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The go-to place for all things cloud accounting and digital. Find out the latest in accounting app news and exclusive interviews with cloud pioneers in the accounting industry.
Episodes
Monday Nov 24, 2025
Monday Nov 24, 2025
Is the audit profession under threat from AI? Ryan and Indi discuss a viral discussion sparked by a graduate questioning if they should accept a Big Four internship given PwC's heavy investment in AI audits.
The hosts discuss whether automation will replace juniors or simply change the nature of the work.
Also - this week in accounting tech news:
Intuit and OpenAI: Intuit announces a strategic partnership with OpenAI to power new AI agents across Credit Karma and TurboTax.
Digits' Bold Claim: The platform says it can automate the monthly close and bank reconciliations to save significant time on manual work.
New Entrants: Record OS launches to fix the data collection bottleneck for self-assessments, whilst Vinyl releases a mobile app to capture client meeting data.
Integration News: Karbon connects with Active Workpapers and Socket, whilst FreeAgent integrates with Pleo via Shift API.
Plus, good news for the industry as Mazuma founder Lucy Cohen is appointed President of the AAT.
Finally, Ryan speaks with Anoop Rehal from BKL for the Xledger spotlight. They discuss why mid-market firms are turning to outsourcing to solve talent gaps and how moving away from complex app stacks to modern ERPs helps drive efficiency.
➡️ Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World podcast!
03:32 PwC bets big on AI audits
10:37 Intuit deploys AI agents across Credit Karma and TurboTax
14:50 Karbon connects with Active and Socket
16:22 FreeAgent connects with Pleo
19:47 Digits claims to fully automate the monthly close using AI bank reconciliation
21:36 New entrant Record OS launches to fix the self-assessment bottleneck
23:52 Vinyl launches a mobile app to help accountants manage meetings on the go
27:30 Dext releases November product updates
28:43 AAT appoints Mazuma founder Lucy Cohen as its new president
32:34 Mid-Market Outsourcing: Solving Talent Gaps and Tech Stacks with BKL - Xledger
44:16 Rate, like and subscribe
Monday Nov 17, 2025
Monday Nov 17, 2025
John Toon and Indi speed-run a huge week in accounting tech news, and the theme is clear: AI. New research suggests half of UK firms are planning £100k+ AI investments, and the vendors are delivering.
This week's fintech news covers Adfin's new "Autopilot" AI credit controller that writes and sends chasers, Bill.com's "touchless" AI agents, and Thomson Reuters' move into agentic AI for tax and audit.
Plus, Dwayne Jackson is back. The founder of Kashflow and Staffology has launched Sodium, a new practice management platform - another future IRIS acquisition?
Also in this episode:
* Ben Carter from Access joins to give tangible examples of Evo's AI, from solving "mystery margin" to an "autopilot world".
* Laura Brophy from Xledger explains their "Pick and Mix" approach to digital training, based on adult learning theory
* Updates from NetSuite, Digits, and Fathom.
Learn how to harness EVO in Unleashed pre-client meetings. Join our Partner Product Webinar on the 17th November at 9pm GMT - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2dcL0
Find out more about Unleashed - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2cWv0
00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World
03:48 Unleashed: Using AI to Solve "Mystery Margin" & Create an "Autopilot World"
App News
12:23 Firms Plan Major AI Spend as Agentic AI Arrives
16:49 BILL Launches AI Agents for ‘Touchless’ SMB Finance
19:26 Thomson Reuters Unveils Agentic AI for Tax and Audit
22:45 Adfin unveils ‘Autopilot’ AI
25:22 NetSuite launches ‘NetSuite Next,’
28:04 Sodium practice software expands features
33:08 Digits announces new ‘Connect API’
36:32 Fathom introduces ‘Forecast Snapshots’
40:25 Xledger: The "Pick and Mix" Approach to Digital Training
Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
The Accounting Tech landscape is shifting under our feet. This week, we're breaking down the major strategic moves from the industry's biggest players and what it really means for your app, your ecosystem, and your channel strategy.
