Founder of award-winning firm Latitude Accountants, John Saade, chats to Accountants Daily about his 20-year career in accounting and the bespoke client solutions fuelling the firm’s growth.

After taking out the award for fast growing firm in the recent Australian Accounting Awards, Saade discusses why his clients value tailored solutions and services that go beyond just a transactional service.

He also shares the firm’s plans for expansion and why the firm remains dedicated to supporting small-business owners as it expands into new locations around Australia.

With many firms struggling to find talent, Saade also chats about the firm’s approach to attracting younger accountants by building up the culture of the firm; creating a fun environment; and highlighting the purpose and vision of the firm, which is to support the small businesses in the community.

He also discusses some of the challenges that lie ahead in the current economy and how his firm is helping small businesses through more challenging times.

Heather Smith and Tyler Caskey break down the latest developments and features in the accounting technology space for June and July.

In this latest episode, technology expert and commentator Heather Smith and Tyler Caskey, partner at The Bean Counters, provide their insights on what's been happening in the fast-moving accounting technology space.

Smith and Caskey delve into the developments across the biggest accounting software platforms including QuickBooks, Xero and MYOB as well as some of the emerging features on Ignition, Employment Hero and Dext.

They also chat about the establishment of software platform Zoho in Australia with the software provider recently setting up its first Australian headquarters in Adelaide.

Smith also shares her valuable tips for training stuff on new software systems.

George Haramis chats about emerging advice opportunities for accountants following advancements in digital advice and what’s next for accountantsGPS.

AccountantsGPS founder and CEO George Haramis talks to Accountants Daily about what his platform is doing to actively address the advice gap and the barriers facing accountants wanting to provide clients with greater access to advice services.

With many clients seeking advice on areas such as super but unable to afford the high cost of advice, digital advice may be a potential solution to meeting these clients’ needs.

Haramis gives insight into why he started accountantsGPS and what progress has been made since its launch in 2023 with participating firms.

He also discusses how offering digital advice services can benefit accounting firms and their relationships with clients.

AccountantsGPS is also offering a promotion for firms that want to subscribe and test out the platform.

Accountants can use the promocode code WEB100GPS to access:

• A one-month free subscription for the accountantsGPS platform.
• A 20% reduction off a monthly plan, for a limited time only to COB Friday, 16 August.
• Savings between $600pa to $2,900pa.
• Call 1300 24 24 42 to speak to the accountantsGPS team.

CGW Lawyers partner Fletch Heinemann shares some of the critical considerations for businesses engaging contractors with audit activity in this area on this rise.

In this episode, Heinemann discusses two major High Court decisions, Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Personnel Contracting Pty Ltd and ZG Operations Pty Ltd v Jamsek, and the implications they've had on contractor arrangements.

He also explores how the introduction of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 affects how businesses determine whether workers are employees or contractors.

Heinemann warns businesses on some of the key issues to watch out for when contracting sole traders, including potential payroll tax concerns.

With audit activity from both the ATO and revenue offices in this area on the rise, he also provides insight into how businesses should prepare for a potential audit.

Tax debt specialist Olga Koskie explains why it's not all doom and gloom in relation to payment plans and tax debts despite a shift in the ATO's approach.

In this latest episode, Tax Assure director and principal Olga Koskie shares what she's currently seeing in practice in terms of the ATO's approach to tax debts and the types of terms it is willing to agree to with payment plans.

While the ATO is now firmly back in active collection mode, Koskie says it is still possible for businesses with tax debts to obtain affordable and sustainable payment plans.

She sheds light on the factors the ATO is looking at when considering when to grant payment plans and what is likely to lead to a more favourable outcome.

Koskie also explains what initial steps businesses with these debts should be taking and how they may need to structure their arrangements based on their specific circumstances, such as projected cash flow.

Heather Smith and Tyler Caskey delve into the latest features, integrations and developments across QuickBooks, MYOB and Xero over April and May.

Accounting app specialist Heather Smith and technology enthusiast and partner at The Bean Counters, Tyler Caskey, share their thoughts on some of the recent updates across accounting apps in the past two months.

They chat about the release of several new features by QuickBooks including the spreadsheets sync feature and the release of the fixed asset register and some recent integrations on the platform.

They also touch on some of the big announcements in the space including Xero's decision to retire Planday and changes with its pricing plans.

Smith and Caskey also highlight some of the other useful features launched across practice management and business management software platforms recently.

Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers partner Sarah Lancaster provides an update on the payroll tax issues continuing to plague medical practices and the critical planning needed in this area.

In this episode, Lancaster shares some of the highlights from her upcoming presentation at the ACE Accounting Conference & Expo next month.

She discusses the potential audit risks facing medical and allied health practices following the rulings that were issued by various revenue offices last year and what firms need to be doing now to manage these risks.

Lancaster also sheds light on other payroll tax issues being audited by state revenue offices and where businesses need to improve their record keeping.

A bids and tender specialist has seen a dramatic increase in small to medium accounting firms bidding for government contracts in the past year.

In this episode, Jason Cooney, director at The Tender Team, explains why smaller accounting firms have become more courageous with bids for government contracts more recently and some of the reasons for their success.

Cooney discusses the types of contracts that smaller accounting firms are winning and how they can stand out from other competing firms.

He also offers tips and considerations for the tender process and how firms can prepare to make the process smoother.