Accounting Apps Podcast

📢 A conversation with the ACCA CE Before the World Congress of Accountants in Sydney | Helen Brand

Helen Brand is Chief Executive of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the global body for professional accountants The  World Congress of Accountants 2018 (WCOA2018)  is an International accounting Conference held every four years.  The  20th  WCOA  shall be held in  Sydney  Australia,  5  -  8 November.  The  WCOA accounting conference brings together more than 6,000 delegates from over  130 countries to hear world-class speakers and leaders across the finance and business community.  Visit:  https://wcoa2018.sydney/ for more information.  Helen Brand is a panellist on the 'Digital Future - new ways of working' discussion (10:30 am 8 Nov (Day 4), joined by Bernard Salt, from The Demographics Group).

💵 Building a Cashflow Forecasting Solution that the Business Owners Can Rely on | Colin Hewitt

Colin Hewitt is founder and CEO of Float Cash Flow Forecasting, an app for Xero and QuickBooks Online that helps produce really visual and intuitive cash flow forecasts. After running his own creative agency and struggling to produce cash flow forecasts in a spreadsheet, Colin founded Float in 2010. Now he and his team are on a mission to help small businesses understand their numbers and produce accurate forecasts in a fraction of the time compared to spreadsheets. Colin lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, with his wife and their three children Float Cash Flow Forecasting Float cash flow forecasting provides businesses and their advisors with cash flow forecasts that are highly visual, accurate, and take a fraction of the time to prepare compared to spreadsheets. Business owners are able to easily understand and use Float to predict the cash future of their business, no accounting background necessary. Our daily sync with Xero and QBO means that all of your data is pulled through to populate your forecasts, helping you spot cash fluctuations in advance and have confidence in your future plans. Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here https://HeatherSmithAU.com

An Accounting Technologist Embracing Symbiotic Relationships 👥 with Accounting Apps | Clayton Oates

Clayton Oates is an Accounting Technologist | Small Business Enthusiast | Encourager | Educator | Story Teller | Each Day Appreciator Bio: Helping Small Business, Accountants, Bookkeepers & Technology Companies to connect with each other (and the clients and customers they serve) to have a better life. It’s been a fascinating journey so far & I've managed to collect some interesting stories along the way; some extremely inspiring ones, and others, well, not so uplifting. But every experience has provided an opportunity to grow & contribute back to a profession that has given me so much. I chose Accounting Technology (more than 25 years ago) as the vehicle to build a better life for myself and my family – and it worked! At the time I was a frustrated and uninspired 24 year old Tax Accountant who dreamed of one day having my own business & the freedom that came with it (Ok so I discovered that the price of freedom certainly isn’t free - but it is worth it). The by-product of adding value to others was that I started to achieve the very thing that inspired me to start my own business in the first place - Freedom! Then just when I thought I had made it, something happened – I Burnt Out! Fortunately, the business model I had built fully supported me & my family throughout the 3 year recovery period, and although I had often said it, I hadn’t appreciated it until that moment – “Be sure to dig your well before you are thirsty”. This experience has been a blessing (although tough to appreciate at the time) it has given me a renewed perspective on life. It has also made me acutely aware that I am not the only one who has had (or is currently going through or heading towards) the same experience. Part of my quest has been to help others (where I can) to live a life of their dreams by being an enthusiastic encourager, instilling confidence, building belief & helping create businesses with a model that provides time for transformation via personal growth & contribution to others. If there is one word that best reminds me of what I value & appreciate, that word would be – Authenticity! What’s your Word? Business: QA Business Pty Ltd The QA Mission To help our clients (Small Businesses / Bookkeepers & Accountants) become the most efficiently run businesses in the country, by taking advantage of technology and implementing simple and effective business systems, enabling you to buy back time from your business. Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here https://HeatherSmithAU.com

Underdogs 🥊 Disrupting and Challenging the Big Players| Phong Le

As Head of Growth APAC at Expensify, Phong identifies opportunities to strengthen our relationships with strategic partners in the Australia Pacific region. Phong is a boxing fan, cigar aficionado, and loves travelling to unique places in the world. He hates excuses and loves the company of both the big city and the vast wilderness. Based out of Melbourne, Phong loves helping customers find a solution to their expense reporting woes! Overview What is preaccounting? How to identify and diagnose preaccounting inefficiencies How can accountants optimise their clients’ preaccounting workflows and processes? How can accountants increase ROI by automating expense management in their firm? How do automation and Expensify address preacccounting issues?   Twitter Facebook  Subscribe to our Blog For more info. to get started, contact sales@expensify.com Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here https://HeatherSmithAU.com

How To Get Clients Wanting You To Increase Their Fees 🆙 | James Ashford

James works with firms of accountants from around the world, helping them to become more profitable and maximize the value of their clients James is the founder of GoProposal,  author of “Selling to Serve” and Director of My Accountancy Place.  He is a sales and marketing expert, helping firms to scale their practice by giving more value to existing clients and converting new prospects at a higher rate for higher fees. He does this through challenging outdated pricing methods and mindsets, implementing powerful pricing and proposal systems and leveraging entire firms to sell more through consultative sales techniques.   Overview The mindsets the keep most accountancy firms stuck. Why they see themselves as different to other businesses and the challenges that creates. Why selling is their ethical obligation. The real business accountancy firms are in (and it's got nothing to do with finance.) How I had a business that failed because I didn't have the correct finance function in place, which is the real reason I help accountancy firms to make sure their clients never end up in the position I did. How being a magician taught me how to sell.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesashford/ https://twitter.com/THEJamesAshford https://goproposal.com/ james@jamesashford.com

Build a Product with a 💪 Strong End User Experience | David Barrett

Today I am speaking with David Barrett, the founder and CEO of Expensify. He's an all around alpha geek who started programming when he was 6. He worked in a Virtual Reality Lab at the University of Michigan, wrote 3D graphics engines for the video games industry in Texas, and helped build a  peer-to-peer file transfer technology called Red Swoosh in California, before founding Expensify. Expensify has pioneered innovation in the receipt and expense management process by automating every step from receipt scanning through reimbursement. From solo-preneurs to global enterprises across all industries, Expensify serves over five million people and 50,000 customers around the world. Overview Starting Expensify off the back of a thwarted attempt to help homeless people An overview of what Expensify does The coding language Expensify is built on. The biggest challenges faced when starting Expensify is David had no idea what he was doing. He asked lots of questions and listened. Working with a remote team – you can’t get the best people to work for you if they’re not getting rich and having fun! Communication tools used to stay connected with remote staff, hint SLACK is one of them! Cloud apps, cryptocurrency and one straight answer. Talking shiraz with David Barrett – wine aficionado What does the future hold for Expensify? Future plans for Expensify: We know we're going to be here forever, so we're making the investments in the product that's going to last forever. Follow @Expensify on Twitter, like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Expensify/), or subscribe to our blog at https://blog.expensify.com/

The Journey of Upgrading From DOS to Windows to the Cloud for this 🤖 Tech Company | Daniel Tramontana

Interviewee Profile Daniel joined BGL in 1997. During this time, Daniel has been part of the accountant's journey in transitioning from DOS to Windows and now cloud technology. Daniel is passionate about leadership and loves working with accountants and assisting them in growing their business through technology. Daniel loves family, the occasional selfie and life. Carpe Diem! Company Profile BGL Corporate Solutions has been partnering with accountants since 1983. Our focus is to empower SMSF and corporate compliance professionals with innovative cloud solutions and superior service. Driven by Integrity, Passion, Collaboration, Perseverance and Diversity we have established and continue to maintain the market-leading position in the Company Compliance and SMSF software space. Today BGL has a client base of 7000+ accounting firms around the world. How can listeners contact you? @DTramma https://www.linkedin.com/in/dantram/ https://www.bglcorp.comdanielt@bglcorp.com.au 

How a Non-Accountant Made an Impact on a Highly Educated Industry 📚 | Trent McLaren

