22nd February, 2023
Join us at Accountex this March to learn about the future of accounting and bookkeeping, including a deep dive into advisory and practice management.
This year, the two-day Accountex conference for accountants and bookkeepers returns to Sydney’s International Convention Centre (ICC) to deliver a wealth of industry insights, CPD-accredited info sessions and networking events.
Due to kick off at 9am on Wednesday, 15 March, Accountex boasts an agenda that includes demonstrations of the latest industry innovations at the ‘Thinkers Theatre’, a series of tech talks, a pitch night hosted by CA ANZ and a wrap up party on Thursday evening at the refurbished MCA Foundation Hall.
The event also features a host of solutions providers in the exhibition showroom, where attendees can satisfy any queries they have about the latest technology, including what’s new in the MYOB business management platform.
Amid the wealth of practical knowledge and insight on offer, two MYOB personalities will be attending panel discussions specifically designed to equip accounting decision makers with the right advice in two key topic areas.
First up, on Wednesday, 15 March at 12.10pm, MYOB’s Head of Product (Enterprise), Valantis Vais takes to the Accountex Main Stage to offer his perspectives on the future of practice management for multi-office firms.
In particular, Valantis will be discussing the rise of generalist workforce management platforms compared to accounting-specific alternatives in the industry, while also offering insight into how the MYOB business management platform steps up to the place.
“I’m looking forward to sharing insights on the challenges we see accountants and their clients are experiencing with disconnection, which is pronounced in multi-office accounting firms and especially if they’re growing through acquisitions,” said Valantis.
For practice managers, Valantis indicates the need to shift thinking away from acquiring many different point-based solutions and software as they grow, and instead consider how a more holistic tech platform can offer enhanced efficiency, security and ease of use.
“In this scenario, you’ll find thinking about your technology as a source of competitive advantage.
“Leveraging a business management platform to achieve exactly that is not only possible, but increasingly necessary.”
The following day, MYOB Senior Partner Manager Gavin Fernandes will appear at 9.10am in the Accountex Thinker Theatre to discuss how to define and deploy a business advisory service.
Gavin says the session will help accounting leaders redefine what advisory services mean for their practice, as well as how to get the right people and systems on board to deliver them.
“The concept of business advisory is far from new among accountants and bookkeepers, but how each practice defines those services is far from static,” said Gavin.
“My talk addresses how you can approach this topic and, ultimately, offer an amazing set of advisory services that work for you and for your client base.”
And, he says, that means covering off some ‘old favourites’, but adding some fresh thinking to the mix.
“I’ll be covering three very broad topic areas that get mentioned a lot in business – people, product and processes – but I’ll be approaching them from a very specific standpoint.
“That is, how should you go about evaluating and re-evaluating your target market, their needs and demands, and evolving your service offering to match.”
Importantly, Gavin says his talk will offer eight practical steps to delivering a truly scalable set of advisory services that drive value for your practice and clients.
The above is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Accountex 2023 and MYOB’s expert speakers are already excited at the prospect of seeing what else is in store.
“I’m looking forward to speaking with accounting firms and hearing how they’re thinking about their client experience and how things are changing in that space,” said Valantis.
Gavin agrees, expecting to see a large amount of emphasis put on how advisors are planning to help their small business clients through the year ahead.
“We know small businesses are the backbone of the economy and they, alongside households, are being significantly impacted by the increasing rate of change we’re all witnessing, whether it’s interest rates and inflation, legislation changes or talent and supply shortages.
“I’m very keen to hear how accounting and bookkeeping practices of all kinds are innovating in order to meet those changing needs of their small business clients.”
Register for your ticket to Accountex and get the inside track on the future of your industry, today. Use the code 15EXHTBA for an MYOB exclusive discount of 15% off. Click here for conference details and to register.