects of the Trump trade wars imposed on many countries including its allies will be felt far and wide. In addition to higher prices on our exports reducing demand, the US products we import will become more expensive and our superannuation balances will drop.
How do organisations cushion against economic blows?
We live in a VUCA world with Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity. Ironically, the term VUCA originated in the US Army in the 1980s and the framework is used to describe the challenges of operating in an environment characterised by these traits. Organisations can use this framework, coupled with the business improvement strategies employed by Improcus, to help them thrive in such a dynamic environment.
Strategies for success.
You and your business cannot afford to put your head in the sand. Now is the time to take back your control and face-off against volatility armed with agility and financial planning.
Reach out to CEO Andrew Walker for a free demonstration of what Improcus and Jedox can do for you.
As a business improvement consultant, some days you have to get down n’ dirty and ‘hands on’ to truly understand the nuts and bolts of your client’s business, to be able to focus on the detail to improve profitability. That was the case for me with family business Samios Tyres and it really paid off.
Call Andrew on 04 1775 1775 if your business could use some detailed ‘hands on’ help.
Higher operating expenses + cost of living pressures + aggressive debt crackdowns = insolvency. Latest statistics from the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) as reported in The Australian (20/1/25) revealed almost 7,500 insolvencies in the six months to December 2024. That’s a record-breaking 47 percent increase on the previous year, and almost as much as the entire 2023 fiscal period (7942).
This financial year, business closures due to insolvency are forecast to increase to 16,000 – don’t let your business be one of them!
Complacency is not an option. If your company is in trouble you need to act fast and engage an expert to help you halt the decline.
Improcus is your business improvement specialist, transforming small to medium-sized businesses into successful and profitable entities.
Gold Partner Jedox (one of the top ten financial planning software tools in the world) powers our unique Model 4 Real Improvement (M4RI) which enhances the strategic value that exists in your business.
We have a proven track record in assisting businesses to improve their financial position and strategic direction.
Jedox powered Improcus models enable agility in decision making across all aspects of the organisation. This is critical in an ever-changing business environment, and particularly for distressed companies.
Need help? Reach out to Improcus CEO Andrew Walker 04 1775 1775 or email Andrew.Walker@improcus.com.au
My experience over the past 16 years as CEO of Improcus Business Improvement Specialists, is that regardless of a business experiencing expectational growth or tumbling into a distressed state, the owners, directors and managers of that business are reticent to challenge their financial department. This has created what I call the BLACK BOX SYNDROME.
Too often I come across businesses which are underperforming and generally the financial function, considered the company’s “Black Box”, is not being managed or delivering the right outputs to support the business.
Business leaders do not fully engage with their finance department as it is not their core strength, and it is seen to merely service the ATO requirements. However, the finance department is a critical cog in the wheel of a business’ success and should be managed accordingly.
The pilot (head of finance) has advised the crew (management team) there is bad weather ahead, but is not sure how bumpy the ride will be, so please fasten your seat belts just in case…
It’ll be too late to search for the Black Box in the wreckage of your business as the wealth will have been destroyed and regardless of what you find, your wealth will never be recovered.
So, perhaps it’s time to open your business’s Black Box with me (the Phantom CFO) before take-off?
Call 0417 751 775
One of the symptoms of business failure is the lack of accurate, timely & meaningful financial information.
Successful directors, business owners & CEOs insist on regular financial reporting regardless of
business size, which comprises:
As we enter a new phase of disruption in our world, the need to be able to forecast the financial outcomes of our decisions will become more important. Inflation, interest rates, volatile exchange rates, procurement of resources (materials, services, finance, equipment & human capital) will be constantly changing and the ability to understand the impact on your business becomes essential.
If your financial department is not delivering on these 5 key points, why not call 0417 751 775 or email andrew@improcus.com.au for a discussion about how Improcus can help you.
Improcus CEO Andrew Walker had the pleasure of joining Gene Tunny on the Economics Explored podcast to delve deep into the realms of business efficiency and the transformative power of unlocking the financial black box!
In this episode, they navigated through the intricacies of maximising business potential and discussed strategies to enhance efficiency that every entrepreneur and business leader should know.
Listen to the podcast here.
