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Budgets go stale fast. Here’s how CFOs keep them useful all year.
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68 Updoc The ROI of Employee Health: Keeping Company’s Game- Changing Strategy
76 G-Accon From Spreadsheet to Dashboard in One Click
78 Frontline Bending Time with an Executive Assistant (or how to be more effective!)
80 HR Partner The Most Overlooked Step in Hiring the Right Person
82 EVENT Accountex Canada Accountex Canada 2025: Where Accounting Meets Innovation If
84 BGL How Wilson Howe streamlined company secretarial compliance with CAS 360
88 ICB Bookkeepers at the heart of MTD IT
92 Buddy The Great Payroll Paradox: Why Accountants Are Undervaluing Their Most Valuable Service
94 ApprovalMax Finding focus: What CFOs can learn from KeepCup
98 EVENT The Business Show London, Let’s Do Business
104 EVENT Scaling New Heights Equipping Accountants for a Strange New World
106 APP COMPARISON
114 UPDATES AND NEW RELEASES
115 NEW APP RELEASES
120 Allica Bank Allica Bank acquires fintech Kriya in a move to deliver £1 billion of SME working capital finance by 2028
Scarce resource
Accountants are torn as to the impact of AI upon the profession
In a guest blog for Advancetrack, Kevin Reed suggests recruiting more accountants isn’t necessarily the answer to AI and automation.
There has been a lot said about AI’s potential impact upon staffing in accountancy in recent months. Some might say ‘too much’. So, why would I write about AI?
I had the honour of working on Advancetrack’s Accounting Talent Index 2025, a report chock-full of stats and insight.
While there’s some great detail around practice leaders’ attempts to mitigate against what is a serious talent shortage in the global profession, I was drawn to the relatively simple question around AI. The question being: ‘how will AI impact your accountancy staffing requirements in the next five years?’
What I really like about this question is that, while it’s straightforward, it has provided findings that highlight a myriad of possibilities for the profession in an AI world. In fact, the response raises so many questions that it’s difficult to know where to start…
Minority report
So, let’s go with the 13% that believe we’ll need fewer accountants. My overall feeling is conflicted here. While I’d like to say that they’re wrong, I think that, on the balance of probability, they’re are most likely correct.
Why I believe that is quite complex, but certainly not an indicator that
@Kevin Reed
Kevin Reed is one of the UK’s most senior accounting and finance journalists. He has written for, edited or managed various business and finance titles for VNU, Incisive Media, Contentive and Redactive since 2000 - and is now a freelance journalist and consultant. Kevin is currently editor of Financial Accountant magazine. A regular columnist, he is known for his views on practice management issues. Kevin has chaired the judging and presented the British Accountancy Awards and Business Finance Awards for several years, and also judged for the CICM Awards. He has served as a chair or panellist on many B2B events. Recent work has seen him cover personal finance, credit management and SME sectors. New roles and services provided include social media management; perception audits; media pitches; content strategy and webinar hosting.
(Source: Advancetrack Accounting Talent Index 2025)
‘accountancy is dying’. And I’m not saying accountants will become less important.
(Accountancy) qualifications have always been passports. Many have gone on post-qualification to wildly varied careers
We know there’s a talent shortage (both the Talent Index 2024 and 2025 highlight it starkly). We’ve also seen less-thanflattering statistics around student numbers across the Western world in recent times. Other jurisdictions are struggling to provide the number of outsourced/ offshored accountants to fill the gap.
How much of the talent shortage is strictly down to career concerns about the impact of AI, rather than stilted salaries for PQs and NQs, is a moot point. But I don’t see a world ahead where more accountants will magically appear in greater droves to undertake the work currently required.
A step change for the profession
But, what if the work undertaken by accountants changes? This is the premise for the 44%: that automation and Agentic AI undertake more of the ‘number-crunching’ and process-driven work and create insights that will require both review and then further actions to be taken.
This is not an unreasonable assumption. The core of accountancy training is not wildly different to that of 50 years ago. And these qualifications have always been passports – many have gone on post-qualification to wildly varied careers in practice, commerce, or the third sector.
But I’m not convinced that the roles created by AI will necessarily mean more accountants. It’s very possible that practices will need more hires – and I hope that AI gives both practices and finance functions a platform for
growth. But the data scientists, prompt engineers and AI trainers… I see these roles as science/techfocused (I note the irony in relation to the huge number of US tech job losses in 2025).
Resourcing for growth
As for the 43% that believe they’ll need the same number of accountants: this is entirely possible. My big concern with that premise is the ongoing struggle firms already have as far as resourcing is concerned. And, what role these accountants have is a really interesting one: will the split be even between technician/manager/ client handler? Or will the technician roles fall into the ‘hands’ of AI agents?
even outsourcers, will change at a rapid rate.
I don’t see a world ahead where more accountants will magically appear in greater droves. Whether you’re a firm owner, partner, or industry stakeholder, the Accounting Talent Index is essential reading. It offers unique insight into where the pressure points lie, and what the highest-performing firms are doing to adapt and grow in the face of these sector-wide challenges.
I am hopeful for the accountancy profession. But there is serious work ahead to attract the right people into the profession, and serious consideration about how the core accountancy, tax and audit skills that are taught fit into its future. And what else is required.
Kevin Reed is editor of Financial Accountant magazine and a freelance journalist. His views may not align with those of Advancetrack. The skills and people mix for accountancy practices and even outsourcers, will change rapidly.
As such, the skills and people mix for accountancy practices, finance functions and
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Aider x Karbon Q&A
@karbonhq
@marywdelaney
Mary Delaney, Chief Executive Officer, Karbon
Mary Delaney is a visionary leader with over 20 years of experience driving growth, transformation, and innovation in B2B software. As CEO of Karbon, she works closely with accounting firms to optimize their operations through modern technology. Mary brings unique insight into how firms can streamline workflows, improve collaboration, and leverage connected ecosystems to drive efficiency and growth.
@aider-ai
@brendanproberts
Brendan Roberts, Founder,
Brendan Roberts is a global entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience driving innovation in accounting technology. As Founder of Aider, he’s dedicated to helping accountants automate period close and grow their high-value advisory services with AI.
Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Brendan brings extensive expertise from the fintech sector and over a decade in telecommunications across the UK, New Zealand, and South Africa. He champions proactive, datadriven accounting and is passionate about helping firms thrive through automation and AI.
Karbon, the global leader in practice management software for accounting firms, recently announced the acquisition of Aider, a leading innovator in AI-powered advisory and reporting technology.
Karbon CEO Mary Delaney and Aider Founder Brendan Roberts share the story behind the acquisition and its significance for the accounting and bookkeeping profession.
XU: What does the acquisition of Aider by Karbon mean for the future of the accounting industry?
MD: Karbon’s acquisition of Aider represents a defining shift for the accounting and bookkeeping professions. For years, practice management software has almost entirely been about managing work, communications, teams and cash flow. With our AI strategy and acquisition of Aider, we’re elevating that model entirely from something that won’t just help firms manage work; it will actively do the work.
We believe accounting practices deserve more from their practice management software than just an operating system. Accounting firms today need a system that not only keeps them organized but actively propels their business forward— automating processes, surfacing insights, and helping teams anticipate client needs.
management reports, and identifies client opportunities within their business, while Karbon coordinates everything seamlessly across teams. The result is a fundamental change in how firms operate—reducing administrative burden, increasing accuracy, and freeing accountants to focus on strategic, advisory work. This is the beginning of a new era for the profession: one that’s more intelligent, proactive, and deeply human.
Technology will handle the repetitive, energy-draining tasks, while people focus on insight, creativity, and client relationships.
XU: How do you see this partnership changing the way accounting firms operate day to day?
MD:
Karbon and Aider together will transform how firms run from the ground up. Day to day, accountants will spend less time chasing data or managing spreadsheets and more time using insights to guide their clients. AI will be their silent partner, automatically reconciling transactions, preparing management reports, drafting commentary, and surfacing advisory opportunities in real time.
Aider’s AI-driven platform provides period close automation, generates
The workday for an accountant or bookkeeper then becomes more efficient, impactful and strategic. Firm owners can wake up knowing their core bookkeeping and reporting processes have already progressed overnight, while the team focuses
Aider
on conversations that move clients forward. We’re effectively blurring the lines between managing work and doing work. That means fewer bottlenecks, better collaboration, and a renewed ability for firms to add more client value and take on additional work. All while improving quality of life for their employees through reduced administrative stress and more rewarding, higher-impact work. Everyone wins.
XU:
How does this move align with Karbon’s broader vision for the future of accounting and advisory services?
MD:
Karbon’s goals have always centered around empowering accounting professionals to thrive. Whatever customer’s definition of thrive is, whether it’s about growth through expanding their services or client base, quality of life for themselves and employees, or profitability through increased efficiency, integrating Aider directly supports that. Together, we’re accelerating the transition from reactive accounting, focused on compliance and administration, to proactive, insight-led advisory.
Aider’s intelligent automation brings data-driven forecasting, predictive insights, and AI-assisted reporting directly into the same environment where teams already collaborate and manage their work. This unification is the foundation for the next generation of accounting technology.It’s a continuation of our journey to make
Karbon the backbone of AI-powered accounting firms worldwide, where automation, intelligence, and human expertise combine to drive lasting value for clients and firms alike.
XU:
Do you think this acquisition signals a wider trend of consolidation and collaboration in the accounting technology space?
MD:
Definitely, and it’s both natural and necessary. The accounting technology landscape has become increasingly fragmented over the past decade. Firms are juggling multiple tools for communication, workflow, analytics, and advisory, often without full integration between them. What we’re seeing now is the beginning of a much-needed open ecosystem with deep integrations that drive towards intelligent, unified ecosystems.
We believe this can be accomplished through acquisition or deep partnerships. Since our inception we’ve been focused on being an open ecosystem. We believe in giving our customers the freedom to build their own best in breed solution and have them seamlessly integrate into Karbon giving both employees and clients a unified experience.
Firms want outcomes, not complexity. The most successful technology companies will be those that combine strengths to solve entire client journey, whether through acquisition, partnership or acquisitions. That’s
what this acquisition represents: a collaborative move to bring the best of automation, data, and practice management together under one roof. It’s about creating a smarter, more connected experience that gives back control to accounting professionals and confidence in their daily operations.
XU:
What are some of the biggest pain points this combined platform aims to solve for accounting firms?
BR:
Almost every firm faces the same challenges: repetitive manual work, difficulty scaling
efficiently, and limited time to engage in deeper client relationships. The combined Karbon + Aider platform addresses all of that. Through AI, we’re automating processes like period close, reconciliations, and management reporting. These are tasks that traditionally consume countless hours each month.
Beyond efficiency, we’re also solving the pain of missed opportunities. AI can now surface insights across a firm’s entire client base, helping accountants identify where they can provide proactive advice or uncover potential risks early. That’s transformative. It reduces
Brendan Roberts and Mary Delaney at the jointly hosted AI in Accounting Summit earlier this year.
transform the accounting profession through AI.
Aider was already applying AI in ways that directly improved accounting workflows. Their technology automates workflows, surfaces realtime insights, and produces highquality reports, all with transparency and control for the accountant.
We saw a clear cultural and technical alignment. Just like Karbon, Aider’s approach isn’t about replacing people; it’s about giving them superpowers. Our data shows that firms using AI effectively save up to 40 hours per employee each month, and this number is growing. Those time savings free them up to scale without added overhead, and deliver richer advice to their clients.
By bringing that intelligence into Karbon’s workflow engine, we’re creating a seamless, AI-augmented environment where work gets done faster, smarter, and with more accuracy than ever before.
burnout, improves profitability, and strengthens client trust. Firms will finally be able to shift their energy from managing tasks to delivering real strategic impact.
XU: What role did AI and automation play in Karbon’s decision to acquire Aider?
MD: AI and automation were at the heart of this acquisition. It accelerates our vision to
the mundane tasks, and even identifying growth opportunities across clients.
The firms that embrace AI early will find themselves with more capacity, better insights, and happier teams. However, the evolution must be guided by human oversight. Transparency, explainability, security, and trust are non-negotiable. At Karbon, we believe the most effective AI today is hybrid: it does the groundwork, while professionals bring judgment, nuance, and relationshipbuilding to the table.
As an example, our role-based Karbon Agents, which are in development now, incorporate AI to carry out various tasks with a human review step immediately following. That’s the type of balance that will define the next era of accounting technology.
XU: How do you respond to accountants who are cautious—or even skeptical—about adopting AI-powered tools?
told us that AI has improved not only efficiency but also morale, because teams can finally spend more time doing the meaningful work they love.
XU:
Are there plans for new product features, integrations, or capabilities as a direct result of this acquisition?
BR: Absolutely, and many are already in motion.
A major enhancement is the AIpowered period close experience that will become part of Karbon. This integration will allow firms to manage and complete close processes seamlessly within one platform— reducing errors and eliminating tedious follow-ups.
XU: How do you see AI evolving within accounting workflows over the next few years?
MD: AI will evolve from being an occasional tool into a fully integrated co-worker. We’ll see AI take on more contextual understanding—knowing not just what needs to be done, but why. It will assist in planning, coordinating workflows across systems, performing
MD:
Healthy skepticism is important. AI is powerful, but it’s not perfect, and people are right to ask hard questions about accuracy, security, and accountability. Our philosophy at Karbon is that AI should be transparent and complementary. When firms experience that balance—seeing AI take care of the tedious parts while they focus on analysis and advice— they realize it’s not a threat, it’s an ally. Many of our customers have
Beyond that, the existing integration between Aider and Karbon will be deepened and many key Aider features enhanced with the Karbon customer in mind. These include AI-generated management reports featuring real-time insights and executive commentary, an AI-powered advisory assistant for data analytics and client meeting preparation, and dashboards that surface proactive advisory opportunities across the client base. We’re also working on role-based AI agents that will fully execute specific tasks that today are being performed by staff.
The vision is simple but bold: the world’s most innovative, intelligent operating system that anticipates a firm’s needs and helps teams stay ahead.
Karbon Co-founder Ian Vacin, CEO Mary Delaney, and Aider Founder Brendan Roberts found strong alignment between their companies’ mission and culture.
XU: What do you see as the biggest opportunity for accounting firms in leveraging the combined power of Karbon and Aider?
BR: The biggest opportunity is for firms to reclaim their time and redirect it toward growth—growth of both their clients’
businesses and their own.
Imagine being able to deliver deeper insights, more timely advice, and higher-value engagements without increasing headcount or working longer hours. That’s what this combination makes possible. By eliminating the bottlenecks of manual work, firms can expand into
new service areas like forecasting, advisory, and cash flow analysis. They can expand their client base and increase their profitability.
It’s not just about efficiency—it’s about transforming the client experience. The firms that adopt this technology will differentiate themselves not just through accuracy, but through empathy, creativity, and insight. That’s where the true competitive edge lies in the next decade.
XU:
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the possibilities this partnership unlocks for both firms and their clients?
BR: I’m most excited about the shift from reactive accounting to proactive guidance at scale. Together, Karbon and Aider are building a future where firms have an always-on view of client health— where issues are spotted early, opportunities surface automatically, and client conversations are about what’s next, not what happened.
It’s also a future where teams can work more flexibly, with AI handling the heavy lifting behind the scenes. This partnership isn’t just about improving workflow; it’s about unlocking human potential in the accounting profession. When technology takes care of the routine, accountants get to do what they do best—help businesses thrive. That’s what excites me most: we’re not just transforming software, we’re transforming what’s possible for the people who use it.
If you are looking to free up more time and budget for your business, outsourcing accounting services can offer a more cost-effective solution to reduce overheads and optimise business resources. Not outsourcing yet? Here’s what you are missing out on...
FIND OUT MORE...
Register for the Aider x Karbon webinar to find out more about the future of accounting
Find out more
Mary Delaney at the jointly hosted AI in Accounting Summit earlier this year.
Excel called. It wants its Friday nights back.
For accountants who love numbers, but hate late nights, broken formulas and coffee-fuelled existential crises.
You know the scene: it’s 10 pm. The office is empty except for you, an overworked coffee machine, and that one tab in Excel that insists it’s ‘updating formulas’ for eternity. You try to remember why you ever thought accounting was a good idea. And then you remember… you actually like numbers. It’s the tools that drive you mad.
Draftworx Cloud takes the data you already have (from Xero, Sage, QuickBooks or even Excel) and turns it into fully-formatted, compliant financial statements. No installs. No late-night meltdowns. Just clean, accurate statements, ready when you are.
Maximising ROI from Your SaaS Vendor
A Guide for Accountants Building Advisory Services
Your SaaS advisory platform choice is a strategic, business growth decision, not just an expense line item.
Here’s our 7 step guide to what you should evaluate before the commitment to a SaaS vendor relationship:
1. Think Investment, Not Cost
When selecting and working with vendors, consider how their software can help you deliver higher-value advisory services, improve client outcomes, and increase recurring revenue. Used well, advisory-specific software in the reporting, forecasting and consolidation eco-system should allow you to 10x or even 100x any cost incurred – dwarfing the monthly subscription.
At Spotlight Reporting, every firm who invests at the SuperVCFO level
or above gets an experienced, human Customer Success Manager to help you on strategy, execution, monetisation and team education. In addition, our very experienced Education, Training and Support team ensures that you receive professional training (this is recorded too) and are on call to help 24/7. Throw in our thought leadership resources and Transform in Action course (also included), and you are well supported to maximise your investment in advisory. Few if any competitors invest in you like this, post-sale – so make sure you ask about this critical aspect of the vendor relationship.
2. Vendor Pedigree & Advisor Focus
Choose vendors with proven track records in accounting or financial services. A vendor who already serves advisory-focused accounting firms provides confidence that their tools are designed with your needs in mind. How
@ Spotlight-Reporting-Limited
@ richardfrancis
Richard Francis FCA, Founder and CEO, Spotlight Reporting
Richard is the Founder and CEO of Spotlight Reporting, a global business intelligence software company that empowers accounting firms and CFOs to deliver world-class advisory insights. A Chartered Accountant by trade, Richard began his career in a large accounting firm before spending four years in the UK. He later served as General Manager at Xero (2012–2014), following the acquisition of his own software business.
long have they been in business and are they investing in and committed to the mission?
Spotlight Reporting was founded in 2011 and works with over 2,000 accounting firms and CFOs globally. The business has been a multiple award-winner and is a top app in multiple software ecosystems. We are advisor-first (we have been successful advisors ourselves), and won’t undermine or distract you with an SMB marketing play.
3. Leadership, Team & Ownership
The leadership and calibre of the team members behind the product and associated services matter. Vendors led by professionals with “accounting DNA” and industry-specific expertise translates into smarter product development, practical features and human-supported solutions that can make a massive contribution to your practice requirements, and the success
of your advisory strategy.
Vendors with deep experience in accounting technology and advisory services bring an additional layer of valuable insight to your challenges. Look beyond sticker price and Sales promises for true alignment and expertise on tap.
Also, if the product you are assessing is now part of a larger company or has changed hands, research the parent company’s history with accounting software. Consistent ownership with a strong commitment to investing in acquired software is a positive signal. Conversely, frequent failed acquisitions may signal future product development and support woes.
Spotlight Reporting was founded and is led by accountants (two FCAs, no less) and has a wealth of accounting and software industry expertise and long experience to call on throughout the
team. We are independently owned and don’t just sell software. We believe in our mission to empower accountants to be advisors through resonant products and world class humans!
4. Customer Validation
What is the calibre of existing vendor customers? Why did they buy? Are the exacting big firms well-represented as well as smaller, progressive firms? Do the client success stories and existing customers resonate with your advisor journey and can the vendor provide referrals from similar firms as validation of successful ROI?
Every quarter, over 100,000 businesses benefit from a report, dashboard, forecast, or consolidation output from Spotlight Reporting. We work with 9 of the Top 10 firms and thousands of others of all sizes and shapes, including CFO-led groups and networks. Increasingly, we support the ESG reporting of businesses and advisors globally. Our vendors stay with us on average for several years and hundreds have worked with us for a decade or more.
materially move on them. Look for vendors with simple, transparent pricing models that clearly state what’s included - such as integrations, training, and ongoing support. Avoid surprises like hidden fees or add-ons that complicate your budgeting and reduce profitability. Be wary of “free” offers with unclear forward pricing and ever-changing exclusions or promises; this often ends badly!
with an industry-experienced vendor; they work with many other successful advisors and can share invaluable intel.
are advisorfirst, and won’t undermine or distract you with an SMB marketing play.
At Spotlight Reporting our price points allow for growth and ‘next levels’ of client use and monetisation. Our pricing is clear, consistent and rarely changes despite our level of ongoing investment. All features and functionality are included, as is ISOcertified security and privacy management. If you’re confused or uncertain by vendor promises, or having to add extras just to get what you need – beware of shifting sands and a potential future gouge if you have been brought on via ‘special’ terms.
6. Features, Functionality & Outputs
5. Clear, Transparent Pricing & Scope
In a world in which there can be more noise than substance, be sceptical about pivots and promises.
Advisory firms need predictable costs and trust that the goal posts won’t
Obviously you want to know what the software is capable of and how usable this is for your purposes. Features and functionality change over time and understanding the current state and best use case is very important, as is future investment. Sometimes, adjusting your approach or mindset on which outputs, data insights and narrative you can share is an advantage of working
Spotlight Reporting has not only created software from direct customer interaction – searching for and identifying those ‘lightbulb’ moments where true insight lands – but continues to work closely with advisors and CFO’s to ensure features, functionality and outputs are most useful for (a) saving them time and effort, (b) helping them look and feel good about this pillar of their advisory and (c) maximising outcomes with end-clients. Our five products have been demarcated to serve particular needs and client types (or journey stages), deliberately allowing for a step-by-step, multi-faceted approach to scaling advisory.
7. Robust Product Roadmap
Your advisory business will evolve, and so should your software. Partner with vendors who have a clear, forwardthinking product roadmap focused on advisory innovations like AI, multiyear cash flow forecasting, and client collaboration features. This ensures your tech stays cutting-edge and competitive.
At Spotlight Reporting, we share our Product Roadmap publicly every year. Our customers in their hundreds (and our competitors!) mark this in the calendar, and we’re in conversation with accountants, bookkeepers and CFOs every day. We utilise not only our own industry DNA but constant feedback loops to inform our pathway forward, with an ‘advisory first’ strategy.
In Summary
For accountants growing advisory services, SaaS vendor selection is a strategic investment that impacts your firm’s revenue streams, profitability and client relationships. Focus on vendors with accounting pedigree, transparent pricing, industry-aligned advisor-first products, stable ownership, and a compelling roadmap. This approach will help you maximise ROI, deliver superior advisory value, and monetise your SaaS investment effectively over many years!
Maximising ROI from Your SaaS Vendor
Advancetrack Adventures
From Cairns and Townsville to Brisbane and Auckland
@advancetrack-outsourcing
@vipulsheth
Vipul Sheth, Managing Director, Advancetrack
Vipul qualified as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Tax Adviser. He started with a regional practice, Rabjohns LLP (now Bishop Fleming) in Worcester before joining Ernst & Young and KPMG where he worked up to management.
