Cloud Stories Podcast

“Cloud Stories is the world’s coolest accounting podcast”

A guy on the Internet told me this once, and of course I choose to believe him…

The Cloud Stories podcast shares stories from the Accounting Technology world, the stories behind the people who build or use Accounting and Business Apps. It explores:

How to implement and integrate Business Apps with online accounting software to automate processes, improve productivity, and profitability;
How to build a business developing Business Apps;
How to adopt Accounting Apps, build your own preferred tech stack, and introduce Accounting Apps to your client base.

Founded in 2014, the Cloud Stories podcast is one of the rare accounting podcasts hosted by a female.

“David, I listened to you on the Cloud Stories podcast with Heather Smith. You had a great interview with her.” Blake Oliver

“She’s awesome. I mean it’s all her. She is a great interviewer.” David Leary

FINTECH DOMINATE COVID ECONOMY Sep 23 2020 Cloud Accounting Podcast

Hmm…so what is a Cloud App, Business App, or Accounting App?

Cloud refers to the Internet and App refers to Application. A Cloud App is internet based software solutions. You can access Cloud Apps centered around the accounting eco-system here: Xero App Marketplace, intuit quickbooks Apps center, MYOB Add Ons, if you click through to make sure you select the correct country location.

By sharing Cloud Stories from the community listeners gain insights into how small businesses and advisory services can thrive in a brave new world of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robots. Over the years, Heather Smith has interviewed Accountants • Bookkeepers • Business Consultants • Cloud Advisors • Cloud Integrators • Developers • Small Business Owners • and Solution Providers • who have generously shared their own Cloud Story on the popular podcast. Listen in now!

To help you jump in and find interviews of interest to you – here’s links to interviews with Accountants + Bookkeepers + Accounting Salon members

Why This Job-Costing Solution Comes With Branded Baby Swag | Tony Harcourt

"We’re a job-costing platform in that our underlying goal is to give people real-time profitability data on their jobs. [...]

You no Longer Have to Grow Alone | Bryan Williams

"Partnerships are a two-way component, add more value to your clients, but in return, if you can accelerate clients [...]

Unlocking Potential With Digital Transformation | Sabby Gill

"We think there’s a huge opportunity and I think there’s a real opportunity of adopting technology to make some [...]

Compliance Plus Conversations Equals Advisory | Will Buckley

"Compliance is that foundation, but the quality of conversation is the opportunity to play that connective tissue piece so [...]

An Expert Shares Secrets 🤐 to an Optimised eCommerce Tech Stack | Kelly Gonsalves

"With e-Commerce technology, you have to be open-minded. But try not to be so easily intimidated by it, because [...]

Raising Standards, Raising Knowledge, Raising Prices in the Bookkeeping Industry | Cassandra Scott

"