As Statler said to Waldorf, the witty old blokes in the VIP box on the Muppet show; “There’s a lot to be said about this program.” To which Waldorf quipped back; “Too bad you can’t say it on a family show!” The bothed harrumphed and probably cut to a clip of Kermit trying to get animal ready for his next scene. And in the spirit of that nostalgia Trenches starts it's 8th year. Paul and David say a huge THANK YOU for investing some of your time listening to us. Because of you we are earn...

My Father was a public practitioner for 40 years and my family lost him this year.  One day, everyone of your families will be in this position. This episode, might be important to them. At some point in your life, it might be important for you.  The first 8.5 minutes of this episode I talk about Dad. He came to Australia with very little, was brought up through welfare homes and then together with my mum raised my sister and I, while building an accounting practice that sustained my family...

This show was recorded in mid February but thanks to Dave being busy getting the ChangeGPS new TaxPlan Advanced product ready we had a delay getting it out. Oh how we long for the days 6 years ago when we'd record and publish in a 2 minute workflow.    Before we begin.....To The Xero's...https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7039489285565161472/  Best A very simple explanation about why we don’t know what to do in the current Australian Economy Australians head for their...

While the entire world changes in response to war, inflation, the Covid Era work habits that are sticking round and Jim Chalmers attempt to alter the course of capitalism, our pertinacious host Paul Meissner proudly declares that TECH WILL NOT CHANGE (even though he knows ChangeGPS will drop 3 new products this year)! Before we dive in, a huge thank you to our episode sponsors 'Access Offshoring'. Are you struggling to find quality staff in your firm? Speak to the team at Access Offshoring....

We are brought to you by ChangeGPS LIVE FROM BRISBANE https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/changegps-live-from-brisbane-tickets-460588100407  Best on Ground Trenches Award Finalists https://awards.fromthetrenches.com.au/  GET YOUR TICKETS NOW and enjoy some early bird pricing  Could the real CAANZ Members please stand up? YES!!!!! https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6995548683614253056/  Work from Home For Ever is...

Today's CAANZ AGM was a "Sales Pitch" According to 25 year member Thomas O'Brien.  Thom asked a question at the AGM, he got a response but doesn't feel he got an answer, in fact he doesn't feel heard at all.  In this episode Thom gives his time to share his experience of trying to be heard by CAANZ during an AGM where CAANZ stated they were listening multiple times. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is one of the hardest episodes we've recorded. Both David and Paul have such pride in achieving our CA designations, the quality of the CA program and the effort it took to complete the program. We feel that the current CAANZ doesn't represent the needs, interests or wants of public practice members and the board asking for votes at the AGM for a 15.8% payrise has understandably upset members. Many members believe this is unwarranted and want to do something about it. CAANZ Board...

The Australian Accounting Industry Awards looks to celebrate hard-working accountants, bookkeepers, and leaders of the industry for 2022. Hailed as the Brownlow medal night for the accounting industry. These awards highlight the efforts and grit of our public practitioner community during arguably one of the toughest periods of their career.​​​​ Join us in Sydney, in late November, for a gala dinner for the ages. Strictly limited places, be sure to RSVP when tickets become...

When Xero goes down does CTO Mark Rees get a red alert alarm in the middle of the night? Is it red flashing lights and blaring alarms?    Listen to find out as Paul Meissner goes 1:1 with Mark Rees at Xerocon       See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are so many new payment apps now.  Some of them are payments but cheaper and other build great workflows to solve business problems you currently have.  And there is a ton of work being done to help banks understand Xero data.  And the person overseeing this strategy is Xero's Leigh O'Neill.    Check out our other Xerocon Interviews. 4 Minutes and 31 Seconds with Jo Lyons @Xerocon https://omny.fm/shows/from-the-trenches/4-minutes-and-31-seconds-with-jo-lyons    See...

New Xero APAC Managing Director Jo Lyons has the energy one needs to take on this enormous job. In this 4 minutes and 31 second floor walk interview Jo and Paul capture the energy of Xerocon.  Check out our other Xerocon interviews Financial Services and Xero - What and Why with Leigh O'Neill - EGM Financial Services  Where's the product? With Mark Rees CTO Huge thanks to Xero for comping Paul and Dave some Xerocon tickets.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a nervous feeling as we get ready for for the biggest gathering of the industry in 3 years with the 3,000 odd attendees slightly eclipsing the 13 odd people who went to the IPA crypto conference.  This is the retail junket we have all been looking for, the most accessible one that has sold out by attendees, was over sold to sponsors and stands to re shape the energy in the industry.  And we discuss, if we don't expect major product announcements, and if the content is more wokey,...

