Accounting Apps Podcast

By Heather Smith | Accountant & StorytellerNews Business News

Accounting Apps Podcast episodes

October 14How AI Is Changing Accounting Work 🤖| John Munden
AI and automation are changing accounting, but the bigger opportunity is not simply automating individual tasks. In this episode of the Accounting Apps Podcast, I speak with John Munden, Chief Strategy Officer at Cloud Office, about rethinking workflows, connecting fragmented data and preparing accounting firms for a world where more compliance work happens automatically.
We explore why successful technology adoption starts with understanding the problem you are trying to solve. John shares his perspective on change management, including mapping workflows before introducing new software, involving the team in the process and developing internal champions who can support adoption.
Key discussion points:
Rethink workflows before adding AI. Rather than bolting AI onto existing processes, firms should understand how work moves through the practice, identify the problem they are solving and redesign workflows around the capabilities of their technology.
Connected data creates a stronger foundation. John discusses overcoming data silos through integrations, APIs and two-way syncing, with the goal of creating a reliable single source of truth across the practice.
Experimentation needs a path to production. Vibe coding, bots and AI-powered automations can accelerate ideas and create useful prototypes, but firms also need to consider maintenance, security, data storage and what happens when the person who created an automation leaves.
The accounting career pathway is changing. As more junior-level production and compliance work becomes automated or completed offshore, firms need new ways to help emerging accountants learn what good work looks like and develop professional judgement.
Communication, advisory and professional judgement become increasingly important. As technology handles more repetitive work, accountants have an opportunity to spend more time interpreting information, communicating with clients and providing meaningful advice.
The conversation ultimately comes back to what accountants can do with the time technology gives them. Automation may increasingly handle repetitive compliance and administrative work, but professional judgement, relationships and responsibility remain important. The opportunity is to use AI, automation and connected technology to create space for accountants to have better conversations, deliver stronger advisory services and spend more time being accountants.

Episode resources and links:
John Munden https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmunden/
Cloudoffis https://cloudoffis.com.au/

If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
27 min
October 07Why Professional Identity Matters in the Age of AI 🧠
Are You Proud to Call Yourself an Accountant?
As AI and automation become increasingly embedded in accounting workflows, we spend a lot of time asking what technology can do. But perhaps there is another question worth exploring: what does using AI do to us as accountants and bookkeepers?
In this thought bubble episode of the Accounting Apps Podcast, I explore professional identity and why being proud to call yourself an accountant matters. Inspired by Professor Megan Hess’s work on accounting ethics, professional identity and the public interest, I consider how our connection to the profession influences scepticism, integrity and our willingness to question what is put in front of us.
Technology can remove repetitive work and give us more time for valuable conversations, investigation and critical thinking. But when systems increasingly recommend, calculate, analyse and explain on our behalf, we also need to make sure we retain the knowledge and confidence to challenge them.
Key Takeaways
Professional identity matters: Being proud to identify as an accountant or bookkeeper connects us with the ethics, integrity and responsibilities of our profession.
Beware of automation bias: When technology confidently produces an answer, there is a risk we trust it simply because “the system said so”. Professional scepticism remains essential.
Understand the accounting behind the technology: Accountants need enough foundational knowledge to recognise when a balance sheet, GST calculation, spreadsheet or AI-generated output simply does not make sense.
Human conversations remain incredibly valuable: Client conversations can uncover significant information that might never surface through a standard workflow, automated process or routine questioning.
AI can strengthen the profession: Removing repetitive tasks can create more time for judgement, investigation and critical thinking. The challenge is ensuring we continue developing the skills required to question technology and take responsibility for the outcome.
Ultimately, this is not an argument for keeping humans manually involved in every accounting process. It is about making sure that as technology takes on more of the work, we continue to understand, question and exercise professional judgement.
AI, automation and spreadsheets are tools we work alongside. Our professional identity is something different. Whatever part of the accounting and bookkeeping profession you belong to, understand the value of what you do, own your expertise and be proud to call yourself an accountant.
Episode resources and links:
https://www.sir.advancedleadership.harvard.edu/articles/accounting-ethics-professional-identity-public-interest
https://www.alexandriabrief.com/dash-overspent-its-budget-by-3-7-million-a-spreadsheet-error-hid-it-for-months/

