As Statler said to Waldorf, the witty old blokes in the VIP box on the Muppet show;

“There’s a lot to be said about this program.”

To which Waldorf quipped back;

“Too bad you can’t say it on a family show!” The bothed harrumphed and probably cut to a clip of Kermit trying to get animal ready for his next scene.

And in the spirit of that nostalgia Trenches starts it's 8th year.

Paul and David say a huge THANK YOU for investing some of your time listening to us.

Because of you we are earn the meaningless perk of being ranked in the top 20% most listened to podcast on earth.

Not bad for a show about real life in the accounting industry.

Best on Ground

David

CAANZs budget submission covers everything - but will Canberra listen? - CAs influence has to be at a weak point  https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/news-and-analysis/advocacy/policy-submissions/pre-budget-submission-2023-24 

Karbons payments product was bigger than expected https://karbonhq.com/feature/billing-and-payments/ 

Fox Sports - Stick to highlights of the 2016 and 2023 Grand Finals, leave the balance sheets to us https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7163833930805096449/ 

Paul 

Paul hit the ChangeGPS National tour to see the launch of Protect - David calls it the biggest innovation in accounting in a decade  https://changegps.com.au/apps/protect 

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE - David did not ask Paul to cover this, in fact David has begged Paul to talk about ChangeGPS in the past and he has said no. The comments in the show are 100000% because Paul chose to share them. 

MYOB lampoons instant invoicing in the best way https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVzPKz_Uz2M 

Worst on Ground

Paul

Flexible Hours will suffer thanks to the right to switch off https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/business-fights-back-against-right-to-disconnect-from-work-20231220-p5esol#:~:text=%E2%80%9CA%20legislated%20right%20to%20disconnect,are%20unreasonable%2C%E2%80%9D%20she%20said. 

Agent Linking- David completely misunderstood the issue but Paul was in the room when it was workshopped….what actually happened is worse.

Ethics and the insane tokens accountants need to jump through as CA clings to a belief it can regulate the profession. Pledges, dobbing in peers increased ethics training. 

David

Media reports of 150 ATO agents linked to tik tok GST fraud is good ol fashioned clickbait

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My Father was a public practitioner for 40 years and my family lost him this year. 

One day, everyone of your families will be in this position. This episode, might be important to them. At some point in your life, it might be important for you. 

The first 8.5 minutes of this episode I talk about Dad. He came to Australia with very little, was brought up through welfare homes and then together with my mum raised my sister and I, while building an accounting practice that sustained my family through millions of happy moments. If it is too heavy for you, I understand, sharing this is an indulgence for me, you can skip it if you want to. 

If you skip it, you need to know this bit. 

Regular listeners would knowhow influential Dad was on my career and values. He is the reason I understand what you do so well. And why I realised I was better placed to help you rather than small business clients. 

Paul and I then talk through the first two weeks, the transition to get Paul control to service clients, and how he navigated the day to day while managing his practice and his family. 

Finally we talk through the sale process and what it means for for my family

While dealing with the grief, Paul stepped in as director and ran the day today while I worked through a sale process.

Not every family has a Paul or a son like me, our knowledge of the industry helped. 

And not everyone has a friend like Paul, who stepped up the way the very best of friends do, when you are at your lowest. 

I hope when reading this  line, you appreciate my lesson here.

I develop, sell and support accounting technology for a living, so it is with honesty that I say:-

The tech you use doesn't matter. 

All that matters. Is your health, and your relationship with your clients.

Yes, you're all that matters.

______________________

Cultural Note

Z"L is an English rendering of a common Hebrew posthumous honorific.

ז״ל‎ (Z"L) is the acronym of זיכרונו לברכה‎ (zikhronó liv'rakhá, literally “may his memory be a blessing”. - wikipedia.

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This show was recorded in mid February but thanks to Dave being busy getting the ChangeGPS new TaxPlan Advanced product ready we had a delay getting it out. Oh how we long for the days 6 years ago when we'd record and publish in a 2 minute workflow. 

