Afleveringen
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Today I’m speaking with Sarah Lawrance, Founder & CEO of Hot Toast. In this episode, we talk about . . .
- Sarah Lawrance shares her journey from childhood fascination with business to becoming a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and founding her firm Hot Toast
- Lawrance discusses her formative career experiences in Australia, London and fast-growth startups, and the inspiration for starting her own business
- Sarah describes her role as a CFO for rapidly growing businesses, helping clients scale through advisory services, reporting, and finance team development
- Sarah integrates technologies like G-Accon and SYFT to deliver data insights, and sees opportunities in AI and machine learning"I'm a big fan of G-Accon. I really love that tool. It's such a beautiful little connector that we pull lots of data out. We use it with Google Sheets. The creatives love Google Sheets, and they love zeros. So to be able to just link those two up and then kind of manipulate those into our own kind of models is a massive win for us."
- When she could not find an age appropriate soccer club, she started her own women's soccer team. The team has since expanded to over 100 members in the eastern suburbs of Sydney.- Frustrated by a lack of female board opportunities she co-founded the Global Women's Accounting Influencers community
- The conversation covers mentoring the next generation, leveraging networks, and the power of community in the accounting industryContact details:
Sarah Lawrance https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-lawrance-fcpa-83894516/
Hot Toast : https://hottoast.com.au/
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
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- Heather Smith moderates a debate between accounting software pioneer Michael Wood and tech strategist John Toon on the pros and cons of Excel vs Software
- Michael argues that while Excel excels for individual tasks, software is better suited for collaboration and building efficient workflows for businesses
- John counters that users, not the tools, are often to blame for Excel's downfalls, and that Excel can effectively replace basic accounting tasks for some clients
- The debate weighs the impact of tools on practice efficiency, profitability, and eventual sale value, with both sides acknowledging Excel's enduring relevance alongside advancing software
- Listeners are polled on the winning side to much debate, highlighting the complexities of choosing the right tools for each accounting need
Michael Wood https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelwood/
https://www.translucent.io/
John Toon https://www.linkedin.com/in/johntoon/
Podcast https://digitoolsinaccrual.world/
Community https://www.digital-disruptors.com/
Beever and Struthers https://www.beeverstruthers.co.uk/
Contact details:
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Today I’m debating Samuel Green, UK Partnership Account Executive of Employment Hero on AI vs the human touch in accounting at the Festival of Accountants and Bookkeepers
- Smith argues the human touch is crucial for customer service and empathy while Greene emphasises AI's potential for efficiency and insights
- Both agree AI can streamline repetitive tasks but human oversight is still needed
- Attendees question how AI will evolve and what to consider when choosing software
- Smith encourages evaluating long-term roadmaps and support while Greene discusses AI use cases at Employment Hero
- They find consensus that selective AI use can enhance but not replace the human experience in client relationships
Write up from the debate
AI and the case for the human touch
https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/accounting-software/ai-and-the-case-for-the-human-touch
Samuel Green https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelgreen14/
https://employmenthero.com/
Contact details:
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
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Heather Smith shares interviews from the Festival of Accountants and Bookkeepers in Birmingham, including conversations about launching a UK version of XBert, the funding journey of a founder, updates on Sage products, and Richard Sergeant's advice for vendors. Insights cover compliance, automation, growth and more.
- Interview with Will Rush - GM(UK) for XBert discussing launching their platform in the UK
- Conversation with Lucy Cohen - Co-founder and CEO of Mazuma, about starting her business and her recent funding journey (Featuring Alex Falcon Huerta)
- Updates on BrightPay payroll from Donal Carr - Senior Account Executive Bright Software
- Overview of Sage's offerings for accountants from Chris Downing - Director of Product Marketing | Accountants and Bookkeepers Sage
- Richard Sergeant - Managing Director Principle Point shares tips for vendors working with accountants
- Mark Lee Facilitator BookMarkLee.co.uk
Contact details:
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
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Today I’m sharing with you a webinar I hosted on behalf of Projectworks and WorkGuru that provides an overview of alternatives to WorkflowMax by Xero as it reaches end of life 26 June 2024.
