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1. Xerocon 2025 | Where the Sun Shines | The AI Race09 Sep 202500:22:07

Who knows what the future of From the Trenches is? Not us. But when Dave posted about a Xerocon Trenches recording it performed better than other linked in posts actual thought went into. 

 

BEST ON GROUND

Paul Meisner

  • Xero Bank Rec AI automation - biggest update since Find and Recode
  • OpenAI integration into Xero ecosystem - Xero might catch up to the Access Groups Evo AI but either way, the race for the AI Kingdom is on
  • The people - face-to-face networking away from online negativity

David Boyar

  • Paul Meisner the men's health role model
  • Expecting a big ROI
  • Quality of content - sessions packed, people wanting solutions ahead of activations 
  • Industry positivity - stark contrast to toxic online communities that make you feel the sky is turning into flowing lava

WORST ON GROUND

Paul Meisner

  • Professional bodies completely absent - CPA, CA, IPA nowhere to be seen at 3,500 person event
  • Welcome to Country interrupted for product pitch

David Boyar

  • Less "woke agenda" = more product focus (actually good)
  • CEO compensation optics but loved the confident "double down"

From Dave

"The online accounting world has become incredibly negative... but they're smiling, they're wearing shorts, having a great year, but here, Accounting has sun shining on it at the moment"

From Paul

"Industry bodies, where the bloody hell are you? 3,500 of the accounting and bookkeeping community in one room and you can't even show up"

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1. "It's pretty Epic"22 Nov 202400:25:56

G'day friends,

Been a while but Dave made Paul a promise - that he could make the most content rich accounting event, filled with high value content, a fair balance for sponsors and organizers, and a proper party.

And Paul is the sort of person who holds people to account....

  • The agenda is finalised
  • The band is booked
  • The drinks budget has been broken
  • The Access Group has a monstrous new take on AI to share

 

And there's about 30 tickets left.................... and Dave said it would sell out ....so you know...help him out.

Get your tickets at accessallareas.au

Access All Areas - Access All Areas 

Sorry about some of the audio, we are out of form. 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

15. What Happens When Xero Goes Down? With Xero CTO Mark Rees19 Sep 202200:11:12

When Xero goes down does CTO Mark Rees get a red alert alarm in the middle of the night? Is it red flashing lights and blaring alarms? 

 

Listen to find out as Paul Meissner goes 1:1 with Mark Rees at Xerocon

 

 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

14. What are financial services and why does Xero have them with Leigh O'Neill EGM - Global Financial Services @ Xerocon13 Sep 202200:14:10

There are so many new payment apps now. 

Some of them are payments but cheaper and other build great workflows to solve business problems you currently have. 

And there is a ton of work being done to help banks understand Xero data. 

And the person overseeing this strategy is Xero's Leigh O'Neill. 

 

Check out our other Xerocon Interviews.

4 Minutes and 31 Seconds with Jo Lyons @Xerocon https://omny.fm/shows/from-the-trenches/4-minutes-and-31-seconds-with-jo-lyons 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12. 4 Minutes and 31 Seconds with Jo Lyons @Xerocon13 Sep 202200:04:32

New Xero APAC Managing Director Jo Lyons has the energy one needs to take on this enormous job.

In this 4 minutes and 31 second floor walk interview Jo and Paul capture the energy of Xerocon. 

Check out our other Xerocon interviews

Financial Services and Xero - What and Why with Leigh O'Neill - EGM Financial Services 

Where's the product? With Mark Rees CTO

Huge thanks to Xero for comping Paul and Dave some Xerocon tickets. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12. Xerocon: Coachella or Community for Accountants?02 Sep 202200:41:18

It's a nervous feeling as we get ready for for the biggest gathering of the industry in 3 years with the 3,000 odd attendees slightly eclipsing the 13 odd people who went to the IPA crypto conference. 

This is the retail junket we have all been looking for, the most accessible one that has sold out by attendees, was over sold to sponsors and stands to re shape the energy in the industry. 

And we discuss, if we don't expect major product announcements, and if the content is more wokey, techy, thoughy leadershipy stuff you could get anywhere then why did it sell out? And why are we so excited?

Well, because this is the greatest peer accounting community in the region and the industry clearly craves coming together. 

In this years preview Dave and Paul cover:

Is this a tech conference or an accounting conference?

What we're looking forward to 

What we want to learn

Who we want to meet (hint, it's you). 

Software Vs Accountants Futsol Penalty Shootout

Want to kick a ball at the head of a software vendor (And be ok with them kicking back)?

Software Vs Accountants Futsol penalty shoot out will go ahead live at

Time 2.00 PM

Day 2 Wednesday 

If you want to attend send Paul, Dave or Trent a message on social media or email summit@fromthetrenches.com.au 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11. CA's Review Rollercoaster | Workplace TV | Nonsense Mission Statements26 Aug 202200:29:38

Best on Ground

Tyler Casky takes the Moral High ground on paid influencers https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tylercaskey_i-love-little-innovations-like-this-they-activity-6964724147667025920-k72D/?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web 

The rise of Workplace TV

Pauls Rant  got 50k Linked In views -  but is he right? 

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6963277532511043585/ 

Progress on the Gender Pay Gap at the Big 4 

https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/financial-review-consulting-salary-guide-2022-23-20220808-p5b815 

Paul

Excel formula’s: ​​https://www.linkedin.com/posts/asifmasani_financial-modelling-formulas-ugcPost-6965610625259454464--7kU?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

We need a Recession so tech staff find out what hard work looks like https://twitter.com/JohnWRichKid/status/1561023740577779713 

Worst on Ground 

David

Quiet quitting isn't real - we used to call it being lazy, this is just the old gen thinking the new gen work less - https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/appointments/17457-excess-overtime-fuels-quiet-quitting-epidemic 

This is what 16% homeloans look like - Literally  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/james-n-nicol_these-are-not-high-interest-rates-this-activity-6968392410934501376-kJ4j/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop 

Nonsense Mission Statements getting called out https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/management/ashurst-should-accept-its-purpose-is-not-extraordinary-20220722-p5b3qc 

Paul

CPA too late on capacity to pay letters 

https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/business/17328-avoid-capacity-to-pay-letters-warns-cpa-australia 

Chartered Accountants Launches another review  - we don't care, what matters is implemented changes.

Intuit has rebranded to a simpler font. Why? https://www.intuit.com/blog/news-social/unveiling-our-new-intuit-logo/?cid=soc_employee-ambassador&utm_channeltype=LinkedIn 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10. Cheating at KPMG | Ethical Difference Makers?| Xero Reports22 Jul 202200:45:40

What a week to make worst on ground. No matter how hard you tried, some other company did it worse.

Xero are pulling their much loved version 1 reports. That was a show until…

KPMG got caught cheating and CA did barely anything about it. That was a show until…

CAANZ took 18 months to do what little they did causing all three accounting bodies to get a please explain from the Professional Standards Authority and somehow found a way to defend their actions and blame their processes instead of any one person.

Sounds like the type of unaccountable culture that could lead to….say……systemising ethical breaches.

Best on Ground

David

Xero’s Emotional Tax Return Campaign https://www.linkedin.com/posts/joseph-lyons-au_running-your-own-business-is-an-incredibly-activity-6949868389066514432-7Qly/?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web  

Accountants Daily new Editor Phil King is capturing the mood of the industry with tech news and industry voice

Paul

New Xero product - Xero go. Interesting given the current app already has a lot of the functionality.  https://www.xero.com/blog/2022/07/xero-go-for-uk-based-sole-traders/ 

Beta testing new tech is good for the customer. 

AI in Food - https://www.afr.com/technology/pizza-giant-gets-into-maths-of-preparing-food-before-orders-arrive-20220713-p5b1g0 

Worst on Ground

Paul

CA can’t uphold the ethics of the profession 

https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/professional-regulator-blasts-shocking-delay-in-kpmg-cheating-probe-20220718-p5b2jn 

  1. Perception that CA treat big firms better than small may not be true 
  2. CAANZ blame their processes, but what about their people? Who is actually responsible?
  3. The by-laws can’t punish the right entities
  4. How important is being part of the Professional Standards Authority? 

