Alf Gruber, a Partner in the firm Grubers Beckett, specialises in audit, taxation, business advisory services and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. He is a registered company auditor and tax agent and was the secretary of a number of public companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. He has acted in the capacity of investigating accountant and issued reports relating to public company formations.
Prior to establishing Grubers Beckett Alf was responsible for a large number of company audits and audits of non-profit organisations. He has had over 25 years professional experience gained not only in Australia but also overseas.
He graduated from Sydney University in 1972 and holds a Bachelor of Economics degree, majoring in accountancy. He joined Deloitte Haskins & Sells (later to become Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu) in 1972, initially training in audit and accountancy work and was involved in a senior capacity in the audit of such firms as CSR Limited, Monsanto Australia Limited and other multinational companies with branches in Australia. He then moved into the tax consulting area from the mid 1970?s until 1977 and was involved in advising a wide range of clients in both income tax and sales tax matters. During this period he worked closely with Rob Thomson who is now a Deputy Chief Tax Counsel and Mr. Ian Langford Brown who is now Director of Taxation, Institute of Chartered Accountants.
In 1977 he joined the firm of R.M. Stapleton & Partners, which was later, acquired by McNally & Partners and became a Tax and Audit Manager. In 1980 he commenced a two-year contract in the United Kingdom with the firm of Neville Russell & Co., Chartered
Accountants and was involved in audit, accountancy and taxation. In 1981 he joined Agoston, Douglas & Partners and in 1985 became a tax and an audit partner. In 2001 he set up the chartered accountancy practice of Grubers Beckett with his wife Louise Gruber, FCA (ICAEW).
As a registered auditor and tax adviser, he has had numerous assignments in the manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing and service industries and has been responsible for the implementation of integrated systems relating to quality control, costing, warehousing and distribution. His wide exposure has given him the experience necessary to evaluate problem areas, provide solutions and initiate their implementation. He has also had many years experience in advising on the structuring of both the accounting and taxation affairs of resident companies and individuals.
In September 2003, in the course of due diligence work, he and Louise Gruber uncovered a major fraud involving amounts misappropriated totalling in excess of $5 million. The evidence gathered led to 47 charges being laid against the fraudster.