The panellists who joined me were:
Heidi Seal Ops Consultant at Business Sense (NZ) Matthew Peng Founder at Business Continuum Matt Hayter Co-Founder at Projectworks Tony Harcourt Co-Founder at WorkGuruThe panellists discussed the triggers for change, comparing features of the two solutions. They explored how each platform caters to different industries. The expert implementers shared case studies of successful migrations, highlighting challenges and opportunities clients faced. The presentation covered developing a migration strategy, including exporting data, mapping business processes, and change management. Attendees learned about assessing potential solutions by considering key questions, desired outcomes, and post go-live improvements. The session emphasised preparing early by testing new platforms and leveraging experienced partners for a smooth transition. Overall, the webinar helped attendees understand options for transitioning away from WorkflowMax by Xero to Projectworks or WorkGuru.
The Flow of the webinar
Understanding the Transition Trigger for Change Market Reaction Comparative Overview of Solutions Common Features Target Industries Points of Difference Deep Dive into Migration Migration Strategy Case Studies Assessing Solutions Preparation for TransitionRelevant links
Heidi Seal Ops Consultant at Business Sense (NZ)
L: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiseal/
B: https://businesssenseconsulting.co.nz/
Heidi Seal Resources
The WorkflowMax Changeover Workshop : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P7arD82_9YSyW26ekE6ryY6bSR4Z1EQf/view
The 7-step process for implementation success : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q_nif1fqgCcXfu8o90JhtXscvBhG5CQl/view
Matthew Peng Founder at Business Continuum
L: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-peng/
B: https://businesscontinuum.com.au/
Matt Hayter Co-Founder at Projectworks
L: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-hayter-9180037/
B: https://projectworks.io/
Tony Harcourt Co-Founder at WorkGuru
L: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-harcourt/
B: https://workguru.io/
Tony Harcourt Resources
Migrating from WoFM to WorkGuru Overview : https://support.workguru.io/support/solutions/articles/43000698451-migrating-from-workflowmax-to-workguru-overview
WFM to WorkGuru One-Click Migration Tool : https://support.workguru.io/support/solutions/articles/43000699631-wfm-to-workguru-one-click-migration-tool
Support Solutions Hub : https://support.workguru.io/support/home
Contact details:
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
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Tyler Caskey, Partner at The Bean Counters joins me in this episode. Here are five interesting insights we talk about in the show:
1. Live Banking and Direct Digital Receipting: Tools like Weel and Airwallex enable real-time banking transactions, while solutions like Slyp and Tyro streamline payment processes by sending receipt details directly to accounting systems, reducing manual data entry.
2. Global Banking Solutions: Digital technology solutions like Airwallex, OFX, Paytron, and Wise facilitate international transactions with ease, offering competitive rates and near real-time transfers and bill payments in multiple currencies.
3. Google's Updates: Google is removing underutilised features across Android, including some related to voice controls, and shutting down its podcast app in favour of integrating podcasts into YouTube Music. This shift intrigued the author, who recently upgraded their device.
4. Updates in the Reporting Space: Various accounting software solutions have introduced updates, such as Calxa's unlinked accounts feature for cash flow forecasting, Fathom's improved KPI library experience, and G-Accon's introduction of automatic workflows within Google Sheets.
5. Xero's Invoices Changes: Xero is retiring classic invoicing in September 2024, prompting concerns from the community about missing features, like the ability to process an overpayment, inability to edit exchange rates, and inability to invoice bulk contact groups. However, you can quickly switch back if you need features only currently available within classic invoicing.
These insights highlight the ongoing technological advancements and changes within the accounting industry, offering both opportunities and challenges for practitioners and stakeholders alike.
Contact details:
Tyler Caskey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylercaskey/
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
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Today I’m speaking with Cassandra Scott, Director of Laurus Bookkeeping
In this episode, we talk about . . .