It's not what you know, it's who you know: the story of a 28-year-old high school drop-out travelling the world of accounting - How did this non-accountant make an impact on a highly educated industry Interviewee Profile Trent Mclaren is Australia's thought leader of the year in the Accounting Industry. He is the head of accounting and strategic partnerships at Practice Ignition. His role see's him partnering with accounting professionals all over the world as he strives to drive innovation and disruption with his partners. Igniting a culture to challenge the status quo and create true customer centricity. Company Profile Practice Ignition is the game-changing automation trigger your practice needs. Handling all aspects of your client relationships, proposals, billings, scope management and beyond. Practice Ignition is the catalyst for true cloud accounting firms wanting to move to fixed fee structures and eliminate their debtors completely. Practice Ignition is a cloud-based onboarding solution that helps you sign more clients, save time and truly transform your workflow automation. How can listeners contact you? Twitter: @trent_mclaren linkedin.com/in/trentmclaren www.practiceignition.com trent@practiceignition.com

A Modern Chartered Accountant Focused 🔎 on eCommerce | Tracey Newman

Interview Tracey is the founder of CloudCounting, a boutique Chartered Accountancy firm that specializes in eCommerce, and there was never a more passionate advocate for working in the Cloud. Tracey is a Registered Tax Agent, Chartered Accountant, Xero Gold Partner and MYOB Certified Consultant. She recently spent a month in France with her husband and two children during the busiest month of the year … and survived! This is proof you can run your business anywhere using cloud products. Tracey has worked in Big 4 accounting firms and now specializes in putting time back in the day for small to medium business. Tracey has over twenty years’ experience working with clients implementing and advising on accounting systems. She’s passionate about helping you find the right accounting system for you. Discussion Who’s a historical figure you’d like to have a coffee with? Why did you move from Canada to Australia? What inspired you to start your own accounting practice? What services do you offer? You’ve recently qualified as a tax agent – what was that process like for you? You are very involved in the bookkeepers forum – now that you are a tax agent – will this change? Who is your target market? What was your most effective marketing strategy? What has been your most effective marketing strategy? Why are you niching in ecommerce? What are some business tools you recommend to clients or use in your own business? What’s one tip you can share with us about growing your team? What’s your favourite part of your business day? How can our listeners get in contact with you? ********** Connect with Tracey Newman at: W: http://www.cloudcounting.com.au/ F: https://www.facebook.com/cloudcountingptyltd T: https://twitter.com/CloudCountingAU L: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracey-newman-90001419/

🤝 Benefits of Teaming up With Cloud Integrators | Helen Goodman

Today I’m speaking with Helen Goodman, of Invisible Business Solutions. In this episode, we talk about . . . Discussion: The Cloud Integration Channel Who are cloud Integrators? The Cloud Integrator Channel narrowing to Authorised Cloud Integrators not cloud resellers which is what caused the original confusion around our services. What do Cloud Integrators do? How do Cloud Integrators add value? Why should Accountants and Bookkeepers work with us? Why the apps think we are fantastic! How we operate in verticals and believe in collaboration and communication in the new virtual world. Solutions mentioned include Receipt Bank Spotlight Reporting MINDBODY, Inc. ServiceM8 WorkflowMax (A Xero Product) TradeGecko Unleashed Whos is Helen Goodman? For over 20 years Helen Goodman worked in the corporate sector as a Management Accountant and Business Analyst, for companies such as the mobile communications giant ‘Vodafone’ and for the healthcare leaders ‘Abbott Laboratories’ until moving to Australia in 2001. Being a passionate management accountant at heart and perfectionist by nature, an early adopter of cloud technology, Helen’s warm vibes shine, not only from her enthusiasm and never say never attitude, but also from her genuine work ethic. As a Cloud Integrator Helen facilitates businesses to adopt the cloud and become more efficient, have access to information like never before and provide them with a competitive advantage. Invisible Business Solutions was founded in 2012, with the core goal of providing financial management to Small Business. We were amongst the first to be recognised as a Xero Authorised Cloud Integrator when the new market channel was launched in August 2015. Our reputation as an Authorised Cloud Integrator has grown, based on our experience, commitment and standard of excellent customer service. We are proud to be MINDBODY’s first partner in Australia to provide implementation, training and support for clients in the Health & Wellness Industry. We are also partners with ServiceM8, WorkflowMAX and Unleashed, but pride ourselves on our independence and Ecosystem knowledge. Connect with Helen Goodman at: www.authorisedcloudintegrator.com.au Facebook.com/invizbizsolutions Facebook.com/authorisedcloudintegrator Twitter @invizbiz LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/helen-goodman-fcca/