ANZ - MYOB - Suncorp - Myob

https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/699933/anz-drops-myob-acquisition-talks/ 

David

Rezza hood manages to upset accountants and bookkeepers in one overly salesy Hpost

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rezahooda_accountants-accountingandaccountants-activity-6953303419453378560-b5xX/?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web 

Mass Media Fear mongering on interest rates makes us dumberhttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/michaelhutchens_australias-mass-media-reporting-of-the-reserve-activity-6949950144876290049-rnjx/?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web 

Atlassian is so unprofitable but we worship them

https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/analysis/atlassian-unprofitable-valuation-adam-schwab/ 

Why VCFO Fails https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6947990583122513920/  VCFO association is part of the solution they spend their time trying to educate on the difference  https://vcfoassociation.com.au/ 

 

__________________________________________________

This Episode is brought to you by ChangeGPS - Growth Profit Systems making accounting client friendly (brought to you means Dave did it on ChangeGPS time). 

Register for the 2022 Financial Statements + Tax Return Workpapers Masterclass

Monday 1st August 2022

1:00-2:00pm AEST

2022 Financial Statements + Tax Return Workpapers Masterclass (changegps.com.au)

Do you want to get your entire team to have an efficient and standardised Year End process?

Invite the whole team - even your juniors! - for our 2022 Financial Statements and Tax Return Workpaper Masterclass. With a consistent “one-way for everyone” approach, your firm will be able to:

  • work efficiently to deliver year end, the same way, for all clients 
  • de-risk by ensuring all work is produced to an exact quality standard
  • train your employees with a comprehensive client service system and simplified workpapers 

You'll join ChangeGPS Founder, Timothy Munro, and CEO, David Boyar who will deep dive in to our most popular workpapers, utilised by thousands of accountants across Australia.

Register now 2022 Financial Statements + Tax Return Workpapers Masterclass (changegps.com.au)

Join us to learn:

  • Why “one way” of doing things across your entire firm maximises your production and minimises your review time
  • The balance your team needs to take to keep your jobs profitable without becoming an ATO auditor on every transaction!
  • Why Excel workpapers strike the accountant's perfect balance between standardisation and flexibility
  • Why Excel Workpapers and Xero Workpapers combine for management review perfection
  • How to get your clients engaged in the year end process without relying on a threat from the ATO

PLUS: See how your client’s TAX OBLIGATIONS should be recorded at year end on their Balance Sheet and how our 2022 Tax Checklists help prompt your team to ensure this always happens!

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8. The Dext Generation | Interview with Dext CRO, Alistair Newman15 Jun 202200:36:59

The orange, and widely loved Dext (Previously Receipt Bank) has had an interesting run.

Widely regarded as the best technical product for receipt automation, it's been a different couple of years for this fast paced start-up!

Dext Chief Revenue Officer Alistair Newman says they're bigger, and better and have new ways to build relationships with you their customer. 

But the accounting community has a lot of questions, and we are lucky to sit down and get some real answers from Al himself when he was down under in Australia last month. 

In this episode we discuss the rebrand to Dext, the widely discussed pricing changes, the acquisitions and where the company is headed next. 

We give a hearty Trenches congratulations to Al for this interview. 

He sat there and took the direct elephant in the room questions like an absolute pro.
Well done mate, as a community we really appreciate it. 

________________________________________________________________

Dext are proud sponsors of From The Trenches - Trenches Summit 2.0

Check out the Dext's Keynote at Trenches Summit 2.0  

The Australian Accounting Tech Report: Solving the time/tech conundrum. A talk by David BoyarGlenn CastleMichael Johnson and Cassandra Scott

Register Here https://summit.fromthetrenches.com.au/talks/dext-keynote/ 

 

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7. IPlAte | Xero still the big pull? | Tech Staff Changes30 May 202200:30:48

Best on Ground

Accounting Coaches that prove their value – with a p and l!

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sharonsnetwork_business-accounting-coaching-activity-6923203081497182208-EN8M/?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=android_app

Even when McKinsey stuffs up they win

https://twitter.com/MattZeitlin/status/1517279854135107584

What happens after you sell your payroll app? Richard McLean (@richviking99) / Twitter

If you work for a tech company and rely on your shares instead of your wages/bonuses you’ll probably lose out

https://investing1012dot0.substack.com/p/valuations?s=r

 

Paul – Not best or worst, just really interesting seemingly lots and lots of LinkedIn new job posts. Not great resignation but Great Movement. Divipay have 14 jobs open! https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6936623969076658176/

ChangeGPS have 3 open positions Work with Us (changegps.com.au)

Worst on Ground

Power to accountants doing what the bodies aren’t

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6927750334123556864/

Meanwhile the IPA and CA submissions were dated AFTER the advertised due date after having 6 years to get their act together!

If Benny Hill music had a font type it would be the new sage logo https://www.business-live.co.uk/professional-services/software-giant-sage-unveils-new-23796099

Accounting Bodies Out of touch with the urgency of s100a 

Xero Roadshow Review

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6. Systemic Failure of the Accounting Bodies | Tinder for Tax | Fast Collapse28 Apr 202200:49:43

Best on Ground

Paul

Tech wont change your life much in the next ten years - here’s why https://twitter.com/sweatystartup/status/1505125330817802244 

Fast Collapse:

https://www.axios.com/fast-checkout-startup-collapse-029d1601-6d4f-43a4-b816-bd4b15771bbe.html 

AccountexAU launch 

What it needs to prove: That it can make a fair profit for it’s substantial risk with the available quality content providers https://twitter.com/AccountexAus/status/1511555738430500864 

Farewell Craig Walker https://twitter.com/storminwalker/status/1509699836463005698 

David

A new Practice Manager Consideration

I recently got asked if the practice management solutions actually solve a problem (so many firms just use excel) - CAA use Karbon. Paul uses excel and XPM and we hear about FYI docs all the time but PWC has chosen….Monday https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mondaydotcom_global-alliance-with-kpmg-ugcPost-6902266804081958912-8qPt/ 

Tinder for tax

Gofar making FBT simple and is calling itself Tinder for Tax 

https://www.gofar.co/ 

How GoProposal gets it’s staff to work in the office https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6917789747926949888/?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A(ugcPost%3A6917789738972110848%2C6917964958639030272) 

Even Jerry Seinfleid knows big firms aren’t better https://twitter.com/buccocapital/status/1510249981789282304 

 

Worst on Ground

Dave

Frustrated how we seem to keep printing money? Monopoly has your answer https://twitter.com/biancoresearch/status/1510254967113748485 

 

The war in Ukraine - and the impact on accountants with clients doing business in Russia https://www.linkedin.com/posts/daniel-rosenblatt-trade-law_sanctions-russia-belarus-activity-6905150591698644994-Vdha/ 

 

Accounting Bodies are Failing. 

Accounting Bodies gloss over their systemic failures around talent and there aren’t enough accountants to lodge returns. 

  1. They are the accountant makes
  2. There aren’t enough accountants
  3. We lose the battle for talent on campus 
  4. We focus on mental health after the damage is done and do nothing to stop the system that creates the mental health issues s100a retrospective changes is the best example
  5. Who will lodge the tax returns in 10 years? CPA seems to focus on their total members not their tax lodgers.

https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/business/16806-accountants-turning-from-technicians-to-problem-solvers/amp 

Small Practitioners don't have a voice - s100a proved it - No seat at the table yet again

ATO says industry asked for s100a guidance? But who asked? Who is actually your voice here? Check out who sits on the ATO’s consultation group. Did they represent you? https://www.ato.gov.au/general/consultation/consultation-groups/stewardship-groups/private-groups-stewardship-group/ 

The current advocacy system is designed to get you to comply, not to represent you.

Independence? IPA CEO appointed to TPB Board making a judge, jury and executioner 

https://www.tpb.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/tax-practitioners-board-welcomes-two-new-members 

  1. The TPB accredits the IPA - From their website
    1. Professional associations may be accredited by us as a recognised tax agent or BAS agent association if they meet certain requirements in the Tax Agent Services Regulations 2022 (TASR). 
  2. The IPA Accredits Accountants - From their website 

The IPA is a professional accounting body which sets professional and ethical requirements for its members, which they are required to uphold.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

5. 5 Year Anniversary Special LIVE | What should have changed | What will change29 Mar 202200:27:20

5 years ago Paul Meissner stood in the door frame of David Boyar's office at the fancy co-working space WorkClub on Collins St Melbourne. It was so fancy, by co-working standards that it hard original parquet floors.

Arguing about something Xero had just done Megan Velo, who seemed to do all of David's client work, suggested the two should start a podcast.

Ron Lesh and BGL backed it.

5 years of tech promises, tech deliverables, delayed tech, industry body fails, and change that was sped up by a pandemic went past. 

An active community desperate for a voice was developed. 

Trent McLaren was appointed as CEO. 

