Accounting Apps Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Join me as I recount my journey through the vibrant Nashville Xerocon, where country spirit and tech innovation collided. 

In this episode, I cover:

• My personal takeaways from the conference

• Insights from the Nashville Xerocon and key product announcements

• Innovation from the exhibitor floor

• Behind the scenes of speaking at my first International Xerocon.

• Connecting with industry peers at events and activities around Xerocon.

There are lots of links in the show notes to explore more about everything I discussed.

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Contact details:

Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/ 

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 Val Steed, Director Accountants, Zoho Corporation 

In this episode, we talk about . . .

Zoho Corporation's journey in the accounting technology industry, from its founding in 1996 to its current position as a leading provider of integrated business solutions

The company's focus on privacy, security, and long-term vision, with a family-like culture and commitment to employee retention

Zoho's conservative management approach and profitability since day one, even during challenging times like the pandemic

The challenges of working as a US-based employee for an Indian-based company, including navigating cultural nuances and time zones

Zoho's integrated platform, which offers a suite of over 55 web apps and 75 mobile apps, including accounting, CRM, and other business tools

Zoho's efforts to adapt its products to local markets, such as incorporating Australian tax and payroll requirements

The company's annual Zoholics conference, including the partner-focused Inspire event, and its plans for AI integration in its products

Insights into Zoho's growth and competitive landscape in the accounting industry, as well as the challenges of reaching the target audience in the Australian market

Contact details:

Val Steed https://www.linkedin.com/in/valsteed/ 

Zoho Corp https://www.zohocorp.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 

Today, I’ve something exciting to share with you. You know how you get excited when a lost Beatle or Nirvana track is found, well the extraordinary Alexi Boyd uncovered the audio of a panel discussion from Sydney Xerocon PreXerocon 2023. I honestly thought I’d never hear it again, and then mid March she sent me a copy - making me a very happy podcaster cause I get to share it with you. The panel discussion was held at the beautiful Hinchcliff House at Circular Quay. Unfortunately the room was a little noisy on the day of the event. However much to my surprise the audio quality is really quite good.  

The topic for discussion was “Unravelling the future of AccounTech”.

If you are a regular listener you will know, I value bringing diversity to these tech conversations: The moderator Alexi Boyd ran a BAS and Bookkeeping business for 8 years. She is the Radio Show host of Small Biz Matters and now works in policy strategy and government relations. Her background led her to take the conversation in an interesting direction, consumer data rights and restrictions on data and innovation and the differences between data protection laws in Europe, UK, and Australia.

This event was the first time Sabby Gill, the new Dext formerly Receipt Bank CEO, had spoken in Australia. Sabby had literally just got off the plane. London based Sabby Gill brought an overseas perspective, as well as his 35 years in the UK technology sector. Aly Garrett is a modern, technology savvy accountant, from South Australia. She represented accountants, their small business clients, and living outside the major Australian cities, brought a regional perspective to the conversation.

Roger Gregg brought that unique energy that comes with being a Fintech founder, plus his expensive knowledge of the hospitality and brewing industry, which certainly flavoured the conversation. 

I shall add in some recent relevant news, congratulations are in order, 10 months after recording this, it has been announced that the Access Group Has Entered Into an Agreement to Acquire Pioneering AP Automation Provider, Lightyear 

Let me fill you in on a bit of a backstory. The Gregg brothers were one of the original App partners, with their solution InvitBox. I’m thinking within the first ten years? InvitBox won Xero emerging app partner in 2013. Then in May 2014 Intuit acquired InvitBox. The very blue boys turned green overnight. Several years later, in quite an unprecedented move, they bought InvitBox back from Intuit for a single dollar! And relaunched as LightYear. 

Here we are ten years later, and they have sold again, this time to The Access Group. 

Read more here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7194623580830105601/

 https://heathersmithsmallbusiness.com/2024/06/06/unravelling-the-future-of-accountech-sydney-xerocon-2023/

Contact details:

Alexi Boyd https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexiboyd/ 

Small Biz Matters https://smallbizmatters.com.au/ 

Aly Garrett https://www.linkedin.com/in/alygarrett/ 

Sabby Gill https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabbygill/

Roger Gregg https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogergregg/ 

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 Tim Garth and Dan Osborne co-hosts of Two Drunk Accountants podcast. In this episode, we talk about . . .

• How Tim’s dad has led a continuous learning culture and is always looking for a ways to make something easier, less friction and more efficient, which has enabled this firm started in the 1970’s, to remain modern and future focused
• The Apps Advisory conversation they have with their clients. One of the first things they think about when working with clients, is what do their systems look like. They don’t actively setup apps, but they often get involved in finding the solution.
• Using a podcast, to empowering small businesses in a relaxed, open non-judgmental format, so they can share accurate information.
• The tech stack of this Central Coast of New South Wales accounting practice.
• Building a business around systems and efficiencies
• Evolving their advisory journey, to meet their clients’ needs

Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here http:// HeatherSmithAU.COM

Today I’m speaking with Alexi Boyd Director of a Bookkeeping business and host of the Small Biz Matters podcast

In this episode, we talk about . . .

