Accounting Influencers

Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday and Thursday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.In this special episode of the Accounting Influencers Podcast, host Rob Brown and co-host Martin Bissett are joined by Caroline Hobden, the head of the team behind Accountex, one of the world's biggest shows in the accounting industry. They discuss the tremendous success of the recent Accountex event, with a record-breaking 20% increase in floor space and over 10,000 attendees. Caroline attributes their achievements to her team's hard work and relentless marketing efforts.She discusses the international appeal of Accountex, with attendees from around the world, and the excitement surrounding future events. Overall, the episode offers a glimpse into the incredible buzz and energy of Accountex and sets the stage for its future endeavours.You can watch this episode and more on our YouTube Ch

Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday and Thursday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.In this episode of the Accounting Influencers podcast, host Rob Brown interviews Jason Staats, an accomplished entrepreneur and CPA, to provide insights on how to grow an accounting firm. Jason shares his experience and expertise in building a $5M accounting firm, as well as in producing content and providing thought leadership on sustainable accounting firms, AI adoption, and software partnership.The importance of being able to say "no" and capitalising on the coolest "yeses" to engage, as well as defining the type of clients and employees the firm is best for. Jason also highlights the need for a compelling vision to differentiate the firm and build a team around the right abilities. He emphasises that it's essential to ensure that the support structure for the team is built to prioriti

"Accounting Leadership in Tough Times", John Fenton speaks with host Rob Brown about his experience as a managing partner at BDO and his passion for leadership. Fenton draws upon his background in athletics, particularly in football and martial arts, to emphasise the importance of mindset, self-awareness, and intentionality of ineffective leadership. He stresses the need for leaders to take a step back, breathe deeply, and create white space on their calendars to centre themselves, make better decisions, and build deeper relationships with their employees and clients.Fenton also touches on the power of active listening and focusing on what is most important. He believes that allowing oneself to be more centred leads to deeper, more meaningful relationships with employees and clients. Fenton also shares his personal experience with goal setting and how it changed his life, motivating him to work towards achieving his potential as an athlete and ultimately leading him to a successful career in accounting. This

Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.In this Talent Special bonus, "Accounting Leaders & Their Problems" Rob chats with Katie Best, a leadership coach and consultant. He discusses the challenges faced by professional services firms and their leaders and how coaching, consultancy and leadership development can help in overcoming these challenges. Katie explains that some common problems firms face include recruiting and retaining top talent, adapting to the hybrid work model, and staying ahead of the curve with new technology.Katie emphasises the importance of having a distinct culture and unique flavour to appeal to potential employees while acknowledging the commonalities across different sectors. She also discusses her upcoming book on messy leadership problems and a framework that leaders can use to solve problems they face.Katie

Rob Brown interviews Jason Staats, who creates content on Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube to help people run accounting firms in a more fun and sustainable way. Staats discusses how he got into accounting and why he had to find a creative way to contribute because he needed to be a better tax preparer. He also touches on mental blockers that keep accountants from being more intentional versions of themselves and falling into the trap of working hard and thinking they've done their best.Staats discusses the current state of the accounting industry, noting that it was challenging before COVID-19 and even more so after. He says there is a massive opportunity in the industry, but people need to get out of their way and not try to be everything for everybody at their own expense. He also talks about accountants' emotional connection with their clients and how it's hard to say no to them because of that connection.Finally, Staats discusses the difficulty in reaching accountants and selling to them, noting that some

Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday and Thursday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.The episode of the Accounting Influencers Podcast hosted by Rob Brown features Trisha Daho, who talks about culture building, talent acquisition and retention in accounting firms.Trisha explains that firms are struggling to find conventional talent to fill the needs of their growing businesses, and high performers are leaving early because they need to see the accounting space as an innovative career path. To address this, firms must create a culture of inclusion that provides a custom experience for each employee. They also need to develop an employer brand that is compelling, authentic, differentiated, and feeds into the client brand.Firms must intentionally discover what makes them unique and different and what compels people to stick around. Firms must align their vision with their em

In today's episode 14, "From Submarines to Accounting Advisory", Michael King talks about his work with the Connected Accountant, where he helps accountants and fractional CFOs start, scale, and optimise their advisory services. King explains the difference between rear-view mirror-focused accounting and forward-looking advisory services and the need for accountants to do a better job of marketing and explaining the latter's value.He also discusses the changing expectations of business owners, who increasingly demand strategic forward-looking work, and the potential threats of outsourcing and AI to the traditional accounting industry. King believes that the key to success as a consultant, fractional CFO, or virtual CFO is communicating effectively and bridging the gap between accounting principles and business owners' day-to-day decision-making. He also stresses the importance of mindset shifts, particularly around marketing and sales, and the need for accountants to embrace the opportunity to serve and teach

Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday and Thursday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.In this episode of the Accounting Influencers Podcast hosted by Rob Brown, the guest Dr Juana Bordas discusses the importance of intergenerational and intercultural leadership in the accounting industry. Bordas explains that elders play a crucial role as a bridge between generations, sharing their experiences and perspectives. She emphasises the need for diversity in leadership to create a multicultural global world that taps into the talents of all different cultures, ethnic groups, and nationalities.Juana also discusses the impact of women in leadership roles, noting that women CEOs can help the bottom line by bringing their people skills and relationship orientation with them. She suggests that leaders should think about the future and prepare for trends such as the increasing youthful

"Client Accounting Services or CAS", Sage's Ed Warren provides insights for accountants looking to grow their firms. The conversation focuses on the value of being a specialist versus a generalist and how firms can target specific areas where they have the expertise to build new businesses and replace low-margin accounts.Warren also emphasises the growing market for outsourcing accounting services, particularly for small businesses and franchises. He discusses the benefits of developing specific industry expertise and verticals to help accountants become trusted advisors and provide advisory support beyond compliance work. Warren also highlights the scalability of client advisory services (CAS) and the entrepreneurialism required to grow and scale in this space.Finally, Warren accentuates that the best practitioners in the CAS space are not just looking back at financial statements but are providing foresight and decision-making support through fractional CFO services and dashboards. The conversation offers v

Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday and Thursday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.In the Accounting Influencers Podcast episode, Rob Brown interviews Will Farnell, author of the new book, "The Human Firm." The book focuses on how accounting firms can evolve beyond the digital firm into what Farnell calls the human firm. Farnell talks about his frustration with the lack of adoption by accounting firms of the opportunities provided by technology and the risk of becoming complacent and falling behind. He stresses the importance of horizon scanning and continuing to innovate.Farnell sees the human firm as the next competitive advantage for accounting firms as technology becomes more widely available. The human element, such as empathy and emotional intelligence, cannot be automated and can provide a unique competitive advantage. Farnell discusses how accounting firms can c

"The CFO-Accountant Relationship", host Rob Brown interviews guest Steve Rosvold, who shares his insights on the skills accountants need to develop to grow their firms. Rosvold emphasizes the importance of improving communication skills and developing insights beyond just financial statements. He believes accountants must become business advisors and compete with other companies by leveraging their unique insight into their clients' financial information.Rosvold also discusses the role of the CFO and how it can be a stepping stone to the CEO role. He shares his four pillars of CFO success: accounting, finance, treasury, and leadership. Rosvold details the accounting pillar covering governance and internal controls, recording transactions, and reporting accurate and timely financial statements.Overall, this episode is aimed at accountants looking to improve their skills and become more than just number crunchers. It provides valuable insights into the changing role of accountants in today's business landscape

Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday and Thursday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.Trisha Daho, the founder of Empowered, shares insights on culture, people strategy, and DEI strategy for accounting and law firms. Trisha explains that accounting firms are easier to work with than law firms as they are less hierarchical in decision-making. However, accounting firms' culture and people stuff is more complicated and essential as their people are the product.Trisha also emphasises that trust is a crucial factor for service providers. Clients buy services not just because the work is done but also because they trust the service provider and want to work with them. Millennials and Gen Zs are more interested in culture and work-life balance, and clients now demand that firms focus more on these issues. Firms also need help acquiring and retaining talent due to a shortage of sk

Caroline Hobden talks about Accountex, the most significant accounting event in Europe, which will be held at Excel in London on the 10th and 11th of May this year.The event will feature a variety of educational programs and a large expo with incredible stands. There will be networking opportunities, parties, and CPD to be gained. Accountants from all over the world attend Accountex, including some from as far away as Australia. The event is designed to be a level playing field for everyone, regardless of budget, and will feature various topics.Speakers at this year's event include Brad Bur, Jeff Ram, Rebecca Be, Sharon Cook, Joe Wood, Zoe Whitman, Lee Chambers, Mo Canel, and Mark Pugh. The topics covered will include understanding menopause in the workplace, sustainability, women in leadership roles, and more.Key Takeaways➤ Accountex is the largest accounting event in Europe, taking place on the 10th and 11th of May at Excel in London.➤ The event will feature a variety of educational programs, a large expo,