Then Linked In reminded Dave and Paul, it was their 5 year anniversary and they just so happened to be booked for a live show at the ChangeGPS Summit on the Gold Coast. 

So Dave and Paul did what they've done so many times before. They hit record. 

 

Joining the show

BGL CEO Ron Lesh

From the Trenches CEO and DiviPay head of accounting Trent McLaren 

 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1. Can CA regulate the profession? | MYOB's ripper new add | The biggest innovation in 10 years18 Feb 202400:28:43

As Statler said to Waldorf, the witty old blokes in the VIP box on the Muppet show;

“There’s a lot to be said about this program.”

To which Waldorf quipped back;

“Too bad you can’t say it on a family show!” The bothed harrumphed and probably cut to a clip of Kermit trying to get animal ready for his next scene.

And in the spirit of that nostalgia Trenches starts it's 8th year.

Paul and David say a huge THANK YOU for investing some of your time listening to us.

Because of you we are earn the meaningless perk of being ranked in the top 20% most listened to podcast on earth.

Not bad for a show about real life in the accounting industry.

Best on Ground

David

CAANZs budget submission covers everything - but will Canberra listen? - CAs influence has to be at a weak point  https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/news-and-analysis/advocacy/policy-submissions/pre-budget-submission-2023-24 

Karbons payments product was bigger than expected https://karbonhq.com/feature/billing-and-payments/ 

Fox Sports - Stick to highlights of the 2016 and 2023 Grand Finals, leave the balance sheets to us https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7163833930805096449/ 

 

Paul 

Paul hit the ChangeGPS National tour to see the launch of Protect - David calls it the biggest innovation in accounting in a decade  https://changegps.com.au/apps/protect 

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE - David did not ask Paul to cover this, in fact David has begged Paul to talk about ChangeGPS in the past and he has said no. The comments in the show are 100000% because Paul chose to share them. 

MYOB lampoons instant invoicing in the best way https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVzPKz_Uz2M 



Worst on Ground

Paul

Flexible Hours will suffer thanks to the right to switch off https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/business-fights-back-against-right-to-disconnect-from-work-20231220-p5esol#:~:text=%E2%80%9CA%20legislated%20right%20to%20disconnect,are%20unreasonable%2C%E2%80%9D%20she%20said

Agent Linking- David completely misunderstood the issue but Paul was in the room when it was workshopped….what actually happened is worse.

Ethics and the insane tokens accountants need to jump through as CA clings to a belief it can regulate the profession. Pledges, dobbing in peers increased ethics training. 

David

Media reports of 150 ATO agents linked to tik tok GST fraud is good ol fashioned clickbait

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2. Change the reason your firm exists | ReckonOne growth |TikTok Regulators | IPA's Junket strategy24 Mar 202200:33:31

Listen to learn:-

  • The major announcement - the trenches team is expanding
  • How changing your firms purpose can win the war of talent in the accounting industry 
  • Why it is hard to establish relationships in the accounting sector
  • How the world would be if it only had accountants
  • Governments blaming accountants for their forecasting faults
  • Why tech companies need to separate bookkeeper and accounting messaging 
  • Why top line growth doesn't make you happy
  • David explains the plan and session for the Trenches GPS Summit on May 2022

Best on Ground 

Paul 

Real time dashboards are overkill https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lukalovosevic_data-automation-realtimeanalytics-activity-6889545309546938368-XEzY/  

ReckonOne is more popular than most of us think, great results from Reckon

https://www.reckon.com/au/media/half-year-financial-report-2021-reckon-delivers-strong-results/

The IPA SHOULD host their tax deductible junket conferences in Fiji otherwise we can't justify any benefit at all to Australian members for this https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/business/16650-ipa-and-the-fiji-institute-of-accountants-announce-partnership 

 

David

Baker Tilly Changes it’s purpose away from lodging tax returns https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alan-whitman-357ab91_purpose-nowfortomorrow-activity-6896447373279911936-9rV3/ 

We don’t celebrate raises often but HNRY raising 16m at a 100m valuation is good for Australian Accountants https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/127646547/wellington-startup-hnry-eyes-expansion-after-securing-16m-investment 

The IRS joins Tik Tik - hilariously https://twitter.com/dhtoomey/status/1488270707406614528 

Poor accounting leads to $5billion in extra rail payments https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-09/nsw-government-criticised-over-accounting-by-auditor-general/100816682  and Lance Rubin responds https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6897288212595798016/ 

 

Worst on Ground

Paul 

More traditional accountant bashing:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6897992721726795776?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28activity%3A6897992721726795776%2C6898074647389175808%29

 

David

The busted client https://twitter.com/IraGilligan/status/1487146713949343753 

The connected/Xero/Tech Savvy accountant is still news to the average business owner even though it’s ten years old https://digitalmag.theceomagazine.com/anz/march-2022/innovate/nick-urry/ 

Outdated Hiring Practices - We are not who we worked for we are what we do https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-6897313048122544128-qS8U 

Quotes from the Episode

“I don't know how people can attract anyone to the profession when for 20 years they said the profession is not going to exist.” Paul 

“One thing that's hard to replicate in the accounting industry is the relationship.” David

“Financial models are wrong because the drivers are wrong” David

“There’s a difference between a model being wrong and the actual application of accounting standards.” David

“We are not who we worked for. We are what we do.” Tyler 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1. $1,000 for a demo | Fake Resignation | Too many accountants10 Feb 202200:43:19

Welcome To 2022 - where all you need to do is not stay at home and live a little to start enjoying life again. 

 

Best On Ground

David

The cool young accountants are sharing their salaries on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/AustralianAccounting/comments/s0fjr0/salary_thread/  

Staff need the best tech to work well at home so the practice leaders should own IT  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-6880013227548397568-OI8_/ 

Paul

Lorilyn Wilson perfectly explains how one can look stupid trying to make the USA Tax System simple https://t.co/czIDGNiaDE   

Phenomenal Leadership Tips from NFLs Best young coach. (this is the bloke with the get back coach  This is what a Get Back Coach is What it's like to be Sean McVay's 'get back' coach | NFL Films Presents

Dave Kline on Twitter: "Sean McVay is the winningest active NFL coach. He's 35 years-old & 3 other current NFL head coaches worked for him. Sean McVay's leadership principles for Competitive Greatness🧵 https://t.co/bKoPRRh7op" / Twitter 

Worst on Ground

David

Company's are so desperate for your attention one offered David a set of Apple Air Pods, $250 cash and $750 on an amazon card!

The irony of GLOBAL tech giants realising they can't only employ in the Bay Area https://twitter.com/patrickc/status/1480647701221896195 

The great resignation is Fake https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/great-resignation-may-be-just-around-the-corner-20211122-p59b2d 

 

Paul

Ask a dumb question get a dumb answer - this is the worst poll of all time https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/wealth/how-much-aussies-think-they-need-to-earn-to-have-a-good-life/news-story/6e3d352916da228379e032df476b4e0a 

In 2014 people thought Australia had too many accountants https://www.smh.com.au/business/does-australia-have-too-many-accountants-20140212-32huu.html 

 

Software Companies who can't differentiate between Accountants and BookKeepers 

 

 

 

 

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8. Men Vs Women: The Gender Pay Gap Convo That Is So Hard to Have.24 Dec 202101:02:31

2022 has produced a focus on gender inequality in the accounting industry with both CAANZ and Intuit producing detailed reports about the current state of play. 

Sometimes the story is told as a battle of Men v Women and that likely won't produce results that bring positive returns to firm owners and positive experiences for accountants impacted. 

For many, actively engaging in the gender pay gap can be scary, for many, the floor is lava and we don't want to fall. 

But without awareness progress can't happen so From The Trenches is proud to present this episode together with Intuit Quickbooks and their new Gender Equity in the Accounting Profession report  

Get the Report Here  https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/gender-equity-in-accounting-addressing-the-career-cliff 

In this episode David Hosts Intuit Head of Accounting Shaye Thyer who has assembled an epic panel including:

  • Kylie Parker from Lotus Accounts who started her own firm and is one of only 2 female led firms in the 2020 AFR Top 100 
  • Peter McCarthy from Principal Precision  - Taxation Accounting and Management who won the Australian Accounting Awards Diversity and Inclusion Award. 
  • Paul Janzs from Professional Partners who advocates for equality so he can help raise his boys to the values he lives in his practice. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8. Elon Musk is an Accountant | Award Winners Go to Jail | Stop Polling Us15 Dec 202100:41:13

Listen to hear Paul Meissner flinch as someone who clearly isn't an accountant get's called on and these other fine stories.