• Insights into how she runs her small bookkeeping practice, supporting micro and start-up businesses.
• Navigating a dislike for implementing and adopting new technology
• How curiosity, a growth mindset and a chance encounter with a radio station manager, was a catalyst for starting her podcast.
• How podcasting has helped her develop active listening and multi-tasking skills which she’s brought back into her bookkeeping business
• Useful tips for curating and facilitating panels, and why the CEO should not be hosting panel facilitations.
• Why it’s important to get involved in small business advocacy

Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here http:// HeatherSmithAU.COM

I share a few facts and learnings from producing 100 episodes of the Cloud Stories podcast over the last 6 years.

I've interviewed people from Australia, Canada, England, India, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, and USA.

I've interviewed Accountants, Bookkeepers, Cloud Integrators, Country Managers, Evangelists, Founders, General Managers, IT Specialists, Marketing Specialists, Sales Specialists.

I've had around 35 females, and 75 males on the show - yikes! Yes I know I need to strive for improved gender diversity.

I encourage you to subscribe to the podcast, and leave us a 5 star rating, as that helps people find us! Also you can subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here: https://www.heathersmithau.com/

Today I’m speaking with Catherine Walker Community Manager at Xero

In this episode, we talk about . . .

• How writing a thesis on the viability of organising information on the internet as part of her Master of Library and Information Studies was a solid foundation for her Community Managers role.
• As one of Xero’s earliest employees, realising people were deciding whether to buy Xero over social media and jumping in to respond
• What the day to day role of a community manager looks like
• Advice for accountants and bookkeepers interacting on social media
• Inspirational and funny stories of people Catherine’s met thru the community
• Diffusing situations and dealing with negative energy on social media 

Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here http:// HeatherSmithAU.COM

Today I’m speaking with Dylan Burgess, Partner Relationship Manager of Float Cash Flow Forecasting. Dylan joined our afternoon community chat, to lead a discussion on Supporting Your Clients and Yourself Through Uncertainty. With the community, we discussed how we could assist our own business, and assist our client’s business. We explored how some people planned for every scenario, while others don’t plan for anything, leaning on the philosophy one plus one equals window. I’ve worked with the team at Float Cash Flow Forecasting for several years, and you can read about the way I work, at http://EndorsementDisclosure.com. Connect with me on twitter at @HeatherSmithAU and sign up to the Accounting Apps newsletter, at http://HeatherSmithAU.COM

Today I’m speaking with Kevin Fitzgerald Managing Director (Xero, Asia). We're going to talk about 20 trends changing the world of work and transforming the nature of careers in accountancy. These trends are taken from ACCA Professional insight report Future ready: accountancy careers in 2020’s  ) For those of you who don’t know ACCA stands for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, it’s a global body for professional accountants, and it has a MOU with both Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand, and Xero, where Kevin works.

Kevin Fitzgerald and I are both Fellows of the ACCA, and we are also both candidates for the ACCA GLOBAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS. From 8th Oct until 12th Nov 2020 ACCA members can vote in the ACCA Global Council elections. If you are a ACCA member, details on how to VOTE 🗳️will be in an email📩 or postal pack📬 sent to you. Links to candidate profiles, including mine and 🧮Heather Smith FCA, FCCA, FICB are there. https://secure.cesvotes.com/V3-0-0/acca20/en/statements?bbp=30202&x=-1

If you are an ACCA member, I encourage you to read the candidate profiles and take time to vote. If you know a ACCA professional, perhaps you could connect or reconnect with them, and share this podcast with them, so they too can get involved and vote.

'The Future of The Accounting Profession' panel discussion was held as part of the AcuityCon conference for the Acuity Financial Experts team.

The global expert panel included:

• Kenji Kuramoto Founder & CEO of Acuity Financial Experts Greater Atlanta Area USA
• Michael Ly Entrepreneur | Virtual CFO | Cloud Accounting Executive | Online Bookkeeping | Speaker | Coach | Advisor Burlington, Vermont USA
• Nayo Carter-Gray, EA MBA Making Accounting a Little Less Taxing for small business owners | Advanced Certified QuickBooks Online Pro-Advisor | App & Technology Enthusiast Baltimore, Maryland Area USA
• Rachel (Leaney) Fisch, CPB Product Evangelist, Accountant Channel at Sage Greater Toronto Area Metropolitan Area Canada!
• Will Farnell Accountancy Firm founder (Farnell Clarke) , Keynote Speaker, Author of The Digital Firm and Mentor to Accounting Firms UK!

Some takeaways for me included:

🧮Microsoft Word & Excel are the most popular small business tools

🧮Compliance is not dead ☠️

🧮AI is overhyped

🧮Non-traditional firms will embrace diversity

🧮Modern firms are not old style firms using Accounting Technology

🧮We don't need to worry about QBLive

🧮Paper checks ⁉️

Thank-you Kenji Kuramoto for the opportunity. Thank you to the Acuity team who helped make this possible. Thank-you for listening to Cloud Stories. I hope you enjoyed the show. Can I encourage you to sign up to the Accounting Apps newsletter, by visiting http:// HeatherSmithAU. COM