In 2003, he decided to develop Advancetrack, a global professional accountancy outsourcing company, and this has been a driving passion since he started the business.
Advancetrack MD Vipul Sheth takes us through two weeks of travel and great conversations as the team spent time talking with Australian and New Zealand accounting practitioners.
It’s been a busy and exciting time for the Advancetrack team – involving some serious air miles to Australia and back.
First up was me. I had the honour of travelling to Brisbane, Cairns and then Townsville as Advancetrack representative at a series of CA ANZ forums. I also got to present on the findings of the Accounting Talent Index 2025 – which led to some really interesting conversations with practitioners.
Then the rest of the team arrived, and we got to spend a lovely Sunday at picturesque Byron Bay. But after that it was back to work.
The ‘why’
So, why are we in Australia and New Zealand? We have tentatively and patiently built knowledge and relationships in those countries, as well as the US. We’re well-regarded in Ireland. And Canada is on our list too. We are now stepping up in regard to business development teams.
Because of ANZ’s proximity to Asia, their accountants have probably embraced outsourcing and offshoring much faster – in a similar way to being cloud advocates, so that’s worth noting. North America has historically embraced outsourcing in areas such as IT – but, facing a shortage of accountants, there
is an opportunity for us to help.
A business like ours that understands tech and process, makes it a very different offering to the bulk of the providers. Equally, we will have serious brand-building to do and winning some great firms that will be able to share their experience and see what we’ve said we do is true
gbX, Xerocon and GAP Reunion
Brisbane again hosted Advancetrack; this time for our second Australian gbX conference. Despite many other preXerocon events taking place, we had a great crowd of delegates, who stuck with us the whole afternoon.
Some of the team at Xerocon Brisbane
to resourcing issues, many others were concerned that it would be another techled false dawn. Efficiencies are possible, many said, but they see it as a mix of tech, workflow and people.
There also appears to have been attrition taking place as the war for offshore talent hotted up. We certainly hope at Advancetrack that our multimodel approach to resourcing services will help more Australian and New Zealand firms going forward.
So, while we’re taking a moment to debrief on our two weeks in Australia, it’s fair to say that Advancetrack is here to stay. While I will be leading developments in ANZ, I see that as a short-term deployment… so watch this space!
Visit Advancetrack.com to get in touch. advancetrack.com
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Vipul Sheth opening gbX Brisbane 2025
Budgets go stale fast. Here’s how CFOs keep them useful all year.
Most budgets are out of date within 60 days. That doesn’t make budgeting pointless, it makes your processes, cadence, and communication critical. Here’s how finance leaders can keep plans relevant, make data meaningful, and turn budget versus actuals into decisions that drive the business forward.
Planning beats the plan
By February, most annual budgets have already gone out of date. That’s not failure - to paraphrase von Moltke, “No plan survives first contact with reality”. The goal isn’t to build a perfect document; it’s to design a living system that helps you refresh assumptions, explain changes, and act quickly. As Eisenhower once famously said, “Plans are nothing; planning is everything”.
When I think about budgeting, I always start with these questions: how fast can
we bring reality into the model, and how clearly can we explain what changed and what we’ll do next? The best finance teams treat budgeting as an ongoing rhythm, not a one-off event. You don’t need zero variances - you need a credible story and a clear set of actions for every material one.
Start with the “Why”
Before you open a spreadsheet, define who the budget is for. Most companies have three audiences: the board, the management team, and investors.
Boards want a conservative, defensible plan with clear risks and levers. Leadership teams need ambition, stretch targets, and transparent assumptions that shape campaigns and hiring. Investors or funders need a narrative that communicates strategy, market opportunity and acceptable risk/return trade-offs.
The most effective approach is one
comprehensive model with different levels of granularity for each audience. Multiple versions of “the truth” inevitably create confusion and result in lost confidence.
Focus on the three moving parts
Budgets don’t age evenly. Revenue, headcount, and balance-sheet drivers are the areas that change fastest.
Revenue assumptions go stale first. Pricing, win rates, churn, and conversion ratios evolve constantly. Even a new product launch or change in customer segment can shift your model overnight. Build flexibility into your revenue plan and refresh it often.
Headcount is your biggest cost and your most emotional variable. Align hiring to milestones, not months, and be clear about dependencies. In a multi-entity organisation, where you hire can matter as much as when, given differences in tax, labour costs, employment overhead, and
Dan Schonfeld, Chief Financial Officer, ApprovalMax
Dan Schonfeld is the Chief Financial Officer at ApprovalMax. A former lawyer and management consultant turned finance leader and board member, he has led budgeting and BvA processes across multi-entity software companies in eight geographies, with a focus on building pragmatic FP&A foundations on Xero.
currency effects.
Balance sheet drivers – cash, payables, receivables, and capex – are where timing issues hide. Runway and liquidity don’t live in your P&L; they live here. Many “surprises” are simply the result of working capital assumptions that weren’t updated in time.
At ApprovalMax, we operate across multiple entities, and I see daily how small delays or reallocations in one region can ripple across the group. Good forecasting anticipates those links, not just the totals.
Scenario planning without the noise
Scenario planning only works when it’s focused. Too many permutations create confusion rather than insight. I like to keep it simple: a floor, a base, and a ceiling.
The floor reflects downside risk mitigation - sales slower, costs higher. The base is
the plan leadership will be measured against. The ceiling represents the upside case that informs capacity and investment. The key is identifying the few variables that move the dial and aligning early on how they’re modelled. Boards don’t need ten versions of the futurethey need three that tell a coherent story, and to understand what are the main drivers of that.
Make departmental budgeting collaborative
As teams grow, budgeting shifts from being a finance task to a company-wide discipline. Once you pass 50 people, the value lies less in the spreadsheet and more in collaboration.
The challenge is translation. Department heads don’t think in GL codes or accruals, and they shouldn’t have to. It’s our job to turn accounting language into operational context. When people understand how costs are categorised and timed, they plan more accurately and take ownership of their numbers.
the version.
Real-time visibility through the Xero ecosystem
Most finance teams using Xero face the same challenge: keeping budgets visible once the year begins. The accounting data is live, but the approval and spend processes often aren’t.
This is where connecting systems matters. At ApprovalMax, we route purchase orders and invoices through structured approval workflows directly on top of Xero. Each item is checked against its relevant budget line in real time, so approvers see whether spend is within limits before they hit “approve.”
It sounds simple, but it changes behaviour. Instead of finding overspend at month-end, you prevent it before it happens. Every transaction carries a clear audit trail of who approved what, when, and why. The finance team spends less time chasing and more time analysing.
Plans are nothing; planning is everything
Templates help. Marketing might plan by campaigns, Operations by suppliers, or Sales by headcount. Finance can then map these structures back into the chart of accounts. Working closely with HR ensures every hire ties to an approved budget line, keeping forecasts aligned with resourcing.
Everyone contributes to the budget, but finance owns the process. That ownership means setting the cadence, enforcing consistency, and knowing when to lock
and make it a performance conversation, not a data review.
That same principle applies beyond tools. Whatever systems you use, connect budgeting, approvals, and reporting. When spending and accountability flow through the same process, budgets stay alive all year.
Budget vs Actuals: The heartbeat meeting
Budget versus Actuals is not a spreadsheet exercise, it’s the monthly pulse of the business. Run it consistently
Start with materiality: don’t waste time debating small fluctuations. Focus on the gaps that matter and make sure every variance has a story and an action. If revenue misses three months in a row, talk about pipeline assumptions and conversion data, not formatting. If costs blow out, trace the driver and fix it at the source.
At ApprovalMax, our monthly BvA meetings are where alignment happens. Each department owns its numbers. Finance facilitates, but we don’t dictate. Over time, this builds trust and discipline, the kind that keeps surprises to a minimum and decision-making fast.
Every CFO is thinking about AI now. The opportunity is real, but the uncertainty is high. The trick is to treat it like any other investment: phased, measurable, and tied to clear outcomes.
We apply this internally at ApprovalMax as we explore AI for predictive insights and anomaly detection. We stage spending across four phases: data preparation, infrastructure, experimentation, and productisation, and only move forward once clear metrics are met.
No one can model AI costs perfectly, but we can model responsibly. Structure, discipline, and learning loops keep it from becoming a black box.
The AI wildcard
Avoiding the common traps
Most budgeting frustration comes from preventable habits. Too many versions. Deadlines that slip. Overcomplicated models. Poor communication.
Keep one governed model. Work backwards from fixed dates. Translate financial data into language that nonfinance teams understand. And use automation to refresh, not rebuild. Tools like Power Query, or integrations between Xero and ApprovalMax, mean updates take minutes instead of hours.
Treat your BvA sessions as decision meetings, not post-mortems. Every variance should lead to an action or a test. Budgeting done right is less about control and more about learning.
Build rhythm, not heroics
Great finance teams run on cadence. Our monthly cycle at ApprovalMax is simple: close the books and load actuals in week one, hold a leadership BvA in week two, run departmental check-ins in week three, and publish a short summary in week four. It includes runway, top variances, and key decisions.
A steady rhythm creates alignment. Everyone knows when data is coming and when decisions are due. Consistency beats last-minute heroics every time.
The bottom line
Budgets will always go stale. The question is whether your process will too. The best finance teams build systems that adapt quickly – with tight connections between plans, approvals, and reporting; clear ownership and cadence; and tools that make visibility part of daily operations.
Why accounting platforms are driving the growth of embedded finance
Embedded finance, the model that enables nonfinancial businesses to offer banking, lending, payments, and other financial services, is growing rapidly.
It flips the delivery of financial services by meeting customers where they are, with the financial services they require at the point of need.
The accounting segment is driving this growth, with platforms including Xero, Intuit QuickBooks and Sage. Today they are offering a variety of embedded finance capabilities that are emerging:
• Embedded accounts/cards: Platformbranded accounts and virtual/physical cards supported by BaaS (banking as a service) providers for expense control and cash management.
• Embedded payments: These include pay-now links on invoices, Tap to Pay inapp and on platform, bank transfer, and B2B BNPL, with automatic reconciliation to ledgers.
• Embedded payouts/Accounts payable:
Salary and supplier payments executed within the accounting UI, with approval workflows, audit trails, and real-time status and ledger sync.
• Embedded lending and working capital: Access to lines of credit, invoice financing, and capital products, including context-aware offers for lines/loans based on live books data, surfaced where cashflow gaps appear in receivables and payables flows.
Meanwhile, vertical SaaS platforms tailored to specific segments, such as freelancers, landlords and SMEs, are becoming hubs for embedded services, integrating accounts, cards, payouts, financing, and more to keep financial operations in one workflow and reduce context switching.
But how will this evolve, and are there further opportunities for accounting
Newman,
@clear-bank
@chris-newman
Chris Newman, Head of Corporates at ClearBank, leads the strategic direction and client engagement for corporate clients, delivering the bank’s technology and infrastructure to support their business needs.
During his 25 years in the Banking industry, Chris has gained a deep understanding and passion for payments, cash management, and FX.
platforms to position themselves as a single source, offering the core services that many businesses require?
Enhancing revenues and customer touchpoints with embedded accounts
Given the role of accounting and vertical SaaS platforms in SMEs’ lives, they can create more consistent engagement and present an efficient distribution channel for embedded finance.
enhancing customer retention and loyalty (57%). Revenue growth also emerged as a growth driver, with 39% suggesting 5-10% revenue increase from embedded finance initiatives within three years.
One potential way to address these motivations is the provision of business bank accounts.
Embedded finance represents a significant opportunity for vertical SaaS and accounting platforms supporting SMEs.
We recently conducted research with senior business leaders to uncover why and how organisations are evaluating embedded finance. Several themes emerged, including the primary motivators for launching embedded services: improving the customer experience (63%) and
While the availability of embedded financial products has expanded in recent years, many SMEs still look elsewhere for their banking services. They often rely on the bank’s integrations with accounting and other finance platforms, or switch between them.
For finance teams, this isn’t just about convenience, it’s about tighter control,
Chris
Head of Corporates, ClearBank
fewer errors and real-time data. For SME owners who also manage the day-to-day finances, it’s about reducing the platforms and apps they need to manage their business.
While suggesting launching a bank account might appear odd, it offers opportunities to deliver high-impact digital engagement features and more customer touchpoints.
Consider the average daily engagement with banking and finance apps, according to research by YouGov, on behalf of HSBC. Over eight in ten people (83%) check their banking or finance app weekly, with 38% checking their apps at least once daily.
Accounting platforms also have a significant advantage and reason to win. They have a wealth of customer information and tools to support businesses and could extend that through banking services, including current and savings accounts.
Alongside existing platform capabilities, business current accounts could create a service that derives rich information through AI and open banking-based tools, transforming transactions into actionable insight and meaningful actions. For example, understanding cash flows and prompting the account owner to move funds from an operating account into a higher-interest savings account when certain thresholds are met.
Delivering embedded services at scale
Becoming a bank and what that means
in terms of offering deposit protection, or the ability to provide loans, is a costly and time-consuming process. It’s also not core to your business.
The research referenced earlier found that 75% of senior leaders would offer embedded finance if implementation were more straightforward. 61% stated technical integration is their biggest challenge, followed by regulatory compliance (49%).
So how can you deliver embedded services at scale?
That’s where Banking as a Service (BaaS) comes in. BaaS broadly refers to the provision of banking services by a regulated entity to a third party, enabling them to deliver embedded finance services without needing to build banking infrastructure.
However, various firms, including banks, Electronic Money Institutions (EMIs) and authorised Payment Institutions (PIs) can provide account and payment services. As a result, firms looking to deliver embedded experiences have faced a compromise – work with a BaaS provider offering technical innovation and agility, or an incumbent with proven governance and control frameworks, processes and oversight that may lack the real-time APIs they need.
Finding the right embedded accounts partner
Finding a trusted partner who can provide the quality of service you require and meet your customers’ expectations is critical. But what should you look for in a potential partner for embedded accounts?
Some criteria to consider include:
• Payment performance: Your customers will expect real-time payments. You need to consider payment connectivity, the technical aspects of how a provider accesses the payment schemes, and their uptime. For example, while a scheme may run 24/7 365, a provider may not offer the same availability.
• Deposit protection and regulatory status: Many ‘bank-like’ services can offer accounts and digital wallets to store funds due to the significant growth in the number and use of EMIs. However, this requires a thorough examination of where they hold customer funds as they use an underlying partner bank, the protections in place, and who, if anyone, offers deposit protection such as the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
• Ability to offer interest and generate returns: Offering a compelling interest rate on balances, particularly for savings
Primary motivations for launching embedded services
accounts, could help differentiate your offering. EMIs, for example, cannot offer interest on funds held with them, whereas banks can.
• Stability and security: Your provider should continually test, debug, and maintain its services to give you peace of mind that you can offer your customers a great payment experience. Providers should also embed information security in everyday business processes to ensure secure data handling.
• Client service and support: Your embedded accounts must operate efficiently, and you should receive actionable analysis to optimise your customers’ experience. However, things can go wrong. If they do, your provider needs reactive and proactive support to help solve any issues. When assessing any potential provider, you should review its client relationship and support team.
• Expertise and track record: There are a few ways to understand whether your provider can provide the embedded accounts experience you need, including reference clients and case
studies. A final aspect is a partner’s stability and longevity. Can you be sure your provider has sufficient funding to operate and support your business for years? For example, do they have the long-term financial stability to invest in their products, services and client support?
Seizing
the opportunity
Embedded finance represents a significant opportunity for vertical SaaS and accounting platforms supporting SMEs. However, to realise this potential, providers must invest smartly in the right products delivered contextually and consistently.
take control of their financial future.
It also requires a partner with a proven track record, regulatory permissions, and controls to deliver a safe, secure product. The breadth of potential partner has grown in the last five years as more banks have embraced the opportunities for embedding their services.
ClearBank has been at the forefront of that trend through embedded banking, which we define as the BaaS model delivered by a regulated banking entity to a firm that then provides those services to its customer base.
39% of senior leaders suggesting 5-10% revenue increase from embedded finance initiatives within three years
Integrating embedded finance into payroll is set to accelerate, offering savings accounts, loans, investment products, and real-time financial insights. That requires innovative platforms and providers to embrace embedded finance’s opportunities and empower employees to
While BaaS provides the basic infrastructure, embedded banking goes further, focusing on the contextual delivery of banking services and weaving them into a brand’s experiences. That includes embedded interest-bearing accounts, both current accounts and savings accounts and embedded payments.
Not sure how to choose your Outsourcing Provider?
Choosing the right outsourcing partner is a critical decision for any accounting firm. You need to partner with a provider that will act as an extension of your team and help propel your practice into the future. Here are the key qualities you should look for…
By building on top of a regulated bank’s proven infrastructure, accounting platforms can deliver compliant services and the associated features, such as protection on eligible deposits, without incurring the substantial cost of applying for a bank licence. That enables you to deliver high-quality services, powered by a bank operating in the background, while ensuring the customer and brand experience remain consistent.
To find out more follow the link.
Clear.bank/learn/report/ accountancy FIND OUT MORE...
Virtual Bookkeepers Summit
19 - 20 November 2025
Weds 19 Nov: Tech day
Software demos tailored for bookkeepers and payroll professionals.
Thursday 20 Nov: Full vir tual summit
Talks and workshops on running your practice, tax updates, cyber security and more, plus stories from successful bookkeepers.
Tickets from just £99 +VAT
Fuel Growth in your business with a flexible working capital structure
In today’s fast-paced and unpredictable economic landscape, agility is more than a competitive advantage — it’s a necessity.
For businesses determined to remain resilient, adaptive, and growth-driven, a flexible working capital structure can be a gamechanger. Because liquid cash at your fingertips is gold.
Working capital– the difference between a company’s current assets and current
liabilities – represents the funds you have available to power day-to-day operations. A flexible working capital structure allows a business to manage cash flow efficiently, respond rapidly to market shifts, and seize growth opportunities as they emerge. Among the tools that enable this level of financial agility, unsecured loans stand out as a strategic financial instrument that can unlock additional funds without the constraints of collateral.
1. Improved Cash Flow Management
A flexible working capital setup allows businesses to maintain optimal liquidity, ensuring that day-to-day operations continue without disruption. With greater control over receivables, inventory, and payables, companies can avoid cash crunches that often hinder growth.
Unsecured loans can act as a financial buffer during periods of tight cash
@apxium
@jeremy-coombe
Jeremy Coombe, Founder CEO, Apxium Group
As CEO of Apxium Group, I lead a global fintech company delivering an integrated, cloud-based SaaS and lending platform that transforms the way professional services firms manage their revenue cycle. Our proprietary solution fully automates accounts receivable, payment processing, client financing, and accounting reconciliation—solving critical inefficiencies that directly impact cash flow and profitability.
flow. Because they don’t require collateral(assets), businesses can access funds more quickly and easily than with traditional secured loans — ideal for bridging short-term gaps or funding immediate needs.
Partners such as APX Capital specialize in unsecured lending solutions that smooth cash flow for businesses, accountants, lawyers, and even managing tax obligations.
2. Greater Agility and Responsiveness
In highly dynamic, or competitive industries, speed matters. Companies often face unexpected costs, supply chain disruptions, and short-term opportunities. A flexible working capital structure empowers businesses to pivot fast.
Access to unsecured credit lines or short-term loans enables businesses to
act decisively—whether it’s ramping up production to meet demand, launching a new product, or responding to marketing and geopolitical shifts. With faster processing and minimal documentation compared to secured lending, unsecured loans provide the agility needed to move when timing is everything.
3. Capitalizing on Strategic Opportunities
Growth opportunities rarely wait. Whether acquiring a competitor, investing in new technology, or entering into new markets, success often depends on how quickly a company can mobilize capital.
A flexible capital structure– supported by reliable sources of unsecured financing such as APX Capital– ensures that businesses have the funds to seize opportunities without disrupting ongoing operations.
4. Reduced Dependency on AssetBacked Finance
Not every business has tangible assets to leverage. Startups, professional services, and digital-first firms often find it difficult to secure traditional loans. Flexible financing options like unsecured loans level the playing field, providing funding based on creditworthiness and business performance rather than physical assets.
This modern approach reduces reliance on asset-backed finance and promotes a more agile, adaptive capital strategy.
5. Strengthened Supplier and Customer
Relationships
A strong working capital position allows businesses to pay suppliers promptly (or early for discounts), negotiate better terms, and fulfill customer orders without delay. This reliability builds trust and strengthens relationships across the value chain.
Having access to on-demand funds – via unsecured loans or revolving credit helps businesses enhance relationships even through seasonal or cyclical downturns, reinforcing long-term stability and brand credibility.
6. Supports Sustainable Growth
Sustainable growth requires consistent investment—in people, systems, marketing, and infrastructure. A flexible capital structure ensures that growth initiatives aren’t derailed by short-term liquidity issues.
Unsecured loans, particularly when part of a pre-approved funding arrangement, can serve as a ready source of capital for scaling operations without overextending the company’s balance sheet or locking up assets.
Introducing Tax Pay: Simplifying Tax Debt Funding
Apxium has partnered with accounting firms for nearly a decade globally. Originally founded with an automated debtors management platform, Apxium identified a growing need: clients asking whether the firm could help fund their accounting fees. From that demand, APX Capital was born – providing unsecured lending solutions for accounting and legal fees, and also for the firms themselves.
The need for Tax Pay emerged as global tax offices shifted post-Covid. Governments – from lenient lenders to debt collection. Tax office debt has ballooned to over $100B in Australia, $35B in Canada, and $1T in the U.S., and continues to grow. Recognizing this shift, firms began asking for a way to fund tax obligations efficiently and responsibly.
Enter Tax Pay – a simple, digital, end-toend platform designed with accountants at the center to minimize client effort. It offers:
• Easy application and approval process
• Unsecured lending
• Flexible repayment terms
• Competitive 9% rate in Australia
Tax Pay is built for strong businesses seeking to smooth cash flow, not those
in financial distress or reliant on assetbacked loans.
Available in Australia since October 2024, with expansion planned for 2026, Tax Pay represents the next step in flexible, accountant-led business funding.
Building for the Future with Financial Flexibility
In environments defined by constant change, businesses that prioritize financial flexibility are best positioned to not just survive – thrive. A robust and flexible working capital structure supported by instruments like unsecured loans empower businesses to manage risk, adapt swiftly, and seize opportunities with confidence.
By aligning financial agility with strategic
intent, businesses can turn uncertainty into a competitive advantage—proving that in the modern marketplace, adaptability is as essential as stability.
If your business in Australia is managing tax debt (and another ATO bill is always around the corner), and looking for a more flexible cashflow, speak with your accountant or contact Apxium directly to explore how Tax Pay can help.
Coming soon to the U.S., Canada, and the U.K Go to apx.capital online now.
FIND OUT MORE...
Coming soon to the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. For more go to www. apx.capital now.
apx.capital
Transforming Accounts Payable: How ExpenseOnDemand Supercharges Xero for Smarter, Scalable Finance Operations
AP management has evolved—finance teams now prioritise speed, accuracy, compliance, and insight to meet growing business demands.
In today’s fast-paced business environment, finance teams are under more pressure than ever. Managing accounts payable (AP) efficiently is no longer about keeping records — it is about speed, accuracy, compliance, and insight. Errors, delays, and manual workflows can cost companies significant time and money, while also creating
frustration for employees and stakeholders alike.
For businesses using Xero, one of the leading cloud accounting platforms globally, ExpenseOnDemand has emerged as a game-changing solution for AP Automation. By integrating seamlessly with Xero, ExpenseOnDemand transforms how
companies manage expense reporting, invoice processing, and financial approvals — delivering efficiency, visibility, and control like never before.
The Challenges of Traditional Accounts Payable
Even in the digital age, many organisations still rely on manual AP processes. This often involves:
• Manual data entry from paper invoices and receipts.
• Email approvals and spreadsheets for routing expenses.
• Delayed reconciliations due to misaligned systems.
• Limited visibility into cash flow, spend patterns, and outstanding liabilities.
These inefficiencies do not just slow operations — they introduce errors, compliance risks, and frustration for
Sidd brings extensive experience in strategic partnerships across sales, product development, channel partnerships, engineering, operations, legal, and marketing. He excels in driving revenue growth through post-sales partnerships and optimising customer and partner experiences.
With a background at companies like Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and Meta, Sidd now leads sales and marketing efficiency initiatives as a Director at ExpenseOnDemand
finance teams and employees alike. As businesses scale, these problems multiply, highlighting the urgent need for automation.
Seamless Integration with Xero
One of the strongest advantages of ExpenseOnDemand is its deep integration with Xero. Unlike generic AP tools, ExpenseOnDemand was built with modern accounting platforms in mind, enabling real-time synchronization of expense data, invoices, and payments.
For Xero users, this integration eliminates tedious manual entry, ensures accurate financial records, and allows AP teams to focus on valueadded activities. Whether it is submitting invoices, coding expenses, or reconciling transactions, data flows seamlessly between ExpenseOnDemand and Xero
Sidd Nigam, Director
— reducing errors, saving time, and providing a single source of truth.
AI-Powered Invoice and Expense Processing
At the heart of ExpenseOnDemand’s AP automation is artificial intelligence. The platform uses advanced AI to extract critical data from invoices and receipts automatically — including supplier details, amounts, dates, and tax codes.
For finance teams, this has a transformative impact:
• Speed: AI drastically reduces the time required to process invoices. What once took hours or days can now be completed in minutes.
• Accuracy: Automated data extraction minimizes human errors, ensuring that entries are correct and compliant with policies.
• Scalability: AI handles high volumes effortlessly, meaning growing organizations can scale without adding headcount.
This is particularly valuable for Xero users managing multiple entities, currencies, or provincial tax rules (e.g., GST/HST/PST/QST in Canada), where accuracy is critical and manual errors can be costly.
Customisable Approval Workflows
ExpenseOnDemand also enables fully configurable approval workflows, tailored to an organisation’s policies and requirements.
Invoices and expense claims can be routed automatically to the right approvers based on criteria like:
• Amount thresholds
• Department or cost centre codes
• Project or client codes
• Employee role or hierarchy
This automation accelerates approvals, removes bottlenecks, and ensures compliance, while keeping auditors happy. For Xero users, the integration ensures that approved transactions are automatically reflected in accounting records, streamlining month-end closes and reducing reconciliation headaches.
Flexible, Cost-Effective Pricing
One of the most compelling advantages of ExpenseOnDemand is its active user-based pricing model. Unlike competitors who charge per report or per invoice — which can quickly become expensive for high-volume teams — ExpenseOnDemand only charges for active users, who can generate unlimited reports in a given month.
For Xero users managing mid-to-large teams, this approach offers several benefits:
• Predictable costs aligned with actual usage.
• Scalability as the organization grows, without hidden fees for extra reports.
• Economies of scale: Larger teams or companies can submit multiple claims without dramatically increasing costs.
This pricing model is particularly
appealing to finance leaders who want to control costs while maximizing productivity.
Enhanced Visibility and Analytics
Beyond automation and approvals, ExpenseOnDemand provides comprehensive reporting and analytics dashboards. Finance teams can track:
• Outstanding invoices and claims
• Spending trends across departments or projects
• Cash flow projections and forecasts
• Policy compliance metrics
By integrating this data with Xero, organisations gain a real-time, holistic
view of their finances, empowering informed decisions, and smarter budget management. This level of insight is invaluable for CFOs, controllers, and finance managers striving to optimize working capital and reduce unnecessary spend.
Case in Point: Real-World Benefits for Xero Users
Many Xero users report dramatic improvements after integrating ExpenseOnDemand:
• Faster invoice processing: AI-driven automation cuts approval cycles from days to hours.
• Error reduction: Automatic data extraction and rule-based approvals
reduce manual mistakes.
• Compliance and audit readiness: Built-in controls and logs ensure policies are enforced and auditors have access to verified records.
• Employee satisfaction: Less manual entry and fewer approval bottlenecks make the expense process smoother for everyone.
For organisations operating across multiple regions or managing complex tax rules, these benefits translate directly into time savings, cost efficiency, and operational confidence.
Preparing for the Future: AI Chatbots and Beyond
ExpenseOnDemand is not stopping at automation. The platform is actively expanding its AI capabilities, including:
• Conversational chatbots: Allowing users to ask questions about expenses, analyse trends, and even create support tickets instantly.
• Enhanced transaction reconciliation:
Features like drag-and-drop uploads now enable credit card reconciliation anywhere in the world.
• Expanded integrations: Partnerships with Merge and other platforms are bringing 50+ new integrations across accounting, HRIS, and travel systems, creating a unified financial ecosystem.
These innovations ensure that Xero users do not just automate — they future-proof their finance operations, making them smarter, faster, and more resilient.
Why Xero users use ExpenseOnDemand
The combination of seamless integration, AI-driven automation, flexible pricing, and enhanced reporting makes ExpenseOnDemand a compelling choice for Xero users looking to:
• Reduce manual effort and errors
• Improve compliance and audit readiness
• Scale efficiently without increasing costs
• Gain actionable insights for strategic decision-making
By providing a platform that adapts to the way organisations operate — rather than forcing teams to conform to rigid processes — ExpenseOnDemand empowers finance teams to focus on strategy rather than administration.
Conclusion
As businesses grow and financial operations become more complex, traditional AP processes can no longer keep pace. For Xero users, ExpenseOnDemand offers a complete, intelligent, and scalable solution that transforms accounts payable from a manual, error-prone task into a strategic, automated, and insightful process.
With AI-powered invoice processing, customisable approval workflows, flexible active-user pricing, and advanced reporting, Xero users can now achieve speed, accuracy, and
visibility like never before. Add in upcoming innovations like AI chatbots, expanded integrations, and dragand-drop reconciliation, and it is clear that ExpenseOnDemand is not just automating AP — it is redefining it.
For any organisation looking to optimise finance operations, reduce costs, and scale effortlessly, ExpenseOnDemand is a partner that delivers measurable impact, real-time insights, and long-term value.
Transform your finance operations— ExpenseOnDemand delivers impact, insights, and scalable growth. Start today. Contact expenseondemand.com
Worldpay Q&A
@worldpay for platforms @craigcollins
Craig Collins, Head of Product and Engineering, Worldpay for Platforms
As Head of Product and Engineering at Worldpay for Platforms, Craig oversees embedded payment integrations and product development. With 13+ years’ experience across point-of-sale, ecommerce, and embedded payments, Craig’s a natural problemsolver who thrives on complex IT challenges that drive business benefits. Passionate about usercentric design, Craig’s evolved the Worldpay for Platforms best-in-class payments portal to meet evolving customer needs, keeping it at the forefront of Australian payments innovation.
XU:
Craig, can you walk us through your role as Head of Product & Engineering at Worldpay for Platforms? What’s your journey been that led you into this position?
CC:
I lead the Product and Engineering teams at Worldpay for Platforms, which means I’m responsible for shaping our product strategy, managing the roadmap, and overseeing the delivery of the technology that powers our payments platform. My career has always been at the intersection of finance and technology, I started in software support before moving into product management, where I discovered my passion for solving real business challenges through technology. My current role allows me to combine both, leading payments innovation that helps businesses grow, scale, and operate more efficiently.
XU:
Can you tell us a bit about the background of Worldpay for Platforms and what problem it is aiming to solve?
CC: Our legacy business in Australia was founded by Xero users who wanted a payments solution that felt like a natural extension of Xero-simple, intuitive, and flexible. Many small businesses were struggling with complex payment reconciliations or rigid subscription models that didn’t scale with their growth.
Streamline the payments experience and get paid faster, get paid simply.
Our payments platform was designed to remove those pain points. We provide businesses with a single integration, automated reconciliation, and the flexibility to enable new payment types as they grow, all without needing to upgrade plans or migrate systems.
XU: What is the core mission of Worldpay for Platforms, and how does that mission align with helping Xero customers simplify and improve the way they manage payments and cash flow?
CC: Our mission is to be the leading provider of embedded payment solutions for software platforms. For Xero users, this means helping to supercharge their payments, ensuring they get paid faster, more simply, and with greater confidence.
We’ve built features like real-time reporting, automated reconciliation, and an auto-recurring payment tool specifically with Xero merchants in mind. It’s about reducing the uncertainty of cash flow and giving small business owners complete visibility and control over every transaction.
XU: Worldpay for Platforms was recently launched in the UK. Can you tell us what drove that decision and what features or benefits will Xero users in the UK notice that may be different from other regions?
CC: Expanding into the UK was a natural progression for us. It’s a market with a strong demand for digital and embedded payment solutions. We have tailored our platform to support local payment methods and regulatory requirements. We are looking forward
to extending our solution to UK Xero users in early 2026.
They will benefit from faster settlements, real-time payment options for their customers, and a payment experience that’s specifically designed for their local business environment.
XU: As Xero users grow their businesses, payments can get more complex. What are the major challenges you see in supporting them, whether that’s handling higher volumes, dealing with multiple currencies, or navigating payment regulations?
CC: The biggest challenge is scaling without adding complexity. A small business might start with a few recurring debits, but as they expand, they may want to start accepting card payments or digital wallets. They need tools to help automate efficiencies, such as auto-debit for payment control and confidence. We’ve designed our system to handle that progression seamlessly. The goal is that a merchant shouldn’t feel any more friction when they process 1,000 transactions a day than when they process 10 transactions.
XU: Can you share some more of your most recent significant product or technology updates? Which of these do you think will have the biggest day-to-day benefit for Xero users and their advisors?
CC: Our award-winning capability is keeping pace with modern payments and is set to be the new standard in Australia. We are proud to have been among the first to bring it to market, with our Xero merchants leading the way in adoption.
For Xero users, PayTo delivers
real-time payments with greater transparency and certainty, while allowing payees to manage payment agreements directly through their banking app.
At the same time, we maintain an innovation pipeline to ensure we remain at the forefront of the payment ecosystem, continuously anticipating the needs of Xero users before they even arise.
XU: What kinds of integrations does Worldpay for Platforms currently support?
CC: Beyond Xero, we support a wide range of software platforms across industries such as fitness, childcare, and professional services. Our API-first architecture allows developers to build tailored experiences whether that’s embedding payments directly into a workflow or using our hosted payment page.
XU: How do you make sure your integration experience is smooth for end-users who just want payments to “work” seamlessly inside Xero?
CC: The experience is designed to feel native. Users can connect their Xero account to a Worldpay for Platforms account in just a few clicks via the Xero App Store. From there, new merchants can go from onboarding to settlement within two business days. Everything syncs
automatically, all payment types are instantly available to offer, payments reconciliation happens without the need for extra tools, upgrades or manual work.
It’s about removing friction at every step, so that the technology “just works” in the background while users focus on running their business. Intuitive features like invoices with a “Pay Now” button, efficient autoreconciliation, and the ability to save payment details securely. The less users notice integration, the better in my opinion.
XU: Payments is a heavily regulated, high risk domain. How do you address critical issues like PCI compliance, fraud detection, and new regulations in a way that protects Xero users without adding friction?
CC: Security and compliance are core to our platform’s design. We are PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant and hold an Australian Financial Services License. Our fraud detection and risk monitoring systems operate continuously in the background, so Xero users are protected, without experiencing unnecessary friction.
XU: In your view, what are the biggest trends in small business payments and embedded finance that Xero users should be paying attention to? How is Worldpay adapting to support those changes?
CC: The major trend is “realtime everything”. Small businesses increasingly expect faster access to both data and funds along with clear visibility into cash flow. We’re investing heavily in realtime technologies to deliver faster payments, broader payment choices for customers, and the confidence that Xero users are equipped for the future as new payment rails and methods continue to evolve.
XU: There are a number of providers in this space — how do you see Worldpay for Platforms standing out when it comes to delivering real value to Xero users?
CC: One of our key differentiators is that we offer all major payment types on a single platform. Cards, digital wallet, direct debit, bank transfers, BPay and PayTo. All available to merchants from day one, no upgrades or tiered subscriptions needed to access the full range of options
Reliability is another significant one. Payments are the heartbeat of a business, so system uptime, responsiveness, and trust matter above everything else. We’re proud to deliver 99.99% platform uptime, ensuring that Xero users can depend on us to keep their payment processes running smoothly, day in and day out.
Our infrastructure is built for resilience, but it’s our people and support model that truly set us apart. We have local support teams who understand both the technical and business context of Xero merchants. Whether it’s assisting with setup, troubleshooting reconciliation issues, or optimising their payment flows, our teams are accessible, responsive, and proactive. Many customers tell us they are pleasantly surprised when a real person picks up the phone straight away and that human touch is something we are very proud of.
For us, reliability isn’t just about system availability, it’s about being
consistently dependable, both technologically and personally. That’s why so many Xero merchants have trusted us for over a decade.
XU: Looking ahead, what’s next for Worldpay for Platforms that you think will make the biggest impact for Xero users and their accountants — whether that’s new features, integrations, or payment experiences?
CC: We are in an exciting phase of innovation, with initiatives cantered mainly around automation, user experience, and empowering merchants and payees.
We are developing enhanced selfservice tools that give merchants even more control, no support ticket required. From within our payment’s portal, merchants will soon be able to manage transaction limits, update settlement accounts, and even choose who pays transaction fees.
For payers, we’re also expanding self-
Quote Smarter, Not Harder: Navigating Type
1, 2, and 3 Quotes
Explore the three types of quotes, and how digital tools like Tidy3 help teams manage each with speed and precision.
Quoting is about more than just assigning a price. It’s about delivering speed, accuracy, and strategic value. Whether it’s selling standard products or managing complex configurations, all quoting processes play a critical role in the satisfaction of customers and overall growth of the business.
To quote effectively, it’s essential to understand the three main types of quotes: Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3. Each type represents a step up in the level of complexity and operational demands.
So, what’s the difference?
Understanding the Three Quote Types
Let’s start with the basics.
Type 1 quotes are the simplest. These consist of standard catalogue items with
fixed pricing and minimal variation. This makes them easier to generate and they typically don’t require high levels of input from sales or production teams leaving less room for human error to creep in.
Quotes that are semi-custom or configurable would be classified as Type 2. These fall between standard and bespoke and involve some level of customisation such as product options, add-ons, compliance requirements, or customer-specific pricing. These are most common across manufacturing, distribution, and service sectors and require flexible pricing logic and collaboration across departments.
While not fully custom, they still require dynamic pricing and coordination across departments.
Type 3 quotes are fully tailored, madeto-order solutions that may involve design input, consultation, or technical
validation. They also typically require hands-on involvement from senior sales, engineering, or production teams.
Among these, Type 2 quotes are often the most challenging and the most common.
Why Are Type 2 Quotes So Complex?
Type 2 quotes require a delicate balance between personalisation and speed. Customers expect tailored options, while businesses need to maintain accuracy, consistency, and profitability.
Each quote may depend on fluctuating costs, order volume, or delivery conditions, all of which can change the final price. Without streamlined systems, the process can quickly become a drain on time and margin.
The complexity also lies in the configuration. Because these products often involve multiple variables that affect pricing, without the right tools, this can lead to delays, misquotes, and lost opportunities.
Common Challenges in Type 2 Quoting
Managing configurable or semi-custom quotes often exposes deeper, previously unseen operational challenges that affect both profitability and customer experience.
Quoting isn’t an administrative task; it’s a strategic capability.
Data fragmentation is one of the biggest obstacles. When pricing, inventory, and customer information sit in separate systems, every quote becomes a slow, manual process prone to errors and inconsistency. This lack of visibility
Amelia Douglas, Content Creator, Tidy
Amelia began working as an apprentice in the Marketing team at Tidy at the beginning of 2024 and has since become a full-time member of the team. With a passion for creating engaging content with a positive impact, Amelia provides an exuberant flair in bringing Tidy’s vision to life.
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@Amelia Douglas
makes it difficult to maintain margins or forecast demand accurately.
As businesses expand their offerings, pricing logic grows more complex. Manual methods struggle to handle multiple variables, regional pricing, or customer-specific terms, leading to inconsistent quotes and reduced confidence in the process.
Finally, slow internal approvals and poor communication can turn even accurate quotes into delayed ones. Each extra step frustrates customers and gives faster competitors an advantage.
These challenges underscore a simple truth: quoting isn’t an administrative task; it’s a strategic capability. When managed well, it drives speed, accuracy, and customer confidence; when it’s not, it’s silently hurting customers and profit margins.
Best Practices for Smarter Quoting
To improve quoting performance, especially for configurable products or services, businesses should:
• Centralise and automate data access so all teams work from accurate, up-todate information.
• Adopt configurable pricing engines that reflect real-time costs, margins, and customer-specific requirements.
• Implement dynamic pricing models to account for cost changes and protect profitability.
• Digitise approval workflows to eliminate bottlenecks and improve compliance.
• Foster visibility and collaboration across teams by using shared platforms that track quote progress and assumptions.
A Measure of Success
Modern quoting platforms such as Tidy3 are designed to tackle these challenges headon. By centralising data and automating workflows, they enable teams to create accurate, dynamic quotes in a fraction of the time. These systems integrate live cost data from ERPs and supplier networks, apply configurable pricing rules, and manage approval processes automatically.
TidyCPQ Quoting
The result is a quoting environment where complexity is handled seamlessly, freeing teams to focus on customers rather than administration.
It pays for itself by reducing man-hours. Now quotes take minutes, not hours.
As one business leader put it: “It pays for itself by reducing man-hours, eliminating admin friction, and speeding up delivery. Now quotes take minutes, not hours.”
Final Thoughts
Quoting isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. By understanding the distinctions between Type 1, 2, and 3 quotes and
focusing on the unique challenges of Type 2, businesses can achieve faster, more accurate, and more profitable quoting.
Digital tools like Tidy3 don’t just simplify the process; they empower teams to quote smarter, respond faster, and win more business with confidence.
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Kapitalise Q&A
@rdclaimiq
@sarahmalter
Sarah Malter, Founder, Kapitalise Ltd
Sarah Malter is an entrepreneur and R&D tax credit specialist. She is the CEO of Kapitalise and Managing Director of Kapitalise Technology, helping businesses access over £70 million in R&D funding. A guest lecturer and mentor, she promotes women in STEM, hosts a podcast on women in business, and was shortlisted for the Best Business Women Awards.
We provide R&D services and develop software solutions for R&D tax compliance (made.simplr and Claim IQ)
XU:
The R&D tax relief landscape has seen a lot of change in recent years. From your perspective, what are the biggest shifts accountants and businesses should be aware of right now?
SM:
The R&D tax relief landscape has evolved significantly in recent years, with several key shifts that accountants and businesses must navigate. HMRC has intensified its scrutiny, requiring more detailed and defensible claims, especially with the introduction of the Additional Information Form (AIF) in August 2023, which mandates comprehensive breakdowns of qualifying activities and costs.
This was welcomed by reputable advisers, who were already providing comprehensive R&D reports with their submissions, as it made clear the information that HMRC expected to see.
From April 2024, restrictions on overseas R&D expenditure mean that only certain foreign costs will qualify, prompting businesses to reassess their innovation strategies. There’s also a renewed emphasis on genuine scientific and technological advancement, aligning claims more closely with BEIS guidelines and moving away from routine work.
At the same time, the rise of AI and automation in claim preparation is transforming how submissions are built, offering efficiency but
demanding careful oversight. Overall, the shift is from volume to quality, and those who invest in robust processes, clear documentation, and deeper technical understanding will be best positioned to benefit from the relief while remaining compliant.
Upholding the competent professional requirement remains the key to a compliant R&D claim.
XU:
HMRC scrutiny around R&D claims has intensified significantly. What are the main areas where you see HMRC challenging claims, and how can businesses prepare for this?
SM:
HMRC’s scrutiny of R&D tax claims has intensified considerably, with a clear focus on ensuring that only genuinely qualifying activities receive relief. The main areas of challenge include vague or poorly substantiated technical narratives, lack of contemporaneous documentation, and misclassification of routine work as R&D.
Claims that fail to clearly demonstrate technological or scientific advancement, as defined by the BEIS guidelines, are particularly vulnerable.
Additionally, HMRC is closely examining subcontractor and overseas costs, especially in light of the recent legislative changes. To prepare, businesses must maintain detailed records throughout the R&D process, work closely with competent professionals to articulate
the innovation accurately, and ensure that every aspect of the claim, from cost allocation to project descriptions, is aligned with current HMRC expectations.
A proactive, quality-driven approach is now essential to both secure the relief and avoid compliance risks.
XU: In your experience, what are some of the most common compliance pitfalls that businesses and advisers fall into when making R&D claims?
SM:
In my experience, some of the most common compliance pitfalls in R&D tax claims stem from a lack of understanding of the qualifying criteria and insufficient documentation. Many businesses mistakenly include routine work, commercial activities, or general product development as R&D, without clearly demonstrating the technological or scientific uncertainties involved.
Another frequent issue is the failure to involve competent professionals (individuals with relevant technical expertise and qualifications) in identifying and articulating the R&D activities, which can weaken the credibility of the claim.
In the tribunal “Flame Tree Publishing v HMRC”, the tribunal found that while employees were competent in publishing, they lacked demonstrable expertise in software development, which was the relevant field of the
claimed R&D. The claim was rejected due to a lack of credible evidence from a competent professional in the relevant domain.
Claims must be supported by experts with specific qualifications or experience in the field of R&D
Inaccurate or incomplete cost allocation, especially around subcontractor and software expenses, is also a red flag for HMRC. Additionally, not keeping contemporaneous records, such as project logs, meeting notes, or technical specifications, can make it difficult to substantiate claims during an enquiry.
To mitigate these risks, businesses and advisers should adopt a proactive, process-driven approach: engage technical teams early, maintain detailed documentation throughout the project lifecycle, and ensure that claims are aligned with HMRC’s latest guidance and expectations.
