In an industry being reshaped by automation and AI, the real competitive edge isn’t just technical expertise — it’s communication. How well can you explain the ‘why’ behind the numbers? How closely are you aligned with your client’s goals? And how do you stay relevant in a world that’s changing fast?

In this episode, we speak with Stuart Grosvenor, Partner and Director at HB&O, about why good communication might just be the most important skill for the modern accountant — and how it opens the door to deeper client relationships, better advisory work, and long-term success.

• • Software: Xenon
  • Podcast: Football podcasts!
  • Valuable lesson learned about building a business: Do it with people you like. You’ve got to get on with the people you work with. You’ve got to have the same goals and outlook on life. If you don’t like them, it’s a long journey.
  • Key takeaway: Your focus should be on your relationship with your clients. If you get that right, you’ll get a lot of other things right. You’ve got to enjoy your clients and that gives you motivation to help them succeed.
    

In today’s fast-paced business environment, data is everywhere – but turning that data into actionable insights is where the real value lies. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), being able to see their business clearly through well-designed visualizations and reports isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s a powerful driver of growth. It’s not about pretty charts; it’s about making smarter, faster decisions that lead to long-term success.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur trying to understand your cash flow at a glance, or an accountant helping clients move beyond static spreadsheets, visual reporting helps bridge the gap between raw data and real strategy.

To unpack how SMEs – and the advisors who support them – can harness the power of visual tools to unlock opportunities and enhance performance, we’re joined by Keith Barrett, an accounting and technology specialist with over 25 years of experience in financial management and software support.

Rapid-fire recommendations:

• Best book: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

• The most valuable lesson learned about starting a business: Don't give up. Tenacity is key. Grit and perseverance will get you where you need to go.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of analyzing KPIs for your business. KPIs are Key Performance Indicators - quantifiable measures of performance over time for a specific objective. They help provide targets for teams to aim for, milestones to measure progress, and insights to assist members of the organization in making better decisions. So, what KPIs should you be considering for your business and why?

To assist us in considering this topic, we are speaking with Laurika Steenekamp, a CA(SA) and our Head of Customer Experience at Syft. Laurika is our resident expert on creating KPI Scorecards on Syft, tools that help you to analyse and interpret your KPIs, and she’s helped many Syft users with this process.