The Bookkeepers' Podcast

How to Get Visible as a Bookkeeper: Sage’s Chris Downing on Confidence, Tech and Career Opportunities In this Leadership Takeover Session, Sage’s Chris Downing shows bookkeepers and accountants exactly how to get more visible, build a reputation that feels authentic, and turn their experience into new opportunities – without pretending to be someone they’re not. Drawing on 19 years in practice (from junior to partner) and his current role as the “voice of the accountant and bookkeeper” inside Sage, Chris explains what visibility really means, why it matters, and how to start even if you feel shy, busy or unsure what to say. Read the GoProposal by Sage guide on how to be an authoritative accountant (or bookkeeper) and establish trust https://goproposal.com/blog/trusted/?UTM_Source=6FB Hosted by Jo Wood and Zoe Whitman from The 6 Figure Bookkeeper, this episode goes behind the scenes with one of the most recognisable faces in the UK accounting tech space. You’ll hear how early work experience, a love of technology and a focus on saving clients time led Chris to build a Business Intelligence department inside his firm, win Technology Champion of the Year, and ultimately move from practice into a senior role at Sage. Along the way he shares the mindset shifts that helped him speak at events, work with banks, and present to rooms full of peers – even when it felt nerve-wracking. You’ll learn why visibility is not about showing off, but about being useful and relatable; how awards, case studies and collaboration with software partners can quietly raise your profile; and why the firms that grow fastest are usually the ones willing to share what they’re doing well. Chris talks about saying yes (and sometimes no) to events, how he protects his time, and how he balances a busy internal role at Sage with being present at conferences, webinars and community meetups. For bookkeepers, he explains why your proximity to the numbers gives you huge commercial insight, why bookkeeping can feel lonely and how to build a supportive network with accountants and peers. He describes the “golden triangle” between the business owner, the accountant and the bookkeeper, and why collaboration – rather than competition – is where the real opportunity lies as MTD and digitisation reshape the profession. This is essential viewing for bookkeepers who want to stop being “brilliant but invisible”, share their expertise with confidence, and build a long-term career that can grow in whatever direction they choose. ----------------------------------------------- About us We're Jo and Zoe and we help bookkeepers find clients, make more money and build profitable businesses they love. Find out about working with us in The Bookkeepers' Collective, at: 6figurebookkeeper.com/collective ----------------------------------------------- About our Sponsor This episode of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is sponsored by Xero. Get 90% off your first 6 months by visiting: https://xero5440.partnerlinks.io/6figurebookkeeper ----------------------------------------------- Promotion This video contains paid promotion. ----------------------------------------------- Disclaimer The information contained in The Bookkeepers' Podcast is provided for information purposes only. The contents of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. The 6 Figure Bookkeeper Ltd disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast.

The future of bookkeeping is not data entry — it is trusted financial partnership. In this episode of the 6FB Sofa Sessions, Max Whiteley, Product Domain Expert at Dext and multiple award-winning practice leader, explains exactly how UK bookkeepers can move from compliance into real advisory, and why confidence, curiosity and commercial thinking now matter more than technical perfection. Register for our upcoming webinar, Beyond the Books with Dext to learn how Bookkeepers can confidently step Into advisory with AI powered tech: https://info.dext.com/beyond-the-books-6fb-webinar-feb-2026 Max started his accounting career at just 15 years old, grew up around self-employed parents, built and scaled award-winning teams, and now helps shape the tools used by thousands of UK practices. In this conversation with Jo Wood and Zoe Whitman, he shares what actually changes lives for small business owners, why advisory is really about accountability and care, and how bookkeepers can step into a far more valuable role without needing complex forecasting models or extra qualifications. You’ll hear how small practices can build stronger client relationships through active listening, why quarterly conversations transform both pricing and impact, how boundaries with clients protect both revenue and wellbeing, and why real-time data is the foundation of meaningful advice. Max also shares how winning multiple Xero awards came down to people-first systems, consistent processes and confidence in leading clients, not flashy tools or complicated reporting. This episode also tackles the fear around automation and AI. Max explains why AI will not replace bookkeepers, but bookkeepers who use AI will replace those who don’t. He outlines how real-time bookkeeping, payments, credit control and better reporting are becoming the natural next step for modern practices — and how tools like Dext enable that shift by improving data accuracy and visibility. If you are a UK bookkeeper wondering how to move into advisory, struggling with confidence, worried about AI, or unsure what your real value is beyond compliance, this episode provides clarity, reassurance and a practical roadmap forward. This conversation is essential viewing for bookkeepers who want to become indispensable to their clients and build a more profitable, respected and future-proof practice. ----------------------------------------------- About us We're Jo and Zoe and we help bookkeepers find clients, make more money and build profitable businesses they love. Find out about working with us in The Bookkeepers' Collective, at: 6figurebookkeeper.com/collective ----------------------------------------------- About our Sponsor This episode of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is sponsored by Xero. Get 90% off your first 6 months by visiting: https://xero5440.partnerlinks.io/6figurebookkeeper ----------------------------------------------- Promotion This video contains paid promotion. ----------------------------------------------- Disclaimer The information contained in The Bookkeepers' Podcast is provided for information purposes only. The contents of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. The 6 Figure Bookkeeper Ltd disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast.

