The Cut

Simon Cathro
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Conversations with the people of Australia's insolvency industry. Insolvency, restructuring, and navigating a business through financial distress are as much about the people involved as it is about the regulations and financials. Join Simon Cathro, Andrew Blundell and the Cathro and Partners insolvency practitioners as they have real conversations with the people within the insolvency industry. Hear their personal stories as they navigate their careers, what they think of the current operating environment and where they think it's all headed.

  1. Sep 15

    Insights into Maintaining Financial Control in the Property and Construction sector.

    A construction business can be profitable on paper and still run out of cash. In this episode of The Cut, host Chris Bergin speaks with Victor Zhou, a fractional CFO specialising in the construction sector, about why cash flow problems develop, how builders and developers can identify them early, and why borrowing more money is rarely the real solution. Their conversation ranges across the changing construction market, private credit, working capital, project forecasting and front-loaded claims — and the financial pressures facing Australian builders and developers today. Victor also makes the case that construction businesses need to think beyond their next project and treat every project as an investment in the business itself. The key message is a simple one: understand your cash flow early, identify the source of the problem, and take action before you need the money yesterday.  Key Points Cash flow problems need to be identified early. The answer isn't always another source of funding. A business first needs to understand how it arrived at its current position — and whether cash is still leaking out. Every construction project creates a working capital requirement. Builders can spend on labour, subcontractors and materials 30 to 60 days before payment arrives, making working capital critical as projects grow in size and number. Forecasting is an early warning system. A project budget doesn't need to be perfectly accurate. Its purpose is to surface problems early enough to act — rather than needing money immediately. Links Victor Zhou on LinkedIn Your CFO Partner Chris Bergin on LinkedIn Simon Cathro on Linkedin Andrew Blundell on Linkedin

  2. Aug 12

    Insights into the state of Commercial Property Market

    In this episode of The Cut, Chris Bergin, Cathro's Principal in Melbourne, sits down with Julian Heatherich, Director of Commercial Sales at Savills, to discuss the current state of Victoria's commercial property market. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in real estate, Julian shares his perspective on the challenges facing developers, investors and lenders, including rising construction costs, tighter funding conditions and reduced transaction volumes. He also explores why premium assets continue to perform, how developers are adapting through new strategies such as build-to-rent and modular construction, and where opportunities are beginning to emerge. The conversation finishes on an optimistic note, with Julian explaining why he believes Victoria is nearing a turning point and why today's cautious market could be viewed as one of the best buying opportunities in hindsight. Key Points Victoria is approaching a potential turning point. While uncertainty continues to slow transactions, Julian believes improving sentiment and future interest rate cuts could see the market rebound quickly. Developers are being forced to think differently. Rising construction costs, tighter lending and changing buyer demand are driving greater interest in strategies such as build-to-rent, modular construction and creative development partnerships. Long-term fundamentals remain strong. Population growth, limited housing supply and continued infrastructure investment are creating confidence that Melbourne and Victoria will remain attractive investment markets over the years ahead. Links Julian Heatherich Linkedin  Chris Bergin on LinkedIn Simon Cathro's Linkedin Andrew Blundell Linkedin Savills

  3. Jul 17

    Insights Into Strengthening Your Business Before Crisis

    Most small business owners invest their own money long before a bank ever backs them. But when financial hardship strikes, many discover that their personal investment isn't protected. In this episode of Season 5 of "The Cut", Simon Cathro sits down with former insolvency lawyer and Krodok founder Matthew Kelly to explain why thousands of Australian business owners unknowingly leave themselves exposed when lending money to their own companies. They discuss director loans, PPSR registrations, business restructuring, insolvency, and why getting the legal foundations right early can make the difference between surviving financial distress and losing everything. Whether you're starting a business, growing one, or simply want to better protect what you've built, this episode offers practical advice every business owner and advisor should understand. Key Points: Why documenting director loans properly can dramatically improve restructuring options. How secured loans give business owners greater control during insolvency. Why prevention is significantly cheaper than trying to fix problems later. Links Matthew Kelly's Linkedin Simon Cathro's Linkedin Krodok website