We have supported many successful compliance checks from HMRC, and we have seen firsthand that success comes from having the right information provided by the right people.
XU: Could you tell us the story behind Claim IQ and made.simplr – what problems were you trying to solve when you developed them?
SM: made.simplr is a platform for full R&D preparation and reporting with customisable reports and other fancy features. Claim IQ is part of made.simplr, and it is the AI-smart module for assessment and preparation of claim information. You can access the full made.simplr platform, or just the Claim IQ platform separately.
Claim IQ and made.simplr were created out of sheer frustration with how clunky and inconsistent the R&D tax relief process had become. With Claim IQ, we wanted to take the guesswork out of claim preparation. We are the only AI platform developed by R&D Tax Credit providers and have been in the Innovation Funding industry since 2011. So, we built tools that are intuitive, affordable, and powered by AI.
We saw how much time accountants and consultants were spending on admin, chasing clients, and trying to keep everything on track. At the heart of both platforms is a belief that technology should elevate people, not replace them, and that when you combine smart systems with real expertise, you get something genuinely powerful.
XU: How do these platforms differ from the R&D software solutions already in the market?
compliance and the real-world needs of advisers. This is because it’s the ONLY AI platform created by R&D tax credit providers that have been in the industry for well over a decade.
The platforms provide a granular level of detail, unlike other R&D platforms, letting users assess the baseline of claims within certain time periods and with a lot of information and sourcing. The software also tracks where the information you use is coming from, giving assurance to the user that they can trace everything in the case of an enquiry.
There is also a dedicated focus on the security of client data. As more AI tools are being used for R&D claim preparation, it’s important for the client’s vital IP not to be shared or used to train the system as that can still lead to data leakages. It is essential to ring-fence ALL client data and ensure that it genuinely meets GDPR requirements.
and compliance-ready alternative to traditional R&D platforms, built by people who’ve lived the pain of the process through thousands of R&D claims and wanted something better.
XU:
How does AI help identify risks in R&D claims before submission using Claim IQ & made.simplr?
SM:
AI plays a crucial role in identifying risks and ensuring guidelines are met in R&D claims before submission within both Claim IQ and made.simplr by proactively analysing the content at the time of each project’s creation and the consistency of the claim data.
SM:
Claim IQ and made.simplr stand apart from other R&D software solutions by focusing on
Claim IQ was designed to safely guide users through the claim process with intelligent prompts, embedded HMRC best practices, and a structure that helps surface genuine innovation. It’s not just a form-filler; it’s a smart tool that helps users articulate their R&D clearly and defensibly with audit trails. made.simplr complements this by streamlining the broader advisory experience, reducing admin, improving client collaboration, and giving professionals more time to focus on value-added work. Together, they offer a more human, intuitive,
In Claim IQ, AI reviews the technical claims and baseline against HMRC’s latest guidance, flagging inconsistencies that could trigger an enquiry. With a strong emphasis on prevention of enquiry, it also includes specific lines from the guidelines and Tribunal case law precedents to include in your client’s technical narrative. Claim IQ also checks whether the described activities truly reflect technological or scientific advancement, helping users avoid common pitfalls like overstating routine work. made.simplr complements this by using AI to monitor client inputs, track documentation gaps, and highlight areas where further clarification or evidence may be needed, all before the claim is finalised.
Together, these platforms act like
a digital reviewer, surfacing risks early so advisers and businesses can correct issues before submission, reducing the likelihood of HMRC challenges and improving overall claim quality.
XU:
Traceability of information and data security are important. How do your platforms ensure that every step of the claim is transparent and secure for both businesses and advisers?
SM:
Traceability and data security are absolutely central to how Claim IQ and made. simplr operate. Both platforms are designed to ensure that every step of the R&D claim process is transparent, auditable, and secure. We believe that the future of R&D will include greater traceability and accountability of the R&D scheme, and we have embedded that into everything we do.
Claim IQ automatically logs all user inputs, edits, and decision points, creating a clear audit trail that advisers and businesses can refer back to, which is especially useful if HMRC raises questions later. It also structures claims in a way that links technical narratives directly to their original document source, making it easy to trace where each piece of data has come from.
data storage, and real-time tracking of progress across teams. Together, they give users confidence that their claims are not only accurate and compliant but also protected and fully traceable from start to finish.
XU: Accountants are often under pressure to deliver more in less time. How do Claim IQ and made.simplr help reduce manual workload while still maintaining accuracy?
Claim IQ significantly reduces manual workload by more than 40%, automating the most time-consuming parts of R&D claim preparation from technical narratives to autostructuring cost breakdowns in line with HMRC requirements.
It flags potential issues in real time, so advisers spend less time reviewing and more time adding value.
valuable time while maintaining, and often improving, the accuracy and compliance of every claim. It’s about working smarter, not harder, and giving accountants the tools they need to scale their advisory services without compromising on quality.
XU: With enquiry risk on the rise, how can technology support accountants in lowering the chance of an HMRC challenge?
Both platforms also add another layer of control by managing client collaboration securely, with permissions-based access, encrypted
SM: Accountants today are under immense pressure to deliver high-quality work at speed, and that’s exactly where Claim IQ and made.simplr make a real difference.
made.simplr complements this by streamlining client collaboration, automating data collection, and centralising communication, which cuts down on endless email chains and version control headaches. Together, the platforms free up
SM: With HMRC enquiry risk on the rise, technologies like Claim IQ and made.simplr play a vital role in helping accountants proactively reduce the chance of an HMRC challenge.
Claim IQ
Claim IQ uses AI to analyse claims in real time, flagging vague language, missing justifications, and inconsistencies that could trigger scrutiny.
It gives feedback to help the accountant create robust technical narratives that align with HMRC’s expectations and ensure cost allocations are clearly traceable and defensible. made.simplr adds another layer of protection by streamlining client collaboration and documentation, helping advisers gather the right evidence early and maintain a clear audit trail throughout the process. Together, these platforms act as a digital safety net, reducing human error, improving claim quality, and giving accountants the confidence that their submissions are robust and enquiry-ready.
XU:
Some worry that AI could replace accountants in areas like R&D claims. Why do you believe accountants will remain central to the process?
SM:
While AI is transforming the way R&D claims are prepared, accountants remain absolutely central to the process, and that’s not changing anytime soon. Technologies like Claim IQ and made. simplr are designed to enhance, not replace, the expertise accountants bring. AI can flag risks, streamline workflows, and improve consistency, but it can’t replace the judgment, context, and client understanding
that accountants provide. R&D claims often involve nuanced decisions about eligibility, interpretation of guidance, and strategic planning, areas where human insight is imperative.
XU:
Looking ahead, how do you see AI continuing to shape the tax and compliance space more broadly?
SM: AI is set to reshape the tax and compliance space profoundly, not by replacing professionals, but by transforming how they work. As regulations grow more complex and scrutiny increases, AI will help accountants and advisers stay ahead by automating routine tasks, flagging risks early, and surfacing insights that would be difficult to spot manually.
We’ll see smarter systems that can interpret evolving guidance and even predict potential compliance issues before they arise. But the real power lies in how AI can free up professionals to focus on strategic, high-value work, advising clients, navigating grey areas, and building trust. The role of an accountant will shift into more of a financial adviser for businesses. Platforms like Claim IQ and made.simplr are just the beginning; the future will be about deeply integrated, intelligent tools that support decision-making, not just data entry. In short, AI won’t replace accountants; it will make them more impactful than ever.
XU:
Over the next five years, how do you see the process of making R&D claims evolving?
SM:
Over the next five years, the process of making R&D claims is likely to become faster, smarter, and far more transparent. We’ll see a shift away from manual, narrative-heavy submissions toward dynamic, data-backed claims that are built collaboratively between businesses and advisers using intelligent platforms.
Tools like Claim IQ will continue to evolve, offering deeper analysis, real-time compliance checks, and predictive risk assessments that help users course-correct before submission. made.simplr will play a key role in simplifying client engagement, automating evidence gathering, and ensuring that every claim is auditready from day one.
As HMRC adopts more digital-first approaches, the emphasis will be on traceability and defensibility, and technology will be the bridge that helps accountants meet those expectations without sacrificing quality. The next five years will be about embedding compliance into everyday workflows, not just preparing claims at year-end. Accountants who embrace smart tools, real-time data, and collaborative processes will be best positioned to thrive
XU: If you could give one piece of advice to accountants preparing for the future of R&D tax relief, what would it be?
SM: If I could give one piece of advice to accountants preparing for the future of R&D tax relief, it would be this: embrace technology early, but never lose sight of your advisory edge. The landscape is shifting, with HMRC tightening compliance, AI tools becoming more sophisticated on both sides, and clients expecting faster, clearer outcomes. And of course: Embed compliance into your process, not just your paperwork!
Platforms like Claim IQ and made.simplr are already helping accountants streamline claims, reduce risk, and improve claim quality, but the real value comes when these tools are paired with your expertise. Stay curious about how tech can support your workflow, invest time in understanding the evolving guidance, and position yourself not just as a preparer of claims, but as a strategic adviser who helps clients innovate with confidence. The future will reward those who combine smart systems with sharp thinking. Visit our website rdclaimiq.com Book a call calendly.com/eneko-kapitalise FIND
When Inventory Meets Intelligence
How Fishbowl is Helping Accountants Turn Stock Chaos into Predictable Profit
Fishbowl empowers accountants with AI-driven inventory insights, transforming stock chaos into predictable profit for product-based businesses.
The Hidden Inventory Problem Accountants Face
For accountants and advisors, the biggest challenge with product-based businesses is often invisible: inventory. When stock is managed poorly, everything downstream breaks — financials are inaccurate, margins disappear, compliance risks increase, and owners are left making critical business decisions on bad data. For accountants, this means extra time reconciling spreadsheets, cleaning
errors, and putting out fires instead of delivering the kind of high-value strategic advice that clients really want.
At Xerocon Brisbane, we surveyed advisors about how their clients manage inventory today. The findings revealed a clear disconnect:
• 38% of clients still keep inventory “in their heads.”
• 31% rely on spreadsheets.
• 28% use a basic inventory application.
• Only 3% are on an AIcentric system.
When asked where advisors want clients to be:
• Just 4% said spreadsheets.
• A massive 96% said AI-powered inventory systems.
outdated processes, while advisors know the future lies in intelligent automation.
Why Accountants Can’t Afford to Ignore This Gap
Inventory isn’t just operational —it’s financial. Advisors who fix it first win deeper trust
The gap couldn’t be clearer. Most businesses are stuck in manual or
Inventory isn’t just an operational problem — it’s a financial one.
Businesses that don’t know their true stock levels often can’t trust their profit margins. That impacts tax, forecasting, and compliance. It also stops them from accessing finance or scaling with confidence.
For accountants and bookkeepers, helping clients bridge this gap isn’t just about efficiency — it’s about delivering measurable business outcomes and unlocking new advisory opportunities. Those who can translate operational data into financial insight become
Will Gilbert heads up Channel & Strategic Partnerships for Fishbowl in APAC. With 20+ years of experience driving business transformation through technology, he is focused on expanding Fishbowl’s partner ecosystem — enabling accountants, bookkeepers, and consultants to deliver smarter, AI-driven solutions to product-based businesses across the region.
indispensable partners, not just number crunchers. And in a world shifting toward automation and AI, that humanled insight is what truly differentiates the modern accounting firm.
From Chaos to Control
Fishbowl has been trusted for over 20 years to help product-based businesses streamline inventory and operations. Now, with the launch of an AI-powered, cloud-first platform, we’re taking things to a whole new level.
• Real-time visibility into inventory, operations, and financials.
• Predictive insights that turn guesswork into confident decisions.
• AI-powered automation to reduce manual work and eliminate silos.
• Scalable architecture that grows as your clients grow.
For accountants, this means better data, cleaner financials, and a new level of
Will Gilbert, Channel & Strategic Partnerships, APAC/Fishbowl
confidence when advising clients. For business owners, it means fewer errors, more control, and stronger margins.
Customer Story: Sajani Cups & Cones
From spreadsheets to full production clarity.
Sajani Cups & Cones, a sustainable packaging manufacturer, was growing fast — but their manual systems couldn’t keep up. With orders increasing and complex production workflows, accuracy and visibility became critical. By implementing Fishbowl, Sajani gained end-to-end traceability, automated inventory control, and real-time production visibility. What once took hours in spreadsheets now happens instantly.
production, traceability, and national distribution — Fishbowl delivered.
Before Fishbowl, managing hundreds of flavours, variable ingredients, and HACCP compliance was time-consuming and error prone. Now, every batch is traceable from ingredient to customer within minutes.
“Fishbowl gives us total confidence in our numbers — inventory, traceability, and margins.
Our staff pick and manufacture faster, more accurately, and with less waste.”
38% of businesses still track stock in their heads—96% of advisors demand AI powered systems
“I use Fishbowl on a daily basis to update the system, so we know how much stock we have. It’s been amazing. Fishbowl gave us the structure we needed to scale — it’s intuitive, reliable, and built for growth.”
Head Gelato Chef, Jean Aveline: Now, Sajani confidently manages thousands of SKUs and raw materials, keeping production lean and customers happy — without the ERP complexity.
Customer Story: Lick Ice Cream
Turning complex production into clarity — one scoop at a time.
When premium ice cream maker Lick needed to bring order to complex
Which stage are your clients at now? And which stage do you want them in?
your job as an accountant easier, too. Clean data means:
— Simon West, CEO, Lick Ice Cream
With Fishbowl, Lick gained real-time control, food-safety traceability, and accurate margin reporting — all while freeing their team from spreadsheets and manual entry.
What This Means for Accountants
Every accountant has clients battling with inventory — whether it’s a manufacturer stuck in spreadsheets, a wholesaler unsure of margins, or a growing eCommerce business bogged down in manual processes. Helping them adopt an AI-driven solution doesn’t just make their operations more efficient — it makes
• Accurate reconciliations.
• Faster reporting.
• Clearer margins.
• Better strategic advice.
It also positions accountants and bookkeepers as forward-thinking advisors who bring real, measurable value.
The Future Is Clear
Fishbowl doesn’t just track stock —it transforms it into actionable intelligence accountants can actually use.
The Xerocon survey showed what we already suspected: businesses are lagging behind, and advisors are eager to help them catch up.
With Fishbowl’s AI-powered platform, accountants can finally bridge the gap between outdated manual processes and intelligent, scalable solutions. The opportunity now is for advisors to lead
the change — guiding clients toward systems that deliver real-time visibility, proactive insights, and measurable business outcomes.
When advisors help clients implement smart inventory systems, they’re not just improving operations — they’re unlocking data-driven decision-making, reducing waste, and protecting margins. It’s about giving business owners the clarity to plan ahead and accountants the tools to become strategic partners in their clients’ growth.
Because when inventory meets intelligence, businesses stop guessing — and start growing. And in this new era of AI-driven efficiency, the firms that help their clients make that leap first will stand apart as the trusted advisors of the future. Become a Partner
fishbowlinventory.com/partners FIND OUT MORE...
The Accounting & Business Show Asia 2025: Two Days of Unparalleled Insight
Delivering digital business growth blueprints to Asia’s
Accounting and Business leaders
Accounting & Business Show Asia 2025 successfully wrapped its 8th edition, providing solutions and strategies for business transformation and success
The Accounting & Business Show Asia 2025 successfully wrapped up its 8th edition, reaffirming its position as the region’s most influential platform for driving
growth through technology and strategic finance. Held on October 22-23, 2025, at the iconic Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore, the event saw record attendance and buzz, bringing together the region’s accounting, finance, and business communities for two days of unparalleled learning and networking.
@accounting-andbusiness-show-asia
@laura-binns
Laura Binns, General Manager, Accounting & Business Show
Laura has been running the team behind the Accounting & Business Show Asia since its first edition back in 2018. Now in its 8th year, the 2025 edition is set to return on 22 - 23 October at Sands Expo Singapore, bringing together thousands of accounting, finance and business professionals to uncover the latest technologies, streamline their processes, innovate and grow. technologies, streamline their processes, innovate and grow.
2025: A Year of Transformation and Action
Accounting & Business Show
Asia provides solutions and strategies business leaders need to stay ahead.
The 2025 Show, which focused squarely on equipping Asia’s businesses to navigate rising costs, digital disruption, and increasing global competition, was a resounding success. Over 4,000 accountants, finance leaders, and business decisionmakers converged to explore the future of their industries.
Attendees immersed themselves in
innovations showcased by 130+ solution providers across crucial areas, including HR, payroll, payments, digital banking, and e-commerce. The knowledge-sharing was immense, with over 180 expert speakers taking to the stage, featuring prominent voices Violet Lim, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Lunch Actually Group, Lip Kiam Tan, Partner, Assurance & Advisory, Moore Singapore, Monica Divik Agarwal, Group Head of People & Talent, MoneyHero Group, Carmen Wee, Board Member, Workforce Singapore, Mason Tay, Director of Global Markets Growth, TripAdvisor and Shivajini Seelan, Managing Partner, JS Partners, who shared actionable insights
Asia, Terrapinn Asia
Packed conference stages
Attendees exploring some of the latest accounting, finance and business solutions
into leadership and global market expansion.
To meet the evolving industry needs, new dedicated stages were launched: the ‘People’ stage, focusing on critical issues like employee engagement and retention, and the ‘Customer & Commerce’ stage, which explored
cross-border growth and sustainable business success for SME leaders.
The Start-up Pavilion also served as a dynamic hub, shining a spotlight on the next generation of fintech and business technology innovators ready to disrupt the market.
As Laura Binns, General Manager at
Terrapinn, noted ahead of the event, “The Accounting & Business Show Asia provides the solutions and strategies business leaders need to stay ahead.” The event provided exactly that by providing a free-to-attend, invaluable opportunity for professionals to gain CPD credits, forge crucial connections, and find the technological edge required for competitive advantage.
Glimpse into 2026: The Next Chapter
While the success of 2025 is still fresh, preparations are already underway for the 9th edition. The Accounting & Business Show Asia will return in 2026 with an even bolder mandate to tackle the emerging challenges and opportunities facing Asian enterprises.
A major focus is anticipated on the practical implementation of nextgeneration technologies. Attendees can look forward to enhanced stages dedicated to Generative AI in Finance, Advanced ESG & Sustainability Reporting, and Cyber Resilience for the financial sector. Efforts are being made
to secure a world-class lineup of global thought leaders and innovative solution providers who are shaping the definitive operating models for the modern, resilient business.
Expect the 2026 Show to be the ultimate deep-dive into the strategies that will define the next decade of finance and business in Asia. The organising team looks forward to welcoming participants back to Singapore for another transformative event!
Stay tuned for date and registration announcements for the Accounting & Business Show Asia 2026, taking place on 13-14 October 2026!
Whether you’re a firm owner, partner, or industry stakeholder, the Accounting Talent Index is essential reading. It offers unique insight into where the pressure points lie, and what the highest-performing firms are doing to adapt and grow in the face of these sector-wide challenges.
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Learn more about Accounting & Business Show 2026
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“Because
You Deserve Better Than Another Night with Excel” — Meet Draftworx
How one accountant’s frustration sparked Draftworx Cloud — smarter, faster financial statements.
Draftworx Cloud offers a faster, smarter way to create financial statements — built by accountants who understand your daily challenges.
If you’ve ever spent a Friday night staring at a balance sheet wondering why the blasted thing won’t balance, this one’s for you.
You know the scene: it’s 10 p.m., the office is empty except for you, an overworked coffee machine, and that one tab in Excel that insists it’s “updating formulas” for eternity. You try to remember why you ever thought accounting would be a good idea. And then you remember — you actually like numbers. It’s just the tools that drive you mad.
overdose), Draftworx Cloud is a smart, powerful, and surprisingly friendly way to prepare financial statements — without the usual tears, late nights, or Excel-induced existential crises.
A quick translation: what Draftworx Cloud actually does
“We’re not trying to disrupt you — just help you finish faster.”
Let’s skip the jargon. Draftworx Cloud takes the data you already have — from Xero, Sage, QuickBooks, or even your trusty spreadsheets — and turns it into fully-formatted, professional financial statements.
That’s where Draftworx Cloud comes in.
Born from many accountants’ frustration (and possibly caffeine
Think of it as a bridge between your accounting software and the polished report that lands in your client’s inbox or at Companies House.
You import the trial balance, map the accounts (just once), and Draftworx does the heavy lifting:
• Automatically populating the financial statements,
• Keeping them compliant with local standards,
• And letting you customise the layout until it looks like something you’d actually be proud to send out.
It’s fast, accurate, and doesn’t mysteriously “recalculate” for 45 minutes just because you sneezed.
“We
creativity and technology. A Chartered Accountant, Professional Accountant, and Registered Auditor, he brings experience from partnership in a mid-tier firm. With a dual degree in Accounting and Coding, he drives automation of financial statements and explores AI integration. Beyond finance, Andrew embraces curiosity through poetry, African Philosophy, and coding pursuits—proving imagination belongs in accounting.
were simply fed up with the complex and convoluted reporting systems that turned straightforward financial statements into an endurance test.
They believed there had to be a better way. So instead of accepting the clunky, overengineered tools the industry used or the foibles of Excel, they took the harder road. They built something simpler, smarter and actually enjoyable to use.
built Draftworx so accountants have tools as reliable as they are.” — Earl, Draftworx
Born from Frustration, Built by Many
Draftworx didn’t begin in a boardroom or with a Silicon Valley pitch deck. It began with a few accountants who
The small group grew quickly. Some joined the company, others became clients, but all shared the same goal: to make financial statement preparation faster, cleaner and far less painful.
Fast-forward a few years, and Draftworx
Andrew Alt, Chief Imagination Officer, Draftworx
Andrew Alt is Chief Imagination Officer at Draftworx, shaping the future of accounting by blending
is now used by more than 20,000 customers in 22 countries, from oneperson practices to listed companies. It’s the go-to tool for South African accountants and auditors, and it’s now landing on British shores, ready to help you escape the tyranny of templatetweaking.
A cloud solution for accountants who have had enough
Draftworx Cloud is built from the ground up for today’s digital accounting world. No downloads, no installs, no IT department sighing heavily in the corner.
You log in through your browser, connect your accounting software, and start producing compliant financial statements in minutes.
It’s the ultimate balance between automation and control — fast enough to save you hours, but flexible enough that you still feel in charge.
Because, let’s be honest, accountants don’t like surprises. (Except maybe a surprise client who’s already reconciled everything. But that’s fantasy territory.)
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Excel
We get it. You love Excel. You’ve spent years building clever formulas, conditional formatting rules, and a colour-coding system that only you understand.
you back.
It’s brilliant for analysis, sure. But when it comes to producing financial statements that look professional, compliant, and consistent, it’s a jealous partner. One wrong link, one mis-sorted column, and suddenly your profit and loss statement is singing a completely different tune.
That’s why, for many firms, Draftworx Cloud is a revelation. It takes all the good bits of Excel (flexibility, familiarity, the ability to make things your own) and removes the bad bits (risk, repetition, and endless formatting).