- Delve into how Xbert leverages AI to scrutinise client accounting data, spotlighting over 80 potential anomalies and risks.
- Discover the power of automating routine tasks such as payroll, BAS, and bookkeeping with standardised workflows.
- Learn how Cassandra efficiently mapped her first 10 workflows in just half an hour, enhancing consistency.
- Explore Xbert's scheduling capabilities, enabling the assignment of recurring tasks to various cycles, from daily to fortnightly.
- Understand the significance of using client notes to capture unique requirements for bespoke workflows.
- Gain insights into data-driven reporting and analytics, offering a glimpse into staff performance and client engagements.
- Uncover how customisable reporting allows practices to dissect data from diverse angles.
- Get a peek at roadmap features like capacity management, utilising timesheet data for optimal scheduling.
- Hear about the transformative impact Xbert has had on Cassandra's practice, facilitating work with global clients.
Contact details:
XBert: https://www.xbert.io/
Cassandra Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandrascott/
Bookkeepers in Practice FaceBook Group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1652992464953692
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
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Today I’m speaking with Jonathan Gaunt, co-founder of of Socket Digital, Xavier Analytics & FD Works
In this episode, we talk about . . .
Jonathan's transition from corporate accounting to entrepreneurship, embracing new opportunities and control over his career.
Insights from working with Dragon's Den investor Richard Farleigh, focusing on solutions over limitations.
Practical tips for enhancing your LinkedIn profile to attract more followers and connections with engaging content.
The importance of storytelling with numbers and identifying the pivotal "clunk moment" in business.
The role of co-founding Xavier Analytics in improving data quality and introducing new workflow automation tools.
Reflections on selling a business and fostering innovation within larger organisations.
Development of innovative proposal software for accountants, driven by needs identification and process innovation.
Advice for entrepreneurs: be courageous, focus on controllables, and enjoy the entrepreneurial journey.
This episode is kindly sponsored by Fathom all in one reporting, analysis and forecasting.
Contact details:Jonathan Gaunt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gaunt/
FD Works: https://www.fd-works.co.uk/
Xavier Analytics: https://xavier-analytics.com/
UseSocket: https://www.usesocket.com/
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
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In this episode, Tom Herbert, technology editor at Accounting Web, shares his insights on the British Post Office scandal, which has been ongoing for decades, ruining the lives of many subpostmasters. Heather and Tom discussed the problems with the Post Office's Fujitsu Horizon point of sale system implementation, leading to unbalanced reconciliations and accusations of theft against subpostmasters. The Post Office used its prosecution powers and prosecuted 700 subpostmasters between 1989 and 2015, resulting in jail time, financial ruin, relationship breakdown, lost homes, living in cars, and sadly much much worse. The scandal is discussed from the perspective of an accountant, the POS implementation, the forensic accountant who aided in uncovering the issues, the suspense account, the high tax hitting the subpostmasters when they received any compensation. The story behind this scandal, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, was broadcast on ITV in January 2024. We talk about the importance of storytelling in bringing this story into the narrative of the general public.
Contact details: Tom Herbert
Contact details:
Tom Herbert https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomherbert/ AccountingWeb https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/ Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU -
Today I’m speaking with Tyler Caskey, Partner at The Bean Counters
In this episode, we talk about . . .
Accounting industry trends in 2024
Crafting accounting stories for clients, marketing and career coaching.
AI, Automation & ChatGPT in accounting.
Remote work trends and virtual teams in the accounting industry.
Pay raises, career progression, and work-from-home impact.
The role of accountants in strategic business planning and advisory
Trends in practice management software for accounting firms.