  4. Jun 1

    Insights into Scaling a Professional Insolvency Services Firm with Danny Chiha

    What does it actually take to build a professional services firm — and sustain its growth over time? In this episode of The Cut, Andrew Blundell speaks with Danny Chiha about the realities of building and scaling a firm from the ground up. From early beginnings working from a dining table to leading a 70-person team, Danny shares a practical perspective on growth — including the challenges of leadership, hiring and maintaining culture as a business expands. The conversation also explores how technology is reshaping the accounting profession, and why human relationships remain central despite increasing adoption of AI. More broadly, it highlights the role of mentorship, long-term thinking and consistency in building something sustainable. What We Cover Building a professional services firm from first principles The challenges of scaling teams and maintaining culture Leadership development and capability building The role of AI in the future of accounting Why long-term thinking underpins sustainable growth Key Insights 1. Growth takes time Building a sustainable business is typically the result of consistent effort over extended periods, rather than short-term acceleration. 2. Scaling is about people Business growth often depends on developing leadership capability and building teams that can operate effectively at scale. 3. Technology and relationships must align While AI and automation are reshaping the industry, client relationships and human judgement remain central to long-term success. Links Kelly+Partners Accountants Simon Cathro's LinkedIn Andrew Blundell's LinkedIn   Cathro & Partners are experts in providing insolvency and restructuring services that help to create and preserve business value and enable individuals to make a fresh start. The firm specialises in restructuring, turnaround, personal and corporate insolvency, safe harbour, secured enforcement services, government advisory services and pre-lending services. For a confidential discussion on any of the above, please reach out to one of our experts.

  5. May 13

    Overview of The 7- Figure Plateau with Mark Calleja

    Most SME owners don't struggle due to a lack of knowledge — they struggle because they're too busy operating the business to step back and fix what actually drives performance. In this episode of The Cut, Simon Cathro speaks with Mark Calleja, author of The Seven Figure Plateau, about the patterns that keep business owners stuck — and what it takes to move beyond them. Drawing on practical experience with growing businesses, Mark unpacks the common blind spots that limit scale, constrain cashflow and create operational bottlenecks. The discussion covers the shift from working in the business to working on it, the role of systems and discipline, and why many businesses fail despite appearing busy and active. What We Cover Why working in the business limits growth and scalability The systems and structure required to create time and control Common cashflow mistakes that quietly undermine performance Building a team that supports, rather than constrains, growth The mindset shift required to move from survival to scale Key Insights 1. Growth requires stepping back Sustainable growth typically comes from focusing on strategy, systems and decision-making — not just day-to-day operations. 2. Discipline over complexity Consistent processes, regular reviews and clear structure tend to outperform reactive or ad hoc management. 3. Cashflow drives outcomes Strong activity levels don't always translate to performance. Visibility over cashflow, billing and decision-making remains critical. Links Mark Calleja's LinkedIn Simon Cathro's LinkedIn Andrew Blundell's LinkedIn Mark Calleja Accounting The Seven Figure Plateau     Cathro & Partners are experts in providing insolvency and restructuring services that help to create and preserve business value and enable individuals to make a fresh start. The firm specialises in restructuring, turnaround, personal and corporate insolvency, safe harbour, secured enforcement services, government advisory services and pre-lending services. For a confidential discussion on any of the above, please reach out to one of our experts.