You still get control — but without the chaos.
What makes Draftworx Cloud different
You’ve probably seen a few “financial statement preparation” tools before. Maybe even used one or two. So why should you give Draftworx Cloud a go?
Here’s the honest answer:
1. It was built by accountants, for accountants. Not by software engineers guessing what accountants need. Everyone at Draftworx has been on the other side — closing files at midnight, arguing with trial balances, drinking too much coffee. The product reflects that empathy.
time learning the software.
3. It’s lightning quick. Draftworx Cloud is fully native to the web — no lag, no waiting, just clean performance. It’s like your reporting process after a double espresso.
4. Support that actually cares. Draftworx’s support team are accountants themselves — not callcentre agents reading from a script. They understand your pain, and they genuinely want to make your life easier.
5. You can make it your own. Customise templates, tweak notes, add your firm’s logo, or adjust layouts. You get consistency without losing personality.
But here’s the thing: Excel doesn’t love
2. It’s actually simple. Draftworx has a rule: if you need a manual to use it, it’s too complicated. The interface is clean, logical, and fast. You’ll spend more time finishing work and less
The accountant’s daily struggle (and how Draftworx Cloud fixes it)
Problem 1: “I’m spending more time formatting than thinking.”
Draftworx Cloud fixes that by giving you beautifully structured templates right out of the box. Adjust your logo, tweak the layout, and you’re done. Templates for England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the islandsincluding charities
“If you need a manual to use it, it’s too complicated.” — Draftworx design philosophy
6. No corporate fluff. Draftworx is proudly independent, a little quirky, and not afraid to poke fun at itself. We know we’re not perfect, but we’re honest about it — and always improving.
Problem 2: “Compliance changes faster than my coffee cools.”
Our templates are updated to reflect the latest accounting standards — so you don’t have to.
Problem 3: “We use Xero, but the reporting tools just don’t cut it.”
We integrate directly with Xero, Sage,
and QuickBooks. Import, map once, and produce professional statements in minutes.
Problem 4: “My software vendor treats me like a ticket number.”
We treat you like a person. And probably send you a meme or two while we’re at it.
Why UK accountants are going to love this
Let’s be honest: UK accountants are a pragmatic bunch. You’ve seen every tool promising “automation” and “insight.” You’ve tried them, paid for them, and sometimes quietly gone back to Excel.
Draftworx Cloud isn’t here to replace your accounting software — it’s here to finish the job. It turns your data into a polished final product, saving you time and making you look good.
And because it’s cloud-based, you can use it anywhere — in the office, at home, or while pretending to listen on a Teams call.
We’ve already started working with early UK adopters who tell us the same thing: “This is what we’ve been waiting for.” That’s music to our ears.
Our philosophy: keep it simple, keep it human
Draftworx’s team lives by a few simple values:
• We work for the customer. Not the board, not investors — the actual accountants using the software.
• Listen first, solve smart. We ask questions before we build features.
• Keep it simple. If it’s not intuitive, it’s not ready.
• Have fun. Life’s too short to dread your software.
That’s why we’ve stayed intentionally non-corporate. We talk like real people. We admit when something breaks (and then fix it fast). We celebrate our quirks, because accounting already has enough beige in it.
What’s next
Draftworx Cloud is expanding rapidly
into Europe and the UK — with dedicated support, templates tailored to British standards, and a pricing model that makes sense whether you’re a solo practitioner or a mid-sized firm.
We’ve built the infrastructure, we’ve proven the model, and now we’re bringing it to a new audience who we think will appreciate it most: accountants who care about their work but are tired of wasting time on admin.
Our goal isn’t to “disrupt” your workflow. It’s to make it smoother, faster, and maybe even — dare we say it — enjoyable.
A final thought (or confession)
We’re accountants too. We know what it’s like to spend hours chasing down rounding errors or reformatting a note disclosure until it finally aligns. Draftworx Cloud was built for that moment when you think, “There must be a better way.”
There is.
So if you’ve ever yelled at Excel, argued
with a PDF, or sworn you’d never do another set of financials again — take a deep breath. Then give Draftworx Cloud a try. It won’t make your clients disappear. It won’t stop HMRC from sending letters at 4 p.m. on Fridays. But it will give you something precious: time, sanity, and a sense that maybe, just maybe, financial statement prep doesn’t have to be painful.
After all, life’s too short to spend it fixing broken formulas.
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Ready to see what the fuss is about? Try Draftworx Cloud draftworx.com
If you are looking to free up more time and budget for your business, outsourcing accounting services can offer a more cost-effective solution to reduce overheads and optimise business resources. Not outsourcing yet? Here’s what you are missing out on... Find out more
Quiet Authority: Leadership Without the Loudest Voice
Why Presence, Not Volume, Wins the Room
Not all leaders command with volume. Nick Elston explores how quiet authority creates deeper impact in finance and beyond.
Let’s get one thing straight: the myth that leadership requires the loudest voice in the room is exactly that - a myth. And yet, so many of us have bought into it. We’ve convinced ourselves that if we’re not dominating the conversation or speaking first, we’re somehow not leadership material.
I’ve spent years working with professionals who feel this pressure acutely. They’re brilliant at what they do, trusted by their clients and colleagues, but struggle with the idea that their quieter, more thoughtful approach makes them less effective. Spoiler: it doesn’t.
Quiet authority is one of the most underrated forms of leadership out there - and it’s time we started recognising it for what it really is.
The Myth of the Alpha Leader
Somewhere along the line, we created this image of what a leader should look like. Charismatic. Commanding. The person who walks into a room and immediately takes charge. The one who speaks first, speaks often, and never seems to doubt themselves.
@forgingpeopleltd @nickelston
Nick Elston is the founder of Forging People, delivering transformational speaking coaching grounded in lived experience. A sought-after keynote speaker and facilitator, Nick helps professionals find their voice and lead with authenticity. His work centres on emotional leadership, turning struggle into strength, and creating conversations that matter. Nick’s approach is practical, human, and refreshingly free of corporate jargon - because real talk creates real change.
But here’s the reality: that’s not the only way to lead. In fact, for many people, it’s not even the most effective way.
Quiet authority isn’t about being less - it’s about being more intentional.
Quiet authority isn’t about being timid or lacking confidence. It’s about leading with intention rather than volume. It’s about choosing your moments, speaking with clarity, and creating space for others to contribute. In industries built on precision, analysis, and trust, this approach often carries far more weight than the loudest voice ever could.
Presence Over Performance
One of the biggest misconceptions about communication is that you need to perform to be impactful. You don’t. What you need is presence.
Presence is about being fully engaged in the moment. It’s about listening actively, responding thoughtfully, and making people feel heard. When you have presence, you don’t need to fill every silence or dominate every discussion. You create impact through the quality of your contribution, not the quantity.
I’ve seen this play out time and time again. The person who speaks last in a meeting but delivers the insight that shifts the entire conversation. The leader who doesn’t shout over others but asks the question that gets everyone thinking differently. The colleague who listens more than they speak but, when they do, people lean in because they know it matters.
Nick Elston, Founder, Forging People
Leadership isn’t about volume. It’s about presence.
That’s quiet authority. And it’s powerful.
The Power of the Pause
If there’s one thing I champion relentlessly, it’s the pause. We’ve become so conditioned to fear silence that we rush to fill it, often with words that add little value. But here’s the truth: pauses are where the magic happens.
A pause gives your audience time to absorb what you’ve said. It creates emphasis. It allows space for reflection. And perhaps most importantly, it signals confidence - because only someone comfortable in their own authority can let silence sit without panic.
For those of you who identify as introverted or naturally quieter, the pause is your secret weapon. You don’t need to out-talk anyone. You just need to make sure that when you do speak, it lands. And pauses help it land harder.
Clarity is Confidence
Another hallmark of quiet authority is clarity. When you’re not trying to fill every gap in the conversation, you have space to think before you speak. And that means what you say tends to be clearer, more considered, and ultimately more impactful.
Clarity doesn’t mean oversimplifying. It means stripping away the fluff and getting to the heart of what matters. It’s about saying what needs to be said in a way that people can actually hear it - no jargon, no performance, just clear, honest communication.
This is especially important in high-stakes situations. Whether you’re presenting to a board, navigating a difficult client conversation, or leading a team through change, clarity cuts through the noise. It builds trust. And trust is the foundation of all effective leadership.
You Don’t Need Permission
Here’s something I’ve noticed: people with quiet authority often wait for permission to step into their leadership. They think they need to be louder, bolder, more like the traditional image of a leader before they’re allowed to take up space.
But leadership isn’t something you wait to be given. It’s something you claim. And you don’t need to change who you are to do it.
If you’re someone who leads through thoughtful communication, active listening, and intentional action, that’s not a weakness - it’s a strength. You don’t need to become someone else to be effective. You just need to own the approach that works for you.
Pauses are where the magic happens. Silence signals confidence, not uncertainty.
dominating the conversation, you give other people room to contribute. You make space for ideas, perspectives, and voices that might otherwise go unheard.
This isn’t about shrinking yourself. It’s about recognising that leadership isn’t a solo act. The best leaders aren’t the ones with all the answers - they’re the ones who know how to bring out the best in the people around them.
Final Thought
If you’ve ever felt like your quieter approach is somehow holding you back, I want you to reconsider. Quiet authority isn’t about being less - it’s about being more intentional, more present, more impactful.
You don’t need the loudest voice to lead. You just need the courage to trust that your voice - however quiet - is enough.
Creating Space for Others
One of the most powerful aspects of quiet authority is that it creates space for others to step up. When you’re not
Meet
The ROI of Employee Health: Keeping Company’s GameChanging Strategy
How Updoc for Business improved wellbeing, slashing productivity losses in their firm
An innovative Sydney based accounting firm, is leading the charge by integrating Updoc for Business into their employee benefits strategy.
At Keeping Company, they understand that for their clients to truly thrive, they must provide innovative solutions, proactive advice, and technology that drives real, meaningful performance and growth. It’s no surprise that this same
approach is taken when it comes to the wellbeing and performance of their own team.
To provide the premium service their clients deserve, Keeping Company realised they needed to bolster their strategy on employee wellbeing and ensure their people had the tools and support to do their best work.
Keeping Company was one of the first companies in Australia to embrace the “Updoc for Business” program, offering free, unlimited, 24/7 access to Partner Doctors for all of their employees. The initiative wasn’t just a nice-to-have, it was a vital move in supporting their most important asset: their people.
“A large portion of our team was already
using Updoc before we brought it into our employee wellbeing offering, so it felt good to be able to cover this cost for them. It helped to know we were offering a benefit that had already proved its worth,” says Luke Rix, who is the CEO of KC Ventures, a division of Keeping Company.
But the real question is: Are your employee benefits creating tangible impact, or are they simply gathering dust?
experience, but also on their bottom line.
Accounting firms need to take employee wellbeing seriously. Staff need to feel appropriately supported.
Keeping Company’s leadership is acutely aware of the importance of ROI when it comes to making investments and were delighted to see immediate benefits, not just in terms of enhanced employee
“I’ve run teams based out of the US and have always loved the focus on health and wellbeing as part of the employment package. I’ve always wanted to do something for Australian employees, but the costs of private health insurance have always been prohibitive. Updoc gives us a good option to provide that support to employees, at a cost effective rate which easily has ROI,” Rix continues.
Reducing absenteeism and minimising time lost to non-urgent health appointments directly contributes to increased productivity across the firm.
Lauren Crawford, Updoc for Business Lead
Lauren Crawford has spent the last decade working to deliver Accountingtech and Fintech solutions across EMEA and APAC working in close partnership with the Accounting, Bookkeeping and CFO community. Lauren has now expanded into the world of Healthtech and is leading Updoc’s B2B launch, based out of Sydney, Australia.
Luke Rix (CEO and Co-founder KC Ventures) and Lauren Crawford (Updoc for Business Lead at Updoc)
In fact, absenteeism costs the Australian economy $33 billion annually. But this isn’t just a statistic, it’s a real problem that impacts businesses in all corners of the nation. With a simple and efficient solution like Updoc for Business, Keeping Company was able to ensure their employees could access medical support, whether that be general medical advice, referrals for specialists, pathology, and radiology, or new and repeat scripts, quickly and without disrupting their work or having to take unnecessary time off.
The question is: Are your employee benefits creating tangible impact, or are they gathering dust?
In today’s digital age – alongside a healthcare system under increasing pressure –, it’s no longer unreasonable to expect that non-urgent health issues can be handled through telehealth services. This accessibility is crucial, especially in industries like accounting, where stress, burnout, and long hours are common.
As burnout and chronic stress continue to challenge the accounting industry, it’s inspiring to see firms like Keeping Company take proactive steps to address the wellbeing of their employees.
“Giving employees the tools to manage their health proactively means that issues can be dealt with long before they snowball into something more serious,” explains Rix.
Accounting firms in particular, need to take employee wellbeing seriously. Staff need to feel supported not just by the tools and processes they use, but by the
firm itself. In an industry that’s become known for long hours and high stress, creating a culture of accessible care is not just important, but critical to the longevity of practitioners in the field. Given the crucial role that accountants and bookkeepers play in supporting taxation, superannuation, business advisory and compliance, the overall health of the economy could be positively impacted by an uplift in the health of those who underpin it.
Accounting firms need to take employee wellbeing seriously. Staff need to feel appropriately supported.
The greatest asset any accounting firm has is its people. And too often, the focus is placed on implementing the latest tech or perfecting internal processes, while the human element gets overlooked. Without your staff, you don’t have a business. Yet attracting top talent in today’s competitive job market has never been more challenging.
“Now, we find ourselves discussing free and unlimited healthcare in interviews with candidates. It always goes down incredibly well and shows that you genuinely care before they are even in the door,” Rix adds.
Luke Rix (CEO and Co-founder KC Ventures), Ryan
(Updoc for Business Lead at Updoc)
care about your employees’ health and wellbeing can make all the difference. Showing that you care isn’t just a feelgood gesture – it’s one of the most powerful ways to attract and retain talent in your firm.
Showing you care is a powerful way to attract and retain talent in your firm.
In an industry where competition for talent is fierce, demonstrating that you
Showing that you care is the most powerful way to attract and retain talent in your firm.
By integrating Updoc for Business, Keeping Company has set a new standard for employee wellbeing in the accounting industry. They’ve shown that caring for your team is not just the right
(Director at Keeping
and
thing to do, it’s a strategic advantage that will pay off in both the short and long term.
As the business world continues to evolve alongside digital solutions, offering employees access to affordable, efficient, and accessible healthcare can be an essential part of any successful firm’s strategy.
Learn more about Updoc for Business updoc.com.au FIND OUT MORE...
Miller
Company)
Lauren Crawford
Introducing SuiteFiles’ AIPowered Document Summaries: Making Client Signing Easier
A
smarter, faster way for clients to understand and sign documents.
@suitefiles
@anoushkaisaac
As a multi-skilled marketing leader with strong experience in B2B tech, Noush puts a focus on uncovering and clearly communicating the true value of SuiteFiles’ product, helping them find, win, and keep more of the customers they love.
SuiteFiles’ newest feature is all set to make complex signing experiences simpler, quicker, and more client friendly.
Ever sent a document for signing and then… crickets? You hit send and get on with your day – and when the replies don’t appear, you wonder if your client even opened the file. It’s frustratingly familiar.
So, what’s going on? Getting these important documents signed in a timely way is necessary – but those same documents can feel overwhelming for the reader. That’s why we’ve introduced our newest feature: AI-powered document summaries.
How
it works
When you send a document for signing in SuiteFiles, you’ll notice a new “Summary” button in the signing interface. Your client clicks it, and they get a quick, AI-generated snapshot of the document’s main points. If they want a different angle? Just click “Re-summarize” for another version.
Faster understanding means faster signing – and happier clients.
The idea is simple, but it can make a real difference to you and your clients. Instead of digging through page after page of dense content right away, now your clients can click a button, see a quick digest, and get up to speed fast.
Think of it as a cheat sheet for your signing request. Less intimidation, more clarity. Instead of facing “Document: 22 pages” and feeling stuck, your client gets a friendly assist.
Why this matters – for you
This feature isn’t just about your clients –it’s about you, too. The document-sender, the deal-maker, the professional juggling a million things.
Here’s how it helps:
• Smoother signing experiences. When clients feel like something is accessible, they’ll engage more readily.
• Less hesitation = faster signing. If someone doesn’t feel overwhelmed, they’re more likely to click “Sign” sooner.
AI summaries make every signing request feel effortless and professional.
• It shows your clients you care. Making documents easier to navigate doesn’t just help – it signals you think about your client’s time and comfort.
The bottom line? Faster understanding = faster sign-offs.
What your clients see
Let’s walk through what this looks like
for a recipient. They open the signing request, look at the sidebar, and spot the “Summary” button. With one tap, they generate an overview. If they’re curious, they hit “Resummarize” and get a fresh version. Importantly, the summary is optional. If the recipient wants to dive straight into the full document, they can. The summary is a helpful sidekick, not a gatekeeper.
Setting expectations
Here are some key points to share with your team and, if needed, with your clients:
• Summaries are AI-generated, and they’re designed to help with
Noush Isaac, Head of Marketing, SuiteFiles
comprehension – not to replace reading the full document.
• Each “Re-summarize” gives a slightly different version – purposefully varied so it doesn’t feel like the same summary rehashed.
• Every summary comes with a built-in disclaimer that this is AI-generated content and may contain inaccuracies.
Like with all AI features, these are smart reminders to keep in mind. When used well, this feature boosts understanding; when relied on incorrectly, it could lead to missed details.
Controls
and privacy
Safety first, always. Here’s what you need to know about this feature:
• Admin toggle. You decide whether your organization turns on AI features like this one. It’s under your control in SuiteFiles.
• Data privacy. Your documents stay secure. Your customer data is not used to train AI models.
• Responsibility. If you enable AI features, you should make sure your own terms and conditions reflect your usage. SuiteFiles’ terms make it clear that responsibility for usage sits with the customer.
How this helps your clients
Your clients don’t always have the bandwidth to take in a 20-page contract in one go. Here’s how the summary helps:
• Save time. Instant overview means less time wondering what the document’s about.
• Reduce overwhelm. A big document can feel like a mountain – this feature turns it into a hill you can climb.
• Boost confidence. When someone understands what they’re signing, they feel more comfortable moving forward. And when your clients feel good about the process, that’s a win for you. More efficient, more professional, more clientfriendly.
What’s next
While launching this feature is exciting, we’re already thinking about future possibilities, including:
• Smarter search across all your files.
• Automated content suggestions to help you create documents faster.
• Streamlined workflows that predict what you might need next.
Our goal is to use AI to reduce friction in document management – so you and your clients can focus on the important stuff, not the admin.
Try it today
AI-powered document summaries are available in SuiteFiles now. Next time you send a signing request, your clients will spot the “Summary” button waiting for them.
Recipient view of SuiteFiles’ AI-powered document summary feature.
secure client portals, email management, and templated document creation, we’re here to make your document management life a little easier.
Turn long documents into quick, digestible summaries –no more client confusion or delay.
If you’re not using SuiteFiles yet, now’s the perfect time to explore how it can transform your document workflows. With features like unlimited document signing,
Making documents friendlier
This feature isn’t about replacing careful reading. It’s about making your clients’ first interaction with your documents faster, smoother, and more approachable. Because no one wants to lean into a wall of text right off the bat.
The next time you hit send on a signing request, you can feel confident your client
doesn’t just see a document – they see an approachable summary, and a process that respects their time and intelligence.
Want to know more? Book a demo to see it in action.
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Book a free, personalized demo to see SuiteFiles in action.
suitefiles.com/book-a-demo
STRANGE N E W WORLD 2026
ORLANDO
Scaling New Heights 2026 will equip you to create new, significant developments, and to do so in a strange world of economic uncertainty, sweeping policy changes, historic technological advancements, staffing challenges, the emergence of scaled competitors, and unprecedented levels of M&A within the profession.
Register today to thrive in our Strange New World.
Special Keynote Speaker:
DANIEL SUSSKIND
Research Professor in Economics, King’s College London
Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Ethics in AI, Oxford University
APRIL RINNE
ay Q&A
XU: Castaway released a SaaS version of your much-loved software in 2023. What inspired that move, and how has it changed the way your customers engage with the platform?
A: Technology and our customers inspired the move to Cloud. Castaway Desktop replaced WinForecast in the market in 2010 and, when we started building Desktop in 2007, cloud engineering tools were not up to the task quite yet. Desktop has been a very popular product and, you’re right, it was much-loved by customers who relied on the powerful calculations available to them. With Desktop in deprecation, we are transitioning customers to Castaway Cloud. Customers are loving the product, the features and the way they can interact with clients and stakeholders with ease. You can access Castaway Cloud from any browser.
XU: Since launching Castaway Cloud, what’s been the most significant shift in your offering, and how has the feedback from users shaped its development?
A: The most significant shift in our offering is the fact we are now a fully SaaS product with a powerful engine. We have always welcomed customer feedback and actively sought it during various beta release periods. Castaway Cloud functionality has now surpassed that of Castaway Desktop and will continue to do so at speed because we can ship releases faster now than ever.
XU: Can you share any insights into the technology or features that set Castaway Cloud apart in the forecasting and business planning space?
A: There are a few budgeting, 3-way forecasting & reporting products on the market. All of the products will do most of these things I have listed but each product does one of these things exceptionally well. For Castaway, it’s our powerful and flexible forecasting ability. Castaway is for SMEs and their advisors who want to focus on serious, reliable and powerful forecasting. Yes, we can also deliver everything else, but we are comfortable our forecasting capability is a standout.
XU: Castaway has been making serious waves in Australia and the UK. What do you think has driven your success in these markets?
A: Castaway’s success in Australia, NZ, the UK and increasingly Canada has been driven by a few key factors. First, we’ve built deep trust and loyalty with our customers by consistently delivering a product that is not only technically robust but genuinely useful in solving real business problems. Our focus on profitable advisory for firms and financial confidence for business has resonated strongly in these markets.
Secondly, we have invested heavily in relationships with our customers. Account management, onboarding, nurturing, responsive (human) support and thoughtful product evolution. We actively work hard to make sure our customers feel heard and supported. Finally, I need to shout out our own
team culture as collaborative, curious and committed to modern methods and continuous improvement. The energy and intelligence we have at Castaway translates into product and service experience that our team and our customers want to be part of.
XU: Have you noticed any differences between how advisors and businesses in Australia versus the UK are approaching forecasting and business modelling?
A: Apart from compliance requirements, not really. Both markets are savvy about technology and everyone we talk to cares about their clients or their businesses.
XU: What role has your partner network or community played in helping Castaway thrive in these regions?
A: Our network in the regions we serve is critical to helping us thrive. Over the almost 20 years we have been delivering Castaway, we have carefully nurtured and maintained a community of users, influencers, associations, app partners and event & media partners such as XU Mag. These relationships are so important to supporting the work we do.
XU: The US market is an exciting next step— what’s your vision for Castaway’s growth there, and how are you preparing for it?
