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What a way to start 2023 with our first guest of the year - Sonia Gibson. She is a visionary accounting professional and the Founder of Accounting Heart - which is proudly an all female firm. We get a sneak peek of her accounting journey, her business acumen and her passion for finances and helping smaller businesses achieve their financial goals. Listen in and to learn more about Sonia and some of the struggles she faced following her path as an accountant and how her commitment to the industry and her clients has helped her build a solid foundation of success. Some of the topics we talked about are: Her inspiration and initial interest in accounting - how does one start? Commerce vs Public Practice - going back and forth and her early dream of becoming a Partner What would she have done differently and how much experience do you actually need to start your own practice? The things you learn as a partner and why she decided to go solo Do corporate values actually mean anything? Assessing client fees on a macro level and the struggles of charging fees effectively Benchmarking salaries and increases - how to make the numbers make sense. Reaching firm maturity, how long does it actually take? Comparison between solo practice and a multi-partner established firm Strategise and Build. The secret to a stable team and how improving staff relationships will help you in the long run Networking - Build build build! Importance of a good administrator/practice manager and a competent team Software talk - the beauty of automation Utilising people's values, making better decisions, and highlighting femininity Coaching - tips on how to find the right business coach for you and the great thing about reaching out Contact Info You can find out more about Sonia Gibson and her firm Accounting Heart from their website: https://www.accountingheart.com.au/ Michael Edelstein: michael@recruitmentexpert.com.au Mobile: 0421 892 145

Our fantastic guest this week - Amanda Gascoigne with her own coaching business Amanda Gascoigne Consulting is a highly recommended consultant and is currently considered as one of the best practitioners who turned coach - and has many accolades to back it up! In this episode, she shares her knowledge, experience, and the struggles of balancing family life and the demands of public practice especially as a female in the male dominated accounting world. Join us and do not miss this episode where Amanda tells us where, why and how she started her journey and her shift to consulting. We also discussed topics such as: Changes in the accounting world, from being a male dominant industry to having more female accountants Reasons for shifting from the traditional career path Leaving a firm amicably and building your own What made her sell her practice five years ago at a fairly young age and pursue coaching The time she knew she wanted to do something different and how to keep up with a changing industry Her overwhelm point and the key to proper discipline How to run a business with a family member Things she does not recommend in a multi partner firm and the ideal model you should use The impact of accounting technology Finding the right people for your accounting firm What will happen next in the accounting industry with more remote workers and offshoring and what to watch out for "I want people to actually love what they do” Show Notes MYOB Ignition Xero Quickbooks Orange IQ The Balance Firm Community Any Ordinary Day: What Happens After the Worst Day of Your Life? by Leigh Sales Untapped: Break through the fear & grow your revenue from existing clients Amanda Gascoigner started her career in public practice with one of the top firms in NSW and went on to open and sell her own successful practice. She is driven and passionate about what she does, and is a huge advocate of embracing changes and following your dreams no matter where you are in life. She is dedicated to helping small and solo accounting practice owners achieve their goals and help them reach financial freedom. Her motto - Own your journey NOW! Quick facts: Founder of her former practice Gascoigne Consulting Pty Ltd back in 1999 Voted Top 50 Women in Accounting multiple times Currently an Advisor, Advocate and Consultant for Accounting Practices & Small Business with CAANZ & ATO

Aside from having the chance to interview some of the most amazing speakers during the 2-day conference, I also had the opportunity to speak at the Accounting Business Expo.   Here is a little snippet of my session, titled:  𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒇𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕.   Some of the topics I touched on include:    1) What are the commonalities between those that have too many accountants knocking on their door and those that hear crickets!   2) Why do some firms seem to have Remarkable Retention and others have Atrocious Attrition?   3) What changes can you make in your firm to improve your recruiting and retention strategies?   4) Future of the accounting industry when it comes to talent!    𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤?   As a recruitment professional and an accountant myself - I wanted to present everyone with numbers, evidence and questions that would aid us in becoming remarkable industry leaders not just in servicing our clients but in making sure that employee engagement and retention is top notch, which in the long run would help us build a much better practice.   For more videos and interviews please go to our Youtube channel or Linkedin page.   𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐲: Michael Edelstein Accountants Exposed Podcast Recruitment Expert   𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭:  - Rita Nehme  - Mausumi Barooah   #AccountingBusinessExpo2022 #ABE #AccountingConference #AccountingExpo #AccountantsExposed #RecruitmentExpert