If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
17 min
September 30Is AI Making Accountants Less Intelligent?🧠
Is AI Making Accountants Less Intelligent?
AI is helping accountants and bookkeepers work faster, automate repetitive tasks and reduce cognitive load. But as AI moves beyond calculation and automation into writing, analysing, explaining, brainstorming and reasoning, an interesting question emerges: what happens to the thinking skills we developed by doing those things ourselves?
In this episode of the Accounting Apps Podcast, I explore how AI may be changing the way accountants and bookkeepers think. I look at neuroplasticity, the “useful struggle” involved in developing expertise, and why professional judgement becomes even more important when AI can produce a polished answer in seconds.
Technology has always allowed accountants to shift attention away from repetitive activities. Spreadsheets removed much of our manual arithmetic. Accounting software automated processes that once took hours. AI is another step along that path, but there is an important distinction between using technology to remove cognitive clutter and allowing it to do the valuable thinking for us.
Key Takeaways
🧠 Neuroplasticity and accounting expertise: Repeatedly completing tasks such as bank reconciliations builds pattern recognition and experience. When we stop practising particular cognitive skills, the way we use and develop those skills can change.
🤖 AI can remove cognitive clutter: Summarising information, drafting routine correspondence, extracting information and preparing meeting notes are examples of where AI can reduce workload and create more space for professional thinking.
🔍 Don’t outsource the useful struggle: Investigating something that doesn’t look right, testing ideas and forming hypotheses are part of developing accounting expertise. Rather than immediately asking AI for an answer, spend time developing your own view first.
💡 Use AI to challenge your reasoning: There is an important difference between asking AI, “Tell me what’s wrong,” and asking it to test a hypothesis you have already developed. AI can act as a second set of eyes while you remain actively involved in the thinking.
🎯 Professional judgement becomes more valuable: Materiality, professional scepticism, ethics, context, relationships and knowing when something simply doesn’t smell right become increasingly important as AI produces more of the first draft.
Episode resources and links:
Debunking Brain Myths: What’s Really Holding You Back from Change with Sarah McKay
https://podcasts.apple.com/bm/podcast/debunking-brain-myths-whats-really-holding-you-back/id792555885?i=1000700760179

Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/392560878_Your_Brain_on_ChatGPT_Accumulation_of_Cognitive_Debt_when_Using_an_AI_Assistant_for_Essay_Writing_Task

Exam Study Expert
https://examstudyexpert.com/dr-sarah-mckay/
Dr Sarah McKay home page : https://drsarahmckay.com/ (Neuroscience for real life, with a focus on women’s brain health. For women, professionals and organisations.)

If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
27 min
September 23What Is a Calendar Audit and Why Should You Do One? 📅
How a Monthly Calendar Audit Improves Productivity
When was the last time you looked back at your calendar and asked whether all those meetings, commitments and hours were actually a good use of your time?
In this episode of the Accounting Apps Podcast, I unpack the monthly calendar audit I use to understand where my time has gone, identify follow-ups that may have slipped through the cracks, and question activities that perhaps should not be there at all.
My process combines Google Workspace, Google Calendar, Google Apps Script and Google Sheets to turn a month of calendar activity into something I can review line by line. Colour coding and categorisation help me separate personal activities, non-billable administration, speaking engagements, podcasting, writing, CPD and other commitments.
The audit is not simply about productivity. It gives me distance from my calendar so I can consider my energy levels, protect productive hours, manage meetings more deliberately and ask whether the technology supporting my workflow still makes sense.
Key Takeaways
Audit where your time actually goes. Reviewing your calendar at the end of each month can highlight low-value commitments, non-billable work and meetings that took significant time without delivering meaningful outcomes.
Use calendar colour coding and categorisation. Google Calendar categories make it easier to group activities and understand the balance between personal time, client work, administration, CPD, speaking, writing and other commitments.
Protect your productive hours and energy. A calendar audit can reveal patterns around when you do your best thinking, whether meetings are consuming those productive periods, and whether late-night international commitments require additional buffer time.
Use the audit as a second check for follow-ups. Looking back over meetings can prompt forgotten action points, unanswered requests, CPD that needs recording, projects that need finalising or conversations that require another follow-up.
Audit the technology as well as the calendar. Calendly offers useful functionality such as meeting buffers and automated emails, but Google also provides appointment scheduling. Reviewing overlapping technology can identify opportunities to simplify workflows and reduce subscriptions.
A calendar audit takes time. Mine can take two or three hours, but that is partly because I use the process to stop, think and review what happened during the month.
It gives me an opportunity to ask some useful questions. Why did I take that meeting? Did anything come from it? Should it have been an hour, or would 15 minutes have been enough? Am I protecting my capacity and bandwidth? Is my calendar supporting the way I want to work?
The goal is not to create the perfect calendar. It is to become more deliberate about where time and energy are going, recognise what is working, and make better-informed choices about what deserves space in the calendar next month.
Episode resources and links:
Descript, Camtasia, ChatGPT, Google Workspace, Google Calendar, Google Apps Script, Google Sheets, Calendly, Microsoft

