Welcome back to Accounting Steps! I’m Gareth Salomon, accountant and founder of Xenon Connect (software that automatically detects bookkeeping errors – faster). This episode is particularly close to home, as I took a walk around Erddig Country Park here in Wrexham with Adrian Bryan, founder of local firm AB Accountancy.

Adrian came into practice from an industry background as a CIMA-qualified accountant, and that experience has had a big influence on how he sees the role of the modern accountant. We talk about his firm’s move away from purely compliance-based work towards value accounting and Virtual Finance Director services.

We discuss his thoughts on hiring and growing local accounting talent versus offshoring, including why he feels this decision matters to his client relationships today, as well as the long-term future of the profession.

Let's get started!

AB Accountancy: https://www.abaccountancy.co/

Adrian Bryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-bryan-abaccountancy/

Xenon Connect: https://www.xenonconnect.com/

Gareth Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethsalomon/

Welcome back to Accounting Steps! I’m Gareth Salomon, accountant and founder of Xenon Connect (software that automatically detects bookkeeping errors – faster). In this episode, I’m in Tamworth, taking a walk with Paul Barnes from Cloud Accounting Support Services.

Before bookkeeping, Paul had a career in professional football. We talk about his journey through the game, the most memorable striker he came up against, and whether the skills needed to coach footballers have proved useful when building and managing a bookkeeping business.

We also explore the practical side of how Paul and his team deliver bookkeeping services - going in depth into how the firm uses bookkeeping health checks to solve various pain points more efficiently.

It’s a great mix of football, bookkeeping and business, so let’s get into it.

Cloud Accounting Support Services: https://cassonline.co.uk/

Paul Barnes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cass-paulbarnes/

Xenon Connect: https://www.xenonconnect.com/

Gareth Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethsalomon/

Welcome back to Accounting Steps! I’m Gareth Salomon, accountant and founder of Xenon Connect (software that automatically detects bookkeeping errors – faster). In this episode I took a walk through the lovely Nene Park in Peterborough with award winning bookkeeper, Kirsty St John.

Kirsty discusses the software she uses, her month end bookkeeping process and how collaboration between accountants and bookkeepers can be improved.

Let’s get started!

Kirsty's Counting Services Ltd: https://www.kirstyscounting.com/

Kirsty St John LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstystjohn/

Xenon Connect: https://www.xenonconnect.com/

Gareth Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethsalomon/

Welcome back to Accounting Steps! I’m Gareth Salomon, accountant and founder of Xenon Connect (software that automatically detects bookkeeping errors – faster). In this episode I took a walk through the picturesque Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh with Stu McEwan, Staff Product Manager at FreeAgent.

In true Scottish style, there was a bit of wind and rain along the way, but that didn’t stop us from having a great conversation. Stu shared his journey from studying business management and psychology, to joining FreeAgent back in 2016. We talked about his early days working in the Support team, through product management, and into what his current role looks like today.

We also discussed the challenges and opportunities ahead with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, how FreeAgent approaches product development, and what is next for the software.

FreeAgent: https://www.freeagent.com/

Stu McEwan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartmcewan/

Xenon Connect: https://www.xenonconnect.com/

Gareth Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethsalomon/

Welcome back to Accounting Steps! I’m Gareth Salomon, accountant and founder of Xenon Connect (software that automatically detects bookkeeping errors – faster). In this episode, I had the pleasure of walking a bit closer to home, through Grosvenor Park in Chester with Beth Ruscoe, founder of Nara Accountancy.

Beth’s journey into accountancy is anything but traditional - starting in fashion marketing and retail buying before retraining via AAT and ACCA. We talked about what inspired her career change, the transferable skills she’s brought with her, and the early experiences that shaped her path. Now running her own firm, Beth shared insights on serving clients ahead of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, how she’s building her brand, and the real challenges—and rewards—of going it alone.

Nara Accountancy: https://www.naraaccountancy.com/

Beth Ruscoe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethruscoe

Xenon Connect Website: https://www.xenonconnect.com/

Gareth Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethsalomon/

Welcome back to Accounting Steps! I’m Gareth Salomon, accountant and founder of Xenon Connect (software that automatically detects bookkeeping errors - faster). In this episode, I took a walk through Regent’s Park in London with Katie Collin, Partner at Ramsay Brown - an accountancy firm specialising in the medical profession.

Katie’s path into accountancy was interesting, including time spent in the music industry before training as an auditor and eventually joining Ramsay Brown in 2017. We chatted about the unique financial challenges faced by GPs, what it means to specialise in the healthcare sector, and Katie’s role with the ICAEW, as vice chair of the Healthcare Advisory Group.

It’s a prime example of the deeper role that accountants can play in supporting clients.

Ramsay Brown: https://ramsaybrown.com/

Katie Collin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-collin/

Xenon Connect Website: https://www.xenonconnect.com/

Gareth Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethsalomon/

Welcome back to Accounting Steps! I’m Gareth Salomon, accountant and founder of Xenon Connect (software that automatically detects bookkeeping errors – faster). And in this episode, I walked around the lake at the NEC in Birmingham and chatted with Chi Yun Wai (also known as Sam), a bookkeeper who specialises in serving the escape room industry.

We talked about how Sam’s passion for escape rooms led him to build and run his own, the challenges of transitioning from business owner to employee, and why he eventually started a bookkeeping practice focused on this growing industry. Sam also shared insights into the financial side of escape rooms, as well as his experiences with the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and his first trip to the FAB conference.

More details:

Immersif: https://www.immersif.co/

Chi Yun Wai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chi-yun-wai-micb/

Xenon Connect Website: https://www.xenonconnect.com/

Gareth Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethsalomon/

Welcome back to Accounting Steps! I’m Gareth Salomon, accountant and founder of Xenon Connect (software that automatically detects bookkeeping errors – faster). And in this episode, I visited the Xero offices in Manchester to chat with Paul McKay, a Senior Account Manager Lead at Xero.

Paul has over 18 years of experience in the accounting software industry, and we talked about his journey from working at Sage to becoming a key figure at Xero. Our conversation touched on everything from the shift from desktop to cloud technology, the role of AI in accounting, and what we can expect from Xero in 2025. Paul also shared insights on how Xero supports their accounting & bookkeeping partners in overcoming challenges like mindset shifts and successful software adoption.

More details:
Paul McKay LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-mckay-0089b249/
Xero: https://www.xero.com/
Xenon Connect Website: https://www.xenonconnect.com/
Gareth Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethsalomon/