The Connected Accountant

The Connected Accountant is the essential podcast for accounting firm partners, directors, and business managers who want to grow their practice, increase profitability, and achieve freedom through strategic partnerships.Featuring three industry experts – Talila Kroy (partnerships and business growth specialist), Wayne Findlay (offshoring pioneer and chartered accountant), and Ian Aldridge (progressive lawyer working alongside accountants) – each episode explores how accountants can transform their practices through embedded partnerships.What makes this podcast different: Unlike other accounting podcasts that focus solely on technical skills or technology, The Connected Accountant addresses the fundamental shift happening in professional services: the move from transactional compliance work to becoming true trusted advisors through strategic collaboration. You'll hear from experts who have built successful businesses and helped hundreds of firms do the same.What you'll discover: •

The Connected Accountant is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 8 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The Connected Accountant, a business show with 8 episodes published.

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  Episode #8

  The Tax Trap: Why Small Business Is Under Fire | Budget Special Part 2

  Jul 15, 202632 min

  Episode Summary: In this second part of our budget special, we examine the significant tax changes that are placing Australian small businesses and investors under immense pressure. The conversation pulls apart the disconnect between government policy and the practical reality of running a business, highlighting how recent measures regarding negative gearing and capital gains tax are impacting the Australian dream. Our panel of experts explores the historical failures of similar tax experiments and warns of a looming valuation nightmare that could overwhelm both taxpayers and the ATO. We also tackle the cumulative effect of multiple changes hitting businesses simultaneously, from Payday Super to rising wages and interest rates. The discussion reveals a growing sense of frustration among business owners who feel their risk-taking is being penalised rather than rewarded. Ultimately, the episode emphasises why strategic partnerships and specialist advice are now the only way for accountants to navigate this increasingly complex and uncertain landscape. What You Will Learn: • Why the current negative gearing changes might repeat the failures of the 1980s • How the new capital gains tax framework creates a valuation crisis for 2027 • What the disconnect between stated policy and actual law means for your clients • Why the mum and dad investors are the ones truly hurting from superannuation changes • How to manage the significant cash flow impact of Payday Super in the first quarter • Why the flight of capital to business-friendly countries is becoming a real threat • How to maintain a positive mindset for clients amidst negative economic news • Why strategic partnerships are the ultimate moat for your accounting practice Key Takeaways: • Historical Precedent Matters • The panel notes that previous attempts to scrap negative gearing resulted in skyrocketing rents and were quickly reversed, yet current policy seems to ignore this lesson • The Valuation Trap • The requirement for asset valuations by July 2027 is described as a looming disaster that will lead to prolonged disputes and subjective challenges from the ATO • Risk vs Reward • There is a fundamental concern that the tax system is moving toward taxing capital risk at the same rate as labour, which discourages entrepreneurship and investment • Cumulative Compliance Burden • Small businesses are not just facing one change, but a tidal wave of measures including Payday Super and credit card law changes that hit cash flow and confidence • The Power of Specialisation • In an environment of extreme complexity and uncertainty, the generalist model is failing, making partnerships between accountants and lawyers more critical than ever Notable Quotes: • "Small business are really starting to feel the impact. Every time a government is in place, the small business seems to be the first group that gets hit." Peter Sa • "If you want to discourage activity, you tax it." Ian Aldridge • "The lack of consultation prior with people that are in the industry has caused these things to come out and not make any sense." David Patterson • "We need to accept the proposition that normatively our tax rules should not encourage risk-taking... that is the key point." Gavin Quayle Guest Information: • David Patterson from The Bucket List Accountant (bucketlistaccountant.com.au) • Gavin Quayle from Hilltop Tax Advisory (hilltoptax.com.au) • Peter Sa from FWP Advisory (fwpadvisory.com.au) Roundtable Events Information, including registration details, for Roundtable events for Accountants: https://thebackroomop.com/thepartnershipeffect   Panelist Information: Talila Kroy - Emple Website: emple.com.au  LinkedIn: l inkedin.com/in/talila-kroy   Specialisation: Building partner ecosystems for fast-growing businesses Wayne Findlay - The Back Room Website: thebackroomop.com  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/waynenz  Specialisation: Offshoring solutions for accounting firms Ian Aldridge - Progressive Legal Website: progressivelegal.com.au  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ianaldridge1  Specialisation: NewLaw firm for growing Australian businesses Production: Co-host - Anthony Perl - Podcasts Done For You Website: podcastsdoneforyou.com.au  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adperl/