In this Leadership Takeover session, Kate Hayward, Managing Director of Xero UK, shares how growing up in a self-employed household shaped her views on risk, money and why bookkeepers are now more vital than ever to small businesses. For UK bookkeepers, this is a clear, honest look at where the profession is heading and how to stay at the centre of it. Kate talks about watching her parents worry over money at the kitchen table, how that drove her into a science degree and a Big Four career, and why she eventually left the perceived safety of that world to join a fast-growing tech company while planning to start a family. She shares the leadership moment that stopped her from self-selecting out of a senior role because of motherhood, and why background should never limit whose voice is heard in business or policy. A major theme of the conversation is financial literacy. Kate explains why the UK still lacks a joined-up, practical approach to money education and why Xero has invested in its financial literacy campaign to try to change that. She describes financial literacy as a life-cycle issue, from what children see at home to the decisions business owners face as they grow. For bookkeepers and accountants, Kate is clear: you are the lifeline for many small businesses. With the disappearance of the traditional bank manager, clients now turn to their adviser to interpret the numbers, sense-check decisions and connect them to wider support. She also acknowledges that many advisers were never taught sales, marketing or entrepreneurship, even though clients increasingly expect that wider commercial input. Find out about the benefits of becoming a Xero Partner, here: https://www.xero.com/uk/partner-programme/?UTM_Source=6fb The episode also tackles AI and the future of the profession. Kate’s view is firm: AI will not replace bookkeepers or accountants. It will remove repetitive manual work and create space for deeper conversations, better insight and more ambitious client growth. The skills that matter most become communication, commercial thinking, pricing confidence and the ability to guide clients through uncertainty. If you are a UK bookkeeper or accountant who cares about small business, worries about AI, or wants to play a bigger role in clients’ financial understanding and long-term success, this conversation with Kate Hayward will help you see what’s coming next — and how you can stay essential. ----------------------------------------------- About us We're Jo and Zoe and we help bookkeepers find clients, make more money and build profitable businesses they love. Find out about working with us in The Bookkeepers' Collective, at: 6figurebookkeeper.com/collective ----------------------------------------------- About our Sponsor This episode of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is sponsored by Xero. Get 90% off your first 6 months by visiting: https://xero5440.partnerlinks.io/6figurebookkeeper ----------------------------------------------- Promotion This video contains paid promotion. ----------------------------------------------- Disclaimer The information contained in The Bookkeepers' Podcast is provided for information purposes only. The contents of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. The 6 Figure Bookkeeper Ltd disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast.