Bookkeeping, just like any other profession, has come a long way. From manual records to all the fancy AI software available nowadays, how will bookkeepers keep up? Is the digital era really a threat to the bookkeeping space or is it an opportunity? Our guest, Matthew Addison from the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers will give us the answer to all these questions. Join us as Matthew shares why he chose to be a bookkeeping advocate and its importance to the accounting industry. Some more of the topics we discussed include: Being a partner in his own accounting/bookkeeping firm whilst being an advocate for the bookkeeping industry The ideal accounting and bookkeeping model Classic bookkeeping vs modern bookkeeping Bookkeeping practice and regulation and the differences with other countries Digital bookkeeping and automation and the impact its had on the industry and clients Why bookkeeping survived and thrived amidst the rise of automation software Biggest threats and opportunities for bookkeeper Thoughts on offshoring in the space "A practical challenge in the bookkeeping space at the moment is narrowing your scope- Becoming an expert in a few, not trying to be an expert in everything available to you.” Show Notes Kylie Baxter podcast Paul Dunn podcast Bookkeeping for dummies by Veechi Curtis Matthew Addison started his accounting journey in a Big 4 firm which he deems as his ‘breeding ground’ but later on chose to be a passionate advocate for the bookkeeping space back in 1990. He’s an all around expert in the industry with years of experience in accounting, tax, payroll, business advisory and software accounting solutions. He aims to bring modern solutions to modern problems and let people know that bookkeeping is here to stay and that Bookkeeping is not a pathway to becoming an accountant, Bookkeeping is a profession of its own. Quick facts: The chair and co-founder of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers in Australia, a professional association for Bookkeepers Has been recently appointed as a Director of COSBOA (Council of Small Business Organisations Australia) Involved in the development of: Business Accounting Software, Software Company Partner Programs and the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (recognition of Bookkeepers as Registered BAS Agents). Co-Chair of the ATO Tax Practitioner Stewardship Group (2018-2021), member of the ATO BAS Agents Advisory Group and the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) Consultative Forum.

Our fantastic guest this week - Kyelie Baxter - an award winning accounting professional from IQ Accountants who became a partner at a younger age than most - is finally here! In this episode, she passes on her knowledge, experience, and the secrets to standing out in this competitive industry. She also provides useful advice on how we can cope with the overwhelming changes in the industry and more importantly, how to embrace technology. Join us and take this opportunity to learn more about Kyelie and some of the innovating things she is doing through her commitment to the industry, her firm and her clients. We discussed topics such as: What her path was like as an award winning accounting professional Standing out in the accounting industry and building a unique process Programs that helped improve efficiency and getting into bookkeeping Achieving exceptional client growth What she loves about accounting Being a mother and a practitioner and how to achieve work life balance and why it's important Finding the right people - challenges and processes Their workflow, client services and her take on automation Maintaining culture in a hybrid work set up and rules for engagement Increasing fees and letting go of clients Her thoughts about offshoring Modern era accounting - the biggest changes and the downsides of it Timesaving and the 'Zero Email' work habit "We're not married to anything, we embrace change” “If you're going to back anyone, back yourself” Show Notes MYOB Slack Kyber Intuit Dext How I work podcast by Amantha Imber ReMarkable Lynda Steffens  Kyelie Baxter, packing 20 years of experience in public practice (who actually wanted to work in retail!) is a no nonsense accountant. She is driven and passionate about what she does and has successfully built her own amazing team for all types of business. She specialises in taxation, and has been dedicated to the industry. Her goal - to be able to simplify the accounting process for clients! Quick facts: Back to back winner of Australian Accounting Awards in 2020 and 2019 Partner of the Year (Boutique Firm), MYOB 2019 Certified Consultant of the Year and 2018 MYOB Accountant of the Year and a past Telstra Business Women's Awards finalist