This episode is kindly sponsored by
Employment Hero: The All in One HR, Payroll & Benefits Platform https://employmenthero.com/
Translucent The Multi-Entity Accounting solution https://www.translucent.io/
Technology Mentioned
Account-Kit https://www.account-kit.com/
AirWallex https://www.airwallex.com/au
Dashboard Insights https://dashboardinsights.com/
Employment Hero https://employmenthero.com/
FYI Docs : https://fyi.app/
Handisoft : https://www.theaccessgroup.com/en-au/products/handisoft/
KarbonHQ https://karbonhq.com/
XBert https://www.xbert.io/
Xero Practice Manager https://www.xero.com/au/xero-practice-manager/
Weel https://letsweel.com/
Contact details:
Tyler Caskey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylercaskey/
The Bean Counters: https://www.thebeancounters.com.au/
"The Accounting Podcast," Blake Oliver's interview with Ben Richmond, the Country Manager of Xero USA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqSYir84htg
Weel
Natalie Lennon https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalielennon/
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
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The biggest kept secret in the Australian accounting industry: The acquisition of Change GPS by Access Group.
This episode is kindly sponsored by
Employment Hero: The All in One HR, Payroll & Benefits Platform https://employmenthero.com/
Translucent The Multi-Entity Accounting solution https://www.translucent.io/
In this episode
- David Boyar reflects on his upbringing in his father's accounting practice and early ambitions ( he was going to be CEO of Coca Cola!)
- He discusses founding an association of CFOs and lessons learned from scaling advisory work
- Boyar shares how he joined Change GPS and their aligned values (with Timothy Munro) in transforming accounting firms
- Insights are provided on data analytics in accounting tech companies and marketing approaches, including wearing a suit !
- Accountants take umbrage at people who've never had an accounting practice telling them what to do.
- The acquisition of Change GPS by Access Group is explained as a strategic partnership
- Client experience and standardised services are highlighted as priorities for the future
Contact details:
L: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidboyar/
L: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothymunro/
W: https://changegps.com.au/
Roadshow: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/changegps-2988249339
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
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The big news is I'm rebranding the Cloud Stories podcast to the Accounting Apps podcast (fingers crossed)
In this episode, I talk about . . .
Summer adventures with family and Chester the Border Collie in Elanora and Crows Nest
Catching up on admin backlog and office makeover
Website update with recent photos and videos
Rebranding Cloud Stories podcast to Accounting Apps podcast
Introducing advertising to the newsletter and podcast
Clarification on ACCA Global Council election results
Embracing "StoryTeller" as the theme for the year
Upcoming speaking engagements in Birmingham and Cairns
Preview of the next episode with David Boyar, CEO of ChangeGPS
Contact details:
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
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2023 has been a brilliant technicolour year for me, and I’m delighted to end it on yet another high, hitting 20 000 podcast episode downloads during the year. As an accountant I do like a nice round number.
Thank you to the many listeners, especially those who hit the subscribe button.
Thank you to the many guests who graciously share their time with me on the Cloud Stories podcast over the last year.
Thank you to the conference organisers for providing me with the opportunity to meet fascinating individuals and enabling me to share knowledge with our accounting & bookkeeping community.
The Cloud Stories Wrap of 2023 is as an opportunity to answer the following questions:
Which accounting technologies saw the most significant advancements this year?
What were the top 5 most popular episodes of 20
How did the podcast evolve over the past year?
What were the biggest challenges faced in podcasting about accounting technology in 2023?
What feedback from listeners surprised you the most?
What was the most unexpected topic or guest you had in 2023?
What was the most controversial topic discussed on the podcast?
How do you plan to evolve the podcast in the coming year?
What advice would you give to someone starting a podcast in the accounting technology niche?
How did you celebrate reaching 20,000 downloads?
What are your goals for the podcast in 2024?
Wishing you all health and happiness as we head into 2024.
Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
Connect with Heather Smith here https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathersmithau/
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Heather Smith delves into the transformative role of ChatGPT in the accounting sector. The discussion begins with an early adopter's perspective, highlighting the initial challenges and the evolving capabilities of ChatGPT. She explores its practical applications in tasks like email drafting and webinar planning, emphasising its ability to add creativity and efficiency to mundane tasks.