If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
19 min
September 16Digital Nomad Tips for Working Overseas 💻
Working overseas brings unexpected opportunities and challenges. Discover practical digital nomad lessons about connectivity, co-working spaces, travel, banking, medication, client meetings and making technology work anywhere.
Technology and business transformation are not simply about making businesses more efficient. They can also enable us to work differently and create more flexible lifestyles. In this episode of the Accounting Apps Podcast, I’m recording from a capsule hotel at Gatwick Airport after spending a month in England, and sharing some of the practical lessons I picked up while working and travelling abroad.
Digital nomading can sound wonderfully straightforward when you have a laptop and cloud technology, but the reality involves Wi-Fi, time zones, phone connectivity, banking, transport and plenty of unexpected situations. Some things worked beautifully. Others required a little improvisation. Here are some of the experiences and lessons that stood out.
Reliable Wi-Fi and co-working can transform your productivity. After struggling with connectivity at my mum’s house, I spent a couple of days at a co-working space in Cheltenham. For £25 a day, I had fast Wi-Fi, a sit-stand desk, an additional monitor, good lighting, air conditioning, coffee and cake. More importantly, I could get through a significant amount of focused work.
Technology makes international travel easier, but test what you depend on. International roaming through amaysim made staying connected relatively straightforward, while a Wise card provided another option for spending overseas. However, I also discovered that an Australian prescription app I expected to access was geo-blocked once I arrived in England. Being able to find prescription information through my health records helped me eventually organise an emergency supply through a Boots pharmacy.
Working internationally means actively managing time zones and communication. Staying in England while working with people in Australia and New Zealand occasionally meant starting meetings at 4:30 in the morning. At the same time, being in the UK created opportunities to meet people face-to-face, attend industry events and record a podcast in the local time zone.
Make room for real-world connections. I attended London Zero Con and Richard Sargent’s event in Bristol, where I met people I had known online for years, including Xero co-founder Gary Turner, whom I had been talking with online for around 14 years. I also found value in simply speaking with locals, asking for recommendations and connecting with people in co-working spaces.
Digital nomading requires flexibility and a willingness to work differently. I stayed in pod and capsule hotels, travelled extensively by train, rented a car on my own for the first time and recorded this podcast from a tiny hotel room at Gatwick. Not every environment was comfortable or predictable, but having the right technology and being willing to adapt meant I could continue working while extending my time overseas.
Digital nomading does not mean everything works perfectly wherever you open your laptop. There will be unreliable Wi-Fi, confusing transport, unfamiliar systems and unexpected detours. But technology gives us considerably more flexibility to navigate those challenges and continue working.
For me, doing a few hours of work in the morning meant I could spend an extended period in England, spend time with my mum, connect with people in the accounting technology community and still keep things moving professionally. Sometimes the best approach is not waiting until you are back at your desk with the perfect setup. Charge your technology, find a workable space, stay open to the experience and make it work where you are.