A:North America is certainly exciting and we are first looking at what Canada needs as there is building interest there for us. We are looking forward to exhibiting at Accountex Canada later this year.
XU: Are there specific industries or advisory niches in the US where you see Castaway providing the most value at first?
A: We have never focused on specific industries or advisory niches in any geography as we find Castaway can service the needs of most industries. Accounting firms and advisors who use Castaway also provide advisory services to a number of industries. I am constantly amazed at the diversity.
XU: We always like catching up with the Castaway team at events throughout the year— how important are events in shaping Castaway’s direction and building community?
A:
It’s very important to Castaway that we have several decent events lined up to attend, sponsor or exhibit at each year. We will have regular events we return to without hesitation each year, but the team will also propose a couple of new or different ones to me and we’ll explore their value.
XU: What’s been your biggest takeaway from engaging face-to-face with users, partners, and advisors at events across the globe?
A: As the CEO & Founder, it is extremely grounding for
me to engage face-to-face with our community. My biggest takeaway is how powerful it is to really listen to the experiences of the people using Castaway. These conversations, with me, often reveal nuances that don’t surface in webinar Q&As or support tickets. Whether it’s the CFO in London sharing how Castaway helped them navigate a tough Board meeting, or a Big 4 partner in Brisbane sharing with me how they have adopted Castaway for a niche industry, or a bookkeeper in Dalby sharing how Castaway is brilliant at reporting their bank covenant compliance. I have hundreds of touching stories. These moments remind me that our work has real-world impact on businesses and, ultimately, the families and communities that rely on them.
XU: As cloud ecosystems become more interconnected, do you have any integrations currently on your roadmap for Castaway?
A: Yes
XU: How do you see integrations amplifying the value Castaway delivers to its users, especially within platforms like Xero or QuickBooks?
A: Since launch, we have integrated directly with Xero, QuickBooks and MYOB. We also have a powerful Excel integration which enables us to work with any general
ledger system.
XU:
How are you futureproofing Castaway to stay ahead of evolving advisor and business needs?
A: You’ve saved the cheeky questions to last! Futureproofing Castaway is all about staying deeply connected to the evolving needs of SMEs and advisors and being proactive rather than reactive. It sounds like a lot of sleepless nights for me, but we’re doing this in a number of different ways. Feedback from our customers is gathered not only on what is working for them, but what is missing. This insight contributes to our roadmap and helps ensure we build features that solve tomorrow’s problems. Naturally, we invest in technology that allows us to scale quickly and integrate seamlessly with other platforms and apps. This flexibility has obvious positives. We provide training, we help our users truly build capability not only with our software, but with forecasting, business performance and advisory. We travel and research, engage with partners and the community to sharpen our global lens to ensure we are across trends.
From Spreadsheet to Dashboard in One Click
How G-Accon Helps You Build Smarter Reports, Faster
Andrew
Robert Shassetz
, Marketing Representative, G-Accon
Andrew Robert Shassetz is part of the marketing team at G-Accon, where he focuses on making the platform’s tools easier for real people to understand and use. He works closely with accountants, CFOs, and small business teams to turn technical features into practical solutions. Whether it’s reporting automation or dashboard design, Andrew helps make sure users get the most out of G-Accon, without needing a technical background to do it.
Turn your Xero or QuickBooks data into ready-made dashboards inside Google Sheets, with just one click.
For accountants, bookkeepers, and CFOs, spreadsheets are more than just a tool, they’re part of daily life. But let’s be honest: they can also be exhausting.
You start your day by opening Google Sheets. Then you pull in numbers from Xero, QuickBooks, or maybe even FreshBooks or Sage. The goal? Build a report that makes sense of everything.
But before you can even think about sharing it, there’s work to do. You sort the data, clean up rows, fix
“We
the formatting, and double-check every formula. One small error can throw off the entire picture. And if you’re working with multiple clients, this process repeats again and again.
used to spend days building reports. Now our team saves 40+ hours a month.”
That’s where G-Accon’s one-click dashboards come in.
This feature lets you skip the manual work and go straight to the insights. With just one click, G-Accon turns your live accounting data into a visual dashboard that’s clean, clear, and client-ready. You don’t need to format anything. You
don’t need to build charts from scratch. You don’t even need to copy and paste anything. It’s all done for you, instantly.
If you already use G-Accon to connect Google Sheets with your accounting software, then you’re already set up. The one-click dashboard builds on what you’re used to, but takes it a step further.
flow insights, and more. And it’s live. So whenever your books update, your dashboard does too.
“From raw data to ready-made dashboards; G-Accon makes reporting
as easy as clicking a button.”
Instead of pulling in raw numbers, you now get a full report with profit and loss visuals, KPI breakdowns, cash
One user shared on the G-Accon homepage that the tool saved them over 40 hours a month. That’s not just time saved, that’s a full work week every single month that can now be spent doing higher-value work. Whether that’s helping clients understand their numbers or just getting some breathing room, that kind of time matters.
Love Google Sheets and Xero?
Help 10x more clients without hiring more people
Automate financial data and say goodbye to:
Wasting hours and risking errors on manual reports
Time-consuming reports and dashboards that you can't re-use or repeat across clients
No ability to gather multi-entity reports in different currencies
Reports that you can't delegate to specific team members
Risk of sharing sensitive information due to lack of access controls
"G-Accon has saved us a vast amount of time by automating the data integration from Xero to Google Sheets. The push of a button brings all the data we need, ready for analysis and visualization."
— Verified User in Financial Services
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Bending Time with an Executive Assistant (or how to be more effective!)
How Executive Assistants Help You Reclaim Time and Focus
How managing energy and leveraging an Executive Assistant can make you more effective, not just busy.
At about 9:30 pm, after a presentation one Monday evening in 1992, Arthur, a mentor of mine, greeted me with an enthusiastic “How are you, Mark?”
I replied with a well-worn phrase we’ve all been guilty of using, “I’m good, Arthur, but I’m so busy!”
Arthur’s response to my part-bragging, part-moaning claim of being ‘so busy’ has stuck with me some 33 years later…
“It’s easy to be busy, Mark. Are you being effective?”
Arthur differentiated the way we used our time between low-value and high-value activities. He was unimpressed with me filling my day with low-value activities, and especially unimpressed if I filled my day with low-value activities and then proceeded to proclaim how busy I was and that I had no time.
“I have no time” must be the most worn-out excuse in the history of the human race.
We use a lack of time as an excuse to our family; we use a lack of time as an excuse to our colleagues; and worst of all, we use
a lack of time as an excuse to ourselves.
And what do people around us suggest we need in order to solve this time shortage problem?
Time management, of course!
Wait, dear reader! Before you get too excited about solving this multi-generational problem…
When it comes to time, you need to accept that we can’t beat it. We can’t stretch it. We can’t manipulate it. We can’t force it into our personal structure and demand its submission.
“You can’t manage time—but you can manage yourself within it.”
The best we can hope to do is manage ourselves within the same 24-hour-a-day constraint everyone on the planet has.
“My Executive Assistants help me bend time so I can focus on high-value work.”
And that’s the weird thing, isn’t it? Everyone has the same amount of time each day. But some people achieve substantially more than others.
So how do we manage ourselves? What does that even mean?
When it comes to being effective (rather than busy), I consider two things:
And we certainly can’t manage time.
1. Energy management
2. High-value activities
Mark Cottle, ICAEW, CA, CPA, CEO and Co-Founder, Frontline Accounting
Mark Cottle is a Chartered Accountant and CPA in Australia, as well as a Chartered Accountant in the UK. He is one of the Co-Founders of Frontline Accounting. He has extensive experience in public practice as an Auditor and was a Financial Controller of a NASDAQ-listed subsidiary in Australia.
Bending Time with an Executive Assistant
Energy Management
As much as I would like to, I simply can’t perform demanding tasks 24 hours a day. I must manage my energy throughout the day.
Take writing for example. There is no way I can write 8 hours a day, and back it up for too many days in a row. My output will suffer. I know this because…well...I tried.
a toilet as good as anyone else. However, it’s just not a good use of my time in my current role.
The way I differentiate high and low value activities is if I can delegate the activity, then it’s low value…to me.
“You can’t manage time, but you can manage yourself within it.”
I found an approach that works better for me by forming several blocks of uninterrupted, focused work time broken up with several periods of rest. It looked a bit like 90min/60min/30min. You will need to experiment with your own energy management process. Reach out to me personally if you want access to my more in-depth work on this topic.
High Value Activities
Not all activities are of high value for a particular individual.
I bring that distinction to the individual level.
For example, I used to be a janitor. One of my activities was to clean toilets.
But what about when I’m running a company and leading a large team?
Should I still spend my time cleaning toilets? Of course not. Most people will intuitively understand that. It’s not that cleaning a toilet is beneath me. I can clean
But here’s the problem…
Just because I happen to run the company, it doesn’t mean I don’t have an abundance of low-value activities nagging at me for attention.
Bending Time
Most people in roles that would be considered executive level would be well served by employing an Executive Assistant.
I guard my daily schedule so fiercely that I have two Executive Assistants.
If you want me to personally send you a list and a bit more detailed structure around all the things my EAs do for me, just drop me an email at mark@frontlineaccounting. com.
“It’s easy to be busy, Mark. Are you being effective?”
They allow me to almost completely eliminate lowvalue activities from my life. This gives the perception that I have bent time, so I have 24 hours a day to work. Three people working 8 hours a day.
“My Executive Assistants help me bend time so I can focus on high-value work.” Imagine how cool it would be to be able to work 24 hours a day.
Welcome to my world!
Some food for thought. My EAs manage my diary; manage my email; communicate with clients and staff on my behalf; help manage deadlines; capture notes from meetings; schedule calls; shield me from incoming distractions; manage various personal tasks such as medical appointments and related tasks; home repairs, contractors and various tasks; and so on. The list could easily fill a page.
That allows me to focus on leading our management team, writing, preparing presentations, and similar hard-todelegate activities.
Conclusion
You must decide every day to manage your energy and focus. It’s simply not the case that you set this up and forget about it.
Bending time and operating at this level is a perishable skill that requires vigilance to protect.
Surely you wouldn’t expect bending time to be something anyone can do, right?
Next time you hear yourself say “I’m too busy”, remember to replace ‘busy’ with ‘effective’ so Arthur won’t scold you.
FIND OUT MORE... Book a Discovery Call Today frontlineaccounting.com/booka-discovery-call
The Most Overlooked Step in Hiring the Right Person
Before you post the job, have this conversation first
@hrpartner.io
@christinakryske
Christina Kryske, Customer Success Specialist, HR Partner
Christina is a friendly and dedicated Customer Success Specialist at HR Partner, based in the USA. Before joining the team, she led People Operations and worked as an Operations Manager, wearing many hats across HR and strategy. She loves connecting with clients, helping them simplify and improve their HR processes. Outside of work, Christina enjoys making memories with her son and staying active with weightlifting, kickboxing, and running.
Hiring the right person starts long before posting a job. It’s about alignment, clarity, and setting everyone up for success.
It’s one of the most important decisions for any business, hiring a new team member.
Get it right and you’ll see the positive impact on your business. But get it wrong and, well, that’s not only costly but can cause lasting damage.
The key to finding the perfect hire happens before the job description is even written
It’s also important to be aligned with the hiring stages.
And the key to finding the perfect new hire happens before the job description is even written. It’s an often overlooked conversation between HR and/or the recruiter and the hiring manager.
If it’s your responsibility to find candidates for an open role, before you post the job ad, make sure you schedule time to meet with the hiring manager.
Before I joined HR Partner, I was a one-person HR team at a startup. Recruitment was one of my favorite hats to wear because there was nothing like finding that perfect new hire. For me, it was never just about checking boxes on a job description. When I backed a candidate, it was because I was confident they met the requirements and would bring lasting stability to the team.
And here’s how to make that meeting count:
• Ask them to describe their ideal new direct report. Take notes on both core and preferred qualifications, including job-relevant personality traits (e.g., teamwork, adaptability, leadership).
• Clarify experience expectations: Does the role truly require 5+ years of experience, or can some of it be learned on the job? If the requirements list is long, ask for their top 5 must-haves.
Hire and onboard at the click of a button. No need for multiple systems or manual processes.
Using Google Sheets and Xero? Automate your reports and dashboards and save up to
40 Hours A Month
Upload / download data from Xero, XPM, and more into Google Sheets and back
Create highly customizable reports and dashboards (200+ templates)
Consolidate data for multiple organizations and currencies
Create, refresh, and send up-to-date reports to multiple clients
Streamline repeatable work across clients
Sync Google Sheets with Xero data in both directions.
“It
Integrating Google Sheets with Xero automates the process of pulling data and updating it in our customized CFO reports." Michael King, CFO, KFE Solutions
Accountex Canada 2025: Where Accounting Meets Innovation
Speaker insights to use before, during and after
This November 4–5, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will come alive with ideas, energy, and innovation as the accounting and finance community gathers for Accountex Canada 2025.
Whether you are seeking fresh perspectives on AI, strategies to scale your firm, or inspiration from the brightest minds in the business, this year’s program delivers. From powerful keynotes to hands-on sessions and live podcasts, attendees can explore the future of accounting and finance through 75+ exhibitors, 3 sponsored theatres, and countless networking opportunities.
Accountex Canada 2025 isn’t just an event—it’s a launchpad for growth, innovation, and connection. From AI strategies to cultural transformation, every session offers practical insights to elevate your practice, empower your clients, and future-proof your firm. Whether attending for the first time or returning for fresh perspectives,
participants will leave inspired, informed, and ready to shape the next era of accounting in Canada.
Amber Kanwar — Headlines vs Reality: Understanding the Market Rally
Tuesday, Nov 4 | 8:30–9:30am
Amber Kanwar, celebrated business journalist and host of In the Money, examines what’s really behind today’s market momentum. Cutting through noise and narrative, Kanwar reveals how economic data, investor behavior, and policy shifts interact to shape the
financial climate—and how accounting professionals can interpret these trends for clients.
Teaser: Are markets truly rebounding, or is it smoke and mirrors? Learn to read between the headlines.
Rachel Harris — Scaling Smart: How Fewer Clients, Better Systems & Stronger Processes Transformed My Firm
Tuesday, Nov 4 | 12:40–1:30pm
Rachel Harris, founder of accountant_ she, shares how she streamlined her firm to serve fewer clients more effectively—boosting both profitability and satisfaction. This keynote offers practical steps to simplify operations and refocus on what truly matters.
Teaser: Grow smarter, not bigger— discover how fewer clients can mean more success.
Natasha Siame & Liz Torasaki — Cash Flow & Tell
Tuesday, Nov 4 | 1:50–2:40pm
Natasha Siame and Liz Torasaki from Xero dive into cash flow strategy and communication. Learn how to empower clients through storytelling, data visualization, and practical advisory approaches.
Teaser: Make cash flow conversations clear, confident, and client-friendly.
Manu Kakkar & Nadia Rusak — Practice Safe Tax
Tuesday, Nov 4 | 4:10–5:00pm
Manu Kakkar and Nadia Rusak team up to deliver a practical and witty exploration of tax practice management. From audit pitfalls to client communications, learn to safeguard your firm and strengthen compliance confidence.
Teaser: Tax doesn’t have to be scary— learn to “practice safe tax” with confidence and humor.
Ryan Lazanis — What The Top 50 Modern Firms Do Differently
Wednesday, Nov 5 | 8:30–9:30am
Ryan Lazanis, CEO of Future Firm, breaks down the winning strategies of the top 50 modern accounting firms around the world. Drawing on real case studies, Ryan shares how these firms embrace automation, remote teams, and subscription-based pricing to grow smarter—not harder.
Teaser: Discover what forward-thinking firms are doing differently and how you can apply these lessons to your own practice.
Melissa Lenos & Erika Dowell — What We Wish Our Employees Knew
Wednesday, Nov 5 | 12:40–1:30pm
Firm culture from the top down—Melissa Lenos and Erika Dowell offer candid insights on what leaders really want their teams to understand. From expectations to empowerment, this talk bridges communication gaps that affect growth and morale.
Teaser: Get a transparent look at leadership lessons that strengthen firm culture and team success.
Jay Goodis — Shaping Canada’s Tax System for the 21st Century
Wednesday, Nov 5 | 3:00–3:50pm
Wrapping up the conference, Jay Goodis, CEO of Tax Templates Inc., looks ahead to the evolution of Canada’s tax system. Explore how digital transformation, AI, and global trends are influencing tax policy and the profession’s role in shaping the future.
Teaser: Gain a forward-looking perspective on how innovation is redefining Canada’s tax landscape.
OUT MORE...
Register Now: accountex.ca/ canada/registration/
Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building – Hall C
How Wilson Howe streamlined company secretarial compliance with CAS 360
Efficiency, integration and client value with BGL’s CAS 360
How Wilson Howe transformed company secretarial compliance with CAS 360, boosting efficiency, team visibility and client satisfaction.
From paper chaos to cloud efficiency.
For Wilson Howe - Chartered Accountants, modernising company secretarial compliance wasn’t just about improving efficiency. It was about building a competitive, client-focused practice ready for the future.
Based in Sheffield, the nine-person firm has spent the past nine years transforming from a paper-heavy legacy practice into a fully digital, cloud-based operation. But one area still lagged.
“Our company secretarial processes were still paper-driven, relying on a combination of web filing and IRIS software,” recalls Matthew Howe, Partner at Wilson Howe. “Web filing was inefficient and IRIS became too expensive
as we grew. We needed something cloudbased, user-friendly and integrated with our wider app ecosystem.”
The solution that changed everything.
Wilson Howe wanted more than a software upgrade. They needed a cloud-based platform that integrated seamlessly with their existing apps and delivered long-term efficiency gains.
A conversation with FuseSign about improving their digital signing process sparked the next step. Their recommendation of BGL’s CAS 360 made perfect sense, with the two systems integrating to create a smoother, more connected client experience.
“We wanted to make a big change once and be in a position to enjoy
@bgl-corporatesolutions-uk
@warrenrenden
Warren Renden, General ManagerCAS 360, BGLiD and UK,
As General Manager of CAS 360, BGLiD and UK at BGL, Warren leads major projects and cross-functional teams in multiple regions. He led the development of CAS 360, a marketleading company secretarial solution that supports over 4,000 accounting firms in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Warren also spearheaded the development of BGLiD, delivering innovative KYC/AML technology that helps accounting firms streamline compliance and client experiences.
the efficiencies for many years,” says Matthew.
From there, the decision was simple. “CAS 360 was efficient and simple to use. Plus, the BGL team genuinely cared about our journey and made us feel like we were partners.”
Saving hours every week.
Since implementing CAS 360, Wilson Howe has seen measurable improvements across visibility, workflow and collaboration.
“All staff now have visibility over company secretarial work, whereas before only one or two did,” Matthew explains. “That’s the biggest efficiency gain. It saves us time searching Companies House records and frees up staff to focus on client work.”
Favourite features? The innovative letter templates and automated filing processes. “It’s a simple thing, but the staff love it as it saves them time,” Matthew says.
Building client trust.
CAS 360 has also changed how Wilson Howe engages with clients.
“Clients can now review data on their Confirmation Statements and other forms before filing,” says Matthew. “That reduces the risk of outdated statutory information and ensures records are accurate.”
This transparency builds client trust while freeing up the team to focus on advisory and higher-value work.
BGL
Efficiency that lasts.
After nearly a year with CAS 360, Wilson Howe considers the software a core part of its digital practice.
“It’s streamlined our company secretarial procedure, freeing up staff to work on
other client areas,” Matthew says. “We were hoping to create efficiency and we’ve succeeded.”
For firms still on the fence, Matthew’s advice is simple: “Just try it. Change is good, particularly when it makes your job easier.”
Why CAS 360 works for UK firms
With seamless integration, intelligent automation and a client-focused support team, CAS 360 is helping UK firms like Wilson Howe modernise compliance and deliver better client outcomes.
For Wilson Howe, the benefits are clear. Less administration, greater efficiency and a better client experience.
About CAS 360.
CAS 360 is BGL’s cloud-based company secretarial and AML management solution. Over 3,900 businesses across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and now the United Kingdom
trust CAS 360 to manage over 1 million companies on the platform.
Whether you manage 25 companies or 5,000, CAS 360 helps you automate and streamline compliance workflows, including:
• Company change management, including form and document preparation.
• Electronic filing direct to Companies House from CAS 360.
• Annual Confirmation Statement preparation with electronic filing.
• Company formation document preparation with electronic filing.
• Automated alerts for users and email reminders for clients.
• AML compliance with ID verification (coming soon).
• Trust management (free, unlimited discretionary and unit trusts).
• Seamless integration with Xero Practice Manager, FuseSign, FYI and more.
About BGL.
BGL has been delivering compliance
software for over 35 years. With ISO 27001 certification, an award-winning customer experience team and a proven track record of innovation, BGL is trusted by over 12,700 clients maintaining more than 1.5 million entities on the BGL product suite.
With the launch of CAS 360 in the UK, BGL is helping firms embrace the future of compliance, with intuitive, UK-specific features designed to save time, reduce risk and support better client outcomes.
Ready to transform your company secretarial workflow?
Contact us for a personalised product demonstration and discover how CAS 360 can save your firm time, reduce risk and improve client engagement.
FIND
OUT MORE...
Discover how CAS 360 can help your firm.
bglcorp.co.uk
Matthew Howe, Partner at Wilson HoweChartered Accountants
Spotlight Reporting empowers accountants and advisors to provide great insights for clients, grow fee revenue, and create lasting value.
Our Super VCFO plan is perfect for firms wanting to deliver advisory services.
A specialist resource to help your firm onboard, get the right training, set goals and execute on advisory.
Craig Nevatt
Drumm Nevatt & Associates Limited . Spotlight creates great value for our clients and our discussions with them.
Dedicated touch point for all account queries and ongoing 24/7 Help Centre support.
Simple, easy to use and easy connection to Xero.
Gary James
Greenfield Global Limited
Product experts will ensure your firm is up-to-speed and the first outputs are market ready.
Exclusive access to our resource hub featuring a wealth of templates, guides and training to optimise your Advisory services.
The reports we create out of Spotlight Reporting give our clients so much value added!
Gemma Sheed Moore Markhams New Zealand
The Spotlight Reporting Team
The Spotlight team has extensive accounting industry pedigree and a passion for transformation.
Award winning products designed for progressive accountants.
Advance reports include consolidation, visuals and KPIs.
Reporting, Forecasting, and Consolidation for Xero users.
Use our Xero integration to create powerful reports and forecasts. Import your data and transform numbers into insights in just a few clicks.
Three-way forecasting, budgeting and scenarios.
Fully customisable dashboards.
Benchmarking, Ranking and KPIs for multi-entities.
ESG templated reporting that is highly customisable.
Bookkeepers at the heart of MTD IT
How to choose the right software for your clients
Ami Copeland
Ami Copeland is CEO of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers in the UK. Ami stepped in to the role of CEO in 2023 after many years successfully overseeing the marketing and communications arm of the organisation. This background gives Ami an in-depth knowledge of the bookkeeping profession which combines with a natural empathy and enthusiasm to place Ami as a champion for bookkeepers all over the world.