We dive deep into the new AI in Accounting arms race, with Intuit launching its new AI Agents and even HMRC rolling out Copilot.
Meanwhile, the giants are making moves. We explore the launch of Sage's next-gen X3 platform and ask the question: Is Sage50 really cloud-based now?
But it's not all about the platforms. For SaaS leaders focused on SaaS Activation and partnerships, we put two key ecosystem players under the microscope:
Unleashed: In our App Spotlight, we analyze Unleashed's strategic role within the wider Access Group ecosystem and cover its latest production feature enhancements.
Xledger: In our "Channel Focus" segment, we get a partner's-eye view of the Xledger program—a must-listen for anyone building a partner-led growth motion.
Join us for a packed episode of market intelligence to keep your Digital Transformation strategy one step ahead.
Learn how to harness EVO in Unleashed pre client meetings. Join our Partner Product Webinar on the 17th November at 9pm GTM - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2dcL0
Find out more about Unleashed - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2cWv0
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World
06:21 App Spotlight: Unleashed's Role in the Access Ecosystem
15:17 App News
15:32 Sage50 now cloud based?
19:04 Sage X3 next gen launch
25:37 New Intuit Accountant Suite and its AI Agents
28:57 New Kids on the Block: Xero’s October App Store Additions
32:47 HMRC rolls out Copilot
36:25 Unleashed Software Enhances its Production & Inventory Features
40:40 Channel Focus: Xledger from a Partner's Perspective
50:52 Outro
Monday Nov 03, 2025
Monday Nov 03, 2025
Welcome to the Digi-Tools in Accrual World Podcast, your essential update on UK Accounting Tech News and Fintech News!
This week, Ryan Pearcy and John Toon discuss the strategies shaking up the software world and the latest app updates you need to know about.
First, Ryan speaks with Ben Carter, Product Director for the Small Business Division at Access. Ben shares the vision behind integrating products like Unleashed, MintSoft, and Tradify. He explains their mission to deliver "value in seven minutes" and how they're using AI to revolutionise data onboarding for new trial users.
Then, it's a packed App News segment:
Sumday (Xero): An AI bot has been added to the carbon tracking platform to help analyse data and build sustainability business cases.
AI-Native Payments: Ryan questions if AI-driven automatic payment runs are a genuine innovation or just a buzzword.
Adfin Autopilot: The platform has launched an AI agent to intelligently and automatically chase customer debts.
Karbon & Spotlight: A new integration allows firms to automate the scheduling and generation of Spotlight reports directly from Karbon tasks.
Katana: The inventory tool for manufacturers has introduced a free plan, limited to 30 SKUs and 3 locations.
WorkGuru: The project management tool adds project document templates and an OCR integration with Easy Bills.
Employment Hero: The system now automates the complex calculation of leave entitlement for offboarding employees.
Cyber Attacks: John covers startling research from FreeAgent showing 6 in 10 UK small businesses were hit by a cyber attack last year.Finally, Kevin Fitzgerald, MD of UK for Employment Hero, returns. He explains the strategic decision to pause and relaunch their bureau program , moving away from a "race to the bottom" on price to a new model focused on integrating HR and payroll services for accounting firms.
This episode is sponsored by Unleashed and Employment Hero.
Learn how to harness EVO in Unleashed pre client meetings. Join our Partner Product Webinar on the 17th November at 9pm GTM - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2dcL0 Find out more about Unleashed - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2cWv0
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World
03:44 Unleashing Success: Inside the Small Business Division at Access
14:18 App News
14:22 Xero adds Sumday AI sustainability analysis
17:06 AI-native payments promise faster cashflow for firms
20:58 Adfin launches Autopilot automation
23:40 Karbon integrates with Spotlight for automated reporting
25:52 Katana introduces free plan for small manufacturers
27:52 WorkGuru adds templates and purchase orders
30:36 Employment Hero automates leave entitlement on offboarding
32:10 FreeAgent: Three in five small businesses hit by a cyber attack
38:00 Transforming Bureaus: Employment Hero's Approach to Payroll and HR
Subscribe to our newsletter for more news, and reach out if you're interested in attending the Digital Disruption Awards next year!