If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
24 min
September 09Louis Theroux’s Lessons for Accountants 👂
Great client relationships start with curiosity. Discover how Louis Theroux’s interviewing techniques can help accountants listen deeply, ask simple questions and understand the person behind the numbers. Heather Smith and Alex Falcon Huerta explore lessons from Louis Theroux’s London Xerocon keynote.
What can accountants and bookkeepers learn from one of the world’s most recognisable interviewers? Quite a lot, as it turns out. In this episode of the Accounting Apps Podcast, I’m joined by Alex Falcon Huerta to unpack Louis Theroux’s Xerocon London keynote and explore how his interviewing techniques translate surprisingly well into client relationships. We discuss listening properly, asking simple questions, allowing silence into conversations, understanding the person behind the numbers, and recognising the privileged position accountants and bookkeepers hold when clients trust us with their financial lives.
Understand the person behind the numbers. Financial information only tells part of a client’s story. Understanding their family, ambitions, long-term goals and personal circumstances can help accountants provide more meaningful advice and support.
Build trust through genuine human connection. Being present, making eye contact and listening carefully can strengthen client relationships. We also explore how recording and transcription technology can actually help us become more present rather than more distracted.
Ask the simple questions and embrace silence. Louis Theroux’s approach reminds us that we don’t always need to demonstrate how much we know. Asking an obvious or seemingly naive question can uncover valuable information, while leaving a little silence can give clients the space to share something we might never have thought to ask.
Recognise the responsibility that comes with financial trust. Accountants and bookkeepers often know things about clients that even their friends and family don’t know. That privileged access brings responsibility, from protecting confidentiality to helping clients understand cash flow, tax obligations, financial performance and the consequences of important decisions.
Use conversations to uncover opportunities to help. Clients may not realise the breadth of services their accountant can provide. By listening to what is happening in their business and their life, we can identify opportunities around systems, processes, growth, technology, mergers, acquisitions and longer-term planning.
What stayed with me from Louis Theroux’s Xerocon conversation was the importance of curiosity. Accountants and bookkeepers have extraordinary access to the real story behind a business, but numbers alone don’t necessarily tell us what our clients are trying to achieve. Sometimes we need to stop preparing the next question, listen to what is actually being said, and give people enough space to tell us what really matters.
Alex and I also explore how technology fits into this increasingly human conversation. AI, meeting transcription and recording tools can support better client service, training and knowledge sharing, but they shouldn’t replace our judgement, empathy or curiosity. Perhaps one of the most useful lessons we can take from a professional interviewer is beautifully simple: listen more closely, ask better questions and get to know the human behind the numbers.
Episode resources and links:
Louis Theroux’s resources
Website : https://www.louistheroux.com/
Podcast : https://www.louistheroux.com/podcasts
Apps & Tools Mentioned: ChatGPT, Claude, Gmail, Streak, ApprovalMax, Dext, Apron, The Gap, Brief, Fathom, Clarity HQ, Bluedot, Loom, Notion

If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
53 min
July 29Inside Xerocon London 2026⚡Announcements with Diya Jolly
Discover the biggest announcements from XeroCon London 2026, including Xero Force, Partner Hub, Smart Document Capture, AI-powered automation, and what's next for accountants.

At XeroCon London 2026, Xero unveiled a wave of AI-powered innovations designed to help accountants and bookkeepers work more efficiently while supporting the needs of increasingly complex businesses. In this episode, Heather Smith speaks with Diya Jolly, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Xero, about the company's latest product announcements, the thinking behind its AI strategy, and how these developments will shape the future of the Xero ecosystem.
XeroCon London 2026 highlights: Xero celebrates reaching five million subscribers and unveils major product announcements, including Xero Force, Xero Ultra and the new Xero Partner Hub.
Smarter practice workflows: Learn how Book Health, Month End Readiness, Auto Bank Reconciliation and Smart Document Capture use AI to reduce manual work and improve bookkeeping accuracy.
Building for larger businesses: Discover why Xero Ultra has been introduced and how Xero plans to support businesses as they grow without requiring a move to enterprise software.
The future of AI at Xero: Diya explains Xero Force, AI agents, practical automation, and how AI is being embedded across the platform to help accountants deliver greater value.
Lessons from the Australian outages: An open discussion about the AWS infrastructure incident, what happened behind the scenes, and how Xero is strengthening platform resilience.
Whether you're an accountant, bookkeeper or Xero user, this conversation offers an inside look at the strategy, technology and product direction emerging from XeroCon London 2026. It provides valuable context behind the announcements and practical insights into how AI and automation are set to transform accounting workflows in the years ahead.