According to analysis, 1 out of 4 Australians hold crypto assets and it's going to increase exponentially in the next few years and currently, not many of us in the accounting industry are knowledgeable about the booming digital asset world- we are getting overwhelmed! But as it's becoming a more popular source of wealth/income for all kinds of people nowadays, it's something that we need to delve into to give proper advice to our clients in need. How do we account for crypto? Is it taxable? Today, we will try to bridge the gap and ensure that accountants walk away knowing what they should be looking for. This webinar is here to unpack what crypto is all about (not just for criminals or a fad – blockchain is here to stay) – something accountants need to get a handle on as many of their clients will be holding it, but with little guidance and a lot of confusion. Our expert panel members today are: Danny Talwar of Koinly, Michael Bacina from Piper Alderman and Greg Valles of Valles Accountants Here are the topics covered on this webinar: How our 3 guests got involved in cryptocurrency Why we should be paying attention to crypto now Common misconceptions when it comes to crypto and blockchain The concept of staking, coin wrapping and doxxing Scams and criminalities - the problem with anonymity Lay of the land when it comes to crypto & tax Taxing digital assets (crypto coins, NFT, staking etc…) - income vs capital, CGT issues etc… State of regulation right now, ATO Guidance & Board of Taxation Review Tax Controversy and protecting your clients Issues for Consumers, Accountants, Lawyers/Companies What are the issues at the moment – volatility, not fit for purposes, people being stung twice by staking – what are the alternatives? What are the various global approaches and how do they compare to Australia? What do accountants actually need to know? DAO’s NFT’s, DAO's, DEFI and all the other acronyms you see  Show Notes: Cryptocurrency Investing For Dummies

In this day and age of technology, what does the future hold for the accounting industry? John Waterworth - the managing director of Valenta Australia sits down with us to help us understand more about what robotics for Accounting Firms especially during a time of critical staff shortage. Join us as you won’t want to miss this episode where John tells all about the backbone of robotic process automation (RPA), and how you can implement in your practice to save costs, find efficiencies and improve client service! We discussed topics such as: Getting into robotics in the accounting industry and his journey in automation Challenges with automation How RPA (Robotic Process Automation) is different from AI and what digital transformation is all about Using RPA and how it compares to other software processes Cost of building a new process and who benefits the most from it Backlash against against robots vs the reality Where AI and natural language technologies started and the future of RPA "One of the biggest hurdles I guess is just freeing up people from being chained to the computer, doing those repetitive tasks.” Show Notes Xerox  MYOB APS Zybra John Waterworth, with 25 years of experience in leadership, digital transformation and cyber security is an expert when it comes to all things automation. He is focused on helping businesses adopt RPA (Robotic Process Automation) and Artificial Intelligence to achieve sustainable profitability. His goal: to drive growth and profitability using the emerging technology! Quick facts: Serial Entrepreneur Speaker at the Accounting Business Expo 2022 Contact Info To find out more about how RPA can benefit your firm you can contact John directly at john.waterworth@valenta.io or on his mobile 0403 035 656. Michael Edelstein: michael@recruitmentexpert.com.au Mobile: 0421 892 145

Struggling to figure out how to add more value to your clients? Retain your staff better? Increase profitability? Our guest today Lynda Steffens from The Small Business Project might just have the solution for you. No it’s not tax returns or cash flows or any kind of fancy dashboards you usually expect when you hear advisory - but a revolutionary way of approaching and implementing advisory as a service in your business. If that’s got you curious, join us as Lynda uses her experience from practice and coaching methodologies to explain the core of advisory and how you can successfully and systematically implement it in your practice. Some of the topics we discussed include: Why advisory won't increase the value of your firm The right approach to advisory and moving your firm forward The prep work, process and timeframe of offering advisory ROI and other benefits of doing advisory The struggles with attracting and retaining young accountants Falling out of love with the technical aspect of accounting Emotional IQ leadership, the four pillars of framework and coaching methodology What she would have done differently throughout her career "Essentially at its core, advisory is anything you don't have to do.” Show Notes The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth Hardcover by Amy Edmonson The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen Covey The E Myth: Why Most Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber Lynda Steffens fell in love with accounting when she was 14, which is earlier than most people we know. And now with 25 years of experience, she is still passionate in assisting clients achieve their goals and just in general enjoys helping fellow accountants especially the next-generation to do things differently and expand their skill set. Her motto: to always make a difference and embrace progress! Quick facts: Used to have her own firm, LS Accountants which she sold The Director of Intuitive Practice alongside with her founded company The Small Business Project Author of the book “Accounting Revolution” and wrote the article “Embrace Change Now or Risk Losing Everything” A qualified SMJ Speaker

