Basis of preparation of member firm information

Fee income
Fee income represents the aggregate fee income of the member firms reported for the year ended 30 September. Fee income is reported net of sales taxes and includes rechargeable expenses.

Fee income for new member firms and merged businesses is included for the full period. Fee income for firms that leave the organisation and demerged businesses is excluded for the full period.

Fee income reported by member firms was translated into US dollars using the average inter-bank exchange rate for the accounting period.

The other activities of the member firms include accounting and software training; company formation, secretarial and administration; legal services; IT software licensing and human resources consulting.

The information for China aggregates revenues from member firms in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Member firm offices
An office is defined as a single building or collection of buildings in a close geographic area that is treated as a separate administrative entity. Office numbers are reported as at 30 September.

Member firm partners
A partner is a proprietor, direct or indirect shareholder, equity or non equity partner, principal, or any individual who assumes the risks and benefits of member firm ownership, or who is otherwise held out by the member firm to be the equivalent of any of the above.

Member firm partner remuneration is determined locally by member firms. Member firms are responsible for their own partner nominations, admissions, remuneration, advancement, monitoring, investigations, discipline and sanctions. The remuneration for other member firm personnel is also set locally.

Member firm personnel numbers
Member firm personnel numbers refer to both partners and staff, and are reported as at 30 September.