-
All Streams | 9.30am | Keynote Address | Presented by Accountants, for Accountants
Kerry Agiasotis, President Access APACBrodie Dixon, Managing Director at H&R BlockAccountants are telling us it’s a harder job today than when they started their careers. This keynote will address the technology elephant in the room, and give you a front row seat to the solutions coming your way to help solve your biggest tech challenges.But we know you want to hear from real customers. Kerry will be joined by H&R Block Managing Director Brodie Dixon for a warts and all perspective on how the tax preparation giant processed around 600,000 returns over a four-month tax season. Numbers aside, this will be a real-life view into the every day tech challenges faced in practice, and what we're doing to help.You will also be the first to hear about the next stage of product evolution on the horizon for both cloud native and desktop software, including the biggest technology investment in Access history. If you've ever wondered what your practice would look like if you could unlock and use your tax and client data to do more for your customers, this session is not to be missed.
-
Stream 1 | 10.35am | How to develop your onshore and offshore team for the next generation
Rodney Stone, Executive Director at Stone Accounting Group
Mark Said FCA, Founding Director at MKS GroupWith 30 years of offshoring experience Mark and Rod prove that offshoring works as a solution to the talent shortage.Join this session to hear:* Why no onshore
accountant should be doing work in Xero* Why you need an oversupply of talent and capacity in your offshore team* If you should let your clients hire your offshore staff directly* How to get over the stigma of offshoring* How to develop an onshore/offshore culture with your staff* How to develop client-facing accountants for your onshore team* The key requirements to give recruiters when hiring onshore* Why advisory work attracts and keeps Aussie talent and why tech facilitates the client experience* Why the hack work should be done overseas* How the outsourced staff provide the solution for the issues onshore staff have* What to do when onshore staff feel threatened when you hire offshore staff* Why the offshore team enhances the onshore team's performance* Why the local team must inspire your clients* How to make your local team feel important -
Stream 2 | 10.35am | Busting Small Firm Myths
Paul Meissner, CCO at 5ways Group
.png?width=125&height=125&name=AAA-speakers%20(250x250px).png)
Chartered AccountantsAmy FoxCPA, Managing Director at Goldi GroupCarmel Filippone, Accountant at M & C AccountantsPaul runs a 100% compliance firm and thinks advisory comes from good client relationships. Amy is 80% advisory and has introduced 20% of her fees as compliance on an as-needed basis; she got her TAN a year ago. Carmel has a compliance-ba
sed firm and was going to shut down the practice until she signed up with ChangeGPS and changed her revenue mix.Some of the myths they'll be busting:* You don’t have to grow in headcount or volume* You don’t have to take every client that comes your way* What an accountant does is not transactional!
* Accountants are NOT bad at relationships* Not all accountants can do advisory* You don’t have to have the crap poured on you, you control your business* Younger accountants can’t give good advice -
Stream 3 | 10.35am | Practical use of AI for efficiency and productivity gains
James Carey, Director at Prime PartnersSarah Lawrance, Founder & Chief Dreamer at Hot ToastAnita Da Encarnacao, Principal at AretexSarah builds AI tech, Anita uses everything she can get her hands on, and James has made it part of his day-to-day.Join this session to learn:-
* Why the AI hype explosion has died down, and it’s now a part of working life*Should you use off-the-shelf AI or build your own plugins*Should you solve your day-to-day problems with AI as a shortcut OR find a new blue horizon* The cost and opportunity of building your own robots* The downside of using AI for content – humans can tell it isn’t you* Building AI robots to prepare workpapers* Robotic Process Automation Vs AI* Using AI in your existing products like Office OR using the AI app ecosystem* Why Prompt are the new staff instructions* Why AI is a boost for your day -
Stream 4 | 10.35am | FIRESIDE CHAT: Creating Partner Capacity to Overcome Growth Challenges
Sharon McLafferty, Co-founder & CEO at Slipstream GroupNick Bradley, Accountant, PBS AccountantsDavie Mach
-
Stream 5 | 10.35am | Preparing clients for generational wealth transfer
Dena Ballantyne, Succession, Asset Protection & Estate Planning at HansensBrett Hansen, Director at Hansens
-
Stream 6 | 10.35am | Fathom Unveils New Tools & Access Accountants Compliance
Geoff Baker, Global Head of Customer at FathomLuke Ryan, Product Manager at FathomAndrew Sherman, Head of Engineering Accts & Attache at Access APACFathom Unveils New Tools to Monitor, Identify Insights & Engage Your Client Base
- What is Fathom and what is our mission?