Brett Kelly, CEO of one of the fastest growing accounting firms in Australia, is back by popular demand, rated as one of the top podcasts we recorded, we’re glad to have him back for a meaningful conversation that will have you hooked and wanting more. Sit back and watch as we present our first ever video podcast where Brett opens up about his plans, ideas and worthwhile sentiments about the accounting industry. His Covid response and what has been happening for the past 2 years in the industry and how Kelly Partners has proven that his business is recession and pandemic proof How to take care of your people with and without a pandemic The secret to good teamwork and great leadership His take on discrimination - ageism, sexism and homophobia Flexibility vs. keeping it status quo Prediction for the next 12 months Secret sauce to Kelly Partners fast growth - their firm structure and how they compare to the rest of the industry Bottom up vs. top down leadership Organic growth of firms and acquisitions Managing multiple partners and equity What you need to do when you take over a firm His new 10-year plan "I said to investors, "I genuinely believe this is a recession proof business", it's very well structured and I took the pandemic as an opportunity to prove the strength and fitness of the business and our people, and prove the business was pandemic proof." Contact Info You can find out more about Brett Kelly and his firm Kelly+Partners from their website: www.kellypartners.com.au To find out more about Recruitment Expert please go to www.recruitmentexpert.com.au or email Michael Edelstein: michael@recruitmentexpert.com.au

We’ve heard many stories and advice about leadership, but our guest Steve Meyn - a 30+ year partner of PKF Lawler, helps us uncover what it really takes to get to partnership and what it takes to stay there and lead from the front in this ever changing industry. Listen in as Steve opens up about his passion, loyalty, hardships and many more topics and plenty of invaluable advice for accountants young and old: Finding accounting work exciting and how it has changed over the years What it takes to become a partner in a modern firm and how to fast track it Impact of tech, automation on client relationships and profitability The ecosystem approach to practice management and workflow and his strategic initiatives Inter-generational wealth transition and the human aspect of it What exactly is succession planning and how to do it well What it's like staying in one firm long term and why Collaborative leadership and what makes a great leader Lawler Partners' journey becoming PKF and how accounting firms shuffle and brand themselves "You don't have to have all the answers but what you got to do is have the people around you that can help you get the answers” Show Notes PKF Tableau The Castle Life As I Know It by Michelle Payne Steve Meyn is an experienced accountant and leader with over 30 years of experience in the industry. He is passionate about improving businesses and helping the owners. He became a partner at a young age and boasts waking up everyday and loving what he does! Quick facts: Has been with PKF since 1989 and Managing Director for most of that time PKF Australia Chair since March 2022 Contact Info You can find out more about Steve Meyn and his firm PKF from their website: https://www.pkf.com.au/ Michael Edelstein: michael@recruitmentexpert.com.au Mobile: 0421 892 145 “Connect and profit at Australia’s biggest exhibition and conference for the fast-changing World of Accounting, Business, Finance and Money! Accounting Business Expo is back and set to take place in-person on 28 & 29 April at the ICC in Sydney.  The market is evolving continually at a rapid pace with new solutions, product developments, and trends designed to enhance the way you do business. Don't miss your chance to get up to speed and join Australia’s largest, most comprehensive, and ground-breaking event for savvy, forward thinking accounting and finance. Visit www.accountingbusiness.com.au to book your FREE spot!”

Our guest, the remarkable Kylie Parker from Lotus Accountants imparts her knowledge and experience as an accountant, a partner, a business founder and a woman on all aspects of her career and personal life. If you are curious on how she built her firm without any marketing within this unique niche, then you won’t want to miss this episode. Running a highly profitable sole practitioner firm vs trying to grow for the sake of growth, and which makes you happier Reasons for starting her firm and the unique structure she used to organically grow it Her journey into the accounting industry, working from small to mid tier to Big 4 firms as as being a sole practitioner and her advice to young accountants Being a very structured and organised person and and how she finds and a creative outlet in accounting and in her life What she would be doing if she was not an accountant and her side hustles Importance of networking and nurturing professional relationships and how she goes about doing that Her books and advice on insurance, divorce, and prenups Canceling out people and the answer to the question- ‘Do female partners differ in terms of managing the firm?’ Why she prefers the ‘no marketing and referral only’ type of firm “If someone's passionate and wants to help and wants to learn, they're a pleasure to work with. Because they always go above and beyond” “Connect and profit at Australia’s biggest exhibition and conference for the fast-changing World of Accounting, Business, Finance and Money! Accounting Business Expo is back and set to take place in-person on 28 & 29 April at the ICC in Sydney.  The market is evolving continually at a rapid pace with new solutions, product developments, and trends designed to enhance the way you do business. Don't miss your chance to get up to speed and join Australia’s largest, most comprehensive, and ground-breaking event for savvy, forward thinking accounting and finance. Visit www.accountingbusiness.com.au to book your FREE spot!”