The podcast then shifts focus to customise ChatGPT for more personalised and precise outputs. This includes tailoring the AI to align with specific language preferences, such as UK English, and ensuring the responses are concise and fit the intended audience's needs. Emphasis is placed on the tool's ability to mirror an individual's style and branding, making it a versatile asset in professional communications.
In the final segment, she discusses the importance of critically assessing AI outputs, acknowledging ChatGPT's limitations such as its tendency to "hallucinate" or provide incorrect information, and the inherent biases in AI based on its training data. This part of the conversation underscores the need for a responsible approach to using AI, balancing its remarkable benefits with an awareness of its pitfalls.
Overall, the podcast offers a comprehensive look at ChatGPT’s role in accounting, providing listeners with insights into how this AI tool can be a game-changer in the industry while also cautioning them to use it judiciously.
Then there is a surprise twist!!
Connect with Heather Smith here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathersmithau/
Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
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Michael Wood truly lives and breathes the title entrepreneur. Currently he’s Founder & CEO of Translucent. His LinkedIn profile reveals he’s also the founder of 4 other companies. The company that you’re likely to know him from is Receipt Bank. Michael was the original co-founder and was there till April 2021, when it was acquired by private equity group HgCapital.
Please be aware I strategically partner with Translucent. I was an early adopter of Receipt Bank, and also am an early adopter of Translucent. I’m sure you will find this interview enlightening!
In this episode, we talk about . . .
Michael’s journey from pursuing a Bachelor of Science in zoology to founding a marketing and growth consultancy firm, Tweed London.
The origins and evolution of Receipt Bank, a digital receipt management platform.
The impact of Xero's API on the accounting industry.
Michael discusses how his experience at Receipt Bank led to the launch of Translucent, a solution for multi-entity businesses to manage their accounting setup.
How Translucent is using a compound startup approach to build multiple apps within one platform, aiming to launch four apps per year.
Michael explains that Translucent is like a data warehouse, providing a single source of truth for users to easily search and find data across all their entities.
Michael discusses upcoming features for their financial management platform, including bank consolidation and intercompany loans.
The future of accounting, globalisation, and the need for a more unified toolset.
Michael shares his views on the future of accounting and technology industry through 2030, emphasising the value of data and its journey towards maximisation.
Michael highlights the increasing importance of data in the industry, and how firms and finance departments will need to surf the technology wave to keep up.
Michael Wood : https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelwood/
Translucent : https://translucent.app/
Heather Smith : https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathersmithau/
If you enjoyed this podcast please share it with someone else who you think would benefit from it. For in-depth discussions about the ecosystem, do join the Xero Mastermind group on Facebook. I recommend subscribing to the Accounting Apps newsletter for a comprehensive insight into the ecosystem space, accessible at HeatherSmithAU.COM. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and subscribe to the Cloud Stories podcast. I'm Heather Smith, and this has been the Cloud Stories podcast.
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I had a brilliant time at the Expo. I delivered four sessions on Apps, Ai, ChatGPT & Habits and honestly was shocked at how packed they all were. Expos give me an efficient opportunity to catch up with Sydney friends and, as it was not purely an accounting conference, but also a business conference, there were colleagues from different industries. As well as speaking with lots of people, I attended a few sessions, and I’m not even sure how I managed it, but I recorded 8 interviews from the floor.
Bingham Archibald Presales Solutions Architect at Kodak Alaris document scanners, software, and professional services to streamline data capture workflows.
Malcolm Cameron Head of Solutions at MyTreasur-e manage and monitor their cash, payments, leases and risk activities
Chris Dodson Director Hero Blue Cloud based finance schedule creation and storage with Xero integration
Cathy Middleton Senior Licensing Manager One Music Australia Helping businesses meet their music licensing obligation.
Stan Corner CEO at AtoMate fast, simple, secure ATO document processing for accountants
Joel Hanna Customer Success and Enablement Manager (APAC) at Sustain Life
Anita Da Encarnacao Principal at Aretex re-engineer and optimises the entire accounting and bookkeeping process for multi-site businesses and franchises.
Lez Yeoh CEO of Clevero a business management system that integrates with Xero, and includes scheduling tools and a customisable dashboard.
Connect with me:
Accounting Apps newsletter http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathersmithau/
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Xero co-founder Philip Fierlinger shares the story behind building one of the world's most successful accounting platforms, Xero He discusses his early inspiration from car dashboards and the gamification of bank reconciliations. Fierlinger also reveals how his latest startup Upstock is transforming the inefficient B2B food ordering process and levelling the playing field for small suppliers.
Many of our listeners will know Philip Fierlinger as one of the 5 co-founders of Xero, but let me share with you a bit of background about Philip:
For over 5 years, Philip has been creating digital products and experiences that have set new standards of design, business and technology.
In 1992 a university project landed Philip an internship at General Magic where he conceptualised the “Mediaphone” a digital walkman, letting you download music anywhere, anytime. To give you some context this was 9 years before Steve Jobs introduced the iPod and 15 years before Jobs introduced the iPhone.
Philip went on to create a digital agency, with his brother in 1994, doing work for Apple, the Beastie Boys, Comcast, Disney, Dreamworks, Macromedia, Palm, Sony Playstation, among many others.
After moving to NZ, Philip co-founded Xero in 2006, where he was Head of Design for nearly 10 years. Philip was instrumental in Xero becoming a disruptive platform, an iconic global brand, and a market leading public company worth billions of dollars. And I suspect as he had a focus on design, he had something to do with making Xero beautiful software.
Philip is currently Co-CEO of Upstock, a B2B wholesale platform that's transforming the way the foodservice industry operates.
Along the way Philip has been an investor and advisor to numerous startups and scaleups including Sharesies, Milanote, Deputy, Atomic, Karbon, Chartio (sold to Atlassian) – helping with product, marketing, growth, team & culture, and investor strategy.
In this episode, I talk to Philip Fierlinger Co-Ceo of UpStock.app about . . .
Career journey from car design to tech entrepreneurship.
Xero’s history, developing an accounting system with a focus on bank feeds and beautiful design.
Prioritising business operations over tax compliance with real-time cash flow visibility.
How a three year old inspired the innovative design of Xero
Launching a foodservice marketplace, digitising B2B transactions.
The business model and pricing for a B2B marketplace.
Streamlining foodservice industry operations with UpStock platform.
A platform for farmers and suppliers to connect and grow their businesses.
You have been listening to the Cloud Stories podcast. I encourage you to subscribe and leave a five star review, so other people can find this podcast. From here, I suggest you join the Xero Mastermind group on Facebook for advanced conversations around the ecosystem. I suggest you subscribe to the informative Accounting Apps newsletter which gives you a great overview of the ecosystem space. It's available at https://HeatherSmithAU.COM. I encourage you to connect with me on LinkedIn and subscribe to the Cloud Stories podcast. I’m Heather Smith and you've been listening to the Cloud Stories podcast.
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A collection of interviews from TOA Global clients, staff, and partners, including a special interview with the emcee Kat Davidson, who shares some tips on public speaking. Relive your time at TOACon ‘23, or get a taste for what happened.
Today I'm bringing you interviews from the TOA Global Transformational conference held at the Sheraton Mirage on the Gold Coast early November 23. I had the pleasure of attending the conference, courtesy of the hospitable TOA Global team. TOA Global specialising in providing outsourcing solutions for accounting firms. In this collection of interviews you’ll hear from TOA Global clients, staff, and partners. Even if you are not currently contemplating outsourcing, there is a lot of interesting content in this podcast, including a special interview with the emcee Kat Davidson, who shares some tips on public speaking.
Keep your finger on the pulse of the ever-evolving world of Accounting Technology. Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter at HeatherSmithAU.COM.
My friend and the CEO of TOA Global Nick Sinclair likes to run his conferences unconventionally! The audience is typically people from the Accounting Industry but interestingly the content is not accounting specific. Further to this, there’s no published agenda, so you remain curious about what will happen next! We listened to strategies for building high performance culture, body biohacking, growing sustainable businesses, systemising businesses and as you’d expect there was a dash of motivational speakers. If this intrigues you TOACON 2024 will be at the Shangri-La Boracay 30 June - 2 July 2024.
