by Rob Pillans | Apr 12, 2018 | Articles, Events, Technology
On Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 March the second Accounting Business Expo was held in Sydney at the International Convention Centre. The program listed 153 exhibitors and 8 small theatres with a continuous stream of speakers. I decided to focus mostly on visiting...
by Rob Pillans | Apr 12, 2018 | Articles, Business Advisory, Technology
One of the benefits of attending an event such as the recent Accounting Business Expo is the ability to speak with multiple suppliers of tools for accountants in a short space of time. I spent most of the two days walking from stand to stand looking at what was on...
by Rob Pillans | Apr 12, 2018 | Accounting Firm Management, Articles, Compliance, EOFY, Planning
For Australian accountants 15 May is a significant date. As Tax Agents you are subject to the ATO’s lodgment program framework which at its core requires you to lodge 85% or more of your clients’ current year returns on time. 15 May 2018 is effectively the last date...
by Rob Pillans | Dec 12, 2017 | Articles, Leadership, Planning
As an accounting firm coach I am regularly asked to assist accounting firm owners to grow their firm. In this article I summarise some ideas to grow your firm. Interestingly, what I find is that the emphasis is often on growing revenue, and profit is somewhat of a...
by Rob Pillans | Dec 12, 2017 | Articles, Planning
I love the end of a calendar year. It is a time for family Christmas celebrations. It’s summer and there are some extra holidays to be had. There is generally a positive vibe in the community. These are all good things, but perhaps the thing I like most about the end...
by Rob Pillans | Dec 12, 2017 | Accounting Firm Management, Articles, Planning
As an accounting firm coach assisting firms across Australia I am very reliant on my calendar in Microsoft Outlook. I use my calendar not just for client and other appointments but for appointments with myself for getting tasks done. I also use it for both personal...
by Rob Pillans | Oct 13, 2017 | Articles, Leadership, Practice Management
I believe that project management skills are important in accounting firms and other businesses because the way improvement is generated is by way of projects being completed. For example, in an accounting firm you might have a project to reduce or eliminate write...
by Rob Pillans | Oct 13, 2017 | Articles, Events
Here’s what I took away from attending Xerocon: Xero announced that nine applications will have integration with Xero HQ. They call them a “curated set of third party apps” and they are, in alphabetical order: BOMA Fathom Futrli Hubdoc NowInfinity Practice Ignition...
by Rob Pillans | Oct 12, 2017 | Articles
In my role as an accounting firm coach I talk to accountants pretty much every day and see or hear about the profitability of many firms. There is an enormous range of profit numbers from terrible to brilliant. So what is it that drives profitability in an accounting...
by Rob Pillans | Oct 11, 2017 | Group Articles
What is a TAP Small Firm Group? TAP Small Firm Group 1 is an independent group of likeminded people responsible for the management of accounting and advisory firms with one or two owners. If you are a partner/director in a small firm, then this is the group for you. ...