Beyond Numbers by Xero

Dave Forrester from TaxAssist Accountants, Skipton maximises the potential of technology to simplify processes and improve client experience. He tells Xero’s Kat Bond how retaining staff and clients is key to this. Based in West Yorkshire, Dave Forrester’s practice is one of over 200 TaxAssist franchises in the UK, providing accountancy and bookkeeping services to small businesses and individual clients. Since Dave started the practice in 2009 his high performing firm has added a member of staff every year for the last fourteen years - which is no mean feat considering the economic turbulence we’ve seen over the last decade. Talking Practice Efficiency is a podcast mini series where our partners share how Xero products drive efficiency in their firms, helping them do more of what they love. Learn more about the formula to become a high performing practice with accountants and bookkeepers who are leading the way, exploring how they have used the Xero platform to get them there. Catch up on some of the key takeaways from the UK Roadshow 2023 and dive into resources to help you implement these at your practice here. You can find more stories from our Xero partners here. Transform your practice with Xero by replacing manual processes with automated, integrated workflows that benefit your staff, and clients. Learn how here. This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

How do you know if your business is high performing? For Dave Gibson and Josh Sanghera of Blu Sky in North Shields, their mantra is “Measure what you treasure”. That simply means don’t get lost in too many stats but focus on what’s important to you. Dave is the company’s co-founder and CEO and Josh is their Client Relationship Director, they tell Xero’s Kat Bond how Xero has helped them transform their practice. Started in 2008 in North Shields, Blu Sky now has 30 staff across three UK locations and they make it their mission to be a forward-facing firm. With a client base that includes many tech start-ups and ambitious small businesses, Blu Sky uses Xero’s online accounting software to automate routine tasks, streamline workflows and improve collaboration. Talking Practice Efficiency is a podcast mini series where our partners share how Xero products drive efficiency in their firms, helping them do more of what they love. Learn about the formula to become a high performing practice with accountants and bookkeepers who are leading the way, exploring how they have used the Xero platform to get them there. Catch up on some of the key takeaways from the UK Roadshow 2023 and dive into resources to help you implement these at your practice here. You can find more stories from our Xero partners here. Transform your practice with Xero by replacing manual processes with automated, integrated workflows that benefit your staff, and clients. Learn how here. This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Changing an accountancy business from paper to digital can be really tough going - and there are often failures on the road to success. That’s the experience of MJ Kane in Northern Ireland. MJ inherited a paper-based accountancy firm that he wanted to bring into the digital age, he tells Xero’s Ian Phillips what he has learned on the path to digital transformation. With 20 years in the business, a shelf full of awards and over 8000 clients in more than 30 countries, Northern Ireland’s MJ Kane & Co is still growing — and technology is driving their success. Originally founded by Michael Kane in Carrickfergus, the practice now also has offices in Belfast and Liverpool. Talking Practice Efficiency is a podcast mini series where our partners share how Xero products drive efficiency in their firms, helping them do more of what they love. Learn about the formula to become a high performing practice with accountants and bookkeepers who are leading the way, exploring how they have used the Xero platform to get them there. Catch up on some of the key takeaways from the UK Roadshow 2023 and dive into resources to help you implement these at your practice here. You can find more stories from our Xero partners here. Transform your practice with Xero by replacing manual processes with automated, integrated workflows that benefit your staff, and clients. Learn how here. This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