The self proclaimed ‘millennial accountant’ - our guest, Michelle Knight from Little Miss Bookkeeping shares everything there is to know about growing your own business, following your heart and using social media to drive leads and lifestyle! Get comfortable as Michelle talks about her passion for business, her profession and just life in general: How she handles more than 100 clients with 3 offshore staff Dealing with old school clients during this WFH era Offshoring and her experience working with a BPO company Useful software, SEO and marketing her way through social media and streaming platforms Lead generation secrets What she would be doing is she was not an accountant or bodybuilder and what made her leave the industry Founding and growing her online and bookkeeping business at the same time and finding balance between multiple businesses and life Business partnerships and how to maintain good relationships Supporting her clients during the pandemic Dealing with day to day challenges What differentiates a great bookkeeper from an average one and her end goal "I enjoy helping new business owners and existing business owners to a level where everything is nice and clean.” Show Notes Aura Eve Pty Ltd BDO Little Miss Bookkeeping Practice Ignition Xero Carbon Slack  Asana BlueRock Toastmasters Finance Yourself Academy Dext Tax Nuggets Academy by Joyce Ong Showpo Accounting Business Expo You can find out more about Michelle Knight   and her firm Little Miss Bookkeeping from their website: https://littlemissbookkeeping.com.au/ Michael Edelstein: michael@recruitmentexpert.com.au Mobile: 0421 892 145

As part of our international expansion we’re pleased to have our first American guest Gary Shamis from Winding River Consulting sharing all there is to know about how to effectively lead a business in the modern era where baby boomers are running firms populated by millenials. Gary is a global powerhouse when it comes to leadership training for accounting firms and trains partners from all over the world, especially focusing on what it means to be an effective Managing Partner. Listen in as he reveals the blueprint to successful leadership in an accounting firm and the how to’s that will help you achieve your goals. Here are some of the topics we discussed in this episode: Journey from medicine to accounting Taking over his father's small fee based firm and growing it to one of the top firms in the US Running a tax centric firm as an auditor and the struggles he had to go through Picking your niche and his secret to expanding his firm The three foundations of his firm that created multiple revenue streams Difference between plain strategy and effective execution Identifying top talent - what to look for and how to let go of employees The baby boomer and millenials of accounting and the cultural differences of partners around the world What advice he thinks accounting firms and accounting partners struggle to accept and implement The biggest difference and the challenges between being a managing partner and a regular partner and what differentiates a successful Managing Partner from a failing one The changes that he thinks had the most impact in the accounting industry A few practical tips on hiring virtual staff "I had a really simple philosophy which was - every year I wanted to be better than I was a year ago and all I wanted to do was continually improve knowing it's never good enough and it could always be better" “You can't make a bad investment on a great person” Click the link for more info: https://recruitmentexpert.com.au/podcast/strategy-vs-execution-how-to-build-a-100m-firm-within-a-single-niche/

