Accounting Apps Podcast

Heather Smith | Accountant & Storyteller
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Business News
  • Updated Weekly

Exploring the intersections of accounting, technology and modern practice methodologies. 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. Brilliant guests include entrepreneurs, founders, business consultants, accountants, bookkeepers, small business owners, cloud advisors, developers, cloud integrators and solution providers. Hosted by Heather Smith, an award winning Chartered Accountant with a flair for storytelling. Heather is obsessed with how effective automation and integration can produce timely clean data, to surface information for brave, fast data-informed ...

  1. 🌍 From Hawke’s Bay to Canada: Ben Richmond on Accounting, Tech & Leadership

    1d ago

    🌍 From Hawke’s Bay to Canada: Ben Richmond on Accounting, Tech & Leadership

    Accounting technology leader Ben Richmond joins the podcast to discuss his remarkable journey from regional accounting practice in New Zealand to becoming President and CEO of WagePoint in Canada. Drawing on decades of experience across public practice, corporate finance, Xero’s international expansion and payroll technology, Ben shares lessons on leadership, customer relationships, change management and the future of accounting. The conversation explores how accountants can broaden their career horizons, embrace public speaking, leverage AI effectively and build more meaningful advisory relationships with clients. Ben also reflects on what it takes to grow software businesses across different countries and why the accounting profession remains one of the most impactful careers available today. Key Discussion Points Ben Richmond's career journey from public accounting to Xero and WagePoint. Lessons learned scaling accounting technology across New Zealand, the US and Canada. Why public speaking, emotional intelligence and relationship skills matter more than ever. The opportunities and challenges AI presents for accountants and bookkeepers. How payroll, advisory and specialist services create valuable growth opportunities. Ben’s perspective offers a refreshing blend of optimism and realism. While acknowledging the disruption created by AI and rapid technological change, he argues that accountants and bookkeepers who embrace innovation, strengthen their advisory capabilities and invest in relationships are exceptionally well positioned for the future. The discussion highlights the importance of curiosity, adaptability and customer-centric thinking in both accounting and software businesses. Apps & Tools Mentioned: Ben Richmond : https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-richmond-ca-b8794220/ WagePoint https://www.wagepoint.com/  Xero https://www.xero.com  Stripe https://stripe.com/  QuickBooks, https://quickbooks.intuit.com   Episode resources and links:   If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/ Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/ Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU

    1h 1m
  2. Inside Dext’s 2026 Roadmap: AI, Payments and Practice Insights 📊

    Jun 18

    Inside Dext’s 2026 Roadmap: AI, Payments and Practice Insights 📊

    I sat down with Paul Wittich, General Manager APAC at Dext, to explore how the platform is evolving beyond document capture into a fully automated bookkeeping workflow. We discuss AI Assist, payments, underused features, pricing transparency and what 2026 looks like for the profession.   Paul’s career journey from management accountant to APAC leader at Dext Dext’s evolution from OCR tool to end-to-end bookkeeping automation platform AI Assist and how it learns user behaviour to reduce repetitive work Underused features: Vault, supplier statements, supplier rules and practice insights Pricing transparency, ecosystem competition and what is coming next in 2026   The profession is shifting rapidly. As AI accelerates change, the firms that embrace automation thoughtfully and strategically will be best positioned to move beyond compliance and into higher-value advisory services.     Episode resources and links: https://dext.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwittich/   If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/ Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/ Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU

    27 min
  3. The Fake Coursera Collaboration🚨: How a Scammer Groomed Me for Weeks

    Jun 11

    The Fake Coursera Collaboration🚨: How a Scammer Groomed Me for Weeks

    This episode is a personal and confronting reflection on how quickly even a cyberaware professional can lose control of a long-standing Gmail account. What began as a seemingly legitimate brand collaboration unfolded into a carefully orchestrated phishing attack that removed all security measures within seconds. The experience highlights how modern cybercrime blends patience, credibility signals, automation and psychological triggers to bypass even cautious users. The phishing grooming process and credibility signals used • The red flags hidden in plain sight • What happened in the 60-second account takeover  • The recovery journey and escalation through professional networks  • Three essential security measures: 2FA, passkeys and backup codes This story is not about fear. It is about awareness, practical action and understanding how sophisticated attacks have become. The lesson is simple: five minutes of security setup can prevent four days of stress. Apps & Tools Mentioned: 1Password, LastPass Authenticator, Coursera, Impact, Google, Gmail, Revolut, Claude, ChatGPT, LinkedIn, Twitter, TeamYouTube Episode resources and links: Alex falcon Huerta’s story : https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alexfalconhuerta_fraud-alexfalconhuerta-share-7394786345610682370-s-49/  https://cyberwardens.com.au partners with the Australian Government to deliver free online security courses with verifiable CPD.   If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/ Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/ Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU

    45 min
  4. The Only Chartered Accountant to ever Compete on Survivor: Purpose Beyond the Jungle🌴| Josh Hickford

    May 13

    The Only Chartered Accountant to ever Compete on Survivor: Purpose Beyond the Jungle🌴| Josh Hickford

    This episode explores how a Chartered Accountant can move beyond traditional finance roles to create meaningful community impact. Josh Hickford shares his journey from Big Four accounting and banking to founding a cancer support app and leading Taranaki Foundation. It is a conversation about resilience, technology, philanthropy and the evolving role of accountants in a digital world. Josh Hickford’s career journey from PwC and TSB Bank to CEO of Taranaki Foundation Founding Ripple after a Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis in partnership with the Cancer Society Building a donor journey using digital tools like Raisely and Stripe Technology, automation and trust in community foundations Why human connection remains central to the future of Chartered Accountants This episode reminds us that accounting is not just about compliance or reporting. It is about leadership, confidence and using financial skills to build stronger communities. Technology may accelerate the journey, but purpose and people still lead the way. Apps & Tools Mentioned:  Raisely - https://www.raisely.com/  Sharesies https://sharesies.com.au/  Stripe, GoFundMe,  Otter.ai, Xero, Episode resources and links:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshhickford/  https://taranakifoundation.org.nz/    If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/  Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/  Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting  X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU

    42 min
  5. The Accounting Tapestry: Weaving Systems, Software and Strategy Together 🧵| Trent Yesberg

    May 6

    The Accounting Tapestry: Weaving Systems, Software and Strategy Together 🧵| Trent Yesberg

    In this episode, I sit down with Trent Yesberg, founder of Twine Apps and director of Regional Business Services in Townsville. We explore the realities of subscription billing, SaaS development, and what AI means for accounting firms today. This conversation moves from practical billing frustrations to the future of automation in our profession. Trent’s journey from banking to building Regional Business Services and launching Twine Apps The problem Twine Biller solves around subscription billing and margin recovery Fixed fees vs mixed fees and passing on vendor price increases Launching at Accounting & Business Expo and navigating Pitch Fest AI, agents, automation and real examples saving hours inside a bookkeeping firm This episode is a grounded, practical look at innovation from inside the profession. It is about solving real problems, protecting margins, and staying curious in a rapidly shifting tech landscape. Apps & Tools Mentioned Twine Biller – https://twineapps.co Twine Apps – https://twineapps.co Regional Business Services – https://www.regionalbusinessservices.com.au Ignition – https://www.ignitionapp.com QuickBooks – https://quickbooks.intuit.com Xero – https://www.xero.com MYOB – https://www.myob.com Zoho – https://www.zoho.com Uber Eats – https://www.ubereats.com DoorDash – https://www.doordash.com Deliveroo – https://deliveroo.com Employment Hero – https://employmenthero.com Claude – https://claude.ai OpenAI – https://openai.com Substack – https://substack.com LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com Facebook – https://www.facebook.com Otter.ai – https://otter.ai Episode resources and links:   Twine Biller : https://twineapps.co Twine Apps : https://twineapps.co Trent Yesberg : https://www.linkedin.com/in/trent-yesberg-52b35366/    If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/  Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/  Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting  X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU

    59 min
  6. AI, APIs and Accounting Shakeups in Q1 2026 🚀|Tyler Caskey

    Apr 29

    AI, APIs and Accounting Shakeups in Q1 2026 🚀|Tyler Caskey

    The first quarter of 2026 has delivered an extraordinary wave of AI-powered enhancements, mid-market strategy shifts and workflow automation upgrades across the accounting technology ecosystem. This session, presented at the Sydney Accounting and Bookkeeping Expo, dives deep into what matters, what is hype, and where firms should pay attention. MYOB Solo, MYOB AI BAS checks and Intuit Accountant Suite signal strong practice management evolution Xero Ultra beta, dashboard upgrades and API pricing changes reshape the mid-market and app ecosystem Karbon recurring billing, AI agents and Uncat integration enhance workflow efficiency Paidnice transforms debt collection automation, alongside major payroll innovation from Tanda Fathom AI commentary, Dext AI Assist and Dashboard Insights BAS Pro elevate advisory conversations As always, the key message is this: block time in your calendar and properly explore these features. Many of these releases can immediately improve efficiency, reduce risk and deepen client advisory if implemented thoughtfully. Jump across to the blog here : https://www.heathersmithsmallbusiness.com/blog/ for all the links so you can deep dive into the details. The podcast is also released on Accountants Daily Momentum Media’s Under The Hood brand : https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/technology/22289-under-the-hood-accounting-tech-update-for-q1-2026  MYOB – https://www.myob.com MYOB Solo – https://www.myob.com/au/products/solo Intuit Accountant Suite – https://quickbooks.intuit.com/accountants/ Xero – https://www.xero.com Xero Ultra – https://www.xero.com Cloudoffis - https://cloudoffis.com.au/  Uncat – https://www.uncat.com Karbon – https://www.karbonhq.com  Paidnice – https://www.paidnice.com A2X – https://www.a2xaccounting.com Tanda – https://www.tanda.co Emerge – https://www.emergeapp.net Restoke – https://www.restoke.ai AdvisorLi – https://www.advisorli.com Jazoodle – https://www.jazoodle.com Fathom – https://www.fathomhq.com Employment Hero – https://www.employmenthero.com LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com ActiveCollab – https://activecollab.com Calcs – https://www.calcs.com.au Dashboard Insights – https://www.dashboardinsights.com.au Sharesight – https://www.sharesight.com Botkeeper – https://www.botkeeper.com Zendu – https://www.zendu.com NAB Bookkeeper – https://www.nab.com.au/business/accounts/online-accounting SuiteFiles – https://www.suitefiles.com Zapier – https://www.zapier.com Process Street – https://www.process.st EzzyBill – https://www.ezzybills.com/ Procore – https://www.procore.com ServiceM8 – https://www.servicem8.com/au/ Dext – https://www.dext.com MYOB Discover Live – https://www.myob.com/au/events/discover-live Xerocon – https://www.xero.com/events NetSuite SuiteWorld – https://www.netsuitesuiteworld.com Intuit Connect – https://www.intuit.com/connect   Episode resources and links:   Accounting & Business Expo : https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/accounting-business-expo/index.stm    If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/  Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/  Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting  X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU

    31 min
  7. Build a Second Brain 🧠Strategies for Bookkeepers & Accountants

    Apr 22

    Build a Second Brain 🧠Strategies for Bookkeepers & Accountants

    In this episode, I share a practical and grounded introduction to the Second Brain concept, tailored specifically for accountants and bookkeepers. Originally delivered at the Sydney Accounting and Business Expo, this session explores how to better capture, organise and leverage the constant stream of information we face every day. If you are feeling overloaded, context switching constantly, or struggling to retrieve your best ideas when you need them, this conversation will resonate. The Second Brain concept popularised by Tiago Forte and why it matters for accounting professionals The CODE framework: Capture, Organise, Distil, Express Practical tools including Obsidian, Google Keep, Evernote and voice memos Using platforms like LinkedIn and newsletters as part of your knowledge system How a trusted external system reduces decision fatigue and creates space for strategy, creativity and better advisory A Second Brain is not about adding complexity. It is about creating a reliable system that supports your professional thinking. When you trust where your knowledge lives, you free up energy to serve clients, think strategically, and innovate with confidence. Book  Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte Apps & Tools Mentioned Obsidian – https://obsidian.md Google Keep – https://keep.google.com Evernote – https://evernote.com Otter.ai – https://otter.ai LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com ChatGPT – https://chat.openai.com Episode resources and links: Accounting & Business Expo : https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/accounting-business-expo/index.stm    If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/  Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/  Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting  X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU

    27 min
  8. AI Tools Accounting Firms Are Using Right Now 🤖

    Apr 15

    AI Tools Accounting Firms Are Using Right Now 🤖

    This special panel episode, recorded live at Accounting Business Expo, explores AI tools that are genuinely useful right now for accounting firms. With perspectives from firm owners and a software vendor, the discussion covers practical implementation, guardrails, and real-world results. Chris Wheatley, Kylie Baxter, and Tim Garth share how AI fits into their tech stacks Liam Hindle shares MYOB’s vendor perspective, including how AI is automating BAS preparation and removing the “work around the work” so accountants can focus on higher-value advice. Meeting transcription tools like Otter, Fireflies and Copilot are becoming essential Workflow automation using tools like n8n and ClickUp is reducing admin time AI agents, sentiment analysis and BAS automation are emerging opportunities Guardrails matter: paid accounts, privacy settings, and compliance boundaries are critical The conversation reinforces that AI is not about hype. It is about removing grunt work so accountants can focus on strategic client advice and better outcomes. Apps & Tools Mentioned: Otter – https://otter.ai Fireflies – https://fireflies.ai Microsoft Copilot – https://copilot.microsoft.com Practice Ignition – https://www.practiceignition.com Ignition – https://www.ignitionapp.com Practice Protect – https://practiceprotect.com Change GPS – https://www.changegps.com Dext – https://dext.com MYOB AE – https://www.myob.com/au/products/practice-solutions/accountants-enterprise AccountKit – https://www.accountkit.com.au Xero XPM – https://www.xero.com/au/practice-manager BGL – https://www.bglcorp.com BGL Infinity – https://www.bglcorp.com/infinity Annature – https://annature.com.au Seamless – https://www.seamless.com.au Content Snare – https://contentsnare.com Law Cyborg – https://lawcyborg.ai n8n – https://n8n.io ClickUp – https://clickup.com Claude – https://claude.ai Cursor – https://cursor.sh Glean – https://www.glean.com Abby – https://www.abby.com.au OMBLE – https://www.omble.com.au Planful AI – https://www.planful.ai MYOB AI BAS – https://www.myob.com Twine Apps – https://twineapps.com.au Twine Biller – https://twineapps.com.au Xero – https://www.xero.com Intuit – https://www.intuit.com Employment Hero – https://employmenthero.com Episode resources and links: Chris Wheatley, Director, Scope Accounting : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-wheatley-fca-29398533/  Scope Accounting : https://www.scopeaccounting.com.au/  Small Business Accountants & Advisers Brain Trust, Australia FaceBook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/977122739056681    Kyelie Baxter, Managing Director, IQ Accountants https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyelie-baxter-fcpa-43224334/ https://iqaccountants.com.au/   Tim Garth, Podcountant, Director and Co-host of the Two Drunk Accountants Podcast, CATS Accountants https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-garth-11721370/  CATS Accountants : https://catax.com.au/  Two drunk Accountants : https://twodrunkaccountants.com.au/    Liam Hindle, General Manager - Product, MYOB https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamhindle/  https://www.myob.com/au    Accounting & Business Expo : https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/accounting-business-expo/index.stm    If this episode helped you, the best way to support the show is to leave a review somewhere as it helps more people find us. And if you want to continue the conversation, come find me Heather Smith | Accountant and Storyteller on:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/  Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/  Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting  X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU

    35 min
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About

Exploring the intersections of accounting, technology and modern practice methodologies. 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. Brilliant guests include entrepreneurs, founders, business consultants, accountants, bookkeepers, small business owners, cloud advisors, developers, cloud integrators and solution providers. Hosted by Heather Smith, an award winning Chartered Accountant with a flair for storytelling. Heather is obsessed with how effective automation and integration can produce timely clean data, to surface information for brave, fast data-informed ...

Information

  • Creator
    Heather Smith | Accountant & Storyteller
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    200
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © ANISE Consulting 2015-2025
  • Show Website
    Accounting Apps Podcast

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