Rob Brown features Lee Frederiksen, a behavioural scientist and researcher at Hinge Marketing, discussing marketing and growth opportunities for accounting firms.Lee talks about the importance of marketing and the need for the right talent and skills to implement effective marketing strategies. He highlights the role of digital marketing techniques such as search engine optimisation, consultations, and blog posts in high-growth firms. In contrast, traditional techniques like business development and networking are used by no-growth firms. The episode also covers the importance of being flexible and adaptive to changes and gathering client data to understand their needs and anticipate changes in the market. The focus should be on leveraging technology and talent to develop innovative solutions and stay ahead of the competition. Frederiksen concludes by emphasizing the evolving role of accounting firms, which includes strategy development, branding, and marketing services.Key takeaways from this episode include

"Getting Accounting Clients to Conform", Susan Bryant discusses how accountants can improve their services and client experiences. She discusses the importance of accountants being proactive, communicating with clients regularly providing holistic financial advice. Bryant suggests that accountants need to focus on the clients that truly value their services and are willing to pay for them. She also encourages accountants to prioritise their fulfilment by only offering services they enjoy and focusing on their business development.Bryant notes that the accounting industry needs to shift from an employee mindset to an entrepreneurial mindset and suggests that compensation for accountants should be tied to their ability to increase the value of their client's businesses and personal lives.Bryant also discusses the need for accountants to standardise their processes to ensure conformity from the beginning and create positive client experiences. She highlights the importance of setting expectations and having syst

Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.In this Talent Special bonus, "The Under-Used Brain of Accountants", Rob Brown chats to Dawn Goldberg, a mindset coach for accountants and shares how understanding and managing your brain can transform your personal and professional life. She discusses the universal application of the mindset mastery tool she teaches, explaining how it can improve relationships and every other area of life. She also shares her experience applying the tool to tax season and how it improved her experience with reduced stress.Dawn highlights the importance of mastering time management for accountants and explains that managing the brain and time go together. She stresses the significance of taking ownership of our thoughts, creating intentional change, and sharing how getting everything out of our brains and onto paper c

"What Works in Successful Discovery Calls", Rob Brown speaks with guest Nancy Fox about growing accounting firms. Nancy highlights the importance of having a unique value proposition and point of distinction that sets accountants apart from their peers. Additionally, she emphasises the need to warm up potential clients before a discovery call by networking and building relationships. Nancy shares a five-step structure for conducting discovery calls and suggests asking deep questions to determine potential clients' readiness, commitment, and budget for working with an accountant.Nancy also advises waiting to send proposals until certain pieces are established and the client is ready to move forward. She emphasises the need to understand clients' businesses, ask great questions, and add value to their services to get their desired fees. Nancy concludes by offering to help accountants improve their probing and open-ended questions and providing a mini-training on success in discovery calls if enough people are i

Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.In this Talent Special bonus, "What Motivates Accountants & CPAs" Rob Brown features Ashley Miller, an executive coach. Ashley shares insights into leadership, team dynamics, and influence. She discusses the importance of the human element in accounting and how firms can add value by understanding what motivates their employees. Ashley also describes creating emotional connections in the workplace and inspiring employees through communication and empathy. She suggests building trust by being vulnerable and creating a sense of belonging for employees. Furthermore, Ashley notes the unique opportunity for accounting firms to expand globally by recruiting diverse individuals. She concludes by challenging leaders to be self-aware and advocate for their own careers while being accountable.You can also w

"Innovation Beyond Technology in Accounting" Rob Brown speaks with Ed Kless, Senior Director of Sage Accountants Solutions, about innovation in the accounting industry. With 18 years of experience working for Sage, Ed has a wealth of knowledge about helping accounting partners, influencers, and customers improve their businesses.Ed discusses the history of Sage and a think tank started by Ron Baker that helped to initiate the value pricing movement. He maintains that the billing model needs to be revised by the hour, as it focuses on efficiency rather than effectiveness. He also talks about the issue of tracking time and how innovation is about bringing disparate things together to create something new, using examples such as a skateboard and stroller combined.The conversation delves into innovation around business models, delivery, packaging, pricing, and language. The speakers discuss the value of social capital and the importance of making connections, even with weak connections, to help others. They also

Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.In this Talent Special bonus, "Employer Branding for Accounting Firms", Rob Brown continues his conversation with Jen Surtees, Director of People Experience (UK & EMEA) at Xero, to discuss some of the biggest challenges facing employers in the current recruitment landscape.Jen shares her insights on how companies can differentiate themselves as employers to attract and retain talent in a highly competitive market. She also provides valuable tips on hiring for culture fit and identifying values that drive the organisation's culture.The conversation then shifts to the "great resignation," where many employees are quitting their jobs in search of better opportunities or work-life balance. Jen discusses what companies can do to retain talent, including creating a culture that values employee well-bein