Apps & Tools Mentioned: Xero, Xero Partner Hub, Book Health, Month End Readiness, Auto Bank Reconciliation, Smart Document Capture, Hubdoc, Xero Files, Xero Force, Xero Ultra, Xero Payments, AWS, Amazon Web Services, OCR, JAX, AI Studio, Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT

Episode resources and links:
Diya Jolly Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/diyajolly/
Xero https://www.xero.com/

If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
38 min
July 29289 Accounting Tech Updates Q2 2026 🚀
The second quarter of 2026 has delivered another wave of innovation across the accounting technology landscape. In this episode, Heather Smith is joined by Tyler Caskey from The Bean Counters to unpack the recent product releases, AI developments, payroll changes, reporting enhancements, and practice management updates shaping the profession. Alongside practical commentary on the latest features from leading accounting platforms, they discuss cybersecurity lessons, the impact of industry layoffs, emerging AI-first accounting systems, and several standout apps that deserve attention. Whether you're an accountant, bookkeeper, advisor, or business owner, this episode offers practical insights to help you stay informed and identify technology worth exploring.

Key discussion points
Heather and Tyler discuss major updates from QuickBooks, MYOB, Xero and Easy Business App, including AI-powered reconciliation, open banking developments, Employment Hero integration, and evolving automation features.
They explore emerging accounting platforms including Digits and Prosaic, examining how AI-native general ledgers could reshape the future of bookkeeping and financial management.
The conversation covers important payroll and compliance developments, including Beam, Employment Hero, Tanda, and practical considerations for Australian businesses adapting to the new requirements.
A wide range of specialist apps are highlighted, including RecHound, XBert, Calxa, HoneyBook, TaxDome, MinuteDock, DataSights, Archer Cards, Hello Cashflow, Kloud Connect, WorkGuru, EzyCollect and many more, with practical commentary on where each solution fits.
Heather also shares her recent experience recovering a compromised Google account, reinforcing the importance of cybersecurity, strong authentication, backup recovery methods, and maintaining trusted professional networks.

The accounting technology ecosystem continues to evolve at an incredible pace, with AI, automation, compliance, and integration driving much of the innovation. While not every new feature will suit every business, understanding what's available helps accountants and bookkeepers make better technology decisions for themselves and their clients. This episode provides a practical snapshot of where the industry is heading and highlights the solutions that are genuinely worth keeping on your radar.

This episode is also syndicated to Accountants Daily Under the Hood podcast.

Read here how I work with some solutions mentioned https://endorsementdisclosure.com/

Apps & Tools Mentioned:
Apps & Tools Mentioned:
Dext – https://dext.com/
Google Workspace (Gmail) – https://workspace.google.com
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com
GoCardless – https://gocardless.com
Reddit – https://www.reddit.com
QuickBooks – https://quickbooks.intuit.com
Employment Hero – https://employmenthero.com
MYOB – https://www.myob.com
MYOB Solo – https://www.myob.com/au/products/solo
Airwallex – https://www.airwallex.com
NAB Connect – https://www.nab.com.au/business/internet-banking/nab-connect
CommBiz – https://www.commbank.com.au/business/online-banking/commbiz.html
ING – https://www.ing.com.au
Xero – https://www.xero.com
Claude – https://claude.ai
Anthropic – https://www.anthropic.com
Easy Business App – https://easybusinessapp.com.au
Digits – https://digits.com
Ignition – https://www.ignitionapp.com
Karbon – https://Karbonhq.com
Reach Reporting – https://reachreporting.com
Prosaic – https://www.prosaic.works/
Zoho – https://www.zoho.com
RecHound – https://rechound.com
Easy Month-End – https://easymonthend.com
HoneyBook – https://www.honeybook.com
TaxDome – https://taxdome.com
XBert – https://www.xbert.io/
Calxa – https://www.calxa.com
Beam – https://www.beamconnect.com.au
Hero Force – https://employmenthero.com
Tanda – https://www.tanda.co
MinuteDock – https://minutedock.com
Google Authenticator – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.authenticator2&hl=en&pli=1
Microsoft Authenticator – https://www.microsoft.com/security/mobile-authenticator-app
Xero Verify – https://www.xero.com/security/two-step-authentication
Archa Cards – https://www.archa.com.au/
Wise – https://wise.com
Weel – https://www.weel.com.au
DataSights – https://datasights.co
Microsoft Azure – https://azure.microsoft.com
Power BI – https://powerbi.microsoft.com
Lovable – https://lovable.dev
Cadence – https://cadenceapp.com.au
Hello Cashflow – https://www.hellocashflow.com/
Float – https://float.app
Kloud Connect – https://www.kloudconnect.com.au/
FYI – https://fyidocs.com
SharePoint – https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/sharepoint
com.au – https://pay.com.au
EzyCollect – https://ezycollect.com.au
Apple Pay – https://www.apple.com/apple-pay
Google Pay – https://pay.google.com
WorkGuru – https://www.workguru.io
Dashboard Insights – https://dashboardinsights.com.au
Wagepoint – https://wagepoint.com
Sage – https://www.sage.com