In this Sofa Session, Kate Hayward, Managing Director of Xero UK, shares how growing up in a self-employed household shaped her views on risk, money and why bookkeepers are now more vital than ever to small businesses. For UK bookkeepers, this is a clear, honest look at where the profession is heading and how to stay at the centre of it. Kate talks about watching her parents worry over money at the kitchen table, how that drove her into a science degree and a Big Four career, and why she eventually left the perceived safety of that world to join a fast-growing tech company while planning to start a family. She shares the leadership moment that stopped her from self-selecting out of a senior role because of motherhood, and why background should never limit whose voice is heard in business or policy. A major theme of the conversation is financial literacy. Kate explains why the UK still lacks a joined-up, practical approach to money education and why Xero has invested in its financial literacy campaign to try to change that. She describes financial literacy as a life-cycle issue, from what children see at home to the decisions business owners face as they grow. For bookkeepers and accountants, Kate is clear: you are the lifeline for many small businesses. With the disappearance of the traditional bank manager, clients now turn to their adviser to interpret the numbers, sense-check decisions and connect them to wider support. She also acknowledges that many advisers were never taught sales, marketing or entrepreneurship, even though clients increasingly expect that wider commercial input. The episode also tackles AI and the future of the profession. Kate’s view is firm: AI will not replace bookkeepers or accountants. It will remove repetitive manual work and create space for deeper conversations, better insight and more ambitious client growth. The skills that matter most become communication, commercial thinking, pricing confidence and the ability to guide clients through uncertainty. If you are a UK bookkeeper or accountant who cares about small business, worries about AI, or wants to play a bigger role in clients’ financial understanding and long-term success, this conversation with Kate Hayward will help you see what’s coming next — and how you can stay essential. ----------------------------------------------- About us We're Jo and Zoe and we help bookkeepers find clients, make more money and build profitable businesses they love. Find out about working with us in The Bookkeepers' Collective, at: 6figurebookkeeper.com/collective ----------------------------------------------- About our Sponsor This episode of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is sponsored by Xero. Get 90% off your first 6 months by visiting: https://xero5440.partnerlinks.io/6figurebookkeeper ----------------------------------------------- Promotion This video contains paid promotion. ----------------------------------------------- Disclaimer The information contained in The Bookkeepers' Podcast is provided for information purposes only. The contents of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. The 6 Figure Bookkeeper Ltd disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast.

What does the future really look like for UK bookkeepers as regulation tightens, MTD expands and professionalism becomes more important than ever? In this episode of the 6FB Sofa Sessions, Ami Copeland, CEO of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), explains exactly what’s changing, what standards matter most, and how bookkeepers can protect, grow and future-proof their practices. Ami leads one of the most influential professional bodies in UK bookkeeping and works closely with HMRC, software providers and regulatory partners to shape the modern bookkeeping profession. In this conversation with Jo Wood and Zoe Whitman, she shares what she is seeing across thousands of UK practices, how professionalism and compliance expectations are rising, and why strong ethical standards will define the next decade of bookkeeping. You’ll hear how Making Tax Digital is reshaping the role of the bookkeeper, what regulation really means for day-to-day practice, and how bookkeepers can position themselves as trusted finance partners rather than “just” compliance providers. Ami also talks openly about confidence, competence, qualifications, and why credibility will become a key differentiator as the industry continues to grow. This episode explores the commercial benefits of being professionally recognised, how education and CPD protect both you and your clients, and why bookkeepers who embrace change now will be the ones leading the profession in the years ahead. Ami explains the balance between accessibility and accountability in bookkeeping, and what standards clients will increasingly expect as business owners become more financially aware. If you are a UK bookkeeper navigating MTD, thinking about regulation, wanting to raise your professional profile, or unsure how formal recognition fits into your growth plans, this episode will give you clarity, reassurance and direction. Find out about ICB Membership at https://www.bookkeepers.org.uk/Membership/?utm_source=6fb This is essential viewing for bookkeepers who want to build long-term credibility, charge with confidence, and be seen as true financial professionals in a rapidly evolving industry. ----------------------------------------------- About us We're Jo and Zoe and we help bookkeepers find clients, make more money and build profitable businesses they love. Find out about working with us in The Bookkeepers' Collective, at: 6figurebookkeeper.com/collective ----------------------------------------------- About our Sponsor This episode of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is sponsored by Xero. Get 90% off your first 6 months by visiting: https://xero5440.partnerlinks.io/6figurebookkeeper ----------------------------------------------- Promotion This video contains paid promotion. ----------------------------------------------- Disclaimer The information contained in The Bookkeepers' Podcast is provided for information purposes only. The contents of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. The 6 Figure Bookkeeper Ltd disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast.