Ask the Accountant Podcast

Ask the Accountant Podcast Network

The Ask the Accountant Network is a hub for podcast content tailored to the bookkeeping and accounting industry. Our journey began with a weekly live show hosted by Aaron Patrick & Johann Goree, on Mondays at 8:30 am, delivering the latest news and technology updates, and has since grown into a suite of diverse podcasts and video series with more hosts. These include; Cool Friends, Cool Locations, Grid Walk, Pitstop Podcasts, Cool Reviews, QuickBooks Labs, Get Sage Savvy, Just Ask Xero Experts & more!

  1. Sep 10

    Xero's Chaotic Week: AI Backlash, DIY Filing & Price Rises | Tech Labs

    This week on Tech Labs, Aaron Patrick is joined by Charlie Khan (QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Facebook Group) and Simon Williams (Software Advisory Manager, Walton Smith) to unpack the biggest accounting tech stories of the month. Xero has had one of its roughest weeks in memory — a viral influencer post claiming you can "replace your accountant with Xero and AI" sparked a backlash across the profession, followed swiftly by the rollout of DIY company accounts filing straight to end clients, and then an auto-sent management report pack that went out to clients without warning (Aaron owns up to getting some of the details wrong in his own viral post about it). Elsewhere: Capium's new pricing structure gets compared favourably against some of the industry's less generous price rises, the QuickBooks mobile app gets a long-overdue overhaul, Apron payments lands natively inside QuickBooks, and Aaron gives a big shout-out to Sage Embedded Services with Tide as one to watch. Plus: should accountants be offering more consultancy services, and a look at new CIS invoicing tools in TaxSolo. Timestamps below. Tech Labs airs live on the second Wednesday of every month at 12:30 — join us live to get involved in the chat. Subscribe for more from Ask the Accountant, and check out The QuickBooks Chap for weekly QuickBooks content. #AccountingTech #Xero #QuickBooks #MakingTaxDigital #AccountingSoftware #Bookkeeping

  2. Sep 9

    Xero's Epic Fail Week: Influencers, Micro Accounts & Broken Features | Ask the Accountant #201

    In a sudden storm of controversy, Xero has managed to upset its partner community with a series of major blunders. When a paid influencer post suggested replacing accountants with Xero and AI, the industry erupted. This was compounded by the launch of a controversial £120 "micro accounts" filing service and a chaotic rollout of a new 'Analytics Plus' feature, which was enabled by default and sent unauthorised reports to clients. In this episode, Aaron Patrick and Johann Goree unpack the drama. They argue the intense backlash reveals a deeper insecurity within the profession about the value accountants provide. They discuss the critical importance of opt-in consent, the professional risks of unverified automated reports, and why a strong client relationship is the best defense. This is a must-listen for any Xero partner trying to make sense of the events and what they mean for the future of the accountant-software provider relationship. Find out what happened, what Xero could have done differently, and what lessons your firm can learn. 00:00 - The Xero Analytics Plus Controversy Begins The main topic is introduced: Xero has launched a series of new features and campaigns, causing significant backlash in the accounting community. Mentioned: Xero (Analytics Plus) 00:19 - Was it Misinformation? Aaron questions whether he was guilty of spreading misinformation after his social media post about the feature went viral, based on claims it was from accountants' own email addresses. Mentioned: Aaron Patrick 00:46 - Johann's Different Experience & Inconsistent Rollouts Johann explains that his experience with the Analytics Plus rollout was different, receiving a clear pop-up, highlighting the inconsistent and confusing nature of the updates. Mentioned: Johann Goree, Xero (Business Snapshot) 01:06 - The Problem with Opt-Out by Default The hosts agree that the core issue is features being 'opt-out' rather than 'opt-in', which goes against user expectations and best practices like GDPR, and creates liability for accountants. Mentioned: Sift Analytics, Apple 02:00 - The Real Problem: Industry Insecurity & The Call for Transparency The conversation shifts to the idea that the intense reaction reveals a fundamental insecurity within the profession, but also highlights the need for transparency from Xero. Mentioned: James Ashford, Mark Wickersham, Xero 02:27 - Is Xero Going to "Tell Off" Aaron? Aaron jokes about getting in trouble with Xero for his critical posts, leading to a discussion on how software companies handle public criticism from partners. Mentioned: Dext (formerly Receipt Bank) 03:12 - Dext Wants to Be Friends Again A brief tangent reveals that Dext has been in touch to rebuild the relationship after past disagreements. 04:02 - Xero's Missed Opportunity with Its Community Aaron points out that Xero's greatest asset is its loyal community, and recent marketing moves have alienated them instead of strengthening the relationship. Mentioned: ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) 08:00 - The Week Dominated by Xero The hosts formally introduce the main topic: the series of controversies surrounding Xero that have dominated social media. 08:52 - Xero's Direct Filing Service & Why The Backlash Is So Big The discussion covers Xero's £120 micro-entity accounts filing service, with Johann arguing the backlash is significant due to Xero's large and historically loyal follower base. 10:18 - The Three Big Xero Mistakes The hosts outline the three core issues: the social media influencer campaign, the new "micro accounts" service, and the broken "auto reporting" feature. Mentioned: Xero, QuickBooks Live

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About

The Ask the Accountant Network is a hub for podcast content tailored to the bookkeeping and accounting industry. Our journey began with a weekly live show hosted by Aaron Patrick & Johann Goree, on Mondays at 8:30 am, delivering the latest news and technology updates, and has since grown into a suite of diverse podcasts and video series with more hosts. These include; Cool Friends, Cool Locations, Grid Walk, Pitstop Podcasts, Cool Reviews, QuickBooks Labs, Get Sage Savvy, Just Ask Xero Experts & more!

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