Ask the Accountant Podcast

The MTD Watch Series returns for a crucial debrief on the very first live MTD for ITSA pilot quarter. With submissions colliding with summer holidays, how did accountants and their clients actually cope? This episode is for any accountant or bookkeeper navigating the MTD transition. Join hosts Aaron Patrick, Suzannah Whelan, and Amy Hancock as they share their personal experiences and dive into a new industry survey where over 75% of respondents called MTD a "bad idea." They discuss what's actually working in practice: from segmenting clients (DIY to "shoebox") and setting clean-up fees, to the software workflows that get the job done. The team also gets tactical on policy, debating whether MTD thresholds should be scrapped and arguing against deadline extensions that could harm real-time benefits. You’ll learn how to pre-empt admin pitfalls, tighten client communications, and structure an “MTD-first” onboarding plan. Listen now to get a real-world perspective on where the profession stands and what it all means for the future of digital tax.

We're celebrating 200 episodes by looking at the future of AI and security in the accounting profession. Aaron and Johann are joined by special guests Amy Hancock, Tim Wood, and Charlie to break down the biggest tech news, starting with GOV.UK's long-awaited adoption of passkeys and how it can make your client interactions faster and more secure. They also discuss the surprising new device from Plaud—smart earbuds designed to capture meetings and act as an interface to your entire knowledge base—and explore Claude's new built-in browser and how it stacks up against ChatGPT. Reflecting on the journey to 200 episodes, the team shares insights on consistency, content creation, and what's next for the podcast network, including the return of 'Being an Accountant to Boss'. This episode is for any accountant looking to stay ahead of the technology curve and learn from the highs and lows of building a successful podcast.

A major milestone is here: our 200th weekly episode is next week. In this episode, Aaron returns from a busy week of system improvements, while Johann shares highlights from hosting visitors at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Royal Military Tattoo. We take stock of our journey—nearly 400 shows across the network and over 1,200 videos on YouTube—and officially invite you, our community, to take part in the celebration. You’ll learn exactly how to send us a short voice note with your favourite moments, what the show means to you, or a message for the hosts. Submit via WhatsApp, Instagram, or LinkedIn direct messages, and we’ll feature selected clips in our Bank Holiday special. Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just found the show, we want your voice in episode 200. Tune in now for the details and get involved in Ask the Accountant history—send your voice note today.

Frustrated by unresponsive clients and admin bottlenecks? This episode covers real-world client management and practical AI. Learn how to handle "nightmare clients" who delay information, and discover how to use tools like Claude and Lovable to automate the boring stuff, freeing up your team for high-value work.

This episode covers it all: How one firm used intensive, scenario-based training to level up their team, why MTD non-compliance represents a £150M opportunity for accountants, and the critical GDPR mistake you could be making when using AI tools like ChatGPT in your practice.

Our weekly show!

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Join Aaron and the panel live on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 12:30, for a fully interactive session covering the latest news and updates from QuickBooks, Xero, Sage and more. A space for accountants, bookkeepers and business owners to stay on top of everything happening across the accounting tech world, all in one place. Have a question you'd like to ask? Join us live and ask away! Brought to you by the Ask the Accountant Podcast Network: https://linktr.ee/asktheaccountant #TECHLABS #ACCOUNTING #BOOKKEEPING #QUICKBOOKS #XERO #SAGE

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In this ‘We Have Cool Friends’ special episode, we’re joined by Jordan Vickery, co-founder of Vinyl, director at Journey, and one of the most recognisable faces in the accounting technology community.From being one of the early co-founders at Pixie to helping over 60 software vendors grow through Journey, Jordan has spent years at the heart of accounting tech. Now, with Vinyl, he’s tackling one of the biggest opportunities AI has created for accountants: turning meetings into meaningful business intelligence.We dive into:🎙️ Jordan’s journey from Pixie to co-founding Vinyl🤖 Why AI isn’t replacing accountants – it’s helping them build stronger client relationships💡 How Vinyl is transforming meeting notes into powerful business insights🌍 What the UK accounting industry can learn from the US and Australian tech communities🎤 The story behind the Digital Accountancy Show and why community matters more than ever🤝 Building relationships that open doors – from Vegas to London and everywhere in between🎧 The infamous Accounting House Mafia, DJing at industry events, and why accountants definitely know how to have funAlong the way, we chat about networking, conferences, the future of AI in accounting, and why the best business opportunities often happen away from the exhibition stands.As always, Aaron and Johann bring plenty of laughs, a bit of Apple geekery, stories from the event circuit, and another brilliant conversation with one of the people helping shape the future of our profession.Catch new episodes every Monday at 8:30am.Have a question for the show? Want to collaborate, sponsor an episode, or become a guest? We’d love to hear from you:https://linktr.ee/asktheaccountant#ACCOUNTANT #PODCAST #BUSINESS #CoolFriends #JordanVickery #Vinyl #AI #AccountingTech #Journey #DigitalAccountancyShow #Innovation #FinTech