Monday Oct 27, 2025
Monday Oct 27, 2025
This week on the Digi-Tools in Accrual World we share the latest updates in accounting and fintech news.
We kick off with insights on the recent Digital Disruptor Awards and plans for next year’s event.
App News segment covers big names like Iris Software, Telleroo, Xero, and Monzo, with notable updates on faster payments, MTD tools, and AI-driven solutions.
We explore evolving payroll systems, the impact of AI on product development, and integrating multi-functional solutions to streamline business processes and data security.
Don’t miss our discussion on recent AWS outages and their impact on firms, plus the ongoing debate between Xero and QuickBooks users over bank reconciliation. Stay ahead in the world of accounting tech with this comprehensive and engaging episode.
Learn how to harness EVO in Unleashed pre client meetings. Join our Partner Product Webinar on the 17th November at 9pm GTM - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2dcL0
Find out more about Unleashed - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2cWv0
00:00 Introduction
04:44 AI's Role in Rapid Evolution: A Discussion with Ben Carter / Unleashed
App News
15:03 AWS outage slows down multiple SaaS platforms
16:48 Debate: Cloud Dependency and Resilience
20:50 Xero vs QBO: accountants debate the best bank rec tool
27:11 Sage powers Monzo’s new Making Tax Digital tool
28:44 IRIS partners with Telleroo for faster payments
30:31 Modulr's Confirmation of Payee for Batch Payments
32:14 Pleo launches embedded finance solution for SMEs
35:05 Apron's Accounts Receivable Tool
38:06 Appventory’s New Onboarding Methods
41:25 Joiin's Live Data Integration with Excel
45:27 From Fragmentation to Integration: The Evolution of Employment Tools - Employment Hero
55:06 Like and Subscribe!
Monday Oct 20, 2025
Monday Oct 20, 2025
Get your weekly fix of accounting tech news and fintech news with Digi-Tools in Accrual World. This week, we uncover a shocking new trend: over half of taxpayers are now using AI to prepare their tax returns, but are they ignoring the risks? We debate whether this is an opportunity or a threat for accounting professionals.
Next, we explore a critical topic for accountants: Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. Stu from FreeAgent joins us to explain their unique approach of segregating landlord and sole trader income, and how creating separate ledgers can simplify bookkeeping and boost automation for your clients.
Finally, we reveal the hidden impacts of payroll errors. With a staggering 84% of SMEs having experienced a payroll mistake, we discuss how these errors can erode employee trust and create significant compliance headaches.
Plus, don't miss our roundup of the biggest stories in the accounting tech space:
ICAEW has launched the biggest overhaul of the ACA qualification in 30 years.
TRIVER secures £114m to expand its SME invoice finance platform.
Caseware unveils 'Validate', an AI tool for last-mile audit review tasks.
Thomson Reuters acquires AI startup Additive to boost tax automation.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to the Digi-Tools in Accrual World Podcast!
04:06 Segregating Landlord and Sole Trader Income for MTD - FreeAgent
13:49 App News
13:55 ICAEW launches future proofed qualification
17:20 Majority of taxpayers now using AI for tax returns
20:24 TRIVER secures £114m to expand SME lending platform
23:30 Caseware unveils AI audit tool for ‘last-mile’ review tasks
24:41 Light raises $30m to grow AI-powered finance platform
27:01 Thomson Reuters acquires Additive, boosting AI tax automation
28:32 The hidden impacts of payroll errors - Employment Hero
36:57 Come and join us on the pod!
Monday Oct 13, 2025
Monday Oct 13, 2025
Welcome back to Digi-Tools in Accrual World, your weekly source for the latest accounting tech news and fintech news! This week, Indi and Ryan dive into a massive wave of AI innovation sweeping the industry.
