Fintech Insider Podcast by 11:FS
00:57:08 · Sarah Kocianski, David M. Brear
[00:57:08] S0: I think we're starting the after party because there's booze out. There's great snacks out. So we're we're gonna get things kicked off. So we're gonna start off by recapping the top announcements from across the conference today, and then we're gonna take a bit of a deep dive into the topics they cover, and we're gonna have some fantastic guest on the stage alongside us. But before we get there, we have to talk about the reason we're here today. So there are 5,700,000 small businesses in The UK with over 1,000 new ones started every day. For which accountants are actually now seen as the key adviser? So they are far outstripping other contenders on trust. I've spoken to several accountants today. I know this to be true. Also usage, out, you know, up above and beyond lawyers, bank managers, and IT consultants. 90% of Xero customers connect to an accountant and these Xero now advise 2,000,000 businesses in The UK. So they they're kind of a big deal. Right? Not only that, but as fintech is moving more and more into SMB banking and SMB finance, accountants are gonna be playing a huge role in shaping what these services look like going forward. [00:58:09] S10: Does. And we've got a lot to go through today, haven't we? Actually, with all of the announcements and everything that's gone through, but we we kind of can't do this alone. Before we get started, we want to introduce some of our very special guests. So please welcome to the stage representing Zero. We've got Kerry Gohman. [00:58:25] S0: Whoo. Let's have some clapping.
00:58:25 · Sarah Kocianski, David M. Brear, Keri Gohman
[00:58:25] S0: Whoo. Let's have some clapping. [00:58:29] S10: Kerry is the global platform lead at Zero and representing the accountants. We have Becca McClorsch who is the director of operations at BDO. [00:58:38] S0: Becca's got her team in. I... So welcome to the show ladies. Do you want to start off by telling us a little bit about what you guys do? Do wanna start, Carrie, as Becca is busy waitressing for the evening? [00:58:51] S13: Thank you so much. [00:58:52] S0: Just keep flowing in there. It's fine.
00:58:52 · Sarah Kocianski, Keri Gohman
[00:58:52] S0: Just keep flowing in there. It's fine. [00:58:55] S13: So, listen at Xero, my role is really to facilitate our platform. And what that means is we have the core of what we do is putting together small business owners in and their financial lives. So, together banks with government with financial service applications and most importantly with the advisors that help make small business owners successful. My new role is really focusing in on three areas that go well beyond the boundaries of accounting and really enable all the players on the ecosystem to be successful. So, thinking about how to enable financial services. So, how do we really participate and go deep in deep partnership with with folks, banks and our financial technology partners to help businesses get paid faster. To help drive credit and help more small business owners get the support that they need. Also thinking about our marketplace. So, how do we help all the partners that sit on our platform be more successful and grow as we solve needs for small business owners. And then finally, all the data that flows in and out of our system, how do we really put that to work for small business owners and their accounting partners? So, a lot of great stuff. [01:00:05] S0: Not not a small role then. [01:00:07] S13: No. No. Lots of stuff. [01:00:08] S0: And Becca, other than being an expert one for her, what do you do on a day to day basis?
01:00:08 · Sarah Kocianski, Becca McClure, Caroline Plumb
[01:00:08] S0: And Becca, other than being an expert one for her, what do you do on a day to day basis? [01:00:13] S14: So I work for BDO Drive which is BDO's offering for SME businesses. My boring job title is director of operations. My cooler job title is chief disruptor because I like to challenge everything that we do. Yeah. And basically, I just try to make make shit happen for so that accountants can [01:00:38] S0: do their job. Brilliant. We have to get you a sticker if you haven't already got one. I'm one of our make shit happen stickers. [01:00:43] S2: Oh, really? [01:00:44] S0: We will get you one for your laptop and then you can just march into meetings with it. So Kerry, we're gonna... Basically, this is... We're at a conference. It's a conference full of accountants. But it does not feel like a conference full of accountants. It's it's it's got an amazing vibe. You know, so much energy. Everybody I've spoken to is is super enthusiastic. I mean, what what's this show about for you for Zero?
01:00:44 · Sarah Kocianski, Keri Gohman
[01:00:44] S0: We will get you one for your laptop and then you can just march into meetings with it. So Kerry, we're gonna... Basically, this is... We're at a conference. It's a conference full of accountants. But it does not feel like a conference full of accountants. It's it's it's got an amazing vibe. You know, so much energy. Everybody I've spoken to is is super enthusiastic. I mean, what what's this show about for you for Zero? [01:01:06] S13: Yeah. Listen for Zero, this is about getting together our community. This is about getting together the change agents in our markets. These are accountants that are changing the game. They're not just collecting data and doing the basics anymore. They're advising small business owners. They're changing the entire industry. We also bring together the community of app partners that are tech forward companies and banks. So thinking about financial technology providers, others in the small business ecosystem and the most progressive banks out there. We all spend time together learning and talking about how we can change the industry and have a tremendous amount of fun along the way. We're all friends and partners and we're all enrolled in this idea of helping small business owners be successful. And, the group has a ton of energy, it's fun, it's way more akin to a tech conference maybe even at sometimes a rock and roll concert. We'll see how tonight goes. I will share like it's been a tremendous conference. I have a few stats to share with you from the conference. Do you mind? [01:02:08] S0: These do.
01:02:08 · Sarah Kocianski, Keri Gohman, David M. Brear
[01:02:08] S0: These do. [01:02:09] S13: These are like very official. I wrote them down on everything. So we've had 3,000, over 3,000 attendees which is incredible. [01:02:18] S10: That's impressive. [01:02:19] S13: It is and by the way this is a worldwide conference. Worldwide we've had close to 10,000 accountants, fintech providers, banks come together all across the world who are the most forward thinking folks in their in their field. We also have about 44% of those folks that are women. Whoo. I hear you. Everybody that is good. [01:02:38] S0: For somebody who attends a lot of finance conferences, that's an amazing stat. [01:02:41] S13: An amazing stat. Yeah. We have served something like... We're going to serve something like 12,000 meals, 10,000 cups of amazing coffee provided by one of our small business owners, two grassy knolls and 30 hedges. I'll let your listeners try to figure that out. The state is as big as seven double decker buses and then finally my favorite a 164 miles of lighting which would essentially cover the distance between London and the Leeds of Yorkshire which I understand as an American I'm pronouncing entirely incorrectly. [01:03:11] S10: You were close. Close enough, right? [01:03:12] S0: Close. Thanks guys. Well, thank you so much for agreeing to join us this evening ladies. But now, let's get on with the show.