Legal counsel with candour.

An intentionally niche practice.

Trusted by taxpayers, registered tax practitioners, and accounting firms for strategic advice, representation, and proactive compliance support.

Accounting Practice - Proactive Reviews & Updates

The Little CFO Legal provides accounting practices with confidence in navigating evolving compliance requirements while supporting effective operations. We review and advise on core practice documents with regard to the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (Cth) and applicable APESB standards. Tailored fixed-fee packages allow practice owners to select the documents most relevant to their needs, including mandatory Quality Management System (QMS) policies and procedures, client engagement terms and letters, privacy documentation, protections for confidential initial discussions with prospective clients, AI use policies, and other governance and compliance documentation.

Accounting Practice Owners - Strategy Session Series

The Little CFO Legal facilitates private strategy planning sessions for accounting practices, providing practice owners with dedicated time to step back, assess key practice risks, and evaluate the effectiveness of their compliance framework. Delivered as an ongoing series, these sessions are designed to identify compliance gaps, review existing systems, policies, procedures, and documentation, and develop a practical roadmap for addressing priority areas. The result is a structured plan, clear accountability, and measurable progress towards stronger risk management and compliance outcomes.

Annual CPE Training Program - TASA & APES Focus

The Little CFO Legal provides private CPE programs designed specifically for accounting practices. Through tailored annual training programs, we help practices maintain current knowledge of tax practitioner regulation, professional obligations, compliance developments, and emerging practice risks. Sessions provide practical updates on obligations under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (Cth), the Code of Professional Conduct, APESB standards, regulatory expectations, and other developments affecting the profession. Regular, documented participation supports competency development and helps practices demonstrate a proactive approach to TASA compliance and risk management.

Active Compliance Concerns - Tax Practitioners Board & TASA

The Little CFO Legal delivers strategic and candid advice for registered tax practitioners dealing with active professional compliance concerns under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (Cth), including the Code of Professional Conduct (Code). In addition to advising in Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) enquiries and investigations, we provide ad-hoc Advice Sessions to registered tax agent practices and individual tax agents and BAS agents. Advice Sessions are designed to cover initial strategic guidance on a single scenario or specific concern, such as whether particular conduct constitutes a significant breach of the Code; how to meet breach reporting obligations; understanding the TPB's expectations; responding to false or misleading statements made by clients or by the firm; managing client complaints; client engagement acceptance and disengagement decisions; refining a firm's client base; confidentiality concerns including dealing with an unauthorised disclosure of information relating to client affairs; staff conduct and supervision issues; and other professional and compliance matters affecting registered tax practitioners.

ATO Review, Audit, & Disputes

The Little CFO Legal advises taxpayers in managing and resolving disputes with the ATO, including ATO reviews, ATO audits, objections, and voluntary disclosures. We work alongside our clients' tax agents and other professional advisers, providing legal advice that complements existing advisory relationships while supporting a coordinated approach to complex tax matters.

Professional Education & Speaking Engagements

Professional education and speaking engagements for accounting firms, professional associations, and industry organisations. Tessa Fisher, Law Practice Principal, is a regular presenter and panellist at conferences, webinars, vodcasts, and on-demand CPE/CPD programs, including for the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) and CCH Wolters Kluwer.

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Our Approach

Fixed Fees Preferred

We prefer to structure our engagements using defined, fixed-fee stages. Our clients have confidence around scope, cost, and expected deliverables, allowing them to focus on decisions and outcomes, rather than counting six-minute units.

Depth, Not Breadth

Our practice areas are intentionally niche. We focus on the interconnected areas of taxation, tax practitioner regulation, and accounting practice compliance. This enables deeper insight, sharper advice, and a practical understanding of the regulatory issues affecting our clients.

Perspective Matters

We see both sides of compliance. Our work spans proactive frameworks and professional education, as well as taxation disputes, regulatory investigations, and professional conduct matters. As a result, our advice is grounded in what works in practice, not just in theory.

Trusted Connections

Complex matters often require perspectives beyond a single discipline. Clients benefit from our established relationships across the legal, accounting, and financial professions, providing access to trusted expertise and a coordinated approach where appropriate.

Law Practice Principal

Tessa Fisher founded The Little CFO Legal with a philosophy of transparency and value, delivering legal counsel with candour for privately owned and wealthy groups and their professional advisers.

Known for her candid approach, Tessa's work sits at the intersection of ATO disputes, tax practitioner regulation, and the professional obligations affecting accounting practices. Her clients and referrers value her focused expertise, practical judgment, and established relationships across the legal, accounting, and financial professions.

As a regular presenter and panellist, Tessa contributes to conferences, webinars, vodcasts, and industry discussions for professional advisers. Through these engagements, she maintains a current understanding of the issues, regulatory developments, and emerging risks affecting taxpayers, tax practitioners, and accounting firms.

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