Best on Ground

David

There are a lot of acquisitions going on

https://www.datadear.com/blog/2021/09/we-are-pleased-to-announce-the-technology-acquisition-of-datadear-by-intuit/?fbclid=IwAR0D2o4544adL3nTl8CZkh0G1pgC5oKN2suk0WZWdMs1kQDPcmCuyB8eO5o 

https://www.enterprisetimes.co.uk/2021/10/05/sage-buys-proposal-software-vendor-goproposal/ 


https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/hub24-to-triple-customer-base-with-class-deal-20211018-p590sr 

 

Elon Musk is an Accountant 

https://www-businessinsider-com-au.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.businessinsider.com.au/elon-musk-productivity-hack-daily-routine-5-minute-slots-2021-10/amp?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a6&usqp=mq331AQIKAGwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16342519063940&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com  

 

Paul

 

ChangeGPS is Xero's Practice App of the Year https://www.linkedin.com/posts/davidboyar_xeroawards-unbeatableaccountants-activity-6853906282974474240-0Z7M  

Practice Protect Cloud Apps report is one glorious set of actual data that let's you know what apps firms are using. https://hub.practiceprotect.com/cloud-apps-report-2021 

Orange Girl herds Xero's sh*t fixing team in a glorious corporate response https://twitter.com/orangegirlnz/status/1443927056669155364  

 

Worst on Ground

David

When award winners go to jail https://twitter.com/eringriffith/status/1443563933357395978/photo/1 

ITR pricing is too cheap

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-6849466529642352640-lqAH/  

Paul

A 5 year old blog isn't relevant anymore so don't post it on socials 

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/markwickersham1_the-3-reasons-you-should-have-a-brochure-activity-6845718677178851328-cvLy 

 

Linked in Polls need to stop

 

 

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8. Want 8x ROI? Invest in Mental Health for Staff09 Sep 202100:14:01

David chats to ICB CEO Amanda Linton and Beyond Blue Deputy Chair Kate Carnell about why we should view investment in Mental Health training the same way we view investment in technology. 

Register for their Summit Session https://summit.fromthetrenches.com.au/talks/mental-health-session/  

Sign up to the New Access Program https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/newaccess 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7. What Happened To Receipt Bank?03 Sep 202100:22:55

What happened? It was Orange, it was loved, now it's Dext, it's three things not one and got dealt a savage hand by pockets of the social media world. 

But the strategy makes sense if you dig in to it. 

Listen to David Boyar ask Paul Lodder - Product Domain Expert (and a seriously accomplished accountant), What happened to Receipt Bank?

Want more? 

Register for Paul's session at Trenches Summit " https://summit.fromthetrenches.com.au/talks/dext-keynote/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6. Trenches Summit: 54 Speakers / 5 Industry Bodies/1 Government Agency/19 partners12 Aug 202100:16:49

54 Speakers

5 Industry Bodies

19 Event Partners

2 Plucky Hosts 

1 Awards session

Stupid amounts of CPD 

September 13 and 14 2021

https://summit.fromthetrenches.com.au/ 

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3. Worst On Ground: Virtual Summits - We'll fix them.23 Jul 202100:36:26

Get your early bird tickets to the Trenches Summit right now to keep up to date with a summit that has the best of the best without any of the worst.

https://summit.fromthetrenches.com.au/coming-soon/

Best on Ground

Paul  

Speed Dating with your work hat off  helps you compare apples with apples when considering tech solutions.

David 

Learning has genuine value – it's the only way to improve anything that is keeping you down.

Trent McLaren (Divi Pay)

The side events, it feels like a 5 day music festival – Accountingpalooza 

Jack Kay (ChangeGPS)

The best ones are when expectation meets reality. Content is focused without marketing spin  

 

Worst on Ground

Paul  

 When tech delivers content outside the core problem the tech solves (wait for the stoush with Trent over why).

David 

Too many speaking slots in narrow talent pool. The slots are becuase vendors paid even if they don’t have quality content to deliver.

Trent 

With a Vendor Hat on it’s clear the pay to play model make ROI didn’t correlate . Events who used to charge 20k for an inperson event shouldn’t charge 20k for a virtual one.

Content programs are commercially led and commercial outcomes can conflict with attendee priorities 

 

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2. Compliance is..................not perfect.05 Jul 202100:25:30

Compliance is not dead, but it's not perfect so David Boyar interviews Paul Meissner to get the state of compliance revenue.

The biggest problem is how revenue is generated. Some tech companies try to solve this by assuming revenue from compliance is a dying source but no one in practice really believes it's going anywhere.

In this episode David Boyar interviews Paul Meissner to find the three problems with how revenue is generated from compliance services. 

  1. It's too easy to discount
  2. Too many services are bundled into the annual fix fee
  3. Don't do the annual price increase "just because you can"

Some of these points may be relevant to you, some may bolster your confidence in what you are currently doing and some, well they might make you mad. 

 

 

 

 

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1. It's Back-ish: Trading Trusts and Cotchy Vs Xero19 May 202100:34:13

A linked in post titled Cotchy Vs Xero shows how well the accountant, Pat Mannix from Paris Financial, understood his clients (startups) and how different they were to the needs of his traditional 70 staff practice in Melbourne.

Like most accountants Pat is passionate about what matters to his business, and his clients. Listen to hear why:-

  • Client’s by because of the service they get not the tech the accountants use

  • Discretionary (Family) Trusts are still an excellent tool for saving tax

  • Accountants know more about SMSF’s than most other professionals yet still can’t advise on the them properly.

Agree? Disagree? Think more info is needed? JOIN THE CHAT on www.fromthetrenches.com.au 

Read the responses first!

Response: Rebecca Mihalic FCA - When a family trust is not right for a trading entity 

Response: Grant Abbott - How To: Use Deeds to Overcome Trading Trust Issues

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3. Joseph Boyar Z"L31 Aug 202300:45:20

My Father was a public practitioner for 40 years and my family lost him this year. 

One day, everyone of your families will be in this position. This episode, might be important to them. At some point in your life, it might be important for you. 

The first 8.5 minutes of this episode I talk about Dad. He came to Australia with very little, was brought up through welfare homes and then together with my mum raised my sister and I, while building an accounting practice that sustained my family through millions of happy moments. If it is too heavy for you, I understand, sharing this is an indulgence for me, you can skip it if you want to. 

If you skip it, you need to know this bit. 

Regular listeners would knowhow influential Dad was on my career and values. He is the reason I understand what you do so well. And why I realised I was better placed to help you rather than small business clients. 

Paul and I then talk through the first two weeks, the transition to get Paul control to service clients, and how he navigated the day to day while managing his practice and his family. 

Finally we talk through the sale process and what it means for for my family

While dealing with the grief, Paul stepped in as director and ran the day today while I worked through a sale process.

Not every family has a Paul or a son like me, our knowledge of the industry helped. 

And not everyone has a friend like Paul, who stepped up the way the very best of friends do, when you are at your lowest. 

I hope when reading this  line, you appreciate my lesson here.

I develop, sell and support accounting technology for a living, so it is with honesty that I say:-

The tech you use doesn't matter. 

All that matters. Is your health, and your relationship with your clients.

Yes, you're all that matters.

 

 

______________________

 

Cultural Note

Z"L is an English rendering of a common Hebrew posthumous honorific.

ז״ל‎ (Z"L) is the acronym of זיכרונו לברכה‎ (zikhronó liv'rakhá, literally “may his memory be a blessing”. - wikipedia.

 

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120. Lazy Accountants? Real Leaders, Excels Dynamic Arrays26 Jun 202000:34:45

Best on Ground 
Paul Meissner

A fact sheet released by the corporate regulator highlighted it would cost members $13,900 to operate a self-managed super fund, as well as a 100-hours-a-year time commitment.

