Case Study: Tessele Group

About Tessele Group

Founded and led by sustainability expert Fabiana Tessele, Tessele Group is a Perth-based collective of businesses dedicated to creating real environmental impact. For more than a decade, Fabiana has helped industries across Australia and internationally transition toward low-carbon, circular operations through practical, science-based innovation.

The Group includes Tessele Consultants, a specialist environmental engineering firm focused on water, wastewater and resource recovery and Tanafloc Australia, the exclusive Australian supplier of Tanfloc, a natural, plant-based coagulant used in water and wastewater treatment. Together, they show that sustainability and commercial growth can work hand in hand.

The Challenge

As Tessele Group grew, its financial and operational needs became more complex. Managing two fast-moving entities meant juggling multiple revenue streams, R&D projects and contracts across several regions, all while staying true to the Group’s mission of driving environmental innovation.

Fabiana was spending more time managing the numbers than setting a strategy. Forecasting cash flow, planning for growth and aligning financial reporting across both businesses became increasingly difficult. Like many purpose-driven organisations, Tessele needed to strengthen its financial foundation without losing sight of its bigger goals.

The team needed to:

• Build reliable financial systems that could grow with the business.
• Gain clearer visibility of cash flow and performance.
• Maximise the R&D Tax Incentive to fund innovation.
• Create investor-ready financial models to support future expansion.

Tessele Group needed a financial partner who could bring structure and strategy to their operations and understand not just the numbers but the purpose behind them.

How Carbon Helped

When Tessele partnered with Carbon, the focus was on clarity, control and confidence. From the beginning, Carbon took time to understand how the businesses worked, what drove their revenue and where the biggest opportunities for improvement were.

Recognising that this wasn’t a one-size-fits-all situation, Carbon introduced an on-site Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who became part of the team. They helped translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights. This hands-on support meant financial strategy wasn’t just discussed in reports; it became part of everyday decisions.

Behind the scenes, Carbon restructured the Group’s accounting systems and introduced cloud-based reporting with streamlined bookkeeping processes. The team now has real-time visibility of cash flow, budgets and project performance. Carbon also helped Tessele align their R&D projects with compliant, efficient structures, making it easier to secure funding for innovation.

Because Carbon provides CFO, bookkeeping, accounting, tax and R&D services under one roof, Tessele didn’t have to manage multiple advisors. Every part of their financial picture, from payroll to forecasting and R&D, now connects seamlessly. That connection gives Fabiana and her team confidence to make strategic decisions faster and with greater certainty.

The Outcome

Since working with Carbon, Tessele Group has transformed how it manages and plans its finances. The business now operates with a level of transparency and discipline that supports growth rather than limits it.

Monthly reporting and forecasting have become proactive tools for decision-making instead of end-of-month obligations. Having a dedicated CFO regularly on-site has brought a sense of stability and partnership that goes beyond the numbers. It’s created clarity, collaboration and confidence.

Fabiana and her leadership team now have space to focus on strategy, expansion and innovation. They can plan long-term, pursue funding opportunities and continue building a sustainable future knowing their financial foundations are strong.

For other sustainability and engineering-focused businesses, Tessele’s experience is a reminder that sound financial systems don’t just keep a business running; they drive innovation.

Carbon Services

Many growing sustainability consultancies, environmental firms and R&D-based organisations face similar challenges: managing multiple projects, balancing cash flow and finding time to plan ahead. It’s easy for financial systems to fall behind when innovation takes priority.

Tessele’s story shows that with the right partner, financial management can become a strength rather than a struggle. By connecting all financial services through one team, Carbon helps businesses like Tessele achieve the clarity they need to grow confidently and sustainably.

Accounting & Tax:

• Tax Planning
• Business Plan & Structure
• Business Financials & Tax Returns

Bookkeeping & CFO Services:

• Bookkeeping Support
• Business Systems
• CFO Services
• Cash Flow Forecasting
• Financial Reports
• Payroll
• BAS Lodgment

R&D and Grants