Episode 18

Strategic Tech Decisions in Accounting with Jeremy Hyman

Episode 18. In today's interview, "Strategic Tech Decisions in Accounting with Jeremy Hyman."

Jeremy Hyman began his career with a top-50 firm of accountants in London, where he chaired the UK200 IT Group, produced the first document management system for accountants, and developed an IT business within the firm. He went on to establish and operate an IT services business before returning to his consulting roots and founding Jeremy Hyman Associates in 2017.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

➯ Why external advice and governance helps accounting firms make better tech decisions

➯ The reason why covid has shown how much more agile accountants are than they're given credit for

➯ The major mistakes accountancy firms have made in the covid pandemic and how complacency has led to the downfall of some

➯ Why new entrants to accountancy often struggle with the slow and backward technology in many firms

➯ The frustration caused by 'irresponsible' technology and software vendors in accounting firms

➯ How the smaller software vendors are more open to shared technology and more collaboration

➯ The threats faced by legacy vendors from more open and flexible solutions who supply professional firms

➯ The main challenges faced by accounting firms when choosing to invest in certain technologies

➯ The single biggest challenge most partners face in driving change in their accounting firm

➯ The cost of being fiercely independent in offering advice to accounting firms in the fintech world

➯ The adverse impacts accountancy firms suffer if they make mistakes with their big technology projects

➯ The dangers of for accounting leaders of making 'monolithic' technology investments for their firm

➯ Why even the best technology fails if adoption, training and adoption is poor across the firm

➯ 3 killer questions to ask accounting firm tech vendors to ensure you are making a good decision to invest

➯ How covid has flattened the world and allowed more international collaboration with tech

➯ The biggest challenge accounting firm leaders have with introducing new technology

➯ How to differentiate between those people in your accounting firm who 'get' technology and advancement, and those who don't

➯ What accounting firms should be spending their money on when it comes to tech investment

➯ The key things that the most successful accounting firms are doing that stands them out

➯ Why technology is actually NOT the solution for everything and how it diminishes the human element

➯ Words of encouragement for accounting professionals and leaders to make good strategic technology decisions in uncertain times.

Jeremy combines a thorough understanding of professional firms, a sound grasp of technical disciplines, and a pragmatic and effective approach to provide technology leadership and guidance to larger firms of accountants.

Contact Jeremy here:

Website and blog http://www.jeremyhyman.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyhyman/

NOTE TO LISTENERS:

The Accounting Influencers Podcast is a CPE-accredited daily radio-style show with four segments coming out every Monday which are repeated on the other 4 weekdays as standalone episodes, plus a bonus 'from the client's perspective' episode on Saturdays. On Sundays, listeners get a short min trailer for the coming week's episodes.

Every Tuesday the show gives you a relevant news topic from the accounting and fintech world with a direct application to accountants, CPAs and bookkeepers. Great to stay informed and build your commercial acumen.

Every Wednesday and Friday, we feature an uncut interview with top authors, leaders, thinkers and performers in the accounting and fintech world.

Every Thursday the show gives you a practical 'here's what works' tips concerning a key challenge, need or strategy for accountants, CPAs and bookkeepers. Great to stay current and keep your skills topped up.

Finally, every Saturday gives listeners a bonus episode which focuses on the buyers of accounting services - the clients themselves. In particular how they feel, react to and experience their interactions with accountants. That includes why they buy or don't buy, why they move or stay and why they think how they think about you, your firm, your prices and your offerings.

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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.

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.