MAC Living’s recent feature in Business View Oceania gave us an opportunity to reflect on a relationship that has developed alongside the business for close to eight years.

MAC Living is a Melbourne-based volume builder celebrating their 10th anniversary, having grown from approximately 50 homes in its first year to hundreds annually. As it enters its second decade, the business is also broadening beyond a traditional building model, with development, technology and new housing products becoming increasingly important growth opportunities.

LDB Group (LDB) has worked with MAC Living through much of that growth. As the business has expanded and evolved, its structure and financial requirements have become more complex, and LDB’s role has evolved with it.

LDB Partner Florence Ioannou and Accounting Manager Adam Brush lead a team working closely with MAC Living Directors Heshan (Hesh) Silva and Enson Tsui across the business’s accounting, tax and business advisory needs.

It began with Hesh stopping at an LDB stand at a Superannuation expo, asking whether the firm did accounting work. Eight years on, Hesh describes a relationship where LDB is often involved before significant decisions are made.

From accounting support to a broader advisory role

In the early years, LDB’s role included regular financial reviews and support similar to an external financial controller as well as attending to MAC Living’s tax compliance. As MAC Living has grown, that role has evolved.

“When we’re making decisions about a new structure, an investment or what comes next, we consult with LDB before we act.” He also points out the value of continuity in the relationship. “They’ve grown with us from the beginning to today. They understand the background and they take the time to understand the whole picture.”

For the MAC Living team, that history means a discussion does not need to begin from scratch each time a new issue arises. The context is already there, and each conversation builds on what is already understood.

A builder’s financials affect how much they can build

Residential construction adds a layer of financial complexity that most businesses do not experience.

For a Victorian residential builder, financial performance is not only a tax and reporting issue. It can directly affect how much work the business is approved to have underway at any one time.

The framework changed from 1 July 2026, when the new First-resort Home Warranty Scheme formerly Domestic Building Insurance introduced Minimum Financial Requirements which determines a builder’s Maximum Construction Capacity in terms of dollar value.

Hesh has been through assessments under both the previous and current regimes. He describes the earlier process as difficult to navigate, with one assessment taking up to seven months to resolve. Under the new regime, there is a clear set of financial requirements to work towards, and with the support of the LDB advisory team, MAC Living’s most recent assessment was completed in around five weeks.

For a growing volume builder, financial reporting and planning together with operational planning is often the same conversation.

Florence says the value is in being able to step back with the team, particularly when decisions around structure advice with respect to investments, funding and future planning come together requiring an independent and business advisor perspective. “MAC Living has its own internal accounting team, so our role isn’t to duplicate the day-to-day work they already manage. We work alongside their team, supporting them with Board reporting and facilitation, while also providing an independent perspective and challenging the business when needed. It’s about working together and adding value where we can.”

“We get really excited working with MAC Living on their strategic direction and business planning. Facilitating their quarterly Board meetings gives us a deeper understanding of their business, growth plans and the challenges they face within the building industry.

That understanding also allows us to provide holistic business and tax advice that supports their plans and helps them navigate industry pressures.
Most importantly, it’s been incredibly rewarding to be part of that process and see the business grow and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for MAC Living.”

Working as One in action

Asked whether the LDB relationship has provided services they had not expected, Enson referred to the level of preparation. “Florence and Adam come to meetings having done the reading, both on MAC Living and the industry it operates in, rather than approaching each issue solely as an accounting or tax matter.”

Asked what he would tell another business considering LDB, Enson emphasised that the relationship works best when both sides are actively involved.
Hesh and Enson describe the relationship as one built on trust, where they can have open and confidential conversations. For them, it’s not about how quickly a piece of work is turned around, but in having someone who is available, that they can talk to when something genuinely matters.

“Everyone and every business is different, so I would recommend LDB because they offer great service but, most importantly, they are good people and they care. You can’t just go and hand over the work. You have to communicate and work in collaboration. That’s how you get the best result and working relationship.”

Congratulations to Hesh, Enson and the MAC Living team on their feature in Business View Oceania. Eight years on from a conversation at an expo stand, it’s been great to be part of MAC Living’s journey and to see how far the business has come. We look forward to continuing to work alongside the team as they continue to grow.

Read the Business View Oceania feature on MAC Living.