The ATO has refined these figures, showing operating expenses are closer to $3,923 a year.

https://www.smsfadviser.com/news/18950-ato-figures-throw-light-on-asic-s-financial-fact-sheet  

Great content by the ATO. Content from May 2016, can’t say I have seen it before.  
https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Trusts/In-detail/Trust-tax-time-toolkit/Resolutions-checklist/#_Does_a_resolution  

David Boyar

Twitter is more often a dangerous place than a supportive one but this is #taxtwitter at its best
https://twitter.com/kjb_cpa/status/1274905696052502528 


Could this trigger a construction sector clean up?
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/directors-to-get-id-number-for-life-to-thwart-phoenixing-20200612-p55218 


Is receipt banks' strategy to win on data quality?
https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/technology/14498-receipt-bank-acquires-xero-app-partner 


Dynamic Arrays are a new excel feature worth taking the time to learn 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2USJsIyIzvo 


David Dahm is a proper leader 
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-16/coronavirus-leaves-medical-practices-on-verge-of-collapse/12359282  

Worst on Ground
Paul Meissner

“The Lazy Accountant” - Is it just another software seller telling us how we are underperforming?
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/davidboyar_tax-activity-6681346758121017344-cYYp 

 
Deloitte will cut 7 per cent of its workforce, or at least 700 professionals, despite the firm growing annual revenue by 10 per cent to $2.5 billion amid the COVID-19 downturn.

Partners were told on Monday that the firm was on track to deliver revenue growth of about 14 per cent over the first three quarters of the firm's financial year but that growth had collapsed in the final quarter due to the pandemic.

https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/deloitte-to-cut-at-least-700-roles-across-the-firm-20200622-p554we 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23. Social Sycophants & Ideas That Aren't Worth Spreading19 Jun 202000:21:57

The rant episode years in the making. 

Online lives are fake  for both business and personal. This is spoken about often in our personal lives but when people are big noting themselves in business platforms, we're worried about the impact on our business lives. 

Anyone can post any view or opinion they have now as fact. Facts no longer matter. Science is irrelevant and research is more often shared when it's commissioned by marketers who need data to sell their product. People are then emboldened by social sycophants that just agree with them. 

And when that happens, an idea that isn't worth spreading gets spread.

Anyone who tries a counter argument is labelled a troll or grumpy and risks damage to the professional reputation. 

Facts don’t matter anymore, there is always a group that will feed you back your views, a comfortable confirmation bias is met. And if enough likes and clicks are made all of a sudden that person is considered a "thought leader". When all they did was share a self service opinion. 

I often hear people pass off likes, supportive comments etc as proof that anyone holding a different view is irrelevant. 

But we embrace the differing view. We like the friction and the debate.

 

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45. Digital Signing Booms, Returning From Home & 2 Self WOGs05 Jun 202000:40:22

The Weekly Challenge
The feds are handing out support cash industry group by special interest group. It seems the squeaky wheel is getting the oil as industry leaders claim mass extinction if they don’t get aid:-

  • $1b. For construction
  • Money for the arts
  • Grants for renovations

My challenge, is to develop a strategic funding arrangement that set us up for the next century and not whittle away the 60b left from JK!

Best on Ground
David Boyar

This just became the third most loved tweet of all time - the sheer power of words to reach millions blows me away and makes me think of the reach and influence of accountants. 
https://twitter.com/andymilonakis/status/1266821069823975430 
Business Depot have come up with another new way to engage with clients - ultra low cost and wide reach. If a client on the edge saw this, would they wonder why 
http://offers.businessdepot.com.au/rebound-2020 
Xero Document Packs have made digital doc signing the hottest tech stack piece of the month 
https://www.xero.com/au/features-and-tools/practice-tools/tax/document-packs/?escape=true 

Paul Meissner

Grant Thornton: The main reasons people enjoyed working from home were the reduced commute time, having the flexibility to manage their own hours, reduced expenses, and having more time for exercise and family.

The survey also showed 45 per cent of respondents had some discomfort about returning to the office. More than 60 per cent wanted to work both at home and in the office after reopening and only 9 per cent wanted to exclusively work in the office.

https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/grant-thornton-kearney-reimagine-the-post-pandemic-office-20200601-p54yc8?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nc&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1591149136 


Ask our competitors sales people to SHOW you each of these features in their software. Not TELL you their software has a feature,  BUT actually SHOW you the feature and HOW the feature works in their software.
https://www.bglcorp.com/2020/05/25/not-all-corporate-compliance-and-smsf-admin-software-is-the-same/  

Leading in a work-from-home environment, Accountants are exactly the right kind of workers to thrive in a work-from-home environment. 

Good summary of the 4 challenges
https://www.accountingtoday.com/list/leading-accountants-in-a-work-from-home-environment?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=accountingtoday-tw&utm_medium=social&utm_content=socialflow  

Worst on Ground 
David Boyar

Doe’s Paul’s latest Linked In “give the masses what they want” post actually hit the mark?
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6673610747613978624/?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A(activity%3A6673526621976317953%2C6673610640814432256) 

Paul Meissner 

The Australian Comfort Group, which owns the SleepMaker and Dunlop Foams brands, delayed issuing invoices and the processing of customer orders in April, according to a source and documents seen by The Australian Financial Review.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/ato-to-investigate-11m-jobkeeper-claim-20200531-p54y16? 


“Finance Futurist and Podcast King”
https://twitter.com/icmispeakers/status/1267365360145227776?s=20 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21. Accountants are the Real Heroes & The S in COSBOA28 May 202000:40:50

NEW SEGMENT!!!

With so much change afoot we're challenging our institutions and leaders to actually have the back of the small businesses they keep saying are the backbone of the economy.

Paul Meissner:
I’ve long been critical of Cosboa, far too friendly with the medium end of SME, Their conference excluded small and micro business. My challenge - don’t screw this up. I’m ready to celebrate the success of this.  https://www.cosboa.org.au/post/small-businesses-set-for-boost-with-spend-local-campaign 

David Boyar:IR reform - We need actual representation of small business at the table so it's unions v big corporates
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/28/morrison-government-will-push-on-with-ir-reform-even-if-unions-and-employers-cant-agree

Best on Ground

Paul Meissner

Staying in touch with staff remotely is super important and this is a great quiz. Good example of responding. 
https://www.smartcompany.com.au/coronavirus/atlassian-employee-survey-open-source/ 

Taking the mickey out of your boss isn’t grounds for dismissal apparently. BP dragged this out for 2 years and took it to the federal court. Just for offending management. 
https://www.news.com.au/national/courts-law/worker-wins-twoyear-battle-to-take-the-piss-out-of-bosses-with-hitler-meme/news-story/3df34d53f3ceb09886adf0a619d5cb8c 

A lot will be written about the future of work and the office. Online booking seems to be an obvious change. Not sure hotdesking dies in the end. Large commercial offices face a bigger test I feel. 
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nab-nixes-hotdesking-in-favour-of-app-bookable-desks-548390 

Trust the data, what do you need a human to check it for. There are never errors…

Political fighting here is interesting. Treasury is separate to government, staffed with the same people (largely) irrespective to who’s in government. Government always blamed. 
https://www.afr.com/policy/tax-and-super/later-60b-jobkeeper-error-discovered-20200522-p54vkm 

David Boyar

Accountants are the real heroes 
https://twitter.com/JosephCarrozzi/status/1263968097389514756

Peter the Great graces accountants 
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6815904703351/WN_42ybOi-pT6mkRw1II7eBHg

Would David be this aggressive in app marketing? Or is it just something BGL can get away with? 
https://www.bglcorp.com/2020/05/25/not-all-corporate-compliance-and-smsf-admin-software-is-the-same/

Worst on Ground
Paul Meissner

Payroll is complex, errors bound to be made. Fair work found for the employee but hard to not see this go higher up the courts. 
https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/qantas-dealt-blow-over-jobkeeper-payments-20200524-p54vve 
 
https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/we-want-you-back-in-the-office-law-firm-tells-partners-20200524-p54vv6 


End of year BS tax articles by people who don’t know their stuff. 
https://www.westpac.com.au/news/money-matters/2020/04/making-sense-of-wfh-tax-tweak/ 

David Boyar

Advocacy: Too Little too late?
https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/tax-compliance/14412-practitioners-potentially-misled-by-ato-s-jobkeeper-turnover-guidance

Does anyone know what EY is talking about? 
https://twitter.com/BrandDNA/status/1265280824141701121/photo/1

AI/ML Universities and job ready candidates 
https://twitter.com/filippie509/status/1265356259621912576

 

 

 

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20. MYOB Job Cuts, Death of "XX", Scotie Pippen & Excel21 May 202000:31:56

Best on Ground

Paul Meissner
Best and worst. Best - Interesting view admitting that advisory disappeared in the last few months. Worst - Rob Nixon wrote this 10 years ago, firms globally are living this now. 
https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/our-profession-has-changed-forever 

David Boyar
Strong Excel Twitter game 
https://twitter.com/msexcel/status/1260932882463289345 


CA’s transparency on the Exam Issue 
https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/professional-development/14340-ca-anz-issues-mea-culpa-over-exam-hiccup 


From the Trenches Live insane NPS is a credit to the community 
https://blog.hubspot.com/service/net-promoter-score-benchmarks 

Worst on Ground

Paul Meissner
MYOB cuts 130 jobs and warns of 'artificial economy'
https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/myob-cuts-130-jobs-and-warns-of-artificial-economy-20200519-p54ua0.html  


This is the most basic piece of content so out of touch with members. This content is more basic than what’s covered in the CA program.
https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/news-and-analysis/insights/opinion/running-your-accounting-practice-in-tough-times-part-2  

David Boyar

The Tax Institute threatened us with legal action instead of picking up the phone  https://www.fromthetrenches.com.au/podcast/2020/5/12/live-with-ron-lesh-nat-lennon-and-lee-duffield

Headline: Death of the Office - Copy: It’s too early to tell 

https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/the-death-of-the-office-20200507-p54qm0

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

44. Live! With Ron Lesh, Lee Duffield and Nat Lennon12 May 202001:28:46

This is a live recording of our inaugural live web event. 

