What we found was that progressive firms, categorised as high revenue and high profitability, are not just sifting through trying to find great people. They’re actually investing in their current people, spending more time on compliance training and professional development. In essence, what they’re doing is driving a growth mindset across their business, trying to find ways to lift their current people up and give them the skills they need to navigate existing capacity constraints.

– Liam Hindle, GM of Product & Product Marketing at MYOB

Today I’m speaking with Liam Hindle, GM of Product & Product Marketing at MYOB. Liam highlights “intentionality” as a key to the cultural and operational trait that sets progressive accounting firms apart. 

“I think for me, the word that comes to mind is that they’re intentional”.

He elaborated that these firms:

• Don’t improve by accident or as a byproduct.
• Make conscious decisions to invest in their people and operations.
• Regularly review processes and strategies.
• Prioritise professional development and operational efficiency.
• Make strategic use of technology to free up time for high-value work.

Liam emphasised that intentionality helps firms shift from reactive, deadline-driven work to proactive, strategic engagement, unlocking value for both clients and team members.

In this episode, we also talk about . . .

• Focus on MYOB’s vision for accounting practices;
• Key takeaways from the MYOB Accounting Industry Monitor;
• Strategies for handling talent shortages & fostering a growth mindset; 
• AI literacy and upskilling as tools for retention & recruitment;
• Operational tips for improving efficiency through standardisation and automation;
• Importance of strong onboarding and client engagement; 
• Data security and AI risk management in MYOB’s product development;
• Future of accounting tech: Agentic AI and embedded AI in workflows;
• MYOB’s upcoming compliance-focused tools and strategic advisory enablement

03:22 – Liam’s Career Journey
06:05 – Understanding Accountants Through Customer Engagement: Liam’s methods of connecting with practices
08:40 – MYOB Industry Monitor Insights: Why MYOB launched the survey and what they found
12:18 – Growth Mindset & Talent Development: How firms overcome the talent shortage
16:40 – AI & Tech as Talent Magnets: Why younger staff expect AI literacy
20:15 – Tech Investment Trends in Small Practices: Where ROI is strongest
23:05 – Practical AI for Small Firms: Meeting note tools, process documentation
27:30 – Client Engagement Transformation: Strategic advisory beyond compliance
30:10 – The Future Role of Accountants: From compliance to economic enablers
33:08 – Automated Onboarding with MYOB: First impressions matter
35:35 – Balancing Innovation & Security: MYOB’s approach to risk and data hosting
38:10 – The Intentional Culture of Progressive Firms: Operational discipline & professional development
41:00 – What’s Next in Accounting Tech: Agentic AI, embedded workflows, automation
45:20 – MYOB’s Client Accounting Platform: Compliance tools that unlock advisory
49:15 – Grow Clients, Not Just Client Lists: A more sustainable model for practices
52:10 – MYOB’s Vision for Agentic AI: Teaser on what’s coming next