In this ‘We Have Cool Friends’ special episode, we’re joined by Ash Hall , Interim Head of Marketing at TaxCalc & Engager , former Head of Product at Engager, and one of the people helping shape the future of accounting technology. Ash’s journey is anything but conventional. Starting as an accounting apprentice at Crunch Accounting, he made the leap into accounting software, working with AccountancyManager, Nomi, Engager and now TaxCalc. Along the way, he’s helped develop products, build brands, organise industry-leading events, and become one of the most respected voices behind the scenes in accounting tech. We dive into: 🚀 Ash’s journey from apprentice accountant to marketing leader💡 Why the best software is built by listening to accountants🎤 The story behind Engager Labs and how it became one of the industry’s standout events🤝 What really happened behind the TaxCalc acquisition📈 Growing Engager from an ambitious startup into one of the fastest-growing names in practice management🤖 How AI has transformed the way he learns, markets and builds products📣 Why accountants need to embrace sales and marketing if they want to grow their firms❤️ The friendships, community and people that make the accounting industry so special As always, Aaron and Johann bring plenty of laughs, behind-the-scenes stories from the Engager journey, and an honest conversation about building great software, growing a business, and the relationships that make this industry unique. Whether you’re an accountant, bookkeeper, software enthusiast, or simply love hearing the stories behind the people shaping our profession, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Catch new episodes every Monday at 8:30am: https://linktr.ee/asktheaccountant #ACCOUNTANT #PODCAST #BUSINESS #CoolFriends #TaxCalc #Engager #PracticeManagement #AccountingTech #Marketing #AI #Bookkeeping

Join us

In this ‘We Have Cool Friends’ special episode, we’re joined by the one and only Andy Wainwright, founder of Wainwrights Accountants, co-founder of Engager, and one of the most respected innovators in the accounting technology space.Recorded in a location that means a lot to the Ask the Accountant story, Andy takes us right back to where it all began. From accidentally falling into accountancy, building a software solution that would go on to transform how firms manage compliance and communication, growing from just 80 clients to over 1,800, this is a fascinating look behind the scenes of one of the industry’s biggest success stories.We dive into:🚀 The origin story of Engager and how it started as a solution to Andy’s own practice problems📈 Growing Wainwrights Accountants from a dining-room-table business into a thriving firm🤝 The chance meetings, partnerships and friendships that helped shape Engager’s journey🏆 Winning industry awards and attracting attention from major software players💡 Why community feedback became the secret ingredient behind Engager’s rapid growth🔥 Life after the TaxCalc acquisition and the ambitious vision for the future🎯 What it takes to build software accountants genuinely want to usePlus, we revisit the early days of Ask the Accountant, discuss why industry events matter more than ever, and share some stories that probably shouldn’t have made the final edit…Join Aaron and Johann every week on Ask the Accountant as they explore industry insights, business advice, and conversations with some of the most influential people shaping the accounting profession.Catch new episodes every Monday at 8:30am:https://linktr.ee/asktheaccountant#ACCOUNTANT #PODCAST #BUSINESS #CoolFriends #Engage #TaxCalc #PracticeManagement #AccountingTech #Entrepreneurship #Accountancy #Software #FinTech

Jon Goodwin joins Aaron Patrick from the Ask the Accountant Podcast Network on the Ask the Accountant Pitstop Podcast, live from Accountex London 2026. They discuss Jon's first experience attending Accountex, the conversations that stood out, the challenges and opportunities facing modern finance teams, and how technology is changing the way business leaders access and use information. Jon also shares the story behind Stratavor, a decision intelligence platform designed for CEOs, CFOs, and executive teams. They explore how organisations can move beyond fragmented spreadsheets and manual reporting by unifying financial, commercial, and operational data into a single source of strategic insight. The conversation covers the importance of understanding the full business picture, from P&L performance and cash flow to customer trends, operational metrics, and forward-looking indicators powered by AI-driven analysis. Jon explains why timely, decision-ready insight is becoming essential for leadership teams looking to improve governance, drive performance, and make faster, better-informed decisions. An engaging discussion packed with practical insights for finance leaders, accountants, advisors, business owners, and anyone interested in the future of business intelligence and strategic decision-making. 🎙️ A big thank you to Mindspace Outsourcing for sponsoring this Pitstop Podcast episode. Mindspace provides reliable outsourcing services for accountants and bookkeepers, specialising in bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation. If you're looking to scale your firm, improve efficiency, or free up more time for advisory work, be sure to check them out. 🔗 Learn more: https://mindspaceoutsourcing.co.uk/ #Accountex2026 #AskTheAccountant #PitstopPodcast #JonGoodwin #AaronPatrick #Stratavor #DecisionIntelligence #BusinessIntelligence #CFO #CEO #FinanceLeadership #BusinessStrategy #AI #DataAnalytics #FinancialReporting #DigitalTransformation

