Small Firm, Big Impact Express

Your stress is the culture: How to reset your practice

In a small accounting firm, a leader’s stress rarely stays personal. It can shape how the team communicates, responds to pressure and raises problems before they grow. In this episode of Small Firm, Big Impact Express, Chartered Accountant and Khoh Partners founder Jeremy Khoh explores why wellbeing in a smaller practice starts with leadership behaviour, not another policy or program. He explains how a leader’s emotional state can influence psychological safety and why a tense or reactive environment may make people less likely to speak up about deadlines, client issues or mistakes. You’ll hear three practical ways to create more breathing room, set healthier expectations and lead more sustainably, without pretending the workload or resourcing pressure is not real. The advice is designed for busy firm owners and practice leaders and does not require a large budget, a new wellbeing initiative or a spare afternoon. Resources and further reading: Learn more about what Jeremy does Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn Visit the CA ANZ member wellbeing hub Visit the Smaller Practices Centre for general practical tools and guidance See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How smaller accounting firms can support First Nations businesses

Supporting First Nations businesses goes beyond meeting procurement targets. For smaller accounting practices, Indigenous Business Month is an opportunity to recognise the contribution of First Nations entrepreneurship and explore practical ways to get involved. In this episode of Small Firm, Big Impact Express, Jolene Kawak, a proud Yamatji woman, Fellow Chartered Accountant and Director at Karlaya Accounting & Business Advisory, explains why First Nations business success matters and how accountants can play a meaningful role in supporting it. In this episode, discover: Why supporting First Nations businesses matters beyond procurement. Opportunities for smaller practices to connect with and support First Nations businesses. The importance of genuine relationships and culturally respectful engagement. Resources and further reading 🔗 Explore the Smaller Practices Centre: https://caanz.s.gy/QgtnMj 🔗 Connect with Jolene: https://caanz.s.gy/7e3A4P 🔗 Supply Nation: The Sleeping Giant Rises: https://caanz.s.gy/DLeHQH 🔗 University of Melbourne: Indigenous Business and Corporation Snapshot Study 4.0: https://caanz.s.gy/1WMobY 🔗 Supply Nation: Indigenous Business Directory: https://caanz.s.gy/oRjsII See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making ethics practical in everyday practice

Ethical challenges in accounting rarely arrive as obvious dilemmas. They often show up in everyday decisions, from client pressure and tight deadlines to incomplete information or situations where something simply doesn’t feel right. In this episode of Small Firm, Big Impact Express, Josephine Haste, Manager for Ethics and Professional Practice at CA ANZ, explores why ethics matters in everyday accounting practice, particularly for smaller firms where close client relationships can put professional judgement to the test. In this episode, you’ll learn: How ethical pressures can arise in day-to-day practice Why professional judgement and client trust matter Practical ways to build ethical decision-making into your firm Where to seek guidance when an issue isn’t clear Resources and further reading: Learn more and register for Global Ethics Day: https://caanz.s.gy/a6yM8c Review the Code of Ethics: https://caanz.s.gy/jzypzO Learn about the Chartered Accountants’ Advisory Group: https://caanz.s.gy/To2PzW Visit the Smaller Practices Centre: https://caanz.s.gy/KLeGJV See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The HR runway: preparing smaller practices for what comes next

Across Australia and New Zealand, smaller accounting firms are navigating ongoing talent pressure, changing client expectations and the accelerating impact of AI, automation and digital tools. In this episode of Small Firm, Big Impact Express, Karen Meredith, Co-founder of PeopleEX, explores the HR runway and why firms need to look beyond immediate resourcing issues. Karen explains how smaller practices can plan for the next 12 to 24 months, rethink role design, build capability and use technology to support higher-value client work. You’ll hear practical prompts to help your firm step back, assess the skills and structure it needs for the future, and build a more resilient team. It’s about creating enough runway now so your people, processes and technology can adapt with more confidence as the profession continues to change. Resources and further reading: Learn more about PeopleEX Visit the Smaller Practices Centre for general practical tools and guidance Build capacity in your practice with the Creating Capacity webinar series [Australia] | [New Zealand] Listen to us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PPSA mistakes that could cost your clients

PPSA compliance can be easy to overlook, but missing the right steps can have serious consequences for clients who hold, lease, hire or supply business assets. In this episode, Simon Read, Founder and Director at PPS Advisory, explains why structure alone may not protect assets in an insolvency scenario, and what smaller practices should be aware of when advising clients with asset protection structures, related-entity leasing arrangements, financed equipment, or equipment supplied to customers. In this episode, we cover: Why PPSA compliance matters for asset protection structures How clients can lose ownership interests in plant, equipment or vehicles Which client arrangements may create PPSA exposure How accountants can help clients spot the issue early and seek specialist advice where needed Resources and further reading: Visit the Smaller Practices Centre for general practical tools and guidance Learn more about Simon Read CA and PPS Advisory Helpful checklists from PPS Advisory PPSA checklist for equipment owners, hirers and leasing businesses PPSA checklist for businesses selling goods on credit These third-party resources are provided for general information only and do not constitute legal advice. Consider seeking professional legal advice for your circumstances. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Working better with bookkeepers and avoiding messy data

Messy data can create big problems for smaller accounting firms. Even with better cloud tools and automation, many firms are still losing time to coding errors, unreconciled accounts, duplicated transactions and unclear handovers between bookkeepers, accountants and clients. In this episode of Small Firm, Big Impact Express, Natalie Lennon FCA, Founder and Director of Two Sides Accounting, shares practical ways smaller practices can work better with bookkeepers, reduce rework and improve the quality of client data. You’ll hear why clearer roles, agreed processes, and regular check-ins can make a real difference to efficiency, profitability and client service. In this episode, we cover: Where the accountant-bookkeeper relationship often breaks down Why messy data creates workflow, profitability and advisory issues How to set clearer roles and responsibilities The importance of agreed systems, standards and communication Practical steps to prevent year-end clean-up Resources and further reading: Visit the Smaller Practices Centre for general practical tools and guidance Learn more about our host here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How small firms can build visibility on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is evolving, and for smaller accounting firms, it’s becoming one of the most powerful channels to build visibility, credibility, and trust. In this episode of Small Firm, Big Impact Express, we explore what’s changed over the past 12–18 months, including how LinkedIn now prioritises original, expertise-led content, meaningful engagement, and individual voices over company pages. We also unpack how LinkedIn is increasingly influencing not just client decisions, but recruitment and even how your firm appears in AI-driven search results. More importantly, we break down what this means for smaller practices and share three practical steps you can take today, from optimising your profile to sharing simple, insight-led content and engaging more effectively. If you want to build a stronger presence without a big marketing budget, this episode will help you get started. Resources and further reading: Visit the podcast page for more resources See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI for research: risks and best practice for small firms

AI tools can generate research and summaries instantly, but they don’t always produce reliable information. In some cases, outputs may include incorrect or fabricated references that appear credible at first glance. In this episode of Small Firm, Big Impact Express, Carolyn White, Manager of Library Services at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), explains how accounting firms can use AI tools more safely when conducting research. In just a few minutes, she explores: Why AI tools can produce incorrect or fabricated references What firms should verify before relying on AI-generated information Practical steps to validate research outputs How CA ANZ Library Services can support research verification Resources and further reading: Visit the podcast page for more resources See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your Tech Stack Check-In: Optimise for Efficiency and Profitability

New integrations, AI-powered features and deeper connections between software tools are rapidly reshaping the accounting tech landscape. In this episode of Small Firm, Big Impact Express, Heather Smith FCA, FCCA, FICB, founder of ANISE Consulting and host of the Accounting Apps podcast, breaks down what’s changed across common accounting platforms, why your tech stack has a direct impact on profitability, and the practical steps small firms can take to audit their tools for better efficiency. When systems don’t talk to each other, the cost isn’t just subscription fees. It’s duplicated effort, manual re-keying and billable time lost. In just five minutes, you’ll learn how to review your current stack, identify overlaps, activate underused integrations and prioritise the highest-impact improvements. If you want a clear, actionable check-in on whether your tools are helping or hindering your firm’s growth, this episode gives you the essentials without the overwhelm. Resources and reading: View the full resource list and episode notes here Explore more resources on the podcast page Visit the Smaller Practices Centre for more information See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AML/CTF reforms are coming. What small firms need to do now.

In the first episode of Small Firm, Big Impact Express, Jill Muir, Senior Policy Advocate, Business Reform at Chartered Accountants ANZ, breaks down what the Tranche 2 AML/CTF reforms mean for accounting practices ahead of the 1 July 2026 start date. In just five minutes, this episode covers what’s changing under Australia’s AML/CTF regime, which accounting services may bring firms into scope, why the reforms matter for small practices, and the practical steps firms can start taking now. If you want a clear snapshot of what’s changed, why it matters, and what to do next, this episode gives you the essentials without the overwhelm. Resources mentioned in this episode: Australia’s AML/CTF reforms: questions and answers AML/CTF program project plan (AU) for professional accountants AUSTRAC Accounting Program Starter Kit Access all the episode notes here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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