Before we begin.....To The Xero's...https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7039489285565161472/ 

Best

A very simple explanation about why we don’t know what to do in the current Australian Economy

Australians head for their first endogenous shock in 30 years - MacroBusiness

Tips for Xero Roadshow for exhibitors and why we need an active ecosystem

Xero Roadshow Playbook | App Partner Edition (letsjourney.com.au)

Worst

Dext are determined to reinvent an accounting role Pre-Accounting: Why Small Businesses Can’t Ignore It - Dext Blog

Death of the Accountants Exemption Michelle Levy advice review: Labor to ‘stress-test’ plan to overhaul financial advice (afr.com)

Xero State of the Union Report Take Aways

Dave

• Surprised how popular mergers are in shifts in practice structure is
• 40% of practices offer employee benefits 40% dev and training, 33% track employee wellbeing, if you aren't happy leave….we don’t need to constantly berate the business model of accounting firms, enough firms are progressive to give staff choice and it's the laggards loss. 
• Only 19% are home office only, that convo is dead, move on

 Paul

• Bookkeepers don’t equal accountants in any sense of practice but the report, like so many other strip both of their individual identities and can get the conclusion wrong
• More services doesn’t mean more service
• Surveys are always an issue

Dave's not so new Trench

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While the entire world changes in response to war, inflation, the Covid Era work habits that are sticking round and Jim Chalmers attempt to alter the course of capitalism, our pertinacious host Paul Meissner proudly declares that TECH WILL NOT CHANGE (even though he knows ChangeGPS will drop 3 new products this year)! 

Before we dive in, a huge thank you to our episode sponsors 'Access Offshoring'. Are you struggling to find quality staff in your firm? 

Speak to the team at Access Offshoring. They specialise in finding quality talent in the Phillipines, trained on Australian tax law. They can help you improve your margins, unlock your capacity and get your firm back on track. 

1. Tax will Change
2. Blue collar workers won't get the same ATO treatment as white collars
3. The year of the micro business as COSBOA gets the chance to stop pandering to unions 
4. The year of return to employment for failing micro businesses 
5. Conference Schedule overload 
6. Post Conference marketing to accountants to be .... reduced? NAH!
7. The voice of accountants gets organised to have impact for small business and themselves
8. Professional bodies make an effort to improve, hopefully 
9. There has to be a growth in offshoring 
10. Conference Content maintains its repetition 
11. Accountants look after themselves!!

This show is proudly sponsored by Access Offshoring and ChangeGPS

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We are brought to you by ChangeGPS LIVE FROM BRISBANE https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/changegps-live-from-brisbane-tickets-460588100407 

Best on Ground

Trenches Award Finalists https://awards.fromthetrenches.com.au/  GET YOUR TICKETS NOW and enjoy some early bird pricing 

Could the real CAANZ Members please stand up? YES!!!!!

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6995548683614253056/ 

Work from Home For Ever is done 

https://twitter.com/ShaanVP/status/1588589924072443904 

Sensationalist Click Bait our way https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-11-01/the-accountant-shortage-threatens-capitalism-s-future 

Conor Clune published a paper on the governance of professional accounting bodies and he's coming on trenches https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/AAAJ-08-2020-4756/full/html 

Xero small business insights is finally getting the recognition it deserves https://www.linkedin.com/posts/louise-southall-2038b6157_policymaking-at-the-reserve-bank-speeches-activity-6988004559528861697-0YO0/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android 

Great engagement from Tax Institute to a member concern https://twitter.com/austaxter/status/1582505298010382337 

RIP Simple Fund Desktop https://www.bglcorp.com/2022/09/19/simple-fund-desktop-end-of-product-life-date-set/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=rasa_io&utm_campaign=newsletter 

Worst on Ground

Early proof quality of work is declining due to staff shortage crisis https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/deloitte-calls-crisis-meeting-blames-staff-turnover-for-poor-audit-results-20221025-p5bsn8 

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Today's CAANZ AGM was a "Sales Pitch" According to 25 year member Thomas O'Brien. 

