Episode 32

Accountancy Extinction - Are Accountants Surplus to Requirements?

Episode 32. In today's news episode, the Accounting Influencers Podcast examines the move by some fintech vendors to bypass accountants to deal directly with their clients and control their data.

Key shownotes include:

◆ The thinking behind some software vendors selling their wares directly to the business owners and cutting out the accountant

◆ How the message to business owners has moved from implicit to more explicit 'get rid of your accountant'

◆ The wrongs done to clients by their accountants that some fintech companies are trying to take advantage of

◆ Why more powerful and highly resourced software vendors have the means to change the marketing narrative about accounting firms

◆ How more direct and persistent 'you don't need an accountant' messages gradually convince accounting clients of a potentially new truth

◆ The folly for business owners of being duped by software sellers into thinking they do not need a professional accountant

◆ Why price sensitivity in compliance will always hurt accountants, meaning they need to step up with advisory services

◆ What accountants and accountancy firms must start doing in conversations with their business clients to remain relevant and needed

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About the Podcast

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Accounting Voices Podcast
Accounting Voices helps people in the accounting world stay relevant visible and vocal. Host Rob Brown interprets trends reshaping the profession and gives listeners insight to build authority influence and a stronger voice in firms and markets.

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About your host

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Rob Brown

Rob Brown is the founder and host of the Accounting Voices Podcast, the flagship solo show of the Accounting Voices Network. Each episode offers sharp analysis and commentary on the trends, ideas and people shaping the global accounting profession.

Through this Accounting Voices Podcast, Rob helps accounting firm leaders, decision makers and professionals stay relevant and make sense of disruption in areas like AI, automation, M&A, private equity and soft skills beyond the tech. His perspective blends clarity, insight and curiosity, making complex issues relevant and practical for professionals and decision makers across accounting and finance.

He also leads two monthly panel shows, Accounting M&A and Accounting AI, which bring together senior voices to explore consolidation, strategy and the impact of technology on firms and people.

Rob is the author of the bestselling book Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and a TEDx speaker whose talk The Personal Brand of You has more than 400,000 views. Over his career he has hosted and moderated more than 1,000 conversations with accounting and fintech leaders worldwide.

Based in Nottingham UK, Rob is a stroke survivor living with epilepsy, a black belt in kickboxing, a decent chess player and an average player of four musical instruments.