One of the biggest topics of discussion for accountants at the moment is making the move from traditional compliance services to more value-added services such as advisory work.

In this episode, we chat with Jason Robinson, the Director of Future Advisory and co-host of The Numbers Game Podcast, to discuss this important topic. We chat about how Jason made the transition to offering advisory services, along with what worked well and what didn’t, so that you can take this next step in your practice.

This episode covers something that's on the mind of every business leader and IT professional: application modernization. From the 'why' to the 'how,' we get an insider’s perspective on the journey to the cloud and what it takes to build a truly modern enterprise.

Our guest is Jonathan Davidson, a Cloud Solutions Architect and Customer Engineer from Google. Jonathan helps companies move from the old to the new, transforming their legacy systems into nimble, powerful, and secure applications.

Rapid-fire recommendations:

• Software: Agentspace
• Key takeaway: If we’re thinking about the world of modernization, try to start small, learn the ropes, tread that path, and start to get a comfort feel for new technologies. Take that first step but take it slowly.
  

In today's episode, we're stepping out of the traditional boardroom and into the legal landscape. We know that as a business scales, managing legal risk is no longer just a "nice-to-have" – it's a critical component of growth.

That's why we're joined today by Gifty Okonkwo, Senior Legal Counsel at Xero UK and the winner of In-House Rising Star 2023 at the British Legal Awards. We'll be talking about how a company in the accounting tech space effectively manages legal risk, from protecting intellectual property to navigating data privacy regulations.

And for those of you considering a career in law, we'll also be getting a unique look at a part of the legal profession that many young entrants may not consider – the crucial role of in-house counsel in the tech world.

So whether you’re a business owner, an accountant or a future lawyer, get ready to gain a new perspective on the intersection of law, business, and technology.

Rapid-fire recommendations

• Software: ChatGPT
• Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Podcast: The Diary of a CEO
• One piece of legal advice for a scaling organization: Think repeat, think automate. Any document you make, make it a one-size-fits-all document if possible and make it automated. Make it easy to get it reviewed and signed quickly.
• Key takeaway: Lawyers are one of your best tools; they’re not the thorn in your side. They’re the people riding with you into battle and handing you your spear and shield, not the people getting in the way and stopping you mid-gallop.

Today, we’ll be diving into what it takes to be a good leader, and why not everyone is necessarily cut out for the job. To help us in our discussion, we have Sam Ducker, the People Experience Director at Xero, for the UK and EMEA regions.

Rapid-fire recommendations:

• • Favorite Software: Asana & Spotify
  • Best book: Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
  • Key takeaway: There’s no right or wrong path to take as a career. Only you will know what gives you energy, a sense of reward and purpose. Whatever you decide to take, challenge yourself to master whatever it is that you want to do.

In this episode, we’ll unpack how to build a productive, strategic relationship with your account manager so you're not just getting answers to your questions, but unlocking real value, insights, and opportunities.

From communication tips to goal alignment and everything in between, we’re covering what it really means to get the most out of this key partnership.

Today we are speaking to Junaid Steele. Junaid is a Senior Account Manager at Xero, South Africa, with expertise in cloud-based business management.

Rapid-fire recommendations

• • Software: Slack or Spotify
  • Best podcast: The Diary of a CEO & Pivot - and a shoutout to Nerves of Steel (Junaid’s podcast)
  • The most valuable lesson learned about helping people build a business: Business owners want more than just the numbers. They want insights into how they can make their business work. They want their dream to flourish. Accountants and account managers play a key role in helping business owners understand their numbers and drive success.
    
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September is upon us. In South Africa, that means spring time and the association of new beginnings, rebirth, flowering. In the Northern Hemisphere, where many of our customers are based, this means autumn and the start of the new school year. So, we thought this was a good time to think about the start of something new.

In this special episode, we sit down with several members of the Syft Analytics team to discuss new chapters - whether that be starting a new job or going to university. We also consider books that have influenced the way we think and made an impact on our lives. From senior engineers to designers, product engineers, and members of our customer-facing teams, we dive into a variety of insights on business and life for you to enjoy.

Most business advice follows a familiar script — play it safe, scale slowly, stick to the numbers. But what if some of the best growth strategies for SMEs go against conventional wisdom? Today’s guest, Kate Hayward, the UK Managing Director at Xero, shares the bold bets, overlooked insights, and counterintuitive lessons that have helped businesses punch above their weight.

Rapid-fire recommendations

• Software: Cozi & Notion

• Book: The Women by Kristin Hannah

• Key takeaway: Tough on problems, nice on people

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.