Join Aaron and Johann, experienced accountants and entrepreneurs, weekly on Ask the Accountant, where they discuss various topics revolving around the accounting industry, sharing their knowledge, opinions, news and updates. Every Monday from 8:30 am. Want to find out more: https://lnkd.in/eqkSvvAk #Accounting #Podcast #Bookkeeping

Jennifer Burnett joins Amy Hancock from the Ask the Accountant Podcast Network on the Ask the Accountant Pitstop Podcast, live from Accountex London 2026. They discuss starting an accounting practice from scratch, building confidence as a new business owner, choosing the right technology stack, and how modern software is helping accountants deliver a better experience for clients. Jennifer also shares her experience attending Accountex for the first time, navigating the event as a deaf accountant, the importance of accessibility within the profession, and why jargon-free advice helps build stronger client relationships. A warm and insightful conversation packed with practical takeaways for accountants, bookkeepers, practice owners, and anyone starting their own journey in the profession. 🎙️ A big thank you to Mindspace Outsourcing for sponsoring this Pitstop Podcast episode. Mindspace provides reliable outsourcing services for accountants and bookkeepers, specialising in bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation. If you’re looking to scale your firm, improve efficiency, or free up more time for advisory work, be sure to check them out. 🔗 Learn more: https://mindspaceoutsourcing.co.uk/ #Accountex2026 #AskTheAccountant #PitstopPodcast #JenniferBurnett #Accounting #Bookkeeping #PracticeGrowth #Accessibility #DeafProfessionals #AccountingTechnology #CloudAccounting #AIinAccounting

Kshitij “Kenny” Jain from Mindspace Outsourcing and Laura Lee from Laura Lee Bookkeeping join Aaron Patrick on the Ask the Accountant Pitstop Podcast, live from Accountex London 2026. They discuss how outsourcing can help firms scale with confidence, the importance of building trusted long-term partnerships, preparing for Making Tax Digital, and how AI is improving efficiency and quality control across the accounting profession. They also share insights on practice growth, leveraging technology, networking at industry events, and why accountants and bookkeepers should embrace innovation while maintaining the expertise and personal relationships that clients value. A practical and engaging conversation packed with insights for accountants, bookkeepers, and firm owners looking to grow their businesses and make the most of outsourcing and technology. Mindspace provides reliable outsourcing services for accountants and bookkeepers, specialising in bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation. If you’re looking to scale your firm, improve efficiency, or free up more time for advisory work, be sure to check them out. 🔗 Learn more: https://mindspaceoutsourcing.co.uk/ #Accountex2026 #AskTheAccountant #PitstopPodcast #MindspaceOutsourcing #KshitijJain #LauraLeeBookkeeping #Accounting #Bookkeeping #Outsourcing #MakingTaxDigital #MTD #AIinAccounting #PracticeGrowth

Join Aaron and Johann, experienced accountants and entrepreneurs, weekly on Ask the Accountant, where they discuss various topics revolving around the accounting industry, sharing their knowledge, opinions, news and updates. Every Monday from 8:30 am. Want to find out more: https://lnkd.in/eqkSvvAk #Accounting #Podcast #Bookkeeping

Zoe Whitman joins Amy Hancock from the Ask the Accountant Podcast Network on the Ask the Accountant Pitstop Podcast, live from Accountex London 2026. They discuss the future of accounting education, developing the next generation of accountants and bookkeepers, the impact of AI on training and advisory services, and the growing skills gap facing the profession. Zoe also shares insights into Hey Monica, her AI-powered work experience platform, exploring how firms can better prepare trainees for real-world client work, communication, and advisory roles in an increasingly automated world. A thought-provoking conversation packed with practical insights for accountants, bookkeepers, practice owners, and anyone interested in the future of the profession. 🎙️ A big thank you to Mindspace Outsourcing for sponsoring this Pitstop Podcast episode. Mindspace provides reliable outsourcing services for accountants and bookkeepers, specialising in bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation. If you’re looking to scale your firm, improve efficiency, or free up more time for advisory work, be sure to check them out. 🔗 Learn more: https://mindspaceoutsourcing.co.uk/ #Accountex2026 #AskTheAccountant #PitstopPodcast #ZoeWhitman #HeyMonica #SixFigureBookkeeper #AccountingEducation #AIinAccounting #Bookkeeping #Accounting #FutureOfWork #PracticeGrowth