Daniel Shaw - DFK Benjamin King Money
James Bamford - Paytron
Mark Jenkins - The Gap
Kelly Segat - TOA Global
Aly Garret - All in Advisory
Kat Davidson - Comedian, MC, Corporate Entertainer, Keynote Speaker
Geoff Gartly - Gartly Advisory
Vicki Birch - Intuit
Carl Brooks - ProSpend
(Used to be called ExpenseManager)
Carolyn O’Brien - Class
Ben Gill - LightYear Docs
Vicky Shah - Accountancy Insurance
The TOA Global team kindly hosted me to attend the conference.
This episode was sponsored by Translucent, the multi-entity accounting solution.
Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
Connect with me on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathersmithau/
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What are your options when your tech stack is bursting at the seams? You’re struggling to get visibility over what’s happening. You’re balancing multiple spreadsheets and you’re spending a lot of time consolidating data.
If you are trying to resolving your business's data overwhelm there are a number of options:
Spring cleans all the files, and all the data. Merge duplicates and expunge old data, and trim down the data files.
Call in the professionals: Engage a professional cloud integrator to review your set up and advice of any efficiency opportunities.
Multi Entity Consolidation solution : I work with the Fathom team and they have a multi-entity financial reporting tool to help you compare and consolidate your organisations.
A new solution on the market that you may not have heard of is Translucent.io who I’ve recently started working with. It turns your existing single-entity accounting system into a multi-entity accounting solution. You connect your existing accounting software (Xero, QBO, etc.) and Translucent consolidates all your data to create a single financial system of record. Translucent Apps provide workflows for your muli-entity needs, such as searching for transactions at group level, creating consolidated reporting, managing intercompany transactions, live connecting your data to spreadsheets, and more apps being released every quarter.
While you may not have heard of Translucent before, it is likely that you heard of Dext, or Receipt Bank. The founder and good friend of mine, Michael Woods is the founder of Translucent.io and he’s built it as a tool he would have liked when running Receipt Bank.
A fourth option here is to migrate to an ERP solution. This is something you can potentially explore with a Cloud Integrator about or speak with a software consulting specialist. As you start to move into this area, you really want to engage an experienced specialist who can give you an unbiased assessment of your options to help you know what is possible, and suggest options to future proof your business.
Each option has a different price point, and it's important to understand the scoping, implementation, training, maintenance and ongoing costs involved. Likewise make an assessment of how many hours a solution will save you once implemented, and will it enable your business to scale.
You can get CPE for this and other episodes of the Cloud Stories podcast. Simply download the EarMarkCPE App, and answer a few questions correctly about this podcast, and they email you a certificate of CPE.
Connect with Heather Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathersmithau/
Accounting Apps newsletter https://heathersmithsmallbusiness.com/newsletter/ -
Discover how Grace Loves Lace transformed their bridal gown business with a strategic NetSuite implementation. Learn insights on scaling operations and enhancing efficiency in the fashion industry.
Today I’m speaking with Sarah Rynja, Global Systems Manager of Grace Loves Lace
In this episode, we talk about . . .
- The NetSuite implementation she has been involved with at Grace Loves Lace. The business was founded in Burleigh Heads, Australia to provide luxury boho-style wedding dresses without structure or boning
- They have gained global recognition through their unique dress styles and having the #1 most pinned wedding dress on Pinterest
- Grace Loves Lace manufactures all their custom-made dresses locally in Australia
- They implemented NetSuite to help scale their growing operations across stores in multiple countries
- Key NetSuite features like WMS, dashboards, and OneWorld help with inventory, order tracking, financials, and multi-country operations
- Sarahs Tips for optimally using NetSuite included leveraging dashboards operationally and getting involved in the NetSuite user community
Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here http://HeatherSmithAU.COM
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