When Adam Pritchard set up the accountancy practice Linford Grey Associates from a barn in Leicestershire, he told his clients they would only be using Xero to work together - in order to ensure the company was able to work remotely, run as efficiently as possible and provide the best client service. He tells Xero’s Ian Phillips about sticking to his guns with Xero and what it’s meant for his bottom line. For a practice that only started life five years ago, Leicestershire’s Linford Grey has already emerged as an industry leader. The winner of the 2021 Total Xero Award — given to a firm demonstrating outstanding vision and ambition — Linford Grey embraces technology to empower their practice and deliver fantastic results for clients. Talking Practice Efficiency is a podcast mini series where our partners sharehow Xero products drive efficiency in their firms, helping them do more of what they love. Learn more about the formula to become a high performing practice with accountants and bookkeepers who are leading the way, exploring how they have used the Xero platform to get them there. Catch up on some of the key takeaways from the UK Roadshow 2023 and dive into resources to help you implement these at your practice here. You can find more stories from our Xero partners here. Transform your practice with Xero by replacing manual processes with automated, integrated workflows that benefit your staff, and clients. Learn how here. This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

The question of whether or not digital technologies improve productivity is a hot topic at the moment and the great news in accountancy and bookkeeping is that they absolutely do - and there are plenty of stories to prove it. Llyr Davies from PJE Chartered accountants in Lampeter, Wales tells Xero’s Ian Phillips about his practice’s digital transformation journey and why it’s been a game changer for both profitability and client service. As a platinum Xero partner, PJE Chartered Accountants are specialists in online accounting with over 50 years combined experience. They operate four offices in mid and west Wales. Talking Practice Efficiency is a podcast mini series where our partners share how Xero products drive efficiency in their firms, helping them do more of what they love. Learn more about the formula to become a high performing practice with accountants and bookkeepers who are leading the way, exploring how they have used the Xero platform to get them there. Catch up on some of the key takeaways from the UK Roadshow 2023 and dive into resources to help you implement these at your practice here. You can find more stories from our Xero partners here. Transform your practice with Xero by replacing manual processes with automated, integrated workflows that benefit your staff, and clients. Learn how here. This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Dayle Rodriguez, Systems Advisory Manager from Kreston Reeves tells Xero’s Marcus Bambridge how leaning into technology has enabled them to free up time for more advisory conversations and expand what staff at the practice do on a day to day basis. Kreston Reeves is over 200 years old, but they’re constantly finding new ways to evolve with Xero’s tools and ecosystem partners. They often review their choice of software and communicate this decision internally, so any member of staff can be “on message” with clients about why they’re using a particular piece of tech. Talking Practice Efficiency is a podcast mini series where our partners share how Xero products drive efficiency in their firms, helping them do more of what they love. Learn more about the formula to become a high performing practice with accountants and bookkeepers who are leading the way, exploring how they have used the Xero platform to get them there. Catch up on some of the key takeaways from the UK Roadshow 2023 and dive into resources to help you implement these at your practice here. You can find more stories from our Xero partners here. Transform your practice with Xero by replacing manual processes with automated, integrated workflows that benefit your staff, and clients. Learn how here. This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Alasdair McGill is a co-founder of the award-winning accounting firm Ashton McGill based in Dundee, Scotland. They won Small Firm of the Year at the Xero Awards in 2020, and were finalists in the Mid-Size Firm category for 2023. Alasdair’s firm is really unique in that he and his son Andy founded first as a consulting business specialising in service design and customer experience, and eventually recognised an opportunity to take what they’d learnt and apply it to accountancy. With a clear passion for design thinking, Alasdair shares in this episode how they’re using service design principles to improve the client experience for their accounting firm. Beyond Numbers, hosted by Ash Gibson, is a platform for pacesetters within Xero's community to chat candidly about the issues and topics that crop up at work. It's about exploring the challenges and talking through the tips, tricks and insights together. It's not about educating accountants on how to do their job, but more on how to win at work. This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Andrew van de Beek is the founder of Australian accounting firm Illumin8 and has been pushing the boundaries of the industry since 2012, when he – at the age of just 26 – founded what is now a multi-award-winning firm. Illumin8 has been 100% Xero, 100% digital since day one and they’ve never looked back. In this episode, he talks about accounting stereotypes, the difference between the industry here in the UK vs Australia, how he’s juggling family and work, neurodiversity and much, much more. Beyond Numbers, hosted by Ash Gibson, is a platform for pacesetters within Xero's community to chat candidly about the issues and topics that crop up at work. It's about exploring the challenges and talking through the tips, tricks and insights together. It's not about educating accountants on how to do their job, but more on how to win at work. This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Alexander von Schirmeister talks about life, leadership and his journey so far as Xero’s UK & EMEA managing director. Bringing more than 25 years of senior leadership experience to the role, he joined Xero at the beginning of 2022, taking the reins from Gary Turner who had been steering the ship for the previous 12 years. Taking over a business like Xero is no mean feat, but Alex expertly leads with confidence and a real human spirit. Beyond Numbers, hosted by Ash Gibson, is a platform for pacesetters within Xero's community to chat candidly about the issues and topics that crop up at work. It's about exploring the challenges and talking through the tips, tricks and insights together. It's not about educating accountants on how to do their job, but more on how to win at work. This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

We delve into the fascinating journey of multi-award winning firm Ad Valorem. Husband and wife duo Nigel and Nikki Adams are joint managing directors, and along with marketer George Bruce, they share their impressive story of growth and reveal some of the secrets behind their thriving business. We explore Ad Valorem’s unique team structure and focus on culture, their approach to sales and marketing, and their digitisation journey. Nigel, Nikki and George also share their experience acquiring firms to grow, including the valuable lessons learned along the way. Beyond Numbers, hosted by Ash Gibson, is a platform for pacesetters within Xero's community to chat candidly about the issues and topics that crop up at work. It's about exploring the challenges and talking through the tips, tricks and insights together. It's not about educating accountants on how to do their job, but more on how to win at work. This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Liz Noble shares her truly personal story about what motivates her to build a thriving business, live her life to the absolute fullest, all while helping others. Liz Noble is from Providence Financial and in 2022 won the Community Impact Award at the Xero Awards for her initiative to support vulnerable members of her local community during the peak of Covid lockdowns, organising Covid-safe grocery and prescription deliveries with an army of 250 volunteers. For more information on Providence Financial, click here. Beyond Numbers, hosted by Ash Gibson, is a platform for pacesetters within Xero's community to chat candidly about the issues and topics that crop up at work. It's about exploring the challenges and talking through the tips, tricks and insights together. It's not about educating accountants on how to do their job, but more on how to win at work. This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Jo Wood knows how to be a brilliant bookkeeper and a successful business owner and has a podcast, book and runs courses to teach others to do the same. Jo also runs an award-winning six figure bookkeeping practice around her family and has rapidly grown her business to a team of 12 in less than two years. During this episode she explains how you can start and scale a practice, find great clients, design services that transform businesses and charge more than you think bookkeeping is worth. For more information on Jo’s book, The Bookkeeper Rises, click here. Beyond Numbers, hosted by Ash Gibson, is a platform for pacesetters within Xero's community to chat candidly about the issues and topics that crop up at work. It's about exploring the challenges and talking through the tips, tricks and insights together. It's not about educating accountants on how to do their job, but more on how to win at work. This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

A special episode of Beyond Numbers, recorded live on stage in London during our recent Xero Talks event. It brought together keynote speakers and industry leaders to explore the future of work in the accountancy sector and focused on one of the biggest issues facing the industry today - recruitment and retention of staff. Max Whiteley, Alicia Williams, Jyoti Patel and George Bruce joined Ash Gibson for the future leaders panel which covered topics including culture, the value of diversity and flexible working, learning and development through formal training on the job along with the benefits of having a side hustle. They also share their views on the role artificial intelligence will play in the accounting industry. For more information and to rewatch the sessions from Xero Talks click here. You can find out more about our panelists below: Max Whiteley, Accounts and Legal Alicia Williams, Shorts Chartered Accountants Jyoti Patel, Xero George Bruce, Ad Valorem Beyond Numbers, hosted by Ash Gibson, is a platform for pacesetters within Xero's community to chat candidly about the issues and topics that crop up at work. It's about exploring the challenges and talking through the tips, tricks and insights together. It's not about educating accountants on how to do their job, but more on how to win at work. This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

It’s more important than ever for the business community to play a part in protecting our planet. At COP27, there was an increased call for stronger action on net zero – but it can be difficult for smaller businesses to know where to start. In this episode, we’re talking about sustainability in business with James Lizars, who is founder of accountancy firm Thrive, and Elliot Coad, CEO and co-founder of Ecologi whose carbon footprinting tool, Ecologi Zero, connects to Xero’s accounting software to give businesses the ability to calculate their carbon footprint and gain insights into their emissions, at no extra cost. Take inspiration on how the accounting industry can not only measure and improve upon their own footprint and impact, but also how they can support millions of the UK’s small businesses to do their part too. This podcast is hosted by Ash Gibson, brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

How will artificial intelligence impact the future of accounting? And how can the tech sector be more inclusive? These are just two of the big topics explored by Xero Talks’ keynote speaker, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon. Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon is a prodigy in every sense of the word. At age 11, she was the youngest girl ever to pass A-level Computing, and was just 20 years old when she received her Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Oxford. She’s had some impressive roles throughout her career in finance and tech. And is now the founder and CEO of Stemettes, an organisation dedicated to inspiring and promoting the next generation of young women into STEM sectors as well as a trustee at the Institute for the Future of Work. You can find out more about Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon here. This podcast is hosted by Ash Gibson, brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

How can you use social media more effectively to build your brand, acquire new clients and nurture existing ones? In this episode you’ll hear from one of the accounting industry’s most renowned social media stars Stuart Hurst from Accounts and Legal, along with Xero’s senior social media manager Jes Lee. They reveal the trick to getting started on TikTok and share the secrets to staying relevant. You can find out more about Accounts and Legal here. This podcast is hosted by Ash Gibson, brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Welcome back for series two of Beyond Numbers. A podcast for accountants and bookkeepers, hosted by Xero's Ash Gibson. Beyond Numbers is a platform for pacesetters within Xero's community to chat candidly about the issues and topics that crop up at work. It's about exploring the challenges and talking through the tips, tricks and insights together. It's not about educating accountants on how to do their job, but more on how to win at work. Hear from some of the UK's leaders in cloud accounting about how they're turning the industry on its head!

What can you and your businesses do to better support your teams when it comes to their wellbeing? In this episode, Xero’s Wellbeing Lead and People Experience Business Partner, Liz Crump, along with Emily Deakin and Liz Micklem from Moore Growth Accountants share their experiences and advice when it comes to focusing on mental health and wellbeing in your business. Looking after and investing in wellbeing can help your people, your teams and your organisation. According to a recent study commissioned by Xero, businesses that invest more than £1000 in employee wellbeing achieved an average revenue growth of 50.3% and employee growth of 47% during the same period. This podcast is hosted by Ash Gibson, brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Paul Bulpitt, co-founder of The Wow Company and Jen Surtees, Director of People Experience at Xero discuss everything from having a strong purpose and living and breathing company values, to knowing when to say hell yes to that new hire. Both Jen and Paul are hugely passionate about people, and had some brilliant advice for building and maintaining company culture. The Wow Company, is a national firm of accountants and a long-time Xero platinum partner. This podcast is hosted by Ash Gibson, brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Pamela Phillips, founder and managing director of de Jong Phillips talks about what it takes to build an award-winning firm and shares her brilliant advice on how to pull together a winning industry award application. De Jong Phillips won Small Firm of the Year at the 2022 Xero Awards, and Pam herself was awarded Xero’s Most Valued Professional on the same night. Pam has also won and been a judge for the Accounting Excellence awards. De Jong Phillips are a tech-focused accountancy firm with a commercial mindset, specialising in helping agencies thrive and scale. This podcast is hosted by Ash Gibson, brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.