About Great Ocean Advisory & Tax
Stephan Ras brings over a decade of financial management and administration experience to Apollo Bay's business community. As Finance Manager for a large environmental organisation and with a background in operations management and bookkeeping, Steve understands what small business owners actually need — clear advice, accurate numbers, and someone they can call.
Professional. Local. Experienced
After emigrating from the Netherlands to Australia in 2015, I’ve had the privilege of working in diverse roles that combined my passion for organisation, finance, and people.
I have over a decade of extensive experience in financial and operational business management and developed a solid foundation in managing numbers and ensuring operational efficiency.
Since being in Australia, I took on the role of operations manager for an accommodation and hospitality business, where I honed my skills in managing teams, streamlining processes, and enhancing guest experiences. Later, I started to managing finances for a large non-profit organisation dedicated to environmental conservation.
This role expanded when the organisation launched a social enterprise offering guided walks and hospitality services, here I contributed to operational management and ran a retail gift shop. These experiences taught me the importance of aligning financial clarity with purpose-driven work, and they reinforced my passion for teaching and mentoring others—a passion rooted in my Master’s in Educational Studies.
Now, I’m excited to channel my expertise into helping businesses in Apollo Bay and all of Australia thrive. My goal is to provide bookkeeping and financial services that empower business owners to focus on their vision while I take care of the numbers. Great Ocean Business Solutions and Great Ocean Advisory and Tax is your trusted partner in expert bookkeeping, accounting, and tax services. Proudly based in the picturesque town of Apollo Bay.
Steve holds a Master of Educational Studies and believes in plain-language explanations over jargon. Whether you're lodging your first tax return or managing a growing business, you'll always know what's happening and why.
Tax services are provided under the supervision of The Accounting Academy Services Pty Ltd (Tax Agent No. 26233096).
Bookkeeping and BAS services are provided through Great Ocean Business Solutions (BAS Agent No. 26291074).
Membership No: 0544906
Registered ASIC Agent: GREAT OCEAN BUSINESS SOLUTIONS (Agent No. 55128)
Why Apollo Bay
When landing in Apollo bay back in 2025, the picturesque landscape of the Otway hills and Bass Straight waters stuck with me. They are an incrediably magical place to live.
Why clients from further afield work with us too
Being based in Apollo Bay doesn't mean being limited to it. A good chunk of what a tax agent or bookkeeper does, such as reviewing documents, preparing returns, andn talking things through, works just as well over phone, email and video as it does across a desk. Clients across Australia work with us the same way locals do. The only difference is you won't run into us at the shops.
How we work
Plain English, not tax-office language. Straightforward pricing, explained upfront rather than buried in an invoice and a genuine effort to make tax and bookkeeping feel less like a chore, even if it never quite feels fun.
Ready when you are
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