Latest Articles
Observations from the Accountants Business Expo (ABE) 2026 in Sydney
ABE has been running for a number of years now and based on feedback from people I’ve spoken with appears to have been a success in 2026. They advertise it as having about 150 speakers, 100 organisations displaying their wares and 3,000 visitors. For the most part I...
Microsoft Lists vs Microsoft Planner for Accountants
Both these tools are a part of many M365 subscriptions. So how small and medium accounting firms can use each tool effectively? A simple way to remember the difference: Microsoft Lists is best for tracking structured information; Microsoft Planner is best for tracking...
From “Sea of Sameness” to Standout: How Firms Can Differentiate in a Crowded Market
(Thanks to guest writer Damien Greathead for this article.) Walk through the websites of ten accounting firms, and you’ll start to notice a pattern. “Tailored approach.” “Trusted advisors.” “Excellence and integrity.” “Seamless client service.” These phrases are...
The Accountability Formula – Accountability that works to drive performance
Accountability That Actually Works Most accountability conversations in professional firms go wrong for one simple reason: we confuse activity with accountability. As an accounting firm coach, consultant and mentor I hear the word accountability a lot. Partners and...
Two regulatory matters to be aware of
I don’t normally write a lot about regulatory stuff but these two things are really important. Anti Money Laundering / Counter Terrorism Financing Tranche 2 A while back I picked up on changes in respect of AML / CTF that pretty much all accountants are affected by....
Using Microsoft Forms in an Accounting Firm
This is the third article in my series on tools that come as part of the M365 suite. Forms is not a tool I hear many people talking about, but it strikes me there some good reasons why firms on a tight IT budget in particular, might want to investigate it further. In...
Why Modern Accounting Firms Can’t Afford to Stop Marketing
Earlier this year I asked sales and marketing guru, Damien Greathead (17) Damien Greathead | LinkedIn to present to some of my larger clients on the subject of marketing. He gave an excellent presentation which he called 5 Marketing Trends for the Modern Accounting...
Building the foundations for effective AI use in an accounting firm
As an accounting firm coach, consultant and mentor it would surprise no one that one of the things that I get asked about a lot is AI and how to use it to good effect inside firms. I’ve also been a little disappointed in some instances that firms have not invested...
What’s in M365 – using Bookings inside an accounting firm
In this second article in my series on M365, I highlight Microsoft Bookings. Like Microsoft Stream, What’s in M365? Microsoft Stream for Accounting Firms - Planet Consulting which I highlighted last time, I’ve noticed that some accountants are not aware that they may...
The non-technical skills that drive firm success
As an accounting firm coach, mentor and consultant I am in and out of firms pretty much every day. One of the things I have observed is the critical role of non-techncial skills. My experience is that as a person gets more senior in a firm these skills increase in...
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