Shirley Schaefer BDO Australia

Partner, Superannuation

Shirley has over 20 years experience as a Chartered Accountant and joined the South Australian firm in 1994, becoming a Director in 2001.

Shirley's background commenced in Audit and in 1996 Shirley established a separate Superannuation division in South Australia. This division is now one of the largest dedicated super divisions in BDO with 15 staff servicing over 800 SMSFs. The division provides a range of compliance services, accounting, taxation and audit, as well as strategy advice and working in conjunction with the Financial Planning Division of BDO.

Shirley is an auditor by training but a SMSF expert by choice.

Key assignments

• Provision of outsourcing services for a large superannuation provider in the preparation and lodgement of income tax returns for self managed and small APRA super funds
• Advice regarding the income tax implications of superannuation strategies including contribution splitting, transitional pensions and term allocated pensions and the implications of “simpler super” announcements
• Speaking engagements/workshops for the National Institute of Accountants (NIA), Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAA), SMSF Professionals Association of Australia (SPAA) and industry associations, including Australian Investors Association (AIA)

Qualifications & memberships

• Bachelor of Arts (Accountancy)
• Advance Diploma of Financial Services (Superannuation)
• SMSF Specialist Auditor™
• SMSF Specialist Advisor™
• Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
• Fellow of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia
• Member of Association of Superannuation Funds Australia (ASFA)
• Chair of the SMSF Policy Committee of ASFA 2010 - 2012
• Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board (APESB) Independence Taskforce, member