Guiding Local Government through financial reporting
ABOUT VANGUARD CONSULTING GROUP
WHY VANGUARD?
Vanguard Consulting Group (VCG) provides specialist, high-quality services and training in statutory financial reporting and asset accounting for local government councils.
We understand that time is one of the scarcest resources for local government finance teams. Our services and products are designed to help finance professionals work more efficiently, meet reporting deadlines, and maintain strong financial governance.
Our work is supported by the extensive financial accounting and audit experience of our team. All senior team members are Chartered Accountants with external audit backgrounds, giving us a strong practical understanding of audit requirements and a clear advantage in supporting councils through the external audit process.
We are committed to continuous professional development across our team, ensuring our advice, training and support reflect the latest developments in local government finance.
Igor Ivannikov
Igor Ivannikov PhD, CA, FCCA
Principal Consultant
e: igor@vanguardconsulting.com.au
p: 0412 932 174
Igor is an accounting expert with nearly 20 years' experience. Igor’s background is external audit of private and public sector entities in Australia (including NSW Local Government councils) and overseas. Igor is a Chartered Accountant and a fellow of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).
Igor is a member of two AASB Project Advisory Panels: Conceptual Framework Project Advisory Panel and Fair Value Project Advisory Panel.
Igor is also a researcher at the Centre for Local Government (CLG) at the University of New England (UNE) working on problems in financial accounting and reporting in local government.
Igor was awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree, discipline in Economics, in the University of New England for the thesis "Problems in Accounting and Reporting of Property, Plant and Equipment in New South Wales Local Government"
Igor is an endorsed consultant by LG Solutions.
Curtis Jones
Curtis is a very welcomed new team member of Vanguard who joined us in 2026. He is a Chartered Accountant with strong external audit and business services experience, including specialist work across local government audit engagements. He has progressed through senior audit roles, building expertise in audit planning, fieldwork, financial reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
He is highly regarded for his ability to build strong relationships with clients and communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels. Curtis is deeply committed to delivering quality work and is known for being highly responsive and proactive. With a particular focus on coordinating external audits, he ensures that both clients and auditors are supported and satisfied throughout the process, making him a trusted point of contact and a valued member of the team.
Curtis holds a Bachelor of Accounting and has completed the Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
Anna Eva
Anna is our senior consultant with around 15 years’ experience across external audit, statutory reporting and financial accounting. Her background spans both the private and public sectors, including the energy sector, local government and not-for-profit organisations. Anna brings strong analytical capability, a detailed understanding of audit processes and a practical approach to resolving complex financial reporting matters. She is highly effective in managing external audits, coordinating with stakeholders and ensuring audit requirements are addressed in a timely and well-organised manner.
Anna holds the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification.
Sama Shrestha
Sama is our statutory reporting consultant supporting local government councils across financial accounting, reporting and external audit coordination. She is highly regarded for her clear communication style, attention to detail and ability to work effectively with people at different levels of an organisation.
Sama brings a calm, responsive and practical approach to client engagements, helping ensure audit processes run smoothly and that communication between councils, finance teams and external auditors remains clear, timely and well-coordinated. She is committed to delivering high-quality outcomes and providing reliable, hands-on support to clients throughout the reporting and audit cycle.
Sama holds a Master’s Degree in Professional Accounting and is currently progressing towards her CPA qualification.
Prof Joseph Drew
Professor Joseph Drew is an adjunct Professor of Economics in Australia and overseas, and one of the world’s leading scholars in local government finance. He is a qualified accountant, economist, natural law philosopher and mathematician, with a unique ability to analyse the complex financial and sustainability challenges facing local government.
Professor Drew has published extensively in leading academic journals and is the author of several books on local government, public policy and governance. He has consulted to governments, councils and peak bodies in Australia and internationally, and has appeared as an expert witness for state and federal senate inquiries. Based on his small farm in Moonbi, NSW, Joseph is particularly passionate about helping rural and regional councils achieve better outcomes for their communities.
We are fortunate to be connected with Joseph and to work with him from time to time. His depth of experience in sustainability reporting, financial analysis and local government reform is invaluable, and we continue to learn a great deal from his expertise and insights.
Professor Drew shares his work and practical advice through his YouTube channel, Professor Joseph Drew.
His qualifications include a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics, Master of Commerce in Accounting, Diploma of Theology, Bachelor of Education in Physical Mathematics, and Justice of the Peace qualification.