Accounting, Audit & Tax Awards 2017

6 Acquisition International - Accounting, Audit & Tax Awards 2017 disadvantaged. While being independent, Westpac Foundation considers Westpac Group to be its greatest supporter. Since 1999, Westpac Foundation has granted more than $30 million to more than 450 not-for-profit organisations and remains steadfast in its goal to help open doors to social and financial inclusion for fellow Australians experiencing disadvantage. Within the global markets the ongoing focus remains on Asia, as this emerging market becomes increasingly economically important. As such, Westpac views the region as vital to its development and is progressively building a presence and capability across the region to better support Australian and New Zealand customers operating, trading and transacting in the region, along with Asian customers seeking financial solutions and services in Australia and New Zealand. While continuing to build the business, the more challenging financial services environment has required the company to focus on strengthening its financial position while at the same time improving efficiency. This strengthening has involved lifting the level and quality of our capital, improving our funding and liquidity position and maintaining a high level of asset quality and provisioning. While Westpac currently have a relatively low cost to income ratio, the firm continue to seek opportunities to streamline and simplify its business, to improve the quality of experience for customers and reduce unit costs. Overall, Westpac Group’s portfolio of financial services brands and businesses is focused on its ultimate vision: to be one of the World’s great service companies, helping its customers, communities and people to prosper and grow. From ensuring consumer customers can save and invest with confidence, to serving the financial needs of multi-national corporate, institutional and government clients, Westpac put customers at the centre of everything it does, and moving forward this will remain the group’s focus. “Today, Westpac Foundation continues to support social enterprises taking a fresh approach to addressing complex social problems, borrowing the best from business and the social sector to create more opportunity for Australia’s most disadvantaged. While being independent, Westpac Foundation considers Westpac Group to be its greatest supporter .”