Most people nowadays use social media to promote their business in the most fun and creative ways, and our guest for today is not one to miss out on the opportunity! Meet Natalie, the accountant who gets her clients from Tiktok! Keep listening as Natalie Lennon from Two Sides Accounting shares her ups and downs of running a fast growing business during a pandemic. Some of the thing we touch on include: Coping with burnout like most accountants during Covid, and her techniques to deal with that Managing financially struggling clients and why she goes above and beyond in helping them Her accounting journey - expanding her client base even during the pandemic and the importance of being a proactive accountant How she quickly progressed to an accounting firm manager as a university graduate to getting bored in commerce and then becoming a young equity partner in a firm Challenges of returning to Public Practice from Commerce Dealing with being sidelined as a junior partner in the boardroom, speaking up, and going her own way What her goals were in starting her own firm, and how she got her first clients The hard truth of growing your business and subsequent coaching Taking advantage of social media in the midst of pandemic and how to be a 'modern' accountant The obstacles in getting your ideal employee, tips in hiring and her outsourcing journey Automating your process and friends as clients and how bookkeeping was an integral part of her firm When to put a break on ‘growing’ “I was never very good at selling before, and I thought it was me. But then I realised that it was what I was selling…I didn't believe in what I was selling, whereas now - Two Sides is me, it's what I want to do” Show Notes Totally bossing It podcast Slipstream group Hammerjack Xero Cloud Carbon MYOB Dropbox Mailchimp Slack DocuSign Paul Dunn Rob Nixon Peter Knight You can find out more about Natalie Lennon and her firm Two Sides Accounting from their website: https://www.twosides.com.au/

Have you ever heard of an accountant who gets his clients from the gym? Our guest today, Reuben Bergola from New Wave Business Solutions surely has unique ways in scaling up his business. In this episode, he shares his journey, vision and tips on how he managed to start young and organically grow to a multi-million dollar accounting firm in a short span of time. Join us as Reuben shares the how to’s in structuring your accounting firm, from recruitment to marketing and many more things: How he has managed to organically grow his accounting firm from $0 to $3.6m TO & 30 staff in 5 years. Starting his bookkeeping business while he was still a manager at a firm with 50 staff The reason he switched from Quickbooks to Xero What makes his firm different from traditional accounting firms and how he effectively deals with service price increases and client attrition Starting out alone to partnership constant reinvesting to scale up the business How digital marketing enabled the business to really take off What it's like working with your wife The importance of creating a niche for your firm and the ecommerce space What work culture really means, how to recruit people and where to look His experience with outsourcing and the issues with work from home employees Leadership and how to grow as a person “Work culture is a collaborative environment that people are happy to be in” Show Notes Rob Nixon Ed chan WIZE Mentoring Molly Pittman courses Brad Smith  Intuit Shaneel Pforr BlueRock Peter Lalor  Karbon Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight Traction by Gino Wickman Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't by Verne Harnish

First of all - you have to check out Blue Rock’s website - it’s out of this world (click on the link below)! This ‘picture’ will paint a thousand words about our guest Peter Lalor from Blue Rock who shares his incredible vision and the journey towards materialising it. Join us in this episode as Peter shares his insights into leadership and what it takes to build a distinctive brand from nothing to a billion dollar firm, and many more things: How a creative person like him thought of joining the accounting industry Why he decided to pursue a multidisciplinary accounting form model The first year journey of BlueRock and it's temporary setbacks Which tools have had the biggest impact on the firm Advice on what makes a firm successful, how to add value for your customers and the pillars of growth How to set a clear version for your business, and his BlueRock 3030 Vision Getting the right people on board Designing a successful grad program Balance a fast growing business, family and hobbies and his take on working long hours Future of technology in the accounting industry “I'd rather build a legacy where people feel like they've come in well, and they've left well.” “If you build it they will come. And it's all about building a great ecosystem to excel and the rest will sort itself out.” Profile Peter Lalor is an experienced Company Director with a demonstrated history of working with entrepreneurial business owners since his 20’s. He is passionate about thinking differently and about technology in the Accounting industry. His keenness for growth and opportunity to help entrepreneurs and develop a strong client community and his value and purpose are admirable. His vision - to work with smart people to break the rules! Show Notes Blue Rock Asana My prosperity Xero APS XPM - Xero Practice Manager Managing the Professional Service Firm by David Maister One Thing You Need to Know: About Great Managing, Great Leading, and Sustained Individual Success by Marcus Buckingham The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon by Brad Stone Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