From 2026, MTD IT will reshape bookkeeping - making regular, accurate records the legal foundation of tax compliance.
Making
Tax Digital for Income Tax
(MTD IT) is the next major step in HMRC’s digital transformation. From April 2026, millions of sole traders and landlords will be required to send quarterly updates of income and expenses to HMRC through approved software.
For bookkeepers, this is more than a compliance change - it’s professional recognition. The work they already do to maintain accurate, timely records will now sit at the core of tax compliance. Bookkeepers are at the heart of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. It’s an exciting moment for our profession, because it confirms that bookkeeping is not just valuable but essential.
Who’s affected and when?
business - so someone earning £25,000 from a trade and £25,000 from property will be in scope from 2026.
“MTD places bookkeepers at the centre of compliance. Embrace it and prepare for it now.”
MTD IT begins with taxpayers earning over £50,000 from selfemployment or property income in April 2026. The threshold drops to £30,000 in April 2027, and £20,000 in April 2028. These figures apply per taxpayer, not per
Each income source must be reported separately, meaning clients with multiple trades or properties may have several quarterly submissions. While the quarterly updates are simple cumulative summaries, the final annual return - submitted through MTD-compatible software - brings everything together.
Main and Supporting Agents
A major improvement under MTD IT is the introduction of multiple-agent access.
This means bookkeepers and accountants can collaborate more efficiently. A “main agent” has full authority to view and submit all data, while “supporting agents” (typically bookkeepers) can submit quarterly updates and view only business or property income.
Authorisation is now fully digital, using the Agent Services Account and a secure “digital handshake” between client and agent. No paper forms are needed, and authorisations can be copied across from existing Self Assessment clients.
Choosing the right software
There’s no single “best” MTD IT product. The right solution depends on client needs.
Broadly, software falls into four
ICB Bookkeepers are ready, willing and able to support those impacted by MTD
categories:
1. End-to-end bookkeeping software
Platforms like Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, and FreeAgent handle digital records, quarterly updates, and basic year-end returns. They suit most sole traders and smaller landlords.
2. Tax software
Products such as IRIS, BTC, Capium and Bright manage complex tax returns, including foreign property schedules. These are ideal when the final return involves multiple income types or advanced reliefs.
3. Landlord-specialist software
Tools like Hammock, Landlord Vision and Landlord Studio cater to property
volume or more complex clients, many bookkeepers continue to rely on Dext or AutoEntry for speed and accuracy. Bookkeepers can also suggest simpler, low-cost tools like Coconut or Untied for clients who prefer to manage their own records. This allows bookkeepers to supervise accuracy and focus their expertise where it adds most value.
Pricing and Workflow
Quarterly updates introduce a new, predictable workload and an opportunity to re-evaluate pricing. Many bookkeepers are planning to treat each update as a defined service line, either priced individually or built into monthly retainers.
portfolios, offering per-property tracking and tenant management. They’re often priced per property but deliver richer insights for larger landlords.
4. Bridging software
For spreadsheet clients, bridging tools like 123 Sheets or Absolute Excel Filer connect existing spreadsheets directly to HMRC. These are useful transitional solutions or for complex clients who prefer spreadsheets.
Data Capture and Efficiency
MTD IT relies on accurate digital records. Built-in capture tools vary across platforms: Xero includes Hubdoc, QuickBooks and FreeAgent have basic receipt capture, while Sage integrates tightly with AutoEntry. For higher-
tools are needed.
• Setting pricing and workflows for quarterly updates early, to manage client expectations.
• Considering further qualifications, such as ICB Level 4 Self Assessment Tax, to offer a seamless service from bookkeeping through to tax.
The future of the profession
“Great bookkeeping is not just valuable - it’s essential.”
Landlord clients with per-property software subscriptions may require higher fees, while hybrid setups (such as spreadsheets with bridging software) justify a premium for complexity. The key is to position MTD IT as a compliance service with added value keeping clients informed and confident throughout the year.
What to do now
Bookkeepers should start preparing well before April 2026.
ICB recommends:
• Mapping clients against the income thresholds for 2026, 2027, and 2028.
• Reviewing software already in use and identifying where bridging or specialist
MTD IT formalises what bookkeepers already know — that accurate records are the bedrock of financial and tax compliance. Each quarterly update will reinforce that truth. Bookkeepers are no longer behind the scenes; they are central to compliance, trusted advisers helping clients stay informed and in control.
MTD IT places bookkeepers at the centre of compliance. Embrace it, prepare now, and position yourself as the professional your clients cannot do without.
The Great Payroll Paradox: Why Accountants Are Undervaluing Their Most Valuable Service
The Great Payroll Paradox
The industry’s greatest recurring revenue stream is hiding in plain sight, Payroll.
There’s a quiet contradiction in most accounting firms. You champion efficiency, automation, and advisory growth — yet the one service that touches every client, every month, is treated like a backoffice chore. Payroll!
You know it’s essential. Your clients depend on it. But somewhere along the way, payroll became something to “get through,” not something to grow. It’s time to change that.
“Payroll
isn’t a service; it’s a subscription model hiding in plain sight.”
The Hidden Power (and Pain) of Payroll
Payroll is the only service your clients can’t postpone. It’s personal, regular, and high stakes. Miss a submission, and people don’t get paid. Get it right, and no one notices. It’s
the ultimate thankless task.
Yet buried inside this frustration lies a commercial truth few firms have recognised: payroll is the most reliable recurring revenue stream you’ll ever have. Indeed, those of you who send their payroll professionals to events held by the CIPP and the Bureau Managers Association, will regularly hear how payroll is the most profitable service line of top-firms.
engine — or inherited it as a burden?”
“Every payslip is recurring revenue. You’re just not treating it that way.”
The difference between it being a drain and a driver? Discipline.
The Real Question Isn’t “Should You Do Payroll?”
It’s “Have you built payroll as a profit
Most firms didn’t plan to offer payroll. It arrived by default. A client asked. A colleague volunteered. A junior handled it “for now.”
And that’s how the most regular, predictable income stream in the business became the least analysed line on the P&L.
Think about it: you analyse client profitability on advisory and accounts. But do you measure the true cost of payroll admin, the rework from late data, or the silent hours of manual pension uploads? If not, you might be running a loss-making service inside your most stable product.
Jonathan is the Co-Founder and CTO of Buddy, where he leads the vision and technology behind a new generation of HR and payroll software. Holding a Master’s degree in Intelligent Computer Systems from the University of Malta, he combines a strong foundation in artificial intelligence and innovation with over a decade of hands-on development experience.
The New Benchmark for Accountants
It’s not enough to “offer payroll.” The firms who win are the ones who treat it like its own business. That means:
Jonathan Mifsud, Co-Founder / CTO, Buddy Ltd
@buddypayroll @jonmifsud
Run payroll with precision. Scale it like a bureau. Profit like a boss.
• Ownership: A named payroll lead who drives standards — not whoever’s free this week.
• Visibility: Real-time data on turnaround, rework, and profit per client.
• Pricing: A clear pricing strategy around payroll, that recognises the meticulous detail, and risk that payroll manages every month.
• Automation: Let systems handle submissions, AE, and compliance, so humans focus on service.
• Confidence: Processes so tight, clients trust you blindly because mistakes don’t happen.
This is how a £10 add-on becomes a sixfigure recurring business unit.
The Eureka Moment
Here’s the paradox: most firms chase advisory work for recurring revenue. Yet payroll already is recurring revenue — you just haven’t unlocked it. Every payslip is a retained client, every submission a renewal event. Payroll isn’t the boring cousin of accounting — it’s the subscription model hiding in plain sight. And the margin? It’s there. Hidden under
inefficiency, inconsistency, and outdated tools.
The Three Payroll Futures
1. The Reactive Firm – Payroll is a monthly fire drill. Margins invisible, burnout inevitable.
2. The Efficient Firm – Payroll is processdriven, automated, and transparent. You know your numbers. It runs itself.
3. The Strategic Firm – Payroll isn’t a service; it’s a retention engine. You use data to deepen client relationships and open advisory opportunities.
Where are you today — and where do you want to be next quarter?
Why This Matters Right Now
The dynamic of payroll has shifted over the last few years, the industry has seen an increase in strategic payroll roles, including accounting firms who have payroll equity partners. Yep that’s correct partners who are not accountants.
Enrolment duties to RTIs and the ever evolving employment legislation including discrepancy in between the devolved regions has increased the need of payroll expertise within the firm.
Payroll leaders have stepped out of the above compliance and realised that employers needed help to de-risk their payrolls. With talent scarce and harder to embed within one’s culture it is even more critical for your clients to take care of their team. If you wondered why payroll fits the bill, over 40% of employees who have a problem with their pay consider leaving.
“The firms who master payroll will own client loyalty.”
The accountants who see this shift now — who realise payroll can be the most profitable, most dependable product in their firm — are already changing how they work. They’re moving from also doing payroll to strategically doing so.
Your Next Step
Ask yourself:
With the increase in complexity of payroll over the last decades, from Auto
• Does payroll have a dedicated lead, or
just a hero holding it together?
• Can you tell which clients make or lose money on payroll today?
• If your payroll manager left tomorrow, would your system survive the month?
If any answer makes you pause, it’s time to professionalise. Whether that’s working with a payroll bureau or — by upgrading.
Where Buddy Fits
Buddy exists for this exact moment.
Built for UK accountants and bureaus, it turns payroll from administrative noise into measurable profit. Automated data collection, smart validation, compliance reporting — everything designed to make payroll scale like a product, not a problem. You don’t need to stop doing payroll.
You just need to start seeing it for what it really is — your most underutilised growth engine.
Finding focus: What CFOs can learn from KeepCup
One of the first things I hear from CFOs is this: “We just don’t have visibility.”
I
t shows up in different wayschasing invoices that slipped through the cracks, scrambling to cover a last-minute bill, or struggling to answer a simple question like, “What’s our cash position next month?”
At the early stages of a business, you can often get by with manual approvals and information stored in someone’s inbox. But as operations expand - new entities, multiple markets, complex supply chains - that lack of clarity becomes a real barrier to growth.
We’ve seen it firsthand with customers like KeepCup, the Australian company behind the world’s first barista-standard reusable cup. Their story highlights the exact challenges CFOs face when scaling globally, and why visibility is nonnegotiable.
From stable growth to complexity overload
KeepCup had been a steady, profitable business for over a decade. But during Covid, consumer behaviours shifted, their product range expanded, and the brand
@approvalmax
@mattlowrysaas
Matt Lowry, Chief Revenue Officer, ApprovalMax
Matt Lowry is the Chief Revenue Officer at ApprovalMax, an award-winning B2B software platform that automates approval workflows for finance teams. He leads global Sales, Customer Success and RevOps teams, helping accounting and finance professionals adopt smarter approval processes to save time, reduce risk, and gain visibility. With deep experience in technology for businesses and accountants, Matt is focused on driving efficiency and delivering results.
repositioned as a lifestyle company.
What was once manageable with “loose data” quickly became too complex. As Finance & Operations Manager Alex Andreou told me, approvals were buried in email, invoices were missed or duplicated, and quotes didn’t always line up with final bills.
For a CFO, these aren’t minor admin problemsthey impact margin, liquidity, and strategic decision-making.
ApprovalMax, alongside Xero, created a single source of truth. Bills are no longer hiding in inboxes, and mismatches between purchase orders, invoices and payments are spotted before cash leaves the business.
“You’re looking at data to inform these choices and building a better forecasting ability”.
1. Visibility across Accounts Payable
Errors and blind spots in accounts payable are costly. Without a reliable workflow, payments slip through unchecked.
For KeepCup, moving approvals into
That level of control is exactly what CFOs need to protect margin and reduce risk.
2. Confidence in cash flow
Cash flow is king - but only if you can see it clearly. Before upgrading their finance stack, KeepCup often found themselves surprised by urgent, lastminute bills. Today, every invoice flows through a structured process before hitting the system. The finance team can easily see what’s owed and when, align
spend with income, and plan ahead.
The benefit isn’t just fewer shocks. It’s being able to budget and forecast with confidence - something every CFO needs in today’s volatile market.
3. Smarter decisions, backed by data
As a CRO, I see every day how data transforms decision-making. CFOs, in particular, can’t rely on “best guesses.” They need real-time insights to guide strategy.
KeepCup’s leadership team now has the clarity to make confident calls - whether that’s managing cash reserves, adjusting inventory, or entering new markets. As CEO Abigail Forsyth put it, “You’re not flying blind and having a guess. Instead, you’re looking at data to inform these choices and building a better forecasting ability”.
Finance leaders aren’t just number crunchers anymore - they’re strategic partners at the leadership table. But you can’t play that role if your systems keep you in the dark.
KeepCup’s journey shows how quickly growth can outpace manual processes, and why visibility across accounts payable and cash flow is essential. At ApprovalMax, we see it time and again: once CFOs have control, the whole business benefits.
Because visibility isn’t just about finance operations. It’s about giving leaders the clarity to grow with confidence.
Suitable for all businesses (1 - 1,000 employees)
| ipayroll.co.nz
KeepCup
London, Let’s Do Business
The Business Show Is the Ultimate Entrepreneur Meetup
London has always been a city driven by ideas and ambition. From start-up founders refining their next big pitch to freelancers building something entirely their own, entrepreneurial spirit runs through every corner of the capital.
This November, that dynamic energy comes together under one roof as The Business Show returns to Excel London for two days of insight, networking, and unparalleled inspiration.
Now in its 25th year and 51st edition, The Business Show remains the UK’s largest and most renowned event for business owners and entrepreneurs. This year’s edition is set to welcome more than 25,000 ambitious visitors and will feature over 750 exhibitors, alongside a full programme of seminars, practical workshops, and high-impact networking sessions.
The sheer scale ensures that whether you’re seeking a niche service or a global strategy partner, you’ll find the solution you need. Crucially, the event is completely free to attend, giving participants the rare chance to meet suppliers, explore new products and services, and speak directly with the people behind them before making crucial decisions about investment or partnerships. This direct, face-to-face experience defines the show’s dynamic and interactive atmosphere.
The Power of Face-to-Face Connections
The show provides genuine opportunities to build professional relationships faceto-face, something that is increasingly valuable and harder to achieve in an age dominated by digital communication. With so many diverse sectors and ambitious professionals represented under one roof, it remains one of the few places where business owners can make real
Liz Ainger Show Media
Liz Ainger is the Brand Manager for Business Show Media’s World Series events. She oversees the graphics team and manages social media across all shows, ensuring consistent and engaging branding. Liz also creates visual content and marketing materials that bring each event to life and strengthen the company’s overall brand identity.
connections, exchange honest ideas, and forge lasting collaborations. Starting a business can often feel like a lonely ride, characterised by endless late nights, challenging meetings, and a never-ending to-do list. Think of The Business Show as a two-day recharge for your business ambitions. You’ll meet thousands of people who have navigated the exact same hurdles, hear honest, unfiltered stories about what worked (and what
didn’t), and leave with notes full of ideas and insights you can act on straight away to take your venture to the next level.
This event is far from being just for fledgling start-ups. Established business owners, SME leaders, and serious investors also attend, ready to share insights, explore the best services, and see what’s next for the market. Whatever your current business challenge, whether
you want to learn about securing new funding, optimise your marketing, embed sustainability, strategise learning and training for your team, or take your business across the world, there is a specialist session dedicated to it. At its heart, the entire event is about powerfully connecting people who share the same relentless drive to make things happen and achieve growth.
The
Creator Economy: Turning Views into Revenue
One of the big focuses this year is how digital and social platforms are reshaping modern business and brand building. Let’s be honest: social media isn’t just for memes and selfies anymore. It’s where global brands are born and scaled. Savvy entrepreneurs are building
Big Names, Big Ideas: Hear from the UK’s Business Elite
Fans of hit shows like Dragons’ Den and The Apprentice will recognise some familiar, formidable faces at this year’s show. Leading investors and renowned UK business figures, including the inspirational Touker Suleyman, will take to the main stage to share their decades of experience and hard-won insights. Their keynote sessions will explore everything from what makes a truly compelling investment pitch to how to accurately identify real, scalable growth potential in a challenging market. Attending these sessions will give you an unparalleled look into the mindset, decision-making, and strategies behind some of the most successful entrepreneurial journeys in the UK today.
structured format that gives you two intense minutes to deliver your pitch, swap essential business cards, and move on to the next opportunity. It is fast, immensely fun, and surprisingly effective. Many past attendees have reported meeting their most valuable investors, biggest clients, or key partners through this format alone. You truly never know who you will end up across from, your next major client, a crucial collaborator, or even a future co-founder.
Co-located Events: Global Expansion and Personal Growth
Your free ticket to The Business Show also grants you full access to two essential co-located events, creating an unparalleled, comprehensive growth ecosystem under a single roof:
entire empires from their phones, and platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have transitioned into serious, quantifiable money-makers.
This year’s show dives deep into that world, offering practical, commercial guidance. Expect cutting-edge sessions on influencer marketing, monetising short-form video, ethical content creation, and the algorithms that truly make it all tick. You’ll hear directly from creators who have successfully turned millions of views into sustainable revenue, alongside industry experts who will show you the strategic frameworks you need to do the same. It is absolute proof that with the right commercial strategy, creativity, and commitment, anyone can build a powerful, monetisable brand that reaches millions of customers globally.
Masterclasses, Panels, and Fast-Paced Networking
Learning from elite experts is one thing, but The Business Show also gives you a chance to get directly handson. The Masterclasses are designed as intensive, deep-dive sessions into specific, essential topics, from advanced digital marketing and complex business finance to sustainable growth strategy, all led by established professionals who have actually built and run successful businesses themselves. These sessions are perfect for acquiring practical skills you can deploy immediately.
And if your priority is meeting new people quickly and efficiently, the Speed Networking sessions are unmissable. Imagine business speed dating: a
Going Global Live is Europe’s premier event for businesses ready to transition from a local success to a dominant global player. If you’ve outgrown your domestic market, this is your definitive roadmap for international expansion. Over two days, you will gain the clarity and confidence required to navigate the complexities of global trade, post-Brexit logistics, and cross-cultural marketing.
Walk away with an actionable strategy to unlock new revenue streams and establish your brand on the world stage, connecting directly with government trade bodies, international legal experts, logistics partners, and currency specialists who can make your global ambition a reality. Don’t just dream of going international, make it happen. Going Global Live provides the essential
expertise to launch, scale, and thrive across borders, giving you the connections and insights to build a trusted, compliant, and profitable international supply chain, turning ambition into a dominant global presence.
The CPD Expo
The CPD Expo is your essential resource for professional mastery and futureproofing your career. In a rapidly evolving world, continuous learning is the only way to stay ahead, and this event delivers the definitive path to skill advancement. You can efficiently complete your annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements by accessing hundreds of cutting-edge training providers, digital platforms, and accredited seminars. This is your dedicated day to invest in yourself, gain valuable CPD points, and acquire the critical new skills—from advanced leadership to AI literacy—that will accelerate your professional success. For business leaders and L&D managers, The CPD Expo is the ultimate tool for building a high-performance, resilient workforce.
Discover accredited solutions for strategic upskilling, talent retention, and fostering a culture of continuous innovation. Growing smarter starts with strategically growing your people, ensuring your business remains competitive and agile in the years to come.
The Business Show takes place on 12th and 13th November at Excel London, and remember—tickets are completely free. So, grab yours, add the dates to your calendar, and get ready to immerse yourself in two days that could change everything for your business. Bring your business cards, your ideas, and your enthusiasm—and prepare to meet the people who will help you take your next, most successful step.
Equipping Accountants for a Strange New World
In a rapidly changing landscape, Scaling New Heights 2026 prepares accountants to lead with resilience, strategy, and vision.
We’re in an era of change and that change can be scary. Significant advances in artificial intelligence and shifting client expectations, along with changes in staffing dynamics and competitive pressures, are redefining the
boundaries and familiar aspects of the accounting profession and practice management. For many, the prospect of what comes next can feel uncertain.
The Scaling New Heights 2026 conference exists to turn that uncertainty into an opportunity to equip accounting professionals with the mindset, tools and community they need to not only survive, but to thrive in this “Strange New World,” the theme of the upcoming event. Hosted at the Orlando Marriott World Center from June 14-17, 2026, this four-day event provides advanced education, technology exploration, peer connection and a renewed sense of confidence.
@woodard-company
@kara-kennedy
Kara Kennedy, Administrative Assistant & Teamwide Support, Woodard
Kara serves as Teamwide Support
Associate at Woodard, handling operations and admin tasks like scheduling, CRM support, writing, proofreading and customer support. Her experience includes legal services, bookkeeping, admin support, food writing, food photography and she is an SEO enthusiast. A learner at heart, she’s always chasing new skills and insights. She’s most in her element with a checklist, a creative task, and a chance to learn.
Turning Change into Opportunity
“I was blown away by the sense of community there.”
- Shannon Theis
At its core, the theme of Scaling New Heights 2026 is about empowerment and leveraging change rather than fearing it. Scaling New Heights exists to empower you to make strategic advances in your practice and to lead with confidence.
In practice, that means:
• Recognizing the new realities of the profession.
• Embracing the opportunity to build a practice that is more agile, more advanced, and more resilient.
can adopt change on your own terms, serve your clients with value, and lead your practice into the future with optimism and strategic intent.
• Doing all of the above while connecting with peers who understand the pressures you face, so you can feel seen, heard, and energized.
Scaling New Heights reignites the passion for my already long-term career in so many ways - Arlene Meyers
• Gaining the tools and insights to be proactive rather than reactive, so you
What to Expect:
At Scaling New Heights, every session, event, and interaction is crafted to equip you for the future of accounting.
Here are a few things you can look forward to:
• Advanced education and breakout sessions: Whether you’re relatively new
Community in motion — thousands of accounting professionals connect, collaborate, and discover new possibilities on the exhibit floor.
or you’re leading a scaling firm, there are tracks tailored across all skill levels.
• Technology exploration & expo hall: With more than 100 solutions on the expo floor, you’ll see firsthand how automation, integrations, AI enabled tools and cloud workflows are reshaping bookkeeping, tax preparation, client advisory and firm operations.
work, technology and business.
A lightbulb went off for me with regard to all things
Advisory
- Arlene Meyers
• Keynote thought leadership: This year’s featured presenters include leading voices on the future of
• Peer networking & community building: One of the greatest values is the opportunity to step outside your office and into a space with hundreds of fellow accounting professionals, software providers and advisors. It’s a time to share stories, swap ideas, build relationships and find the camaraderie that comes from being among peers who “get it.”
• Special events that go beyond business: The conference also offers
advice and insights, not just numbers and compliance.
• Staffing shortages, shifting talent expectations, remote and hybrid dynamics.
• Competitive pressure from larger firms, consolidation, and the need to differentiate.
• The challenge of building a practice that affords you both professional achievement and personal freedom (more time with loved ones, more flexibility, more joy).
