The big news is I'm rebranding the Cloud Stories podcast to the Accounting Apps podcast (fingers crossed) In this episode, I talk about . . .   Summer adventures with family and Chester the Border Collie in Elanora and Crows Nest   Catching up on admin backlog and office makeover   Website update with recent photos and videos   Rebranding Cloud Stories podcast to Accounting Apps podcast   Introducing advertising to the newsletter and podcast   Clarification on ACCA Global Council election results   Embracing "StoryTeller" as the theme for the year   Upcoming speaking engagements in Birmingham and Cairns   Preview of the next episode with David Boyar, CEO of ChangeGPS       Contact details: Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting  X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU   

Kicking Off 2024: Adventures, Insights, and Changes from Heather Smith

*THE* podcast for accounting technology enthusiasts. Dive into the world of Accounting Apps with Heather Smith, a Chartered Accountant with a flair for storytelling and the engaging host of the Accounting Apps Podcast. Heather is obsessed with how effective automation and integration can produce timely clean data, to surface information for brave, fast data-informed decision making. Better data, better decisions, better business. She explores this topic with her guests, uncovering insights that offer you a competitive edge. Delve deeper into the Accounting Apps landscape and enhance your understanding. Hit that subscribe button now!

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Brilliant guests include entrepreneurs, founders, business consultants, accountants, bookkeepers, small business owners, cloud advisors, developers, cloud integrators and solution providers.

Each month guests share how they built their business and how your business or clients can use technology to be more effective and efficient. This may include exploring:

*How you can implement and integrate business tools with your online accounting software to automate processes, improve productivity, and profitability;
*How to build a business developing business apps; or
*How to build a tech stack that meets your business needs or introduce your clients to them.

If you have app overwhelm - this is an enjoyable podcast to listen to. Take it a step further and subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM

Contact details:
Heather Smith
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/

Tech News

Technology

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Business

News

Today I’m speaking with Adam Riches, CEO & Co-Founder of Netgain In this episode, we talk about . . . - Adam Riches discusses the new lease accounting standards IFRS 16 and ASC 842, and how Netgain helps clients navigate the complexities - Riches shares how Netgain automates lease data extraction from contracts using AI to save accountants time - The challenges of managing cash flow visibility and bank reconciliations for businesses are highlighted - How Netgain's tools like its close module help speed up the month-end close process and improve data quality - The history of accounting software development is examined, from mainframes to Excel, and how Netgain aims to continue innovating - Potential applications of AI in accounting are explored, such as automating bookkeeping tasks and catching previously overlooked errors Contact details:   Adam Riches linkedin.com/in/adam-riches-cpa Netgain: https://www.netgain.tech/  Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting  X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU   

Heather Smith shares interviews from the Festival of Accountants and Bookkeepers in Birmingham, including conversations about launching a UK version of XBert, the funding journey of a founder, updates on Sage products, and Richard Sergeant's advice for vendors. Insights cover compliance, automation, growth and more. - Interview with Will Rush  - GM(UK) for XBert discussing launching their platform in the UK - Conversation with Lucy Cohen - Co-founder and CEO of Mazuma, about starting her business and her recent funding journey (Featuring Alex Falcon Huerta) - Updates on BrightPay payroll from Donal Carr - Senior Account Executive Bright Software - Overview of Sage's offerings for accountants from Chris Downing - Director of Product Marketing | Accountants and Bookkeepers Sage - Richard Sergeant - Managing Director Principle Point shares tips for vendors working with accountants - Mark Lee Facilitator BookMarkLee.co.uk  Contact details: Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting  X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU   