The chat box exploded as the audience interacted with this weeks show and with the awesome feedback we promise Trenches Live will be back soon. 

After the usual best and Worst BGL Founder and CEO Ron Lesh is taken of the Lesh and delivers his usual direct shot of reality into the debate amidst calls from the chat box for him to run for PM! 

Lee Duffield from All in Advisory and Nat Lennon from Two Sides Accounting,  two brilliant public practitioners, join to answer the questions that matter from those in the trenches

  1. What did you learn about yourself?
  2. Has your relationship with your business changed?

News round up

Best on Ground
Paul Meissner

Accountants and Bookkeepers handling JobKeeper, cash boost, etc. Psychologist (client) story.  

Robyn Jacobson moves to the TIA. Interesting given this puts a tenacious advocate for taxpayers in to an organisation that has some clout. Could we see better advocacy from professional bodies??
https://www.taxinstitute.com.au/timediarelease/the-tax-institute-appoints-tax-leader-robyn-jacobson-as-senior-advocate   

Tax jokes in TV series. Schitts Creek (Netflix) very funny scene on trying to claim personal stuff as a business expense.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mark-newman-accountant-for-builders-electricians-trades_thats-not-a-write-off-scene-from-schitts-activity-6661776582073425920-5a0y  

David Boyar

Early suggestions of tax reform - Nixing Consumption taxes the way GST intended
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/news/car-sales-cut-in-half-by-pandemic-5185554/ 

Is the VCFOA back, great job and reframing different types of advice during a recession
https://vcfoassociation.com.au/surviving-and-re-booting-are-2-separate-problems/ 

The DropBox Blog is beautiful. Relevant and 
https://blog.dropbox.com/topics/work-culture/distributed-work-setting-boundaries?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=distr-work&utm_content=boundaries 

Worst on Ground
Paul Meissner

Professional bodies lack of real support during this time

  • Ineffective in Canberra
  • No tools/resources
  • No additional member contact, not even an email from the org, ceo, etc
    Only contact was selling/promoting products
  • Hey hey CA video’s, I get it, it was fun, but where’s the practical effort.

David Boyar

Small biz accountants not at the table in canberra and thats why everyone got stressed. 

  • The cause of stress wasn’t the ATO updates, it was that legislation did not consider how small biz accountants advise clients. ATO forced to run on its feet
  • 3 big red marks - Accountants exemption, Franking credits, JK rules
  • Bodies did an excellent job explaining AFTER the fact

Accountants continually unsung 
https://twitter.com/LieletteCalleja/status/1258218705571311616 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20. Still Cray Cray but Ok01 May 202000:25:58

Best on Ground
Paul Meissner

Xero builds good stuff, quickly. 
https://go.xero.com/bas/jobkeeper  

Denmark has announced any companies registered in tax havens will not be eligible for state aid programmes during the pandemic

“The government also said that companies which pay out dividends, buy back own shares or are registered in tax havens won’t be eligible for any of the aid programs, which now amount to a total of 400 billion kroner, when including loans and guarantees.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-18/denmark-extends-business-aid-to-increase-spending-by-15-billion  

 

David Boyar 

Quality lessons from GST

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/accountants-six-tips-from-2000-todays-challenges-scott-charlton/?trackingId=3BtqWlT7xMtAGuAO62hSBA%3D%3D

Anthony Pratt’s Linked In nails it again - Long Term View

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anthonyjpratt_activity-6659961911041503232-JRQQ 

Security Matters: Mailchimp offering 10% to signing up to SSO

https://mailchimp.com/help/set-up-a-two-factor-authentication-app-at-login/

Chartered Accountants moved an education and events business online and EVERYONE wins 

Worst on Ground

Paul Meissner

PWC cuts pay but not hours, then with the spare hours the staff were not given, they are forced to ‘volunteer’? Was it the same voluntary method used for the pay cut??

https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/business/14291-big-four-steps-up-with-largest-pro-bono-tax-offering-amid-covid-19 

David Boyar 

The ATO has made JobKeeper so easy businesses are doing it themselves - When UX is too good.

“If I get one more email about mental health I’ll lose my mind”  David’s Dad 

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19. Interview: Trent Innes29 Apr 202000:25:58

In this Zoom recorded episode Trent Innes, Xero's head in Au and Asia talks about:-

  • How Xero got their JobKeeper products in the market so quickly

  • Why the Xero Community facebook activity has exploded

  • Tips for managing remote teams

  • What the future of work is

  • Why you need to be responsible for the work/life changes you want to make after this crisis ends.

About Us

From the Trenches is brought to you by Paul Meissner from Freedom Mentoring and David Boyar from Change GPS. Proudly sponsored by BGL.

 

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18. ATO Success, Mental Health & Bad Info Graphics24 Apr 202000:43:14

Best on Ground

Paul Meissner

Great mental health guide shared by Nickie Sheehan
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/meissnerpaul_mentalhealth-stress-accountants-activity-6656739104723738624-xqMw 

ATO working miracles. For people who will whinge over the coming days and weeks, get over yourself. 

Tyler Wise
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tyler-j-wise_in-the-whole-of-my-career-i-do-not-believe-activity-6656836360986603521-u9Mm  

 

David Boyar


Apple’s product designs from the 80s clearly show the origins of what we use today 
https://www.shockblast.net/apples-product-concepts-of-the-80s/  

Will we return to offices?
https://www.accountancyage.com/2020/04/14/accountancy-industry-unlikely-to-return-to-office/ 

Learn why you have this type of stress with James Ashford
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jamesashford_margins-accounting-profit-activity-6656268810712076288-6BdO  

Real Collaboration v Fake collaboration 


Worst on Ground

Paul Meissner

Avalara list - Waste of time given all the actual accountants are too busy working  
https://www.rise.global/accounting-top-100 

Just for your amusement - HR Software selling tax advice. Opportunistic. 
https://www.jobkeeperhelp.com.au  

David Boyar

What did the 45% of firms who either increased business or stayed the same do differently to those who decreased business 
https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/resources/polls/260-how-has-covid-19-impacted-your-practice 

Some covid infographics make your understanding worse than before you see them
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/frasercreighton_jobkeeper-jobkeeperpayment-caanz-activity-6656440561375027200-ZMmT  

 

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12. Indepth: Hell Week21 Apr 202000:34:54

Here's the breath of fresh air you need. A Classiv Paul Vs David - Is this Hell Week?


Paul Meissner - YES!

  • Get everyone in there with a grey definition of income for the turnover test
  • Multiple stages to this, register, enrol, meet wage condition (payroll STP), employee details, monthly reporting
  • Become clients Payroll officer is not something accountants want
  • High stakes, high risk
  • Cost of missing out is huge for a client
  • Scheme penalties are intimidating
  • Doing it for clients, vs clients doing it themselves. Us doing it is an hour on the phone, going alone leads to 10-15 phone calls about logins, business details, etc, will they pay.

David Boyar - No! 

  • COMPLIANCE LIVES 
  • It's just a process that will have a best practice my mid week
  • ATO has made engagement easy (if the bandwidth holds up)
  • Clients have had the emotional detox and are now working out what's next, easier to work with
  • Prediction: Fake Stress
  • You must charge, there is no point working for a month, under high risk. If there is risk there must be return

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2. Death of Accountants Exemption | Economic Own Goals | Xero's state of the union14 Mar 202300:37:55

This show was recorded in mid February but thanks to Dave being busy getting the ChangeGPS new TaxPlan Advanced product ready we had a delay getting it out. Oh how we long for the days 6 years ago when we'd record and publish in a 2 minute workflow. 