Scaling New Heights 2026 addresses this, not by ignoring the challenges, but by equipping attendees to greet them boldly. Instead of fear, this conference offers a roadmap. Instead of overwhelm, it offers actionable next steps.
Step into the Future
meaningful and fun opportunities to connect and give back.
Why This Matters Now
If there was ever a time for accountants to grab the wheel of transformation instead of being passengers, it’s now.
Many accountants feel the weight of:
• Accelerating automation and AI tools that promise time savings but also raise questions: What role will I play? How do I stay relevant?
• Rising client demands for more strategic
Join us June 14–17, 2026, in Orlando, where accounting professionals come together to reimagine what’s possible. Be among the professionals who don’t simply adapt to the strange new world. They define it.
FIND OUT MORE...
Ideas take the spotlight — keynote sessions at Scaling New Heights blend vision with execution.
Data Extraction Apps
Disclaimer: All information correct at time of publication
What year was the business founded?
Where is your business based?
To which industries is your platform best suited? Accountants, Bookkeepers Accountants, Bookkeepers and Businesses use AutoEntry for all industries
All SMEs and the accountants/bookkeepers that serve them
Any industry - but key SMB industries are construction, hospitality, professional services, ecommerce
ExpenseOnDemand is headquartered in the United Kingdom, with a global team supporting clients across multiple regions.
Our platform is best suited to industries such as education, local councils, professional services, construction, non-profits, and other businesses with complex approval and cost structures. Essentially, any organization looking to streamline expense management and improve visibility and compliance benefits from our solution. What geographical regions does your platform serve?
ExpenseOnDemand serves clients worldwide, with a strong presence in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America.
Do you support multi-entity or multi-currency businesses?
You can add several companies. Each company needs to complete separate KYB, will be connected to separate Xero accounts, will have separate records inside Apron
Capture & Submission
Can users capture receipts via dedicated mobile app?
Can users submit receipts via WhatsApp?
Can users forward receipts via a dedicated email address?
Do you support bulk upload of documents?
Does your system work offline and sync later?
Can your platform handle supplier statement matching or extraction
What is your published accuracy (e.g. “> 99%” or similar) and how is that measured? - 98% Accurate, Ongoing qualitative checks
> 99% measured by changes made by users to AI extracted fields
99%. The accuracy is measured through a multi-level sampling process carried out daily, where the number of items audited is calculated based on processing volume and reviewed manually by our Quality team to ensure consistent accuracy and performance.
What kinds of documents or receipts do you reject (blurred, incomplete data, missing totals)?
We do not reject because of low quality. There are some limitations for format of the document and also we automatically archive identical duplicates. We reject documents which are not Invoices or receipts. If data is missing we will extract what is presented.
None - instead, our AI triage intelligently routes transactions to the correct place (e.g. to cost inbox, sales inbox, bank statement inbox, supplier statement inbox or to the archive if it's a duplicate or non transaction) and our AI Autopilot will proactively flag documents for review if they are not legiable e.g. blurred or incomplete with missing fields.
Only rejected if unable to read anything. The system will always manage to extract data unless photo/doc itself is completely unreadable.
ExpenseOnDemand automatically detects and rejects poor-quality or non-compliant receipts — such as those that are blurry, incomplete, missing totals, duplicated, or unrelated to business expenses.
Do you auto-publish documents to the Accouting Platform?
Data Extraction & Accuracy
Do you extract tax/VAT information automatically?
Does your platform offer VAT checking (numbers and registered business)?
Do you extract line-item detail (not just totals)?
Can your platform handle Bank statement extraction?
Does your system “learn” from user corrections (e.g. auto-categorisation)?
Do you provide duplicate detection for receipts?
AI & Automation
Do you use AI/ML to improve extraction accuracy?
Do you use AI/ML to auto-categorise expenses or suggest tax codes?
Can your system flag unusual or non-compliant claims auto
matically?
Workflow & Approvals
Do you support multi-level / hierarchical approvals?
Can expense claims be split across multiple categories/projects?
Do you support mileage or travel claims?
Can users submit grouped reports as well as single receipts?
Are spending thresholds or policy rules configurable?
Controls & Security
Do you support role-based permissions (user, approver, admin)?
Can administrators restrict categories or set maximum claim amounts?
Do you provide an audit trail of changes?
Is the software GDPR-compliant?
Is SSO (Single Sign-On) available?
Does your platform offer 2FA and/of Passkey or Biometirc security?
Is customer data stored? If so, in which region is it stored?
AWS Ireland is our primary storage region while AWS Frankfurt, Germany, is the secondary region.
Primarily in the UK, with region-specific hosting available for local compliance.
What is your rentention policy for customer data?
Briefcase retains customer data for the duration of the subscription and may delete it within 30 days after it ends, except where required by law.
Pricing & Commercials
What support channels are available (chat, phone, email)? Chat, Email, Knowledgebase Direct customer chat, help articles and guides available in product
What are support SLAs (response times, availability)?
We store data for 10 years
Some add ons eg Commerce lite have additional costs
Only as long as needed for service delivery and legal compliance. Data is retained during the active contract and for up to 90 days after termination, unless otherwise requested.
discount on annual for direct, partner discounts available
Dedicated Teams/Slack support channels are available to all partner firms at no additional cost Chat, email and phone Chat, Phone and email
We don't offer SLAs but we are committed to delivering a reliable and responsive service experience. We aim to respond quickly and pragmatically to support queries, prioritising those that affect core business workflows.
Average first response time across all channels is 43 minutes
Support is available Monday to Friday, 24 hours a day. Response times range from within 1 hour for Critical issues to within 2 business days for Low-priority/general queries
Roadmap & Vision
What major features or enhancements are planned over the next 6–12 months?
What is your vision for this product in 2–3 years?
Briefcase One (AI-native MTD for IT platform for sole traders and landlords with direct HMRC filing) + additional financial close automation e.g. deferred income, accruals, etc
Dext AI Agent automates repetitive bookkeeping tasks by learning user patterns, improving efficiency and reducing manual work. Dext Payments, powered by Airwallex, unifies payments and bookkeeping in one secure platform, enabling users to manage all transactions, payroll, and expenses with real-time visibility and strong fraud protection.
Several major updates, including:
An AI-powered chatbot for expense analysis, data queries, and instant support.
Upgraded reporting dashboards offering deeper spend and compliance insights. Voice-enabled expense logging (coming in October) allowing users to record any expense using speech.
Our vision is to build an AI-native platform that automates end-to-end accounting workflows — turning raw, unstructured financial documents to a completed set of accounts and tax returns. Our product will evolve in two key ways:
• Breadth: expanding workflow coverage to automate more of the accounting stack.
• Depth: increasing AI Autopilot capability to process more transactions end-to-end.
Dext is building a unified, intelligent financial workflow platform for accountants, bookkeepers, and SMBs by integrating Prepare, Precision, and Commerce (including Dext Payments) in early 2025. Its roadmap focuses on deepening AI automation, enhancing accuracy, and simplifying compliance through tools like Vault. The goal is to eliminate friction from data capture to payment, empowering advisors to focus on value-added work and helping small businesses grow through a connected, fully automated finance ecosystem.
Over the next few years, it will automate all workflows, offer AI insights and chatbot assistance, integrate with hundreds of business systems, and provide actionable analytics for smarter decisions. The goal is to transform expense management into a strategic, proactive driver of efficiency and growth worldwide.
App Spotlight
Apron
Still chasing receipts or sorting invoices for clients? Apron takes care of it. Built for accountants and bookkeepers, Apron brings payments, expenses, and payroll together in one simple, connected platform, so you can spend less time untangling admin and more time supporting clients.With Apron, receipts capture themselves. Just snap or forward a photo, Apron auto-extracts the data, matches it to the right transaction, and syncs everything with your accounting software. No more lost paperwork or late-night data entry.Paying suppliers? Do it all at once. Apron lets clients pay multiple bills in a few clicks, locally or internationally, with proper approval workflows and full audit trails that make reconciliation a breeze.Payroll and expenses are just as simple. Upload files, hit approve, and you’re done. Plus, issue team cards with spend limits that actually stick and automatic receipt capture built in.Accountants & bookkeepers love Apron because it saves hours each week, reduces errors, and gives you full visibility across client finances — all in one place.
AutoEntry
Accountants, bookkeepers and small businesses love AutoEntry becuase of the Time Saving and efficiency we bring to their businesses. The automation of manual input of data, paired with our accuracy levels minimises human error and allows users to focus on the core areas of their business.
AutoEntry integrates with all majory accounting software platforms and through our mobile application the user has ease of use for uploading all document types. The integration with AccountsPrep will simplify Making Tax Digital for accountants and bookkeepers by providing an MTD compliant digital workflow and reduce what would normally take an accountant days to complete into hours or minutes.
Briefcase
Briefcase is pioneering the world’s first AI Autopilot for accountants and bookkeepers.
For the past decade, accounting software has relied on rigid rule-based logic that demands manual setup, constant oversight and human intervention. Teams spend hours each day driving these tools: clicking through screens, fixing errors and reviewing transactions one by one. This busy work is draining time and talent, preventing firms from doing what really matters: helping their clients.
Briefcase changes that. Our agentic AI provides end-toend automation for complex, context-dependent tasks — from bookkeeping to period-end close — without any rules or manual setup required. It learns from what you do, adapts to each client’s data and gets smarter the more you use it. This results in faster workflows and better quality data, giving firms the time and information they need to provide higher value services.
Dext
Dext, part of the IRIS Software Group, is a world leading provider of AI-powered bookkeeping automation. Since 2010, Dext has empowered accountants, bookkeepers, and businesses to thrive by eliminating the manual work that slows them down. Its advanced AI, trained on more than 1 billion receipts and invoices with 99.5% accuracy, streamlines the capture, coding, publishing, and reconciliation of financial data, giving professionals more time to add value and grow.
Trusted by over 12,000 accounting and bookkeeping firms and 700,000 businesses worldwide, Dext integrates seamlessly with all major accounting software and connects to more than 11,500 banks, suppliers, and marketplaces. As part of IRIS Software Group since 2024, Dext continues to innovate with its clients to deliver a more seamless, end-to-end accountancy workflow that enables smarter, more timely financial decisions.
ExpenseOnDemand
ExpenseOnDemand is a next-generation, AI-powered expense management platform designed to make business spending effortless, accurate, and strategic. Our platform automates the entire expense workflow—from receipt capture and credit card transaction reconciliation to multi-entity approvals and compliance enforcement— eliminating manual effort and reducing errors.
With features like AI-driven receipt and invoice scanning and drag-and-drop transaction uploads, any customer, anywhere in the world, can automatically extract transactions and reconcile them instantly. Our intelligent chatbot empowers users to analyze spending, uncover insights, and create support tickets with a single click, transforming expense management into a truly interactive experience.
Through seamless integrations with accounting, HRIS, and travel platforms, ExpenseOnDemand provides a unified financial ecosystem that supports multicurrency and multi-entity operations globally. Advanced reporting dashboards deliver actionable insights, helping organizations enforce policies, control costs, and make data-driven decisions effortlessly.
Trusted by enterprises, councils, and educational institutions, ExpenseOnDemand turns tedious, manual expense processes into strategic, proactive workflows, saving time, improving compliance, and giving finance teams and employees the tools to focus on what truly drives business growth.
Article written in conjunction with Hyphen Digital. App Advisory and Implementation for businesses using Xero. See more at hyphendigital.co.uk
Updates and new releases from Xero connected apps
Aider aider.ai
Are you a Xero-connected App? Got a new feature or update you’d like to share with the Xero User community? Email alex@ xumagazine.com New feature shout-out automations like interview scheduling and candidate communication, Ada clears the admin so you can focus on what really matters: people. Available now on all HR Partner VIP plans.
The first stage of the Aider x Karbon integration gives Accountants visibility of Aider’s AI-powered period close checklists directly inside Karbon Work items.
• Track checklist progress, outstanding alerts, and completion % at a glance
• Click straight into Aider to review or fix alerts
• Export completed checklists back to Karbon, with evidence and comments
One integrated task list. Less admin. More visibility.
ClearBank clear.bank
ClearBank now provides API-powered banking and payments solutions to large-scale UK corporates, helping them deliver seamless and scalable financial experiences to their customers. By enabling real-time payments and secure accounts through transaction banking, ClearBank powers some of the world’s leading brands and continues to enhance their offering to enterprises. This sees ClearBank expand its banking, payments and clearing services, to deliver core transaction banking to corporate businesses.
Draftworx draftworx.com
Draftworx Cloud, now released with England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Guernsey and Jersey Annual Financial Statement Templates. IFRS, IFRS SME, FRS102, FRS02(1A), FRS105 and Charities amongst others.
Expense On Demand expenseondemand.com
1. Credit Card: Claimants can assign multiple Corporate Credit Cards (one for each Company).
2. Self Setup: UX improvements allow Finance Managers to turn ON / OFF functions.
3. Smart Categorisation: AI will suggest a Category based upon usage by Claimants and expense receipt.
4. Credit Card: To help explore the Bank Auto Feed feature, 100 FREE Corporate Credit Card transactions are added to your subscription during the Trial Stage.
Fishbowl fishbowlinventory.com
Fishbowl Inventory - the new fully cloud-based inventory and warehousing platform for small to mid-sized businesses in APAC needing ERP-level control without the complexity. It delivers real-time
stock and order visibility across multiple locations, accessible from any device. A unified mobile scanning app powers pick, pack, receive, and cycle-count workflows. Automated reordering, purchasing, and accounting sync keep inventory and financials aligned, modular features support growth in manufacturing, eCommerce, and reporting.
G-Accon g-accon.com
G-Accon has released a Customer Portal that centralizes license management. Users can now add or remove team members, update billing details, and manage all connected organizations from a single dashboard.
The platform now supports live-synced Google Sheets with Xero and QuickBooks. That means data pulls and reports reflect changes in real time, removing the need for frequent manual exports.
HR Partner hrpartner.io
Meet Ada, HR Partner’s new AI recruitment assistant. She helps small teams hire faster without losing the human touch - reviewing applications, adding insights on how candidates meet your role, and highlighting the best fits. Working alongside HR Partner’s existing
Kapitalise kapitalise.co.uk
Our next release is a new AI tool for R&D tax relief financial reports coming soon where you will be able to enter all financial documentation into one place and you get a draft of your financial report. This will give accountants a great start when putting together both the financial and technical sections for the AIF and the full R&D tax relief report to HMRC.
Tidy tidy3.com
Tidy3 offers a suite of cloud-based tools designed to streamline operations for manufacturers and wholesalers. Their core products include Tidy Quote for efficient quoting. Tidy3 aims to simplify complex processes, enhance accuracy, and support businesses as they scale.
New to the Xero App Marketplace
Artifact AI
Artifact AI is an AI-powered platform that automates bookkeeping, reconciliation, and tax filings. It transforms your data into real-time insights for smarter, faster business decisions, giving you complete control and compliance from one intelligent solution.
Available regions: UK
Basis App
Basis is an AI app for accounting firms. Its AI agents take on routine accounting workflows, integrate with your Xero ledger, and work under your direction to free your team from repetitive tasks and focus on higher-value work.
Available regions: US
Circlr
Circlr is an all-in-one asset register to track, manage, and service your physical and digital assets with ease. By connecting directly to Xero, Circlr turns transactions into assets, automates depreciation, and streamlines reporting to give you a single, real-time view of your business operations.
Available regions: Everywhere
COHO: Property Management
COHO is an all-in-one property management software for landlords, portfolio landlords, agencies, real-estate agents, and Rent-to-Rent operators within the UK.
Available regions: UK
DayFive
DayFive is an approval workflow and expense management automation tool. Starting at Purchase Order creation, expenses recognition, and automatic journal posting, DayFive syncs with Xero to reduce manual work, improve reporting accuracy, and streamline accounting processes.
Available regions: UK
Emanda App
Emanda App automates business valuation, financial forecasting, and due diligence reporting by connecting your Xero data. It is a growth and exit planning tool for advisors and business owners that helps track value, manage critical documents, and make smarter decisions with your exit in mind.
Available regions: AU, NZ
eppiq Timer
eppiq Timer is now available for all Practice Management software, even the legacy versions that don’t have APIs or connectivity. Because eppiq Timer does not require expensive integration, Accountancy Practices can now track client time reliably, even when using legacy or on-premise systems such as CCH and Digita.
Now Accountancies can see which clients are costing them more than they are charging, and at the same time save time and money paying their staff to fill out timesheets. eppiq Timer sits in the background, recognizing client signals and automatically allocating client time across all platforms and systems, without the need for human intervention.
Available regions: UK
Kikin
Kikin allows you to pay suppliers immediately while you repay over one to six months. It is built specifically for purpose-driven businesses with ESG discounts up to 15% and seamless Xero integration. Kikin connects to Xero using the standard REST API with OAuth 2.0 authentication, operating bidirectionally to pull essential financial data and write back loan-related transactions to maintain
accurate accounting records.
Available regions: UK
Landlord Vision
Landlord Vision is a cloud-based property management software developed in the UK, tailored specifically for landlords, property investors, and small to mid-sized property managers. It connects to Xero via an integration wizard to sync invoices, bills, payments, credit notes, journals, and transfers directly to Xero.
Available regions: UK
Lightning Payroll
Lightning Payroll is an Australian payroll software built for accuracy, compliance, and ease46. It integrates directly with Xero to post payroll journal entries, streamline reporting, and save time managing wages, super, and tax.
Available regions: AU
LogicGlue
LogicGlue automates and synchronises data across your business systems and Xero with a flexible integration layer.
LogicGlue is an AI-powered assistant built specifically for Xero users. With LogicGlue, you can generate real-time summaries,
polished reports, and useful graphs to uncover opportunities in your numbers.
Available regions: Everywhere
Magnetism Solutions: Power Platform Connector
Magnetism Solutions lets you create invoices, manage payments, handle credit notes, update contact information, and more, all through Microsoft’s intuitive Power Automate or Logic Apps interface. It connects Xero to any system without writing a single line of code.
Available regions: Everywhere Payroo
Payroo simplifies payroll compliance, saves you time, and helps your business run payroll effortlessly.
Available regions: AU
Powdr
Powdr makes financial forecasting simple and investor-ready. It allows you to build KPI-driven P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow models in minutes and update forecasts easily. It is affordable and scalable for startups, SMEs, and advisors, with support from experts, an AI assistant, and live help.
Available regions: UK
Qurk
Qurk brings together your Xero data along with ERP, CRM, and e-commerce data to automatically produce live reports in a single dashboard. It stops manual reports, providing instant clarity and helping you make smarter decisions in seconds with an AI KPI Builder, AI-powered summaries, and smart inventory forecasts.
Available regions: Everywhere
StayOnHire
StayOnHire is for equipment hire and construction businesses to connect jobs, scheduling, labour, billing, and asset management directly with Xero. It automates invoices, tracks usage, and keeps operations running smoothly with a single system that saves time, reduces admin, and boosts cash flow.
Available regions: Everywhere
TradeMore
TradeMore is a free job management solution built for tradespeople. You can create quotes, invoices, schedule jobs, and manage your customers all in one place. You can instantly sync invoices created in TradeMore with Xero in one click, eliminating double entry and keeping accounts accurate and up to date.
Available regions: UK
WauPay
WauPay automates, controls, and approves secure payments from Xero — both locally and internationally. It allows finance teams to automate and control local and international payments while maintaining compliance, auditability, and ease of use, utilizing API connections for real-time data synchronisation.
Available regions:
Allica Bank acquires fintech Kriya in a move to deliver £1 billion of SME working capital finance by 2028
Kriya’s embedded business
PayLater solution – already used by the likes of Halfords and via a partnership with Stripe – sees Allica move into the fast-growing embedded finance market for the first time
Allica Bank has today announced the acquisition of Kriya, the award-winning SME lending fintech specialising in SME working capital and embedded finance.
The move strengthens Allica’s SME lending proposition and sees the UK’s fastest-ever growing fintech move into the embedded payments market for the first time.
The two businesses are a strong strategic fit, bringing together complementary strengths across lending and payments, with a shared passion for using technology to transform the established SME market and leadership who’ve known each other for a long time.
Allica is broadening its working capital and embedded finance proposition at a time when confidence among SMEs seeking funding has fallen from 56% to 31% since 2019, while only one in ten SMEs now have access to bank overdrafts or traditional loans - the lowest recorded level since 2019.
Since first opening its doors to lending in 2020, Allica’s impressive growth means its total outstanding lending to SMEs has now reached £3.5 billion.
With the Kriya acquisition, Allica is targeting advancing an initial £1 billion of working capital finance to SMEs over the next three years.
The acquisition accelerates Allica’s drive to penetrate 10% of the established SME finance market by the end of 2028, replacing the legacy high street banks who have been in retreat from serving this important segment that makes up a third of the UK economy.
Kriya is Allica’s third acquisition, following the successful purchase and integration of AIB’s GB SME lending customers in 2021 and bridging finance specialist Tuscan Capital in 2024.
Named the UK’s fastest growing company in 2024, and the fastest growing UK fintech ever in 2023, Allica is building on strong momentum.
The bank became profitable within three years of launching, with its award-winning lending and current account proposition – the Business Rewards Account – gaining significant traction with established SMEs, offering no monthly fees, a named relationship manager, cashback and technology that drives faster and more flexible lending decisions.
Since launching in 2011, Kriya (formerly known as MarketInvoice and MarketFinance) has processed over £4 billion in invoice finance, SME loans and embedded finance. The fintech’s working
capital solutions have helped thousands of businesses across more than 300,000 transactions. Kriya’s embedded PayLater solution – already integrated with major B2B retailers like Halfords – helps SME buyers manage cashflow by making it easier to access PayLater options at checkout.
Kriya will continue to operate under its own brand, which has strong recognition in the SME finance market. CEO and Cofounder Anil Stocker will continue to lead the business, with all Kriya employees joining Allica as part of the transaction.
Richard Davies, CEO of Allica Bank, said: “For too long SMEs have struggled to access the flexible finance they need as the high street banks have retrenched. Allica is building something different – a better way to serve Britain’s established SMEs.
“Kriya has built an impressive business over more than a decade, and Anil and his
team share our belief that SME finance needs reinventing, and that together we can offer something the market desperately needs.
“Our ambition is clear. We plan to lend £1 billion of working capital finance to SMEs over the next three years. This is our third acquisition but our first in the embedded payments space and it aligns well with our future potential international expansion.”
Anil Stocker, CEO of Kriya, said: “Combining forces with Allica gives us the right platform to scale what we’ve built. We share the same DNA – a genuine commitment to reinventing SME finance and competing with the big banks who’ve walked away from the SME market.
“There has never been a more relevant time to help SMEs survive a challenging and changing economic landscape.
“I’m excited about what we can achieve together, especially with our embedded finance offering, which we’re looking to roll out across Europe soon. Our customers will continue to get the same service and support from Kriya, but now with the backing and reach of one of the UK’s fastest growing banks.”
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