Today I’m sharing with you a webinar I hosted on behalf of Projectworks and WorkGuru that provides an overview of alternatives to WorkflowMax by Xero as it reaches end of life 26 June 2024. The panellists who joined me were:  Heidi Seal Ops Consultant at Business Sense (NZ) Matthew Peng Founder at Business Continuum Matt Hayter Co-Founder at Projectworks Tony Harcourt Co-Founder at WorkGuru  The panellists discussed the triggers for change, comparing features of the two solutions. They explored how each platform caters to different industries. The expert implementers shared case studies of successful migrations, highlighting challenges and opportunities clients faced. The presentation covered developing a migration strategy, including exporting data, mapping business processes, and change management. Attendees learned about assessing potential solutions by considering key questions, desired outcomes, and post go-live improvements. The session emphasised preparing early by testing new platforms and leveraging experienced partners for a smooth transition. Overall, the webinar helped attendees understand options for transitioning away from WorkflowMax by Xero to Projectworks or WorkGuru.   The Flow of the webinar  Understanding the Transition  Trigger for Change Market Reaction   Comparative Overview of Solutions  Common Features Target Industries Points of Difference   Deep Dive into Migration  Migration Strategy Case Studies Assessing Solutions   Preparation for Transition   Relevant links  Heidi Seal Ops Consultant at Business Sense (NZ) L: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiseal/   E: Heidi@BusinessSense.co.nz B: https://businesssenseconsulting.co.nz/    Matthew Peng Founder at Business Continuum L: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-peng/  E : Matthew@BusinessContinuum.com.au  B: https://businesscontinuum.com.au/    Matt Hayter Co-Founder at Projectworks L: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-hayter-9180037/  B: https://projectworks.io/    Tony Harcourt Co-Founder at WorkGuru L: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-harcourt/  B: https://workguru.io/    Contact details: Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting  X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU   

Developing a Migration Strategy from WorkflowMax by Xero

Tyler Caskey, Partner at The Bean Counters joins me in this episode. Here are five interesting insights we talk about in the show: 1. Live Banking and Direct Digital Receipting: Tools like Weel and Airwallex enable real-time banking transactions, while solutions like Slyp and Tyro streamline payment processes by sending receipt details directly to accounting systems, reducing manual data entry. 2. Global Banking Solutions: Digital technology solutions like Airwallex, OFX, Paytron, and Wise facilitate international transactions with ease, offering competitive rates and near real-time transfers and bill payments in multiple currencies. 3. Google's Updates: Google is removing underutilised features across Android, including some related to voice controls, and shutting down its podcast app in favour of integrating podcasts into YouTube Music. This shift intrigued the author, who recently upgraded their device. 4. Updates in the Reporting Space: Various accounting software solutions have introduced updates, such as Calxa's unlinked accounts feature for cash flow forecasting, Fathom's improved KPI library experience, and G-Accon's introduction of automatic workflows within Google Sheets. 5. Xero's Invoices Changes: Xero is retiring classic invoicing in September 2024, prompting concerns from the community about missing features, like the ability to process an overpayment, inability to edit exchange rates, and inability to invoice bulk contact groups.  However, you can quickly switch back if you need features only currently available within classic invoicing. These insights highlight the ongoing technological advancements and changes within the accounting industry, offering both opportunities and challenges for practitioners and stakeholders alike.  Contact details: Tyler Caskey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylercaskey/  Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting  X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU 

Unlocking Accounting Innovations: Live Banking, Global Solutions, Reporting Updates, and Xero's Invoicing Evolution Unveiled

Today I’m speaking with Cassandra Scott, Director of Laurus Bookkeeping In this episode, we talk about . . . - Delve into how Xbert leverages AI to scrutinise client accounting data, spotlighting over 80 potential anomalies and risks. - Discover the power of automating routine tasks such as payroll, BAS, and bookkeeping with standardised workflows. - Learn how Cassandra efficiently mapped her first 10 workflows in just half an hour, enhancing consistency. - Explore Xbert's scheduling capabilities, enabling the assignment of recurring tasks to various cycles, from daily to fortnightly. - Understand the significance of using client notes to capture unique requirements for bespoke workflows. - Gain insights into data-driven reporting and analytics, offering a glimpse into staff performance and client engagements. - Uncover how customisable reporting allows practices to dissect data from diverse angles. - Get a peek at roadmap features like capacity management, utilising timesheet data for optimal scheduling. - Hear about the transformative impact Xbert has had on Cassandra's practice, facilitating work with global clients.   Contact details: XBert: https://www.xbert.io/  Cassandra Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandrascott/  Bookkeepers in Practice FaceBook Group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1652992464953692  Accounting Apps newsletter: http://HeatherSmithAU.COM Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting  X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU

Kicking Off 2024: Adventures, Insights, and Changes from Heather Smith

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