Fast-growing businesses eventually reach a point where their finance systems struggle to keep up. In this episode, CFO Anita Chow shares how Acusensus moved from a Xero and spreadsheet-based environment to a full ERP Oracle Netsuite platform to support rapid growth and international expansion.

The discussion explores what triggers the shift to ERP, the challenges of managing multiple entities and growing transaction volumes, and the benefits of having a scalable financial infrastructure. The move dramatically improved automation across key areas such as reporting, lease accounting, and financial consolidation while enabling the finance team to spend more time partnering with the business.

The conversation also highlights important lessons for finance professionals and advisors supporting scaling companies. Clean data, thoughtful change management, and clear success metrics are critical. Ultimately, technology is only the enabler. The real value comes from how finance teams use better systems to deliver insights, manage risk, and support strategic decisions.

Apps & Tools Mentioned: NetSuite, Xero, Excel, ProSpend, Zone & Co, Netgain, Employment Hero, Airwallex, NetSuite Planning and Budgeting

Contact details:

Oracle Netsuite : https://www.netsuite.com/portal/home.shtml

Acusensus : https://www.acusensus.com/

Anita Chow: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-chow-b77a0016/

Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/

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

How do you modernise a family business when the older generation resists change? This episode explores emotional barriers, trust, and a practical tiny pilot approach to digital adoption.

Summary

In this episode, I explore the challenge of introducing new technology into long established family businesses. Inspired by a LinkedIn post from Tony Harcourt, we unpack why tech resistance is often emotional, not practical.

Key discussion points:

• The generational technology gap in family businesses
• Emotional drivers behind software resistance: identity, control, pride, risk
• Insights from Xero’s behavioural research on tech adoption
• Why trust and communication shape innovation success
• The “Tiny Pilot” method for low risk digital change
• Practical scripts to reduce defensiveness and build collaboration
• Handling common objections like “It’s too expensive” or “We’ve always done it this way”
• The role of external advisors in supporting family dynamics

Key Takeaway:

Successful technology adoption in family businesses is about protecting legacy while reducing friction. Start small, make it reversible, and focus on outcomes, not features.

Contact details:

Tony Harcourt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-harcourt/

LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7432901025231159296/

WorkGuru https://workguru.io/

Behavioural Research by Xero https://www.xero.com/au/media-releases/behavioural-research-by-xero-uncovers-barriers-for-au-small-businesses/

Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/

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

Cameron Anderson General Manager XBert

What does AI fluency really mean for accountants and bookkeepers? This episode explores governance, prompting frameworks, and practical AI use cases you can apply immediately.

Summary

In this episode, we explore AI fluency for accountants and bookkeepers and what it really means in practice. From governance to prompting frameworks, we unpack practical steps firms can take today.

• What AI fluency means for modern bookkeeping firms
• Traditional AI vs Generative AI explained simply
• The AI and human partnership model
• Governance, ethics, and client disclosure considerations
• The RTRI prompting framework: Role, Task, Requirements, Instructions
• AI use cases across client communication, reporting, and operations
• Using AI for financial analysis and contextual insights
• Capacity planning and workflow intelligence
• Starting small and building sustainable capability
• Why data quality underpins every AI initiative

• AI should augment human judgement, not replace it
• Start with low risk, easy to validate use cases
• Build AI capability alongside human skills
• Transparency and governance matter
• Small, consistent learning builds long term fluency

XBert, Xero, ChatGPT, Gamma, Otter.ai, Fireflies.ai, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook

Contact details:

Cameron Anderson : https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronanderson2/

XBert : https://www.xbert.io/

Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/

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

AI is reshaping accounting roles, not replacing them. Explore what’s changing, emerging governance roles, and why strategic thinking and AI fluency matter more than ever.

Summary

As AI reshapes our profession, we're essentially seeing less demand for those routine tasks, a boom in strategic roles and new opportunities for those who understand the cross section between accounting and technology, so less routine, more strategy, more cross disciplinary. And today, I'd like to talk about what's changing in the roles, what's not changing in the roles, what new roles are emerging, and what accountants and bookkeepers should focus on now.

Key discussion points:

• Why AI will replace tasks, not accountants
• The decline of routine compliance work
• The rise of advisory, virtual CFO and fractional CFO roles
• Emerging positions: AI governance, risk reviewers, AI audit trail designers
• The concept of AI “agent managers”
• AI fluency as a critical professional skill
• The growing importance of critical thinking and communication
• Ethical obligations in an AI-embedded profession
• Practical steps: auditing your task list and shifting time to interpretation
• Why governance frameworks and AI policies are now essential

Key takeaways:

• AI augments judgement, it does not replace it
• Advisory creates value, productivity alone does not
• Ethics and professional standards become even more important
• Accountants are uniquely positioned to manage AI governance
• This is a leadership moment for the profession

Contact details:

Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/

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

Kyelie Baxter shares how AI is changing accounting firm workflows, boosting outputs, and freeing up capacity, while still needing strong guardrails and human judgment.

Summary

In this episode, Kylie Baxter discusses how artificial intelligence is transforming accounting firms, client expectations, and internal workflows, without replacing the human element.

Key discussion points include:

• Kylie’s journey from accountant to firm owner and governance leader
• Volunteering, advisory skills, and building confidence outside the firm
• How AI is being used safely inside an accounting practice
• Setting guardrails and values around AI adoption
• Digitising client admin and finance workflows
• Why accounts payable will become highly automated
• Why payroll still needs strong human involvement
• Paying staff based on outputs, not tools used
• Using AI to reduce mental load and prioritise tasks
• How AI is reshaping the competitive landscape for firms

Key takeaway: AI is a powerful tool for efficiency and capacity, but accountants who apply judgment, governance, and strategy will remain irreplaceable.

Kylie and I were guests of the LYD Unstoppable Growth Conference held at the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa in one of the most amazing places in the world, Surfers Paradise!

LYD stands for Light Year Docs, and it is a platform for creating verified legal documents including companies, trusts and commercial agreements. If that’s of interest to you, I’m sure the team would be happy to speak with you.

Contact details:

Kyelie Baxter : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyelie-baxter-fcpa-43224334/

IQ Accountants : https://iqaccountants.com.au

Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/

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 shares insights from MYOB’s Australian Open event, exploring AI integration, Google Gemini tools, new MYOB Solo app for micro businesses, and the power of keyboard aesthetics.

Summary

In this episode, Heather Smith shares insights from her time at the Australian Open with MYOB, exploring how technology, AI, and workplace tools are reshaping the accounting world:

• MYOB discussed their internal program "AI Every Day," which focuses on mindset, skillset, and toolset
• Overview of MYOB’s mobile-first solution, Solo, designed for freelancers and gig workers. It offers an alternative to spreadsheets for micro business clients
• Discussion on multi-entity support and MYOB's ERP solution, Acumatica
• It's worth remembering that MYOB still stores customer data within Australia across two local data centres
• MYOB's product spectrum includes solutions for micro businesses through to larger companies using Acumatica
• Heather shared her experience looking for a pink keyboard and how ergonomic design impacted her typing and comfort
• She also outlined how using Google Workspace's Gemini AI features has supported her productivity

Contact details:

MYOB https://www.myob.com/au

Solo https://www.myob.com/au/products/solo

Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/

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

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/heathersmithau_accountingandaccountants-activity-7423640248129298432-g81K

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/heathersmithau_accountingandaccountants-myob-activity-7422403938831720448-E5Sw

In the third of three instalments Heather Smith shares insights from TOACon 2025. She chats with industry leaders about business advisory, AI agents in accounting, community building, and embracing the future with purpose and relationships.

Summary

In this third instalment from TOACon 2025, Heather Smith explores the evolution of business advisory services and the powerful tech shaping the accounting profession.

• Interviews recorded live at the Shangri-La in Boracay during TOA Global’s TOACon 2025.
• Featured guests:
  • Dale Pearson (Intuit QuickBooks): Discusses new AI agents, the power of relationships, and integrating QuickBooks with MailChimp.
  • Mark Jenkins (The Gap): Talks about proactive advisory, community, and lifting average client value.
  • Lynda Steffens (The Small Business Project): Shares a practical roadmap for implementing advisory services.
• Emphasis on strategic relationships and practical AI applications.
• Advisory isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about how and why you deliver it.
• Encouragement for accountants and bookkeepers to carve out time for growth and purposeful client impact.
• Reflections on the Boracay experience and the importance of personal development, community, and consistency.

Heather Smith attended the TOACon 2025 conference as hosted media.

If you want to find out more about TOAGlobal please visit their website :toaglobal.com

If you want further information about anything covered in this podcast, please refer to the show notes: https://www.heathersmithsmallbusiness.com/blog/

Contact details:

Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/

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

Insights from TOACon 2025’s tech stream: AI, cybersecurity, client experience, and building resilient firms with smarter systems, featuring Practice Protect, AccountKit, and more.

Summary

In the second of three instalments Heather Smith explores highlights from TOACon 2025. Recorded at the luxurious Shangri-La Boracay, this episode dives into practical tools and strategies reshaping the accounting landscape.

Main Topics:

🌟 Customer Experience Strategy: Jason S Bradshaw on reducing client friction and defining your service promise.

🔐 Cybersecurity Deep Dive: Jenny Caune of Practice Protect on multi-layered security and sleep-at-night tech.

📊 Cloud App Report: Real usage data across 13 categories: what apps firms are actually using in 2025.

🔄 AccountKit Expansion: Matt Taylor from AccountKit on new features including reconciliations, integrations, and centralized workflows.

📈 Building a Business That Runs Without You: TOA Global founder Nick Sinclair on separating identity from business.

🧭 Truth in Leadership: Dom Thurbon on the fine line between experience and baggage, staying curious is key.

🏝️ Conference Culture & Community: Live insights from attendees on the power of connections, resilience, and hospitality.

Key Takeaways:

• Tech doesn’t build trust, clear communication does.
• Cybersecurity isn’t optional; it's foundational.
• Real-time app data beats outdated reviews: use the Cloud App Report.
• Centralised platforms like AccountKit are simplifying workflows.
• Leadership breakthroughs come from clarity, not complexity.

Heather Smith attended the TOACon 2025 conference as hosted media.

If you want to find out more about TOAGlobal please visit their website :toaglobal.com

If you want further information about anything covered in this podcast, please refer to the show notes: https://www.heathersmithsmallbusiness.com/blog/

Contact details:

Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/

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