From working for the top accounting software businesses to starting the Australian operation for Xero, with his wife on their kitchen table, our special guest Wayne Schmidt from PracticeEQ tells it how it is. Join us as he shares the secrets to marketing, leadership, taking risks, building an accounting business, and many more things: What it's like working at the three largest accounting software companies - Reckon, MYOB, and Xero His love for travelling and the special lessons he learned through the years of adventure Working while travelling - especially during Covid Major changes in the accounting industry in times of the pandemic and what we can expect How he goes about hiring the right staff and dealing with clients Methodology for selling and marketing - the types of advertising you should cross off your list Importance of branding and revamping your website The future of outsourcing and the technology involved in working remotely The 3 main things that all accounting firms should start doing “The Accounting industry has moved online, the world moved online, whether they like it or not” Profile Wayne Schmidt knows accountants and industry inside out, being in the industry for more than 35 years. He is a sales and marketing guru, a traveller who likes blogging, a website designing enthusiast and a business mentor. One word to describe him? - Bold. He likes taking risks and is passionate about life and calls himself a ‘digital nomad’. His goal - to help accountants find out what makes them unique! Show Notes Travel, Dine, Stay Practice Succession  Andrew Van De Beek Illumin8 MYOB Reckon Xero Baked with XOXO Paul Dunn Contact Info You can find out more about Wayne Schmidt and his firm Practice Paradox from their website: https://www.wayne-schmidt.com/ Michael Edelstein: michael@recruitmentexpert.com.au Mobile: 0421 892 145

In this episode, we speak with Baidy Laffan, a leader who despite her young age, has been able to achieve so much by following the unconventional path to success. Sit back and listen to this episode with the amazing Baidy Laffan of Yellow Canary as she shares: Advice for young accountants trying to decide which path to follow in their career What it takes to be a Partner - balancing the 3 hats of producer, manager and leader. Leadership vs management - and developing those skills Importance of mentorship for career progression and personal growth Biggest challenges and insights in the journey to audit partnership "Don't ask, Don't get!” Profile Baidy Laffan is not just an accountant but a leader who is incredibly passionate about her work, and about getting more women into tech and senior roles. Her spirited goal to bring radical change in the industry by offering new solutions and her big picture thinking is what brought her success. Her goal - to achieve the impossible through creative problem solving! Some quick facts: Former Audit Partner at PKF, one of the top firms in Australia, and a member of Scale investors - the first and only network of Angels investing in exceptional female founders. Head of Customer & Growth at at an exciting tech business - Yellow Canary Speaker and Coach at Startmate Show Notes: Man's Search for Meaning  - Victor Frankl Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds - David Goggins Contact Info You can find out more about Baidy Laffan and his firm Practice Paradox from their website: https://www.yellowcanary.com.au/ To find out more about RecruitmentExpert please go to www.recruitmentexpert.com.au or email Michael Edelstein: michael@recruitmentexpert.com.au

The ever enterprising Greg Hayes of Hayes Knight , a familiar face in the industry, leading one of the top mid-tier accounting firms in Australia, discusses the fundamental challenges facing the baby boomer accounting firms and what they need to do to adapt. Some of the thing we cover include: Fundamental changes & challenges for baby boomer practitioners Impact of technology and automation on junior accountants and selection for different skills New 'normal' i the post Covid world and remote working Being strategic - because turning up to work is no longer enough Why a Partner should never have more than 50% chargeable hours Relationship between growth and staff & client retention Mechanics of valuations for Accounting Firms Different structures for bringing in new partners CA vs CPA debate Challenges of transitioning from small sole practitioner to a national firm "We have a generation of accountants now who have never had to market, hunt and eat and kill to get their business" Profile Greg Hayes is a highly skilled professional who has a wealth of experience in this industry. From running an ASX Listed business to successfully building his own national firm and being well known in both Australia and globally for his achievements - he brings incredible wisdom to every conversation. He is passionate, focused on his goals and what is possible. His belief - “Lateral and innovative thinking sometimes makes the difficult achievable!” Some quick facts: Entrepreneur who has built multiple successful businesses in the accounting and wealth industry Former National Chairman of Small Business Centre of Excellence, CPA Australia, and of NSW Public Practice Committee, CPA Australia, Former member of Advisory Panel for the Board of Taxation, the Managing Director of ASX listed Easton Investments Limited, Director, Morison KSi International Asia Pacific Author of “A Practical Guide to Business Valuations for SMEs”, “Practice Management for Professionals” Co-author of “STS in Practice, CPA Australia” and “CGT in Practice, CPA Australia” Contact Info You can find out more about Greg Hayes and his firm Hayes Knight from their website: https://www.hayesknight.com.au/ To find out more about RecruitmentExpert please go to www.recruitmentexpert.com.au or email Michael Edelstein: michael@recruitmentexpert.com.au