 

Before we begin.....To The Xero's...https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7039489285565161472/ 

Best

A very simple explanation about why we don’t know what to do in the current Australian Economy

Australians head for their first endogenous shock in 30 years - MacroBusiness

 

Tips for Xero Roadshow for exhibitors and why we need an active ecosystem

Xero Roadshow Playbook | App Partner Edition (letsjourney.com.au)

 

Worst

Dext are determined to reinvent an accounting role Pre-Accounting: Why Small Businesses Can’t Ignore It - Dext Blog

Death of the Accountants Exemption Michelle Levy advice review: Labor to ‘stress-test’ plan to overhaul financial advice (afr.com)

 

Xero State of the Union Report Take Aways

Dave

  • Surprised how popular mergers are in shifts in practice structure is
  • 40% of practices offer employee benefits 40% dev and training, 33% track employee wellbeing, if you aren't happy leave….we don’t need to constantly berate the business model of accounting firms, enough firms are progressive to give staff choice and it's the laggards loss. 
  • Only 19% are home office only, that convo is dead, move on

 Paul

  • Bookkeepers don’t equal accountants in any sense of practice but the report, like so many other strip both of their individual identities and can get the conclusion wrong
  • More services doesn’t mean more service
  • Surveys are always an issue

 

Dave's not so new Trench

 

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16. Bookys V Accountants & Big 4 Profiteers08 Apr 202000:27:24

Best on Ground

Paul Meissner
This AI-powered robot can make 300 pizzas in an hour. Wanted to start with something lite given the week we are all having. 
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=509562289686979 

Laneway Greens online Pivoted online. Busier and more profitable than ever. Staff costs and complexity and inflated rents have held businesses back. We come out of all this running different businesses.  
https://lanewaygreens.com.au/ 


David Boyar
How the world’s changed by our online spending habits 
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-6652304588353478656-ul_T  

Worst on Ground

Paul Meissner

Federal Government Jobkeeper legislation by press release. I’m sick of it. Legislation released that basically says the Treasurer and the ATO Commissioner have to sort it out. 

Massive section on schemes though. Up to 10 years Jail!!

Big 4 swindle:

KPMG cutting staff pay, but not their hours. Wait, what?
While the firm technically needs permission from staff to alter their employment contracts, head of people and corporate affairs Deborah Yates told them via email on Tuesday that, "unless we hear from you to state otherwise, we will move forward on the basis that you understand what the intended changes mean for you and you agree to those changes".
https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/kpmg-pay-cut-scares-workers-into-silence-20200406-p54hgs 

https://www.ft.com/content/65d8e851-5e33-4a2d-a814-a4c27f949dd3?sharetype=blocked 

David Boyar

Bookkeepers still promoting a rivalry with accountants as the fight over who owns BAS and payroll gets ugly. Get rid of it please, we don’t need your insecurities in the client relationship 
 
Accountants are out here helping each other and these marketers are trying to cash in by paying for COVID Content 
https://clickcampaigns.com.au/complimentary-covid19-stimulus-articles/  

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14. How are you?07 Apr 202000:24:27

This episode is a personal reflection on what the Accounting industry is going through at the moment. Accountants are handling a mountain of client queries and every day seems like an avalanche of emotional conversations with clients. It’s stretched many accountants and bookkeepers to the limits both physically and emotionally. 

In this episode, Paul & David share what their last few weeks have been like, celebrate the tremendous efforts the industry has gone to look after each other and what we are focusing on. 

We are all in this together and by looking after each other we’ll carry our clients through this.  

Paul Meissner 

  • Hell, hardest in career
  • The unknown, misinformation
  • Clients assuming they’ll all get a giant novelty cheque
  • Legislation by press release (still don’t know a lot about Jobkeeper)
  • Support of other accountants has been wonderful.  



David Boyar

 

  • Very hard to turn off and find a balance between reading new info (info overload) talking to peers, talking to friends, planning family response, managing the volunteer boards I chair
  • Originally lost weight but turns out it’s because I wasn't eating - hard to find health balance
  • New type of tired, I’m on the phone for 6-7 hours a day
  • Found the “were in this together” motherhood statements a bit anxiety inducing. It’s easy to put out a tweet, hard to call someone and ask how they are

What are/can we focus on

Paul Meissner 

  • Client communication (emails)
  • Working the phones
  • Weekend switch off. Last friday-Sunday was interesting

David Boyar

  • Ordinary rhythm needs to return because our regular tasks still need to get done. 
  • BAS lodgments before 28 April 2020 
  •  Applications for Loan Funding 
  • Bank Assistance 
  • FBT 
  • Tax Planning for 2020 
  • Cash Flow and Strategy Planning for when business starts up again.

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13. Compliance is King.03 Apr 202000:32:21

BEST ON GROUND

Paul Meissner

  • Compliance is king Baby!!!!! - Jobkeeper, jobseeker, 30% revenue fall, monthly? Quarterly? Bank loans, ATO debt management. 
  • Accountants. We are doing it tough but we are also helping each other and supporting each other. Well done.
  • Taking a moment to celebrate @Ron_Lesh 31 years of service @BGLdot. Thank you for your amazing #leadership, support, example, mentoring and friendship. You are a super star plus a great warrior for the Accounting Industry. 

    David Boyar

    WORST ON GROUND

    Paul Meissner 

    • Another Marketing and sales trainer for Accountants copying others. The GAP are copying Change GPS

    David Boyar

    • Good intention from the TPB but were all covered for CPD this year! - https://twitter.com/messages/3024658393-961565477330812928

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    13. Stimulus Response w/ insolvency expert Dom Calabretta, MackayGoodwin.26 Mar 202000:30:16

    This interview with Mackay Goodwin founder Dom Calabretta gives you expert insight into retail, restaurants and key things accountants need to know before tipping a company into liquidation or voluntary administration. 

     

    Dom and his team are offering From the Trenches listeners a free 20 minute consultation to discuss your client client’s situation. 


    To claim your free consultation with Mackay Goodwin head to https://www.mackaygoodwin.com.au/

     

    Mackay Goodwin are proud sponsors of From the Trenches

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    11. Practical COVID-19 Advice, BDM's for Firms, KPMG Cheaters20 Mar 202000:33:36

    Thanks for waiting as Paul and David co-ordinated their COVID-19 responses to clients over the week. This episode was recorded Week ended 6 March, don't worry we'll get up to date next week! 

    BEST ON GROUND

    Paul Meissner

    David Boyar

     

    WORST ON GROUND

    Paul Meissner 

    • IWB Marketing, is IWD becoming the new Valentines Day type of Hallmark holiday? Marketed awards and cupcakes? What about real discussions and real change where required.   

    • In The Guardian Alexandra Topping observed IWD “is in danger of becoming little more than a corporate Valentine’s Day, with companies jumping on the bandwagon to whitewash their brands rather than promote women’s equality”.

    • https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/the-last-thing-women-need-is-iwd-a-corporate-version-of-mothers-day/ 

    • Justin Kan’s hybrid legal software and law firm startup Atrium is shutting down today after failing to figure out how to deliver better efficiency than a traditional law firm, the CEO tells TechCrunch exclusively. The startup has now laid off all its employees, which totaled just over 100. It will return some of its $75.5 million in funding to investors, including Series B lead Andreessen Horowitz. The separate Atrium law firm will continue to operate.

    • https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/03/atrium-shuts-down/?

    • KPMG retakes independence exam amid cheating scandal. 

    • All 600-odd KPMG Australia partners and more than 5900 client-facing staff will be forced to resit the consulting firm's internal independence exam amid an investigation into cheating on the annual assessment.

    • The firm has taken the unprecedented step after a whistleblower complaint that model answers to the 20-question multiple choice exam at the end of the course were being improperly shared.

    • https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/kpmg-retakes-independence-exam-amid-cheating-scandal-20200308-p547xn 

     

    David Boyar

     

    About Us

    From the Trenches is brought to you by Paul Meissner from Freedom Mentoring and David Boyar from Change GPS. Proudly sponsored by BGL and The Outsourced Accountant.

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    10. Indepth: 6 Ways We'd Stimulate Your Economy05 Mar 202000:21:46

    David Boyar

    1. https://dynamicbusiness.com.au/topics/news/senators-urged-to-pass-equity-bill-that-could-see-smes-flourish.html 

    2. Don’t reinvent the wheel with political point projects Fund national infrastructure priorities https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-02/current_priority_list_%20february_2020.pdf

      https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/2020_infrastructure_priority_list_low_resolution_-_updated.pdf 

    3. Government backed investment in start ups 

    4. Extend australian business growth fund (proposed at 500m)

    Paul Meissner

    1. Expand the capital allowance regime to include stock in limited circumstances. Timing difference so budget neutral but could really help some businesses recover and survive.  