Thom asked a question at the AGM, he got a response but doesn't feel he got an answer, in fact he doesn't feel heard at all. 

In this episode Thom gives his time to share his experience of trying to be heard by CAANZ during an AGM where CAANZ stated they were listening multiple times.

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This is one of the hardest episodes we've recorded. Both David and Paul have such pride in achieving our CA designations, the quality of the CA program and the effort it took to complete the program.

We feel that the current CAANZ doesn't represent the needs, interests or wants of public practice members and the board asking for votes at the AGM for a 15.8% payrise has understandably upset members. Many members believe this is unwarranted and want to do something about it.

CAANZ Board Assessment Process

David and Paul have discussed their views on CAANZ's strategy and values with a public practice lens and we believe the pay rise isn't warranted. 

To be fair to the board, our plucky hosts have reviewed CAANZ strategy and assessed each pillar based on their own opinions. 

Get the CAANZ Strategy here https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/about-us/what-we-do/vision-and-strategy 

Why bother?

If all accountants do is complain amongst ourselves, and ignore opportunities for impact, we will eventually be pushed aside and taper off into further anger and frustration. 

We encourage you to do the same prior to casting your vote. We are not campaigning a no vote, we are campaigning for you participate. 

We encourage members in public practice to make their own decision, but if you have a view, don't leave it to other voices to drown you out, vote. 

Next Steps

Members will have received an email entitled "Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand 2022 Annual General Meeting"

There is a link to register your proxy with a no vote and assign it to the president to table at the AGM. This email also contains your Unique Identification Number (UIN) that you'll need to register your vote.

While members who feel the organisation is being mismanaged can't do a lot to be heard, we CAN do this.

This isn't a call for resignations or mutiny, it's simply another attempt by members with real passion for the industry and pride in our designation to be heard.

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The Australian Accounting Industry Awards looks to celebrate hard-working accountants, bookkeepers, and leaders of the industry for 2022.

Hailed as the Brownlow medal night for the accounting industry. These awards highlight the efforts and grit of our public practitioner community during arguably one of the toughest periods of their career.​​​​

Join us in Sydney, in late November, for a gala dinner for the ages. Strictly limited places, be sure to RSVP when tickets become available.

Nominate yourself or a friend here https://awards.fromthetrenches.com.au/ 

The Australian Accounting Industry Awards are brought to you by

Weel ChangeGPS Dext Content Snare Access Offshoring Aider Lightyear Australian Bookkeepers Network Everperform and The institute of Certified Bookkeepers 

Our Awesome media partners are Accountex SYDNEY 2023 and XU Magazine 

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When Xero goes down does CTO Mark Rees get a red alert alarm in the middle of the night? Is it red flashing lights and blaring alarms? 

Listen to find out as Paul Meissner goes 1:1 with Mark Rees at Xerocon

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There are so many new payment apps now. 

Some of them are payments but cheaper and other build great workflows to solve business problems you currently have. 

And there is a ton of work being done to help banks understand Xero data. 

And the person overseeing this strategy is Xero's Leigh O'Neill. 

Check out our other Xerocon Interviews.

4 Minutes and 31 Seconds with Jo Lyons @Xerocon https://omny.fm/shows/from-the-trenches/4-minutes-and-31-seconds-with-jo-lyons 

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New Xero APAC Managing Director Jo Lyons has the energy one needs to take on this enormous job.

In this 4 minutes and 31 second floor walk interview Jo and Paul capture the energy of Xerocon. 

Check out our other Xerocon interviews

Financial Services and Xero - What and Why with Leigh O'Neill - EGM Financial Services 

Where's the product? With Mark Rees CTO

Huge thanks to Xero for comping Paul and Dave some Xerocon tickets. 

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