The AI revolution is here! We break down Microsoft's game-changing "Agent Mode" for Excel, which promises to automate complex data analysis and reporting tasks. In other huge app news, Karbon has acquired the AI platform Aider to supercharge its practice management capabilities, and Sage is getting ahead of the curve by launching a new AI agent designed to tackle the administrative burden of MTD for ITSA.
Join us as we cover all the essential updates you need to know, including:
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Karbon's AI Future: An in-depth look at the Aider acquisition and what it means for practice management.
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Microsoft's "Agent Mode": How AI is about to turbocharge Excel and Word for accountants.
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Sage's MTD Agent: A new tool to automate client onboarding and quarterly submissions.
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App News Round-up: Dext introduces a WhatsApp integration for easy receipt capture, QuickBooks unveils a major UI overhaul, Acting Office integrates with FreeAgent, and Brieff connects with Karbon for smarter meeting workflows.
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MTD Client Transition: We catch up with Dave from FreeAgent to discuss strategies for moving clients to MTD.
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Payroll Pitfalls: Kevin Fitzgerald from Employment Hero joins us to explain why running payroll on spreadsheets is a recipe for disaster.
This episode is packed with critical insights into the tools and trends shaping the future of accounting. Don't miss out on the latest fintech news!
Chapters
00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World
App News
16:02 Karbon Acquires Aider to Boost AI Capabilities
18:18 Brieff Announces Integration with Karbon
21:16 Dext Introduces WhatsApp Integration
22:26 QuickBooks Unveils New User Interface
24:20 Acting Office Integrates with FreeAgent
28:50 Microsoft Introduces "Agent Mode" for Excel
32:01 Xero Launches New Partner Hub
34:22 Sage Announces AI Agent for MTD
37:58 Why Running Payroll on Spreadsheets is a recipe for disaster - Employment Hero
44:24 Accountants and Bookkeepers - Come and join us on the pod!
Monday Oct 06, 2025
Monday Oct 06, 2025
This episode is sponsored by Advancetrack, the go-to outsourcing and podsourcing specialists to help build capacity for your practice.
This week's accounting tech news is dominated by the rapid rise of Accounting AI agents! We take a first look at the US-based “Digits” platform and its AI-powered general ledger, which claims to auto-categorise up to 97% of transactions. We also explore Adsum's new 'Agent Mode' for data interrogation and automated reminders , and discuss how the profession is moving towards a future defined by these specialised AI agents.
Dave Norwell from FreeAgent joins us to tackle the very real challenge of client resistance to MTD for ITSA, sharing common patterns of denial and stressing the need for practices to create a proactive plan. We also round up the latest fintech news, including FYI's new team productivity and interim invoicing tools , a major integration between Active Workpapers and Alphatax for corporation tax , and Xero's new beneficial ownership compliance tool.
Finally, James Rose of Content Snare offers his perspective on the accounting tech scenes in Australia and the UK, comparing tech adoption rates and concluding that the UK is much further ahead than many believe.
00:00 Introduction and Event Highlights
04:17 Client Resistance to MTD - FreeAgent
App News
09:38 FYI Releases Team Productivity and Invoicing Tools
12:29 Gather Nexus Announces Integration with QuickBooks Online
17:09 Adsum Releases OpenTax Agent Mode in Beta
19:25 Active and Alphatax Announce Integration for Corporation Tax
22:45 Strategic Partnerships and Ecosystem Development
23:01 Roveel Partners with Tradebox for Enhanced E-commerce Reporting
24:40 Xero Releases New Beneficial Ownership Compliance Tool
29:33 A First Look at the New “Digits” Accounting Platform
35:37 How Agentic AI is Redefining the Future of Accounting
44:29 AU vs UK - Tech and Compliance Readiness - Content Snare
54:33 Outro
Monday Sep 29, 2025
Monday Sep 29, 2025
This week, the Digi-Tools in Accrual World podcast brings you front-row access to the biggest news in UK accounting tech!