Best on Ground Tyler Casky takes the Moral High ground on paid influencers https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tylercaskey_i-love-little-innovations-like-this-they-activity-6964724147667025920-k72D/?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web  The rise of Workplace TV Madmen Succession Halt and Catch Fire  Silicon Valley Industry https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-new-season-of-industry-and-the-rise-of-workplace-tv/amp  Pauls Rant  got 50k Linked In views...

What a week to make worst on ground. No matter how hard you tried, some other company did it worse. Xero are pulling their much loved version 1 reports. That was a show until… KPMG got caught cheating and CA did barely anything about it. That was a show until… CAANZ took 18 months to do what little they did causing all three accounting bodies to get a please explain from the Professional Standards Authority and somehow found a way to defend their actions and blame their processes instead...

The once orange, once widely loved Receipt Bank has had a rough run.  Widely regarded as the best technical product for receipt automation, it's not what it once was. Dext Chief Revenue Officer Alistair Newman says they're bigger, and better and have new ways to build relationships with you their customer.  But the accounting community has had other ideas. The rebrand didn't go down so well and the pricing changes.....it's WIP.  We give a hearty Trenches congratulations to Al for this...

Best on Ground Accounting Coaches that prove their value – with a p and l! https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sharonsnetwork_business-accounting-coaching-activity-6923203081497182208-EN8M/?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=android_app Even when McKinsey stuffs up they win https://twitter.com/MattZeitlin/status/1517279854135107584 What happens after you sell your payroll app? Richard McLean (@richviking99) / Twitter If you work for a tech company and rely on your shares instead of...

Best on Ground Paul Tech wont change your life much in the next ten years - here’s why https://twitter.com/sweatystartup/status/1505125330817802244  Fast Collapse: https://www.axios.com/fast-checkout-startup-collapse-029d1601-6d4f-43a4-b816-bd4b15771bbe.html  AccountexAU launch  What it needs to prove: That it can make a fair profit for it’s substantial risk with the available quality content providers https://twitter.com/AccountexAus/status/1511555738430500864  Farewell Craig...

5 years ago Paul Meissner stood in the door frame of David Boyar's office at the fancy co-working space WorkClub on Collins St Melbourne. It was so fancy, by co-working standards that it hard original parquet floors. Arguing about something Xero had just done Megan Velo, who seemed to do all of David's client work, suggested the two should start a podcast. Ron Lesh and BGL backed it. 5 years of tech promises, tech deliverables, delayed tech, industry body fails, and change that was sped up...

Listen to learn:- The major announcement - the trenches team is expanding How changing your firms purpose can win the war of talent in the accounting industry  Why it is hard to establish relationships in the accounting sector How the world would be if it only had accountants Governments blaming accountants for their forecasting faults Why tech companies need to separate bookkeeper and accounting messaging  Why top line growth doesn't make you happy David explains the plan and session for the...

Welcome To 2022 - where all you need to do is not stay at home and live a little to start enjoying life again.    Best On Ground David The cool young accountants are sharing their salaries on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/AustralianAccounting/comments/s0fjr0/salary_thread/   Staff need the best tech to work well at home so the practice leaders should own IT  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-6880013227548397568-OI8_/  Paul Lorilyn Wilson perfectly explains how one can look...

2022 has produced a focus on gender inequality in the accounting industry with both CAANZ and Intuit producing detailed reports about the current state of play.  Sometimes the story is told as a battle of Men v Women and that likely won't produce results that bring positive returns to firm owners and positive experiences for accountants impacted.  For many, actively engaging in the gender pay gap can be scary, for many, the floor is lava and we don't want to fall.  But without awareness...

Listen to hear Paul Meissner flinch as someone who clearly isn't an accountant get's called on and these other fine stories. Best on Ground David There are a lot of acquisitions going...

David chats to ICB CEO Amanda Linton and Beyond Blue Deputy Chair Kate Carnell about why we should view investment in Mental Health training the same way we view investment in technology.  Register for their Summit Session https://summit.fromthetrenches.com.au/talks/mental-health-session/   Sign up to the New Access Program https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/newaccess  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happened? It was Orange, it was loved, now it's Dext, it's three things not one and got dealt a savage hand by pockets of the social media world.  But the strategy makes sense if you dig in to it.  Listen to David Boyar ask Paul Lodder - Product Domain Expert (and a seriously accomplished accountant), What happened to Receipt Bank? Want more?  Register for Paul's session at Trenches Summit " https://summit.fromthetrenches.com.au/talks/dext-keynote/  See omnystudio.com/listener for...