Accountants After Hours

Proudly brought to you by Ignition who we both love and use in our businesses to automate proposals and streamline invoicing.In this episode, Nat and Sarah tackle an issue close to every accountant's heart - mental health in accounting - especially during the pressure cooker of EOFY season.They open up about what's been keeping them busy: Natalie's nomination for Thought Leader of the Year at the Australian Accounting Awards, Sarah's CPA AI Build Day pilot event, onboarding new clients and team members, and gearing up for tax planning season.The conversation gets real as they explore the unique mental health challenges facing accountants - from the emotional weight of client crises, to managing perfectionism and imposter syndrome, to the always-on nature of working from home. They share personal strategies that help them stay grounded, including the 5am gym club, setting boundaries with work hours, prioritising sleep, and building routines that create separation between work and life.The episode wraps with a tea time reminder to be kind - after hearing about an accountant who blasted another via email over Xero file mistakes. Pick up the phone, sleep on that angry email, and remember we're all in this together.Follow, subscribe and share with an accountant who needs a space where the real conversations happen.☕️ Send us your accounting industry tea and how you are using AI in your firm - hello@accountantsafterhours or DM on socials.🔗 Episode links:New Access for Small Business Owners coaching program -https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/work/small-business-owners-and-sole-traders   CAANZ - 6 sessions with a psych https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/member-services/mentoring-and-support/ca-wellbeing Small Business Accountants & Advisers Brain Trust, Australia Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1bZrkuRGSJ/ 💬 Join in on the conversation:- Follow us on Instagram (it’s where we have the most fun) - Like us on Facebook- Follow us on LinkedIn- Watch and subscribe on YouTubeDISCLAIMER: This podcast is general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Listeners should seek their own professional advice and conduct their own due diligence before acting on any information discussed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Proudly brought to you by Ignition who we both love and use in our businesses to automate proposals and streamline invoicing.The 2026 Federal Budget has landed and accountants across Australia are sounding the alarm. In this episode Natalie Lennon and Sarah Lawrence unpack the biggest tax changes, including the removal of negative gearing on existing properties, changes to capital gains tax, the new 30% trust tax, bucket company issues, R&D updates, PAYG reforms, and what it all means for small business owners, investors, and accountants.This is an honest, unfiltered discussion about the real-world impact these proposed changes could have on everyday Australians, business owners, and the economy.☕️ Send us your accounting industry tea and how you are using AI in your firm - hello@accountantsafterhours or DM on socials.🔗 Episode links:2026 Federal Budget Government webpageTwo Sides Accounting Blog - 2026 Federal Budget SummaryElectric Car FBT Exemption 💬 Join in on the conversation:- Follow us on Instagram (it’s where we have the most fun) - Like us on Facebook- Follow us on LinkedIn- Watch and subscribe on YouTubeDISCLAIMER: This podcast is general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Listeners should seek their own professional advice and conduct their own due diligence before acting on any information discussed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Proudly brought to you by Ignition who we both love and use in our businesses to automate proposals and streamline invoicing.Stop leaving money on the table by only calling clients on June 30th with last minute instructions. In this episode Natalie and Sarah break down how to turn tax planning into a high-value advisory service.They discuss why proactive tax planning is a critical "time to shine" for accountants to demonstrate value to clients beyond basic compliance.Follow, subscribe and share with an accountant who needs a space where the real conversations happen.☕️ Send us your accounting industry tea and how you are using AI in your firm - hello@accountantsafterhours or DM on socials.💬 Join in on the conversation:- Follow us on Instagram (it’s where we have the most fun) - Like us on Facebook- Follow us on LinkedIn- Watch and subscribe on YouTubeDISCLAIMER: This podcast is general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Listeners should seek their own professional advice and conduct their own due diligence before acting on any information discussed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Accountants After Hours - this time recorded live in front of an audience.Thank you to our sponsors Ignition who we both love and use in our businesses to automate proposals and streamline invoicing. Check them out here. In this episode, Nat and Sarah dive into the real challenges accounting firms are facing right now, from team pressures and burnout to capacity issues and the constant juggle between growth and delivery.They unpack:Why staffing and team dynamics remain the biggest pain point across firmsThe reality of doing the work vs leading the businessThe never-ending cycle of hiring, capacity, and chasing new clientsHow community and industry connections help navigate the chaosThey also get into a spicy industry debate:CPA vs CA — should the bodies merge?Do clients actually care about designations anymore?And what the future of the profession could look like with AI and regulation changesPlus, they share personal career reflections:Taking risks, backing yourself, and “doing the hard thing”Walking away from traditional paths to build something betterWhy finding your tribe in the industry is everythingAnd of course… Tea Time ☕ makes an appearance with some live event gossip 👀Follow, subscribe and share with an accountant who needs a space where the real conversations happen.Send us your accounting industry tea and questions - hello@accountantsafterhours or DM on socials.Follow us on Instagram (it’s where we have the most fun) Like us on FacebookFollow us on LinkedInWatch and subscribe on YouTubeDISCLAIMER: This podcast is general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Listeners should seek their own professional advice and conduct their own due diligence before acting on any information discussed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We recorded this a few weeks ago which in AI terms basically makes it old news already. And that alone tells you how fast this space is moving.In this jam packed episode we break down what’s actually changed since ChatGPT dropped in November 2022, why the AI convo makes some accountants roll their eyes, and why we still need to talk about it anyway.We cover:GPT-4, Claude, Gemini and the DeepSeek moment that shook the AI raceWhy 2026 might be the year of the “agent” (AI that does things, not just says things)The gap between what LLMs can do and what accounting firms are actually ready forTech debt, change management and why that’s the real bottleneckWhat’s already being automated in firms right nowWhy hourly billing makes less sense in an automated worldWe also share real examples from our firms, including:Automating compliance and workpapersAI agents qualifying new leadsUsing ChatGPT Teams for quarterly advisory reportingAnd yes… “make this email sound less blunt” being one of the most used promptsPlus Tea Time ☕️This episode : cowboy accountants, refund dramas, and employees walking out with clients.It’s not hype.It’s not doom.It’s what’s actually happening inside accounting   firms right now.And let us know…Do we keep talking about AI?Or is Nat banning the topic?Ai and automation tools we use:Vinyl AI notetakerZapierChatGPTClaudeGrokGoogle GeminiN8NPerplexityOpenClawTypeformFollow, subscribe and share with an accountant who needs a space where the real conversations happen.Send us your accounting industry tea and questions - hello@accountantsafterhours or DM on socials.Follow us on Instagram (it’s where we have the most fun) Like us on FacebookFollow us on LinkedInWatch and subscribe on YouTubeFollow us individually on Instagram @natlenno  @sarahlawranceCFO.Thank you to our sponsors Ignition who we both love and use in our businesses to automate proposals and streamline invoicing. Check them out here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.