In the world of professional advisory, a good recommendation is only the start. What matters most is delivery that exceeds expectations, under pressure, with the right people doing the work. This is how KordaMentha approaches every project.
KordaMentha is a proudly independent, founder-owned and led advisory firm with a reputation for getting the job done. From its origins as the administrators of Ansett, through to current, nationally significant engagements like its role as the administrators of the Whyalla Steelworks in South Australia and independent reviews of government departments and agencies, the team appreciates that practical, implementable solutions are the key to success.
KordaMentha is known for helping organisations with their most complex and sensitive projects, to improve performance, build resilience and deliver lasting impact where it really counts.
Two years in the capital, decades in the field
KordaMentha recently marked two years in Canberra, bringing its national capability, built over 24 years, directly to Canberra clients. But the firm is anything but a newcomer.
The Canberra office is led by Public Sector Advisory Partner, Jess Finlay, who has around 20 years of experience as a financial and commercial advisor to public and private sector clients.
“Marking two years in Canberra is a proud milestone for us,” Jess said. “It’s been great to bring the benefit of KordaMentha’s decades of experience to the nation’s capital, applying it to the complex projects and challenges government is facing.”
Jess is supported by a senior partner and executive director team of Andrew Mrnjavac, Lachlan Abbott, Jill McGahon, Anthony Moore and Mayuri Kain, and a broader Canberra team with deep experience across financial and commercial advisory, restructuring and turnaround, data analytics, investigations, cyber, financial sustainability, technology, property and complex transformation. The local team is backed by KordaMentha’s broader national capability of more than 700 staff.
The independent, founder-owned and led advantage
What does it actually mean to be a “founder-owned and led” firm? It means accountability stays close to the work. At KordaMentha, founders Mark Korda and Mark Mentha and senior leaders remain actively involved in projects. This means partners are close to the detail, can move quickly when it matters, and take ownership of the outcome.
This way of working was forged in the firm’s foundations in complex corporate restructuring and insolvency. That background has shaped a team that is used to operating in high-stakes and high-pressure environments, where issues surface quickly and decisions need to hold up under scrutiny.
It also means the team has first-hand experience in how complex issues play out over time and where problems tend to surface. That experience translates directly to the kinds of challenges facing the public sector.
Bringing that experience to Canberra’s public sector challenges
Being a proudly independent, Australian-owned firm gives KordaMentha an edge as one of Australia’s foremost advisory firms working with the public sector.
“We’re an Australian firm focused on solving Australia’s problems,” Jess said.
The public sector faces unprecedented pressure to solve complex problems, operate sustainably, deliver massive infrastructure, technology, and security projects transparently and securely, all while being asked to do more with less.
KordaMentha’s Canberra team supports departments, agencies and organisations to navigate these pressures providing practical, hands-on expertise. Its focus is on helping clients move from planning to delivery, improve performance or help to get projects back on track, applying the same discipline developed in complex corporate environments to the public sector.
Partner with KordaMentha
Over the past two years, the Canberra presence has continued to build. “The office has expanded to more than 30 people and we’re continuing to grow and invest so we can support our clients’ needs,” Jess said.
Looking ahead, the Canberra team will keep its focus on public sector clients, supporting them with complex, high-pressure projects that demand clear accountability and practical execution.
Partnering with KordaMentha means working with a team that stays close to delivery and remains accountable through implementation.
If your department, agency or organisation is facing a complex problem, or the delivery of a high-pressure project, find out what the KordaMentha difference can mean for you.
Learn more at the KordaMentha website or contact the team directly at +61 2 6188 9222.
