Mynda Treacy

Changes are coming to Xero – here’s what you need to know Xero are giving their navigation and homepage (what they used to call the dashboard) a bit of a makeover. It’s all about making it easier to find what you need and giving you more control over what you see. Here’s a quick heads-up on what’s new: 🚀Simpler navigation – things are grouped in a way that makes more sense, so you spend less time hunting for what you need. New and improved widgets – including task lists, recently paid invoices, and a clearer profit & loss snapshot. 🚀Customisable homepage – you can choose which widgets to show, hide or move around so it works for you. 🚀Built with user feedback – Xero have been testing this with real users to make sure it hits the mark. The updated navigation will roll out in September, and the new homepage will follow later this year. If you want a sneak peek, you can try their interactive prototype now. https://lnkd.in/dzDrxBYX

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I invite you to read my latest Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand Acuity Magazine article about pricing. I’ll be honest with you, I’m not a pricing expert, and it’s a subject I typically leave to the experts. I do however recognise two things: lots of micro and small accounting practices are undercharging and undervaluing what they do, and two, accountants are great at following processes, and surfacing and interpreting data. Ignition, through their AI-powered Price Insights feature, makes pricing your services easy. They have a vast amount of pricing data, and overlaying that with AI it gives you an excellent foundation to compare your practices pricing. I did not however mention Ignition in the article. I think, to some extent, pricing and increasing prices comes back to mindset. It comes down to identity, confidence and value. I think some accountants want to work harder to prove they deserve the price increase.🤷 So, instead I talked about using tools like XBert for pre-engagement data analysis for smarter quotes, or using management reporting solutions, like Fathom, Spotlight Reporting or VibeCFO to model hypothetical situations and pressure-test our pricing. In researching the article I had a long conversation with Tony Harcourt about how his solution WorkGuru.io helps clients with their pricing. As accountants it is good for us to be aware of these techniques, so we can talk to our clients about them, and in turn help them increase their own prices and profit margins. It can be easier to tell someone else to increase their prices - can’t it? Using smart tech, we should embrace strategic pricing decisions to ensure that we are both valued and profitable on a client-by-client or project-by-project basis. Read it here : https://lnkd.in/g34rWf2V Let me know what you think and what tech tools you are using to assist you in pricing your services. #AccountingAndAccountants

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“We thought the software was handling it.” That’s what the directors of an Australian labor-hire company told liquidators. Turns out, their system was missing basic accounting entries — and no one was reconciling the gaps. The result - other than chaotic books? A $1.2 million hole, mounting debt, and a company that collapsed under avoidable pressure. Here’s what we see: -Accounting tech ≠ accounting process. Automation helps, but it can’t replace human led review and reconciliation. -No one’s checking the books. When internal staff are stretched thin, financial blind spots grow fast. -Cash flow becomes chaos. If you’re not tracking AP/AR and payroll costs accurately, surprises are inevitable. We get called in when businesses realize the books don’t reflect reality — and by then, it’s urgent.

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If you subscribe to services like ChatGPT, Mailchimp, or other non-UK subscription providers, you may receive invoices in Dollars or Euros.   And these never match the payments that are taken from your bank, do they?   So, how do you process these in your accounting system?   Well, there are 2 ways. 1. You can leave them till the payment has been taken and add the bill in for THAT amount, and then match the payment 2. Add the bill when you receive it for the amount shown, and when the payment has been taken, edit the bill to match the amount taken.   You don't need to add in exchange rates or pay for additional currency provision (unless you need to invoice someone in a particular currency). #XeroTip #BookkeepingTip

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Across the board, we’re seeing the same trend: cloud is now central to business strategy, not just IT strategy. But while the ambition is there, execution is where many are getting stuck. According to the Spark State of Cloud 2025 report, 70% of New Zealand organisations see cloud as critical to their future. Yet only 34% are truly cloud-ready. That tells us something important. Moving to cloud isn’t the same as being positioned to succeed in it. The difference often comes down to maturity. Are platforms scalable? Are systems integrated? Are teams equipped with the right skills? Without that, cloud becomes a bottleneck instead of an accelerator; especially as organisations push into areas like AI, automation, and real-time customer experience. In my work, I focus on helping businesses bridge this gap by not just implementing tools, but creating a roadmap that aligns cloud capability with product direction and growth targets. Because when the foundations are strong, everything moves faster: delivery, decision-making, customer outcomes. And that’s where competitive advantage lives. Access the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gchmUX3Z

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A lot of business owners think they can just ‘take money out’ of their company bank account whenever they want… only to get it with: ❌ Huge tax bills ❌ Cash flow issues ❌ Trouble with the ATO In my latest YouTube video, I break down: ✅ The 3 different ways you can pay yourself as a company structure ✅ How each option works and their tax implications ✅ How to decide which option is best for you Link: https://lnkd.in/gakJsH65 #taxtips #company #accounting

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Xero vs QuickBooks: Which is Better for Australian Businesses? One of the most common questions I hear from Australian small business owners is: 🤦‍♂️“Should I choose Xero or QuickBooks Online?” Here’s a quick breakdown: ✅ Xero Popular in Australia, loved by accountants & bookkeepers Seamless BAS & GST features Great for businesses that need add-ons (payroll, inventory, apps) ✅ QuickBooks Online (QBO) Affordable for startups Strong reporting features Easy for service-based businesses with simple needs Bottom line: Both are great tools. The right choice depends on your industry, budget, and future growth. 💡 My advice: pick the software that integrates best with your accountant/bookkeeper. ❓If you had to pick one today, would you go for Xero or QuickBooks?

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