  6. Apr 13

    Interview with the CEO of ARITA

    John Melluish, CEO of ARITA, joins The Cut to unpack the current state of Australia's insolvency landscape. From his early experience during the insolvency cycles of the 1980s to now leading the industry's peak body, John shares perspectives on how the profession has evolved — and where it is heading. The discussion explores the post-COVID rebound in insolvency activity, the increasing role of the ATO and the potential for further pressure in the personal insolvency space. John also reflects on the role of insolvency practitioners, including areas where their responsibilities are not always well understood, and how this intersects with stakeholder expectations. The conversation also covers insolvency reform, education pathways and the challenges of modern regulation, including AML obligations. Key Points Why insolvency activity is rising again The role of liquidators and common areas of misunderstanding What's next for insolvency reform in Australia The ATO's influence on market dynamics Timestamps: [00:00:00] The core AML problem: who is the "client"? [00:01:00] John Melluish's appointment as AITA CEO [00:02:00] Career beginnings and insolvency boom in the 80s [00:03:10] Borders collapse and the impact of online retail [00:04:45] AITA's role and industry coverage [00:05:30] Revenue model: membership, events, education [00:06:20] Shift to Registered Training Organisation (RTO) [00:09:00] Insolvency reform: challenges and opportunities [00:11:30] Post-COVID insolvency trends and ATO impact [00:16:00] Complaints, creditors, and public misunderstanding Links: John Melluish Linkedin Simon Cathro's Linkedin Andrew Blundell Linkedin ARITA website

  7. Mar 16

    Insights into the Impact of Insolvency Events in the Construction Industry

    Construction insolvencies now represent one of the largest shares of corporate failures in Australia. While the triggers vary, the underlying pattern is often remarkably consistent: tight margins, poorly defined scope, delayed payments, disputed variations and contractors effectively funding projects from their own balance sheets. In this episode of The Cut, Simon Cathro speaks with Paul Rojas, founder of RA Law Group, to explore why so many construction businesses find themselves in this position — and what operators can do earlier to avoid it. With more than 22 years' experience in commercial litigation, construction disputes, insolvency and debt recovery, Paul has seen the same structural pressures play out across countless projects. The conversation examines the contractual and commercial issues that often sit behind construction insolvencies, and the steps builders, subcontractors and developers can take to better protect cashflow. The discussion also highlights the importance of understanding payment rights under security of payment legislation, managing variations properly and ensuring contracts reflect the commercial realities of construction risk. For businesses operating in one of the most challenging sectors of the economy, proactive contract management and early legal advice can often determine whether a project remains viable or becomes another insolvency statistic. Key Points: Recurring patterns behind construction insolvencies: Many failures follow the same trajectory: poorly managed contracts, unpaid variations, project delays and sustained cashflow pressure. Using security of payment laws effectively: These laws are designed to protect cashflow, but they only work when payment claims are issued correctly and enforced promptly. Early legal and contractual planning matters: Reviewing contracts carefully, understanding termination rights and diversifying client exposure can help prevent financial stress escalating into insolvency. Links Paul Rojas' Linkedin Simon Cathro's Linkedin Andrew Blundell Linkedin RA Law Group

  8. Feb 5

    Insights into purchasing creditor claims in an Insolvency process with Mitch Taylor

    In this episode of The Cut, Simon Cathro sits down with Mitch Taylor, founder of ClaimCloud, to explore a concept still unfamiliar to many Australian creditors: selling creditor claims for immediate liquidity. With over 25 years in credit markets, including time on Wall Street during the GFC, Mitch shares why time is often the most overlooked cost in insolvency. Together, Simon and Mitch unpack how claim trading works, why insolvencies can stretch on for years, and how emotion, uncertainty and litigation shape creditor decisions. This conversation challenges traditional thinking about recoveries and asks whether maximising cents in the dollar should always come at the expense of time. Key Points Time is as important as recovery value - Maximising cents in the dollar often comes at the cost of years of waiting. Creditors are not a single group - Every creditor has different priorities, emotions and financial pressures. Selling a claim should be an option, not a taboo - Claim trading gives creditors control over when they exit an insolvency. Links Mitch Taylor's Linkedin Simon Cathro's Linkedin Andrew Blundell Linkedin ClaimCloud's website

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About

Conversations with the people of Australia's insolvency industry. Insolvency, restructuring, and navigating a business through financial distress are as much about the people involved as it is about the regulations and financials. Join Simon Cathro, Andrew Blundell and the Cathro and Partners insolvency practitioners as they have real conversations with the people within the insolvency industry. Hear their personal stories as they navigate their careers, what they think of the current operating environment and where they think it's all headed.

Information

  • Creator
    Simon Cathro
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022
  • Show Website
    The Cut