Beyond Numbers by Xero

Applying design thinking to accountancy with Alasdair McGill

Alasdair McGill is a co-founder of the award-winning accounting firm Ashton McGill based in Dundee, Scotland. They won Small Firm of the Year at the Xero Awards in 2020, and were finalists in the Mid-Size Firm category for 2023.
Alasdair’s firm is really unique in that he and his son Andy founded first as a consulting business specialising in service design and customer experience, and eventually recognised an opportunity to take what they’d learnt and apply it to accountancy. 
With a clear passion for design thinking, Alasdair shares in this episode how they’re using service design principles to improve the client experience for their accounting firm. 
 
Beyond Numbers, hosted by Ash Gibson, is a platform for pacesetters within Xero's community to chat candidly about the issues and topics that crop up at work. It's about exploring the challenges and talking through the tips, tricks and insights together. It's not about educating accountants on how to do their job, but more on how to win at work. 
This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Talking Practice Efficiency at the London Roadshow with Kreston Reeves: Improving efficiencies with Xero technology

Dayle Rodriguez, Systems Advisory Manager from Kreston Reeves tells Xero’s Marcus Bambridge how leaning into technology has enabled them to free up time for more advisory conversations and expand what staff at the practice do on a day to day basis.
 
Kreston Reeves is over 200 years old, but they’re constantly finding new ways to evolve with Xero’s tools and ecosystem partners. They often review their choice of software and communicate this decision internally, so any member of staff  can be “on message” with clients about why they’re using a particular piece of tech.
Talking Practice Efficiency is a podcast mini series where our partners share how Xero products drive efficiency in their firms, helping them do more of what they love. Learn more about the formula to become a high performing practice with accountants and bookkeepers who are leading the way, exploring how they have used the Xero platform to get them there. Catch up on some of the key takeaways from the UK Roadshow 2023 and dive into resources to help you implement these at your practice here.
 
You can find more stories from our Xero partners here.
Transform your practice with Xero by replacing manual processes with automated, integrated workflows that benefit your staff, and clients. Learn how here.
This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Talking Practice Efficiency at the Bristol Roadshow with PJE Chartered Accountants: Embracing digital as a catalyst for growth

The question of whether or not digital technologies improve productivity is a hot topic at the moment and the great news in accountancy and bookkeeping is that they absolutely do -  and there are plenty of stories to prove it. Llyr Davies from PJE Chartered accountants in Lampeter, Wales tells Xero’s Ian Phillips about his practice’s digital transformation journey and why it’s been a game changer for both profitability and client service. As a platinum Xero partner, PJE Chartered Accountants are specialists in online accounting with over 50 years combined experience. They operate four offices in mid and west Wales.
Talking Practice Efficiency is a podcast mini series where our partners share how Xero products drive efficiency in their firms, helping them do more of what they love. Learn more about the formula to become a high performing practice with accountants and bookkeepers who are leading the way, exploring how they have used the Xero platform to get them there. Catch up on some of the key takeaways from the UK Roadshow 2023 and dive into resources to help you implement these at your practice here.
 
You can find more stories from our Xero partners here.
 
Transform your practice with Xero by replacing manual processes with automated, integrated workflows that benefit your staff, and clients. Learn how here.
This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Talking Practice Efficiency at the Birmingham Roadshow with Linford Grey: leveraging technology to add value and deepen connections with clients

When Adam Pritchard set up the accountancy practice Linford Grey Associates from a barn in Leicestershire, he told his clients they would only be using Xero to work together - in order to ensure the company was able to work remotely, run as efficiently as possible and provide the best client service. He tells Xero’s Ian Phillips about sticking to his guns with Xero and what it’s meant for his bottom line. For a practice that only started life five years ago, Leicestershire’s Linford Grey has already emerged as an industry leader. The winner of the 2021 Total Xero Award — given to a firm demonstrating outstanding vision and ambition — Linford Grey embraces technology to empower their practice and deliver fantastic results for clients. 
 
Talking Practice Efficiency is a podcast mini series where our partners sharehow Xero products drive efficiency in their firms, helping them do more of what they love. Learn more about the formula to become a high performing practice with accountants and bookkeepers who are leading the way, exploring how they have used the Xero platform to get them there. Catch up on some of the key takeaways from the UK Roadshow 2023 and dive into resources to help you implement these at your practice here.
 
You can find more stories from our Xero partners here.
 
Transform your practice with Xero by replacing manual processes with automated, integrated workflows that benefit your staff, and clients. Learn how here.
This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Talking Practice Efficiency at the Edinburgh Roadshow with Blu Sky: Having a growth mindset and driving change

How do you know if your business is high performing? For Dave Gibson and Josh Sanghera of Blu Sky in North Shields, their mantra is “Measure what you treasure”. That simply means don’t get lost in too many stats but focus on what’s important to you. Dave is the company’s co-founder and CEO and Josh is their Client Relationship Director, they tell Xero’s Kat Bond how Xero has helped them transform their practice. 
 
Started in 2008 in North Shields, Blu Sky now has 30 staff across three UK locations and they make it their mission to be a forward-facing firm. With a client base that includes many tech start-ups and ambitious small businesses, Blu Sky uses Xero’s online accounting software to automate routine tasks, streamline workflows and improve collaboration. 
Talking Practice Efficiency is a podcast mini series where our partners share how Xero products drive efficiency in their firms, helping them do more of what they love. Learn about the formula to become a high performing practice with accountants and bookkeepers who are leading the way, exploring how they have used the Xero platform to get them there. Catch up on some of the key takeaways from the UK Roadshow 2023 and dive into resources to help you implement these at your practice here.
 
You can find more stories from our Xero partners here.
 
Transform your practice with Xero by replacing manual processes with automated, integrated workflows that benefit your staff, and clients. Learn how here.
This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Talking Practice Efficiency at the Manchester Roadshow with TaxAssist Accountants, Skipton: Managing consistent and stable growth

Dave Forrester from TaxAssist Accountants, Skipton maximises the potential of technology to simplify processes and improve client experience. He tells Xero’s Kat Bond how retaining staff and clients is key to this. 
 
Based in West Yorkshire, Dave Forrester’s practice is one of over 200 TaxAssist franchises in the UK, providing accountancy and bookkeeping services to small businesses and individual clients. Since Dave started the practice in 2009 his high performing firm has added a member of staff every year for the last fourteen years - which is no mean feat considering the economic turbulence we’ve seen over the last decade.
 
Talking Practice Efficiency is a podcast mini series where our partners share how Xero products drive efficiency in their firms, helping them do more of what they love. Learn more about  the formula to become a high performing practice with accountants and bookkeepers who are leading the way, exploring how they have used the Xero platform to get them there. Catch up on some of the key takeaways from the UK Roadshow 2023 and dive into resources to help you implement these at your practice here.
 
You can find more stories from our Xero partners here.
 
Transform your practice with Xero by replacing manual processes with automated, integrated workflows that benefit your staff, and clients. Learn how here.
This podcast is brought to you by Xero and produced by Bird Lime Media.