    2. Increase the availability of lending, bank guarantee type stuff. Get the cash flowing

    3. Certainly not politically motivated cash handouts. Cost too much for limited gain.

    4. Smart tax cuts. Tax cuts only work if you have made money. Loss carry back rules would specifically target businesses with a profit history that have faced a downturn. 

     

    About Us

    From the Trenches is brought to you by Paul Meissner from Freedom Mentoring and David Boyar from Change GPS. Proudly sponsored by BGL and The Outsourced Accountant.

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    10. Toilet Paper Deductibility, Superman's Tech & The Corporate Credit Card is Back05 Mar 202000:37:35

    BEST ON GROUND

    David Boyar

    Paul Meissner

    WORST ON GROUND

    David Boyar

    Paul Meissner

     

    About Us

    From the Trenches is brought to you by Paul Meissner from Freedom Mentoring and David Boyar from Change GPS. Proudly sponsored by BGL and The Outsourced Accountant.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    9. Interview: Wealth is Growing Faster Than Accounting with Malcom Stewart27 Feb 202000:16:23

    In this special episode David interviews Malcolm Stewart from MJS Business & Financial Services. Malcolm met David at the Perth Xero Roadshow and asked to be on the podcast. Turns out we’re in the business of making dreams come true. 

    In this episode you will learn:

    • The best, safest investment strategy
    • Managing through the wealth industry revenue model changes
    • Managing a practice through the mining boom, and after it!
    • Malcolm’s favorite tech change (My Prosperity integrating with X Plan)
    • Why older accountants struggle with the physicality of the FASEA exams 

    Old school targeted marketing. A paper solution to a digital problem. 

    www.sendhandwritten.com.au

    About Us

    From the Trenches is brought to you by Paul Meissner from Freedom Mentoring and David Boyar from Change GPS. Proudly sponsored by BGL and The Outsourced Accountant.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    8. 3 Xero Best on Grounds27 Feb 202000:35:01

    BEST ON GROUND

    David Boyar

     

    Paul Meissner

     

    WORST ON GROUND

    David Boyar

     

    Paul Meissner

     

    About Us

    From the Trenches is brought to you by Paul Meissner from Freedom Mentoring and David Boyar from Change GPS. Proudly sponsored by BGL and The Outsourced Accountant.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    7. Breaking up with Auskey20 Feb 202000:27:27

    BEST ON GROUND

    David Boyar

     

    Paul Meissner

    • Definition of advisory?
      a great article by Elaine Clark, where she restates her love of compliance and says: “I guess the only fault about compliance accountants is that, generally, they do not shout about how good they are at what they do and the services that they provide. They just do it!”

    • Yet the so-called ‘twittersphere’ and ‘blogosphere’ are full of all sorts telling us that compliance is dead and we can only exist as an advisory practice. This statement alone shows exactly how little they know about what we do and how we do it. It shows their ignorance of the work of thousands of accountants across the UK who work tirelessly and with great professionalism and ability. They are already advisory practices, but just happen to be advisory practices that don’t use the software or systems that they are trying to sell us.

    • Accountancy practices already are Advisory practices 

    • AI Data bias

    • https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/09/men-women-books?

     

    WORST ON GROUND

    David Boyar

     

    Paul Meissner

    1. Facebook Groups

    2. Xero live events

    3. Linked In 

     

    About Us

    From the Trenches is brought to you by Paul Meissner from Freedom Mentoring and David Boyar from Change GPS. Proudly sponsored by BGL and The Outsourced Accountant.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1. What are going to see in '23?01 Feb 202300:38:15

    While the entire world changes in response to war, inflation, the Covid Era work habits that are sticking round and Jim Chalmers attempt to alter the course of capitalism, our pertinacious host Paul Meissner proudly declares that TECH WILL NOT CHANGE (even though he knows ChangeGPS will drop 3 new products this year)! 

    Before we dive in, a huge thank you to our episode sponsors 'Access Offshoring'. Are you struggling to find quality staff in your firm? 

    Speak to the team at Access Offshoring. They specialise in finding quality talent in the Phillipines, trained on Australian tax law. They can help you improve your margins, unlock your capacity and get your firm back on track. 

    1. Tax will Change
    2. Blue collar workers won't get the same ATO treatment as white collars
    3. The year of the micro business as COSBOA gets the chance to stop pandering to unions 
    4. The year of return to employment for failing micro businesses 
    5. Conference Schedule overload 
    6. Post Conference marketing to accountants to be .... reduced? NAH!
    7. The voice of accountants gets organised to have impact for small business and themselves
    8. Professional bodies make an effort to improve, hopefully 
    9. There has to be a growth in offshoring 
    10. Conference Content maintains its repetition 
    11. Accountants look after themselves!!

    This show is proudly sponsored by Access Offshoring and ChangeGPS

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    6. Excel is Your Superhero13 Feb 202000:29:09

    BEST ON GROUND

    David Boyar

    Paul Meissner

     

    WORST ON GROUND

    David Boyar

    Paul Meissner

     

    About Us

    From the Trenches is brought to you by Paul Meissner from Freedom Mentoring and David Boyar from Change GPS. Proudly sponsored by BGL and The Outsourced Accountant.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    5. Community First06 Feb 202000:42:16

    BEST ON GROUND

    David Boyar

    Paul Meissner

    • Congratulations to Amreeta and the Nowinfinity team. $25m sale to Class. Interesting that Class’s head of sales moved on. Does that open the door to Ben Gill taking on the role? Do the sales cultures align? Time will tell. 
    • SMSF platform makes $25m acquisition 
    • Dilatory accounting cost Dixons £1.8m. For 8 years this business kept amounts open as accounts receivable. Not great year end accounting procedures not to write off earlier. 
    • Dilatory accounting cost Dixons £1.8m 
    • Afterpay, Zip Co get in first with code of practice. It’s a good start with some practical protections for consumers. One wonders what’s missing since there is no independence given the rules are written by those abiding by them. I’d like to write my own views.  
    • Afterpay, Zip Co get in first with code of practice 

     

    WORST ON GROUND

    David Boyar

    Paul Meissner

    • Open Banking - What will be the outcome? Predicted to “...“That completely takes the friction out of applying for a mortgage,”. Anyone who has applied for a mortgage knows that the more info you give the more issues come up in the application. I think Open Banking is a poisoned Chalice. 
    • Open banking and rise of fintechs to disrupt big banks' 'rivers of gold' 
    • Canberra urged to join the data sharing action - CBA displays a typical protectionist strategy against having to give up data by greedily demanding more. 
    • Canberra urged to join the data sharing action 
    • Chat about football or cricket in the workplace should be curtailed, a management body has warned.
    • Chartered Management Institute head Ann Francke said sports banter can exclude women and lead to laddish behaviour such as chat about sexual conquests.
    • "A lot of women, in particular, feel left out," she told the BBC's Today programme.
    • Nanny state gone mad. What would the reaction be if this was to be excluding men? 
    • Firms urged to crack down on office football chat 

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    4. Indepth : Advice To My Younger Self28 Jan 202000:22:32

    Paul Meissner

    • Advice to my younger self

    • Comes from: https://twitter.com/AliciaLMoreau/status/1206751875686469633?s=20

      • Try anything (audit, reception, advisory or compliance)
      • Extra 1hr per day makes a big impact, especially technical reading or asking why 
      • Make the right decision with the right information
      • Don't be outcome focused, just be your best
      • Client communication - personal interaction, not all online
      • Output focused, not time focused (timesheet issue)

    David Boyar

    • Fun work is still work 
    • Keep Stumbling 
    • Call out for help (mental help episode) 
    • Network is only worth what you give to people. Keep giving 

    About Us

    From the Trenches is brought to you by Paul Meissner from Freedom Mentoring and David Boyar from Change GPS. Proudly sponsored by BGL and The Outsourced Accountant.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    3. The Russian Experiment24 Jan 202000:33:29

    BEST ON GROUND

    Paul Meissner

    David Boyar

     

    About Us

    From the Trenches is brought to you by Paul Meissner from Freedom Mentoring and David Boyar from Change GPS. Proudly sponsored by BGL and The Outsourced Accountant.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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