Episode resources and links:

Tyler Caskey : https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylercaskey/
The Bean Counters : https://www.thebeancounters.com.au/

If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
1 hr 4 min
July 08🌟 Why the Best Opportunity Might Be One You Pass On
Not every opportunity that lands in your inbox is the right fit. In this episode, Heather (me!) explores the concept of "handball referrals" and why passing opportunities to the right person can strengthen relationships, build trust, and create value across the accounting profession. Drawing on real-world examples from speaking engagements, networking experiences, and community involvement, she shares practical advice on becoming a thoughtful connector within your professional network.
Key Discussion Points
Why saying "no" can be the most professional response when an opportunity falls outside your expertise.
How to identify the right person in your network and make meaningful referrals.
The importance of maintaining professional credibility by matching opportunities with genuine expertise.
Lessons learned from speaking engagements, panel discussions, and community involvement.
How strategic introductions build trust, strengthen industry relationships, and contribute to long-term professional success.
Conclusion
Professional networks thrive when people actively support one another. Whether it's a speaking opportunity, client referral, advisory role, or project, taking a few minutes to connect the right people can have a lasting impact. Heather encourages listeners to think beyond simply declining opportunities and instead consider how they can contribute to a stronger, more connected accounting community.

Episode resources and links:

If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
24 min
July 01🧩 Simplifying Your Firm’s Tech Stack for Better Workflow Visibility
Technology should make accounting firms more efficient, but many firms have accumulated layers of disconnected tools that create complexity rather than clarity. In this discussion, Heather Smith is joined by Tyler Caskey from The Bean Counters and John Munden from Cloud Office to explore how firms can simplify their technology stack, improve workflow visibility, reduce manual work and make better technology decisions.
Key Discussion Points
Tyler Caskey shares why firms often accumulate too many disconnected tools and how visualising workflows can reveal inefficiencies.
John Munden explains how standardised workflows help reduce bottlenecks, improve onboarding and create consistency across teams.
The panel discusses common technology traps including decision fatigue, duplicated processes and underutilised software.
Practical advice is shared on auditing a tech stack, identifying manual processes and prioritising integrations.
The conversation explores leadership, change management, client communication challenges and the future role of automation and API-driven workflows.
The key takeaway is that firms do not need more technology. They need better connected technology, clearer workflows and a structured approach to change. By focusing on visibility, automation and process consistency, accounting firms can reduce overwhelm and create scalable systems that support long-term growth.
Episode resources and links:

Tyler Caskey : https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylercaskey/
John Munden : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmunden/
Cloudoffis : https://cloudoffis.com.au/
Apps & Tools Mentioned
Xero, SharePoint, APS, Excel, Microsoft Lists, HandiSoft, BGL, NowInfinity, FYI Docs, Xero Practice Manager, Content Snare, Annature, Adobe Sign, DocuSign, Employment Hero, MYOB, QuickBooks, Stripe, Pinch Payments, Macquarie Bank Feeds, Mayday, Seamless
If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/
Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/
Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting
X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU
51 min

About Accounting Apps Podcast

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Exploring the intersections of accounting, technology and modern practice methodologies. Each month guests share how they built their business and how your business or clients can use technology to be…

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Accounting Apps Podcast

Accounting Apps Podcast episodes

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