AS Proactive Accounting & Taxation Services
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About The Business
AS Proactive Accounting & Taxation Services
This is not traditional accounting. We focus on what happens next — helping you plan with clarity and confidence.
Founded by former senior professionals from top-tier global accounting firms, our practice was created to make high-quality accounting, tax and advisory support accessible to everyone. We work with individuals, businesses, family trusts, self-managed super funds, family groups and high-net-worth individuals.
We work with clients whose financial affairs require more than standard compliance. They require structure, foresight, and thoughtful strategy — delivered with care and discretion.
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We provide a comprehensive range of services across our specialist areas, supporting start-ups, established businesses, individuals seeking greater control of their business, high-net-worth family groups and self managed super funds.
We are committed to delivering a responsive, proactive, and personalised service. With deep expertise and a strong focus on quality, our team is dedicated to helping you build, grow, and protect your financial future.
We empower our clients to harness technology to work smarter, not harder—driving efficiency, achieving agreed objectives, and delivering the best possible outcomes.
Our diverse client base includes, industry-leading professionals, dynamic and growing SMEs, everyday individuals and families seeking trusted guidance to achieve their financial goals and multinational organisations.
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SHAN SUTHARSAN
Principal
Shan is a qualified accountant with nearly 16 years of experience in complex financial and taxation matters. He has worked with a range of respected boutique and mid-tier Chartered Accounting firms across Australia, as well as a Top 20 firm, developing strong expertise in business consulting, taxation, management accounting, and corporate services. He advises a diverse client base, including local and international businesses, high-net-worth individuals, and family groups. With a practical and strategic approach, Shan specialises in resolving complex taxation issues and designing effective structures to support long-term success. Shan is dedicated to helping clients achieve their objectives by enhancing profitability, strengthening financial performance, and optimising cash flow.
Shan holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in accounting, as well as a Postgraduate Degree with Honours in Accounting from New Zealand. Shan is a Full Member of Institute of Public Accountants Australia and Associate of Institute of Financial Accountants. Also, Provisional Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ). He is a Registered Tax Agent with the Australian Tax Practitioners Board.
Shan is known for his disciplined, detail-focused approach and his ability to combine technical rigour with practical judgement. He believes effective advisory extends beyond compliance, focusing on foresight, sound structuring, and the long-term protection of assets. Outside of work, Shan enjoys spending time with his young family and staying active through running and tennis.
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John Cotton
Consultant
John Cotton is a highly accomplished accountant with more than 30 years of Australian and international experience spanning accounting, taxation, internal audit, and risk management.
A PricewaterhouseCoopers (formerly Price Waterhouse) trained Chartered Accountant, John began his career in Melbourne before moving into international internal audit and risk management. Early in his career, he worked as a Corporate Internal Auditor for United International Pictures, leading fraud investigations across Chile, Thailand, and South Korea. During this time, he assumed operational leadership roles in both Chile and Thailand, demonstrating strong commercial and management capability.
In the mid-1990s, John joined KPMG in London, where he played a key role in developing risk management methodologies that became aligned with emerging international risk management standards and modern internal audit practices.
In 2001, John founded a London-based risk consultancy, advising organisations on risk identification, control frameworks, and operational improvement. With the introduction of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) in the United States, his practice expanded significantly. He project-managed SOX implementation for Airspan Networks Inc. and held senior advisory roles on compliance projects for National Australia Bank and Allied Irish Banks.
After working in more than 30 countries over 18 years, John returned to Australia in 2006, undertaking a senior contract role with Deloitte. He led outsourced internal audit engagements for Orica and Sigma Pharmaceuticals.