Accountants After Hours – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Thank you to our sponsors Ignition who we both love and use in our businesses to automate proposals and streamline invoicing. Check them out here.

In this episode of Accountants After Hours, we tackle a spicy topic that’s long overdue: Why don’t accountants and bookkeepers always play nice?

We unpack the tension between the two roles, where it comes from, and how miscommunication, differing expectations, and industry pressures can create an “us vs them” dynamic.

From real-life experiences inside our own firms, we break down:

• The key differences between bookkeeping and accounting
• Why month-end processes are more than just data entry
• The ongoing debate around receipts, compliance, and commerciality
• Common frustrations on both sides (yes, including journals with no explanations 👀)
• How better communication and collaboration leads to better client outcomes

We also share practical insights into how we structure bookkeeping inside our firms, how AI is changing workflows, and why working together, not against each other is the real win.

Because at the end of the day, the client should always come out on top.

☕️ This episode’s tea:

• The rise of AI tools giving financial advice… and why we’re not convinced
• The dangers of removing the human element from accounting
• A wild client story involving financials that didn’t even balance 😬

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☕️ Send us your accounting industry tea and questions - hello@accountantsafterhours or DM on socials.

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DISCLAIMER: This podcast is general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Listeners should seek their own professional advice and conduct their own due diligence before acting on any information discussed.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Accountants After Hours - this time recorded live in front of an audience.

Thank you to our sponsors Ignition who we both love and use in our businesses to automate proposals and streamline invoicing. Check them out here. 

In this episode, Nat and Sarah dive into the real challenges accounting firms are facing right now, from team pressures and burnout to capacity issues and the constant juggle between growth and delivery.

They unpack:

• Why staffing and team dynamics remain the biggest pain point across firms
• The reality of doing the work vs leading the business
• The never-ending cycle of hiring, capacity, and chasing new clients
• How community and industry connections help navigate the chaos

They also get into a spicy industry debate:

• CPA vs CA — should the bodies merge?
• Do clients actually care about designations anymore?
• And what the future of the profession could look like with AI and regulation changes

Plus, they share personal career reflections:

• Taking risks, backing yourself, and “doing the hard thing”
• Walking away from traditional paths to build something better
• Why finding your tribe in the industry is everything

And of course… Tea Time ☕ makes an appearance with some live event gossip 👀

Follow, subscribe and share with an accountant who needs a space where the real conversations happen.

Send us your accounting industry tea and questions - hello@accountantsafterhours or DM on socials.

Follow us on Instagram (it’s where we have the most fun)

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on LinkedIn

Watch and subscribe on YouTube

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Listeners should seek their own professional advice and conduct their own due diligence before acting on any information discussed.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well… our last AI episode is already outdated 😅

So we’re back for a quick bonus chat on what’s changed in the last few weeks and why things suddenly feel like they’re moving at lightning speed.

We cover:

🤖 Claude Cowork and the rise of real AI agents

Nat shares how she’s using it to automate tasks like renaming folders and even building EOFY workpapers in one prompt

⚡ From prompts to action

This is the shift from “AI suggesting” to “AI actually doing”

👀 Why human oversight still matters

(including when AI gets a little too confident…)

🚀 The explosion of new apps

AI-first tools, startups trying to rival Xero, and why the space feels crowded right now

😵‍💫 The vibe in the industry

Excitement, overwhelm, a bit of anxiety… and why accountants are still in a strong position

🛡️ Where the real opportunity is

Governance, trust, and being the human in the loop

It’s changing fast.It’s a lot.

But this is the worst the tech will ever be… and there’s a huge opportunity if you lean in.

Follow, subscribe and share with an accountant who needs a space where the real conversations happen.

Send us your accounting industry tea and questions - hello@accountantsafterhours or DM on socials.

Follow us on Instagram (it’s where we have the most fun) 

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on LinkedIn

Watch and subscribe on YouTube

Follow us individually on Instagram @natlenno  @sarahlawranceCFO.

Thank you to our sponsors Ignition who we both love and use in our businesses to automate proposals and streamline invoicing. Check them out here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We recorded this a few weeks ago which in AI terms basically makes it old news already. And that alone tells you how fast this space is moving.

In this jam packed episode we break down what’s actually changed since ChatGPT dropped in November 2022, why the AI convo makes some accountants roll their eyes, and why we still need to talk about it anyway.

We cover:

• GPT-4, Claude, Gemini and the DeepSeek moment that shook the AI race

• Why 2026 might be the year of the “agent” (AI that does things, not just says things)

• The gap between what LLMs can do and what accounting firms are actually ready for

• Tech debt, change management and why that’s the real bottleneck

• What’s already being automated in firms right now

• Why hourly billing makes less sense in an automated world

We also share real examples from our firms, including:

• Automating compliance and workpapers

• AI agents qualifying new leads

• Using ChatGPT Teams for quarterly advisory reporting

• And yes… “make this email sound less blunt” being one of the most used prompts

Plus Tea Time ☕️

This episode : cowboy accountants, refund dramas, and employees walking out with clients.

It’s not hype.

It’s not doom.

It’s what’s actually happening inside accounting   firms right now.

And let us know…

Do we keep talking about AI?

Or is Nat banning the topic?

Ai and automation tools we use:

Vinyl AI notetaker

Zapier

ChatGPT

Claude

Grok

Google Gemini

N8N

Perplexity

OpenClaw

Typeform

Follow, subscribe and share with an accountant who needs a space where the real conversations happen.

Send us your accounting industry tea and questions - hello@accountantsafterhours or DM on socials.

Follow us on Instagram (it’s where we have the most fun)

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on LinkedIn

Watch and subscribe on YouTube

Follow us individually on Instagram @natlenno  @sarahlawranceCFO.

Thank you to our sponsors Ignition who we both love and use in our businesses to automate proposals and streamline invoicing. Check them out here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Accountants After Hours.

In our first episode, we’re sharing how this podcast came to life. Two friends who’ve spent the last five years voice noting each other about client chaos, team dramas, AI, big ideas and industry frustrations.

Because this profession can feel lonely. And it doesn’t have to.

We introduce ourselves properly, reflect on the year that was, and talk about the events that brought the industry back to life. From Xerocon to awards nights to forums, we unpack why showing up matters and why community is everything.

We also discuss AI advancements and what we’re seeing on the ground, our predictions for 2026 including automation, mergers and the rise of agents and our theme for the year.

Plus we launch two regular segments:

☕ Tea Time

Industry gossip, big moves, questionable behaviour and the stuff everyone is whispering about.

💬 Ask Us Anything

Send us the questions you’re too nervous to ask publicly and we’ll answer them here.

If you think you know us from LinkedIn, think again.

🔗 Episode links:

Facebook Groups:

Totally Bossing It - for accountants and bookkeepers of tomorrow

Small Business Accountants & Advisers Brain Trust, Australia

Events:

• Accounting & Business Expo
• Xero Supercharged Sessions
• CAANZ International Women’s Day
• CAANZ Elevate Your Impact Conference 
• Women in Finance Lunch
• Women in Finance Awards
• Australian Accounting Awards
• Xerocon Denver
•  CPA Build Day https://events.cpaaustralia.com.au/MaWyNk

Follow, subscribe and share with an accountant who needs a space where the real conversations happen.

☕️ Send us your accounting industry tea and questions - hello@accountantsafterhours or DM on socials:

Follow us on Instagram (it’s where we have the most fun)

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on LinkedIn

Watch and subscribe on YouTube

Thank you to our sponsors Ignition who we both love and use in our businesses to automate proposals and streamline main invoicing.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.