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  Episode #7

  The Budget Bombshell: Why Accountants Can't Give Answers

  Jul 2, 202629 min

  Episode Description: The 2026 federal budget has dropped a bombshell on the Australian small business landscape, leaving accountants and their clients in a state of significant uncertainty. In this special episode, we assemble a panel of experts to unpack the controversy, the confusion, and the practical challenges of advising clients when the legal framework is still a movable feast. We explore why the current lack of draft law is leading to a rise in misleading social media advice and why a knee-jerk reaction to unwind trust structures could be a costly mistake. Our guests share their perspectives from the coalface of regional business advisory, specialist tax law, and asset protection. We get into the heart of why the government's approach to discretionary trusts and bucket companies might be missing the mark on how small businesses actually operate. This conversation is a must-listen for any accountant looking to navigate the shifting sands of the current budget cycle while protecting their practice and their clients through strategic partnerships. What You Will Learn: • Why the lack of a draft law is making it impossible for accountants to give definitive answers • How to handle clients who are bringing you "workarounds" they found on social media • What the shift in law design from Treasury to the ATO means for your compliance burden • Why trusts are critical for asset protection beyond just tax avoidance benefits • How to caveat your advice in black and white to protect your practice from liability • Why the 2026 budget is being described as a payload of problems for small business • What the future of bucket companies looks like under the proposed changes • How to maintain client confidence when the framework is still being built Key Takeaways: • Embrace the uncertainty with honesty • It is better to tell a client you are unsure than to give definitive advice on law that hasn't been written yet • Protect your practice with written caveats • Ensure all budget-related advice is clearly marked as being based only on currently available information • Re-evaluate the purpose of every trust • Move beyond tax planning and ensure structures are still fulfilling their primary role in asset protection • Beware of the social media vacuum • Proactively address misleading advice from TikTok and LinkedIn to prevent clients from making poor decisions • Strengthen your legal partnerships • The gap between tax and legal advice is widening, requiring a more collaborative approach to client strategy Notable Quotes: • "I can't really give them the answers at the minute, because it's really not clear as to exactly what the framework's going to be and how it's gonna look." David Patterson • "Taxpayers and regular individuals expect that there's this level of certainty and simplicity in the law... we're going the wrong way." Gavin Quayle • "Trusts being initially a great asset protection vehicle, and I think there's this misconception that trusts are just set up there for tax avoidance, which is just not the case." Ian Aldridge • "These changes came out, and many of them, to me, were badly thought out. They didn't make sense." Talila Kroy • "There's not enough detail from the new changes that we can rely on to really make some definitive decisions around what to do." Peter Sa Guest Information: • David Patterson - The Bucket List Accountant (bucketlistaccountant.com.au) and look for the podcast with the same name • Peter Sa - FWP Advisory (fwpadvisory.com.au) • Gavin Quayle - Hilltop Tax Advisory (hilltoptax.com.au) Roundtable Events: https://thebackroomop.com/thepartnershipeffect Here is the link to register for the webinar featuring Talila and Charles Clark: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3817816565448/WN_LhsImYIlSKqJ0bplQ4ZL-Q#/registration Roundtable Events Information, including registration details, for Roundtable events for Accountants: https://thebackroomop.com/thepartnershipeffect   Panelist Information: Talila Kroy - Emple Website: emple.com.au  LinkedIn: l inkedin.com/in/talila-kroy   Specialisation: Building partner ecosystems for fast-growing businesses Wayne Findlay - The Back Room Website: thebackroomop.com  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/waynenz  Specialisation: Offshoring solutions for accounting firms Ian Aldridge - Progressive Legal Website: progressivelegal.com.au  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ianaldridge1  Specialisation: NewLaw firm for growing Australian businesses Production: Co-host - Anthony Perl - Podcasts Done For You Website: podcastsdoneforyou.com.au  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adperl/

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  Episode #6

  Being Intentional with Partnerships: From Random Networking to Systemised Partnership Plans

  Apr 30, 202627 minS0

  <p>Most accountants have been told to build partnerships. Almost none of them know what to actually do on a Monday morning.</p><p>The advice is everywhere — partnerships are your big rock, partnerships are the growth lever, go and build some partnerships. But when the room empties and the week starts, what does that actually look like? Talila Kroy, Wayne Findlay, and Ian Aldridge have all built their businesses through intentional, systemised partnerships — and the gap between what they're doing and what most accountants are doing is significant.</p><p>There's a reason referral clients convert at 80% while cold lead...

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  Episode #5

  Has the client changed? Have you?

  Apr 16, 202631 minS0

  <p>Episode Summary:</p><p>In this episode, we tackle the fundamental shift in client expectations and whether accounting professionals are evolving quickly enough to meet them. I am joined by our regular panel, Talila Kroy from Emple, Wayne Findlay from The Back Room, and Ian Aldridge from Progressive Legal, to explore the intersection of technology, relationship management, and strategic partnerships.</p><p>We examine how the rise of AI tools like Claude and their integration into platforms like Xero are creating new opportunities for accountants to move from compliance to proactive advisory. The discussion highlights the danger of relying...

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  Episode #4

  Overcoming the Profit Squeeze: How Partnerships Help Accountants Deliver More Value for Less Effort

  Jan 21, 202629 minS0

  <h3>Episode Summary:</h3><p>In this episode, Talila Kroy, Wayne Findlay, and Ian Aldridge tackle the profit squeeze facing accounting firms head-on. Since COVID, professional services have seen a relentless race to the bottom, with clients shopping purely on price. Discover how strategic partnerships offer accountants a path to escape price competition, attract better clients, and future-proof their practices against AI disruption.</p><h3>What You'll Learn:</h3>Why the last five years have seen a race to the bottom in professional services and how to escape itWhy price-shopping clients are your worst clients and how to avoid attracting...

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