We're fresh from an "insane week" hosting the Digital Disruptor Awards and we're recapping all the winners and highlights from the must-attend event.
Then, in a special takeover episode, we hand the mic to FreeAgent for an exclusive review into their product roadmap and award-winning strategy. Staff Product Manager Stu McEwan joins us to pull back the curtain on:
Strategic Integrations: Why FreeAgent is moving away from a vast ecosystem to focus on selective, "best-in-class" partners in key verticals like practice management and accounts payable.
Award-Winning CIS Module: How listening to accountants shaped a flexible and easy-to-correct CIS solution for both contractors and subcontractors.
Practice Efficiency: A look at new tools like "Find and Fix" for bulk reclassifying transactions and enhanced dashboard controls for managing client tax information and permissions.
Serving Larger Clients: How features like enhanced Management Reports, budgeting, and upcoming Tracking Groups are expanding FreeAgent's capabilities beyond the micro-entity market.
A Pragmatic Approach to AI: Why FreeAgent is deliberately focusing on embedded machine learning rather than jumping on the generative AI hype, prioritising solutions that solve real customer problems.
Finally, James Rose from Content Snare joins us to discuss his realist take on AI in document collection, arguing why protecting the client experience must come before full automation.
Whether you're looking for the latest accounting tech news, insights from the Digital Disruptor Awards, or a strategic look into FreeAgent's future, this episode is unmissable.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Welcome to the Digitals and the Cruel World Podcast
09:46 Digital Disruptor Award Win - FreeAgent Reaction
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14:43 App News - FreeAgent Takeover
15:30 Introducing Stu McEwan
16:36 Approach to Integrations
21:04 FreeAgent Card?!
22:09 Practice Management
24:03 Why CIS?
26:35 Voice of the customer
30:00 Find and Fix
35:09 Management Reports
39:16 FreeAgent's Customer Focus
42:18 Tracking Groups
44:30 Release of the Year
46:30 Hot Topics: Payments and AI
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
54:26 Beyond the Hype: A Pragmatic Approach to AI - Content Snare
01:05:49 Enjoyed the pod? Leave a rating!
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Ryan and Indi are back with your weekly dose of accounting tech news and fintech news, headlined by the launch of a new AI-native accounting platform set to challenge the established players - this episode sponsored by Content Snare.
The big story this week is the emergence of Artifact AI, an "agentic AI accountant" backed by a $4 million seed round from Andreessen Horowitz. Is this the beginning of the end for traditional ledgers? Ryan, who has been advising the company, shares his inside take on how these AI-native platforms are built from the ground up to automate workflows and disrupt the market.
The news roundup also covers AccountsIQ's move into non-financial metrics, major compliance updates from Bright and Inform Direct, and Zoho Books' competitive free plan for MTD ITSA.
We're also joined by Paul Sparkes from iplicit to discuss the power of integration, and why moving from a closed legacy system to a connected ecosystem is critical for the mid-market. Then, James Rose from Content Snare dives deep into security, exploring how to balance robust protection with a simple client experience that finally moves accountants away from insecure email exchanges.
00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World
07:00 From Closed Systems to Connected Solutions - iplicit
17:58 App News
18:03 Artifact AI Launches New Accounting Platform with $4M Seed Funding
22:21 AccountsIQ Unveils New Non-Financial Metrics Tracking Tool
25:31 Unleashed Enhances Platform with AI and Workflow Updates
27:44 Bright Continues Expansion with Acquisition of The Payroll Centre
30:18 Inform Direct Adds Identity Verification for ECCTA Compliance
31:58 Zoho Books Offers Free Software for MTD ITSA
33:52 Paradigm Launches Innovative Spreadsheet with AI in Every Cell
36:14 Beyond Email: How Content Snare is Revolutionising Secure Document Exchange
46:58 Enjoyed the episode? Leave us a rating!