- Discovering opportunities to monitor and engage with clients
- Overview of new Product offering – Fathom Portfolio
- Demonstration
- Overview of features
- Walkthrough of key use-cases
Access Accountants Compliance – New Product Announcement We don’t want to give away too much, but this session will give you an overview of the new Access Accountants Compliance solution that combines our flagship Tax and Ledger with a new CRM integration. If you’re a tax practitioner, or a small or boutique practice, this one is for you! -
Stream 1 | 11.30 | Creating Capacity with Better Compliance
Paul Meissner, CCO at 5ways Group Chartered AccountantsKerri Selby FCPA, Principal of KDC AccountingJoin Paul Meissner FCA (2 staff firm) and Kerri Selby FCPA (12 staff firm) to learn how, in a small firm, capacity matters.Join the session to hear:* How the right clients for you can make you money without taking on more clients
* Why you should price to win the right client* Why unlimited tax advice get you paid properly for communication you give clients out of scope* Why better compliance is about more processes, not more software* Why you don’t need a 20-page checklist to get a job done just because that’s what you’ve always done* Why scaling back helps you grow -
Stream 1 | 2.25pm | Managing Client Demands and Expectations
Edward Huntingford, Partner at FordhamEd’s weekly LinkedIn column, “Another Week in My Practice”, gives real-world case studies of an advisor managing compliance timelines and business advisory.Join Ed to learn:* How to manage client expectations as the ATO ramps up compliance activity and makes it harder to keep clients happy* How to get a lot done in a meeting to limit scope creep on business advisory by doing the advisory with the client face-to-face* How to develop and maintain bankers as a referral source* Why you only need two great referral sources so you can have fewer and go deeper* How "Hunting in Packs" makes you look bigger and gives clients confidence* How to succession plan your client relationship* Why clients value phone calls so much – and why you need to teach staff how to do it early – 5 minutes on the phone can save a 30-minute email* How to use project updates to avoid clients wondering why their project is so expensive -
Stream 2 | 11.30am | A New Manifesto for Accountants
David Boyar FCA, General Manager of ChangeGPSTim Munro, Founder of ChangeGPSSean Bernard, Engineering Team Lead at ChangeGPSAccountants are either thriving and playing the M&A game or finding it more challenging than ever!
We need a new vision, a new purpose. We are belted by compliance obligations, domination of technology as thought leadership and bereft of new ideas that focus on the one thing that made us public practitioners in the first place – the client!We are the experts. We got Job Keeper into small businesses. We put money in family homes. We are there when Australia needs us.The manifesto provides a new way to consider our role in modern Australian Society. -
Stream 4 | 11.30am | FIRESIDE CHAT: Innovative Client Solutions
Kyelie Baxter FCPA, Managing Director at IQ AccountantsTyler Caskey, Partner at TheBeanCountersMatt Feehan CPA, Managing Director at Three Rivers GroupMatt Feehan changed his career to focus on his health, get back on the tools and love his clients, Tyler Caskey changed his role for
health and follow what he was interested in, both firms, their clients are enjoying a broader service offering. Join this session, hosted by the award-winning accountant Kyelie Baxter to learn* How do you add a new services, how do you extend from compliance and what mindset do you need to achieve it.
* Why it’s ok to take a loss on your first engagement for a new sercice and not worry about value pricing while you’re learning* Why knowing your best three YES clients are the best to start something new with* Why owning the human side of your practice helps you innovate* If you don’t ask your client questions that keep them up and night someone else will* What an honest pain point conversation looks like with a client* Own the words Trusted Advisor – it’s more than a marketing slogan* How to believe you can you create value for a client* An innovative solution doesn’t need to be a sexy new “how to offer AI services for clients”. Increased transaction accuracy is boring and ultra high value and fixes the bad data problem.* How innovative solutions can change your clients perception of you outside of the compliance base* Why starting with VCFO services is a bad idea to start with* The value of finding out what keeps a client up at night* Why you have value by working with so many different clients -
Stream 6 | 11.30am | Adapting to AI; The future of work in accounting
Aaron Wittman, XBertCameron Anderson, XBertWith the rise of AI, the future of work for accountants will continue to evolve. XBert presents a talk that dives into the transformative impact of technology on the industry. We'll explore how accountants can proactively prepare for change, embracing AI tools that enhance efficiency and insights. With client expectations evolving rapidly, this session will also discuss practical strategies for managing these changes and positioning yourself as a trusted, forward-thinking advisor. Join us to learn how to navigate the future of accounting with confidence and adaptability.Join this session to learn:* Future of work and the impact of AI* Preparing for, and embracing change* Navigating client expectations
-
Stream 5 | 11.30am | When Your Client Outgrows Xero Ledger
Evan Puzey, Fathom
-
Stream 2 | 2.25pm | Compliance to Advisory, streamlining your workflows and processes
David Boyar FCA, General Manager of ChangeGPSTim Munro, Founder of ChangeGPS
Seb Vechio, Micro Firm Ambassador at ChangeGPS -
Stream 3 | 2.25pm | 5 Ways and 3 risks of using AI in your firm for client delivery
Heather Smith , FCA, FCCA, Accountant & StoryTeller, ANISE ConsultingSarah Lawrance FCPA, Founder & Chief Dreamer at Hot ToastJames Carey FCA, Director at Prime PartnersChris Wheatley FCA, Director of Scope Accounting & Co-founder of the SBAATA Facebook group
Heather will be hosting this panel, with someexperienced AI users to delve into:* What client delivery means
* Common problems with client delivery* How AI can improve client delivery in Accounting firms* How can you use AI to enhance your services* The risks of relying on AI for client delivery* The risks of your clients using AI
* Whether we should be inputting sensitive client information into AI* Why people’s fail attitude toward AI make it hard for them to succeed -
Stream 3 | 2.25pm | Tech Stack for Micro and Small Firms
Chris Wheatley, Director of Scope Accounting & Co-founder of the SBAATA Facebook groupBec Laut, E-commerce & Accounting Automation ConsultantFor small firms, tech can leverage time quickly.
* Why the set-and-forget tech stack strategy makes you go backwards* What should a Practice Manager do – is it about the clients or you?* Year 1 Vs Year 12 – what tech changed?* AI is not an accountant – why you should keep most of your work out of it* What an AI policy for your team looks like* What happens when you say yes to tech that doesn’t work for you* If tech doesn’t work, is it your fault or the vendors* Should a firm do due diligence on their workflows or their vendors? -
Stream 4 | 2.25pm | FIRESIDE CHAT: Growing through Acquisitions, Mergers and Roll-ups
Amanda Gascoigne FCA GAICD, Business Coach for Accounting and Professional Service Firms Amanda Gascoigne ConsultingNatasha Mackenzie CPA, Managing Partner at Evergreen Accounting & Advisory Pty Ltd
-
Stream 5 | 2.25pm | Why & How I Grew My Firm
Nick Bradley, Accountant at PBS AccountantsCharisse Russell, CA(GradDipCA), BCom, Business & Corporate Advisor at HKS RussellDavie Mach
-
Stream 6 | 2.25pm | H&R Block | Client Fireside Chat
Simon Peterson, Head of Sales - Accountants at Access APACBrodie Dixon, Managing Director at H&R BlockHear from H&R Block Managing Director Brodie Dixon as he shares insights, lessons and best practice from a tax season which saw the tax preparation giant process around 600,000 returns across 400 sites. This will be a real-life view into the every day tech challenges faced in practice, and what we're doing to help. In conversation with Simon Peterson, Brodie will share his experience and advice, and you will also have the chance to ask your own questions.
-
Stream 4 | 3.20pm | FIRESIDE CHAT: Profitability vs Work-life Balance
Kyelie Baxter FCPA, Managing Director at IQ AccountantsNatalie Lennon CA, Founder & Director Two Sides Accounting and Two Sides AcademyCatarina Santini, Director/Founder at CS Accounting* Why having a plan to get your work life balance makes more sense than a business plan* Why going back to lodgment list planning is the backbone of resource planning* How re-adjusting who you work with helps you
-
Stream 5 | 3.20pm | Business Advisory for Multi-Million Dollar Orgs
Amy Fox CPA, Managing Director at Goldi Group
Darren van Zyl, Partner at Elements Advisory GroupJoin this session to learn:* How to maintain client touch points without 4BASs and an Annual Tax Return Meeting* Why unlimited email communication builds trust and doesn’t butcher your own profitability
* Why Advisory Margins outperform Compliance Margins when you focus on advisory * How does CFO service scale, and why is 10 clients the maximum a partner can look after at once?How to set an agenda for a monthly meeting that is customized for the client and not you -
Stream 6 | 3.20pm | Access Evo - Secure AI Solution Announcement
Adam Tiberi, Senior Vice President, APAC Product & Engineering at The Access GroupSean Bernard, Engineering Team Lead at ChangeGPSWe are saving the best till last. Be the first to hear about the next stage of product evolution on the horizon for both cloud native and desktop software, including the biggest technology investment in Access history. If you've ever wondered what your practice would look like if you could unlock and use your tax and client data to do more for your customers, this session is not to be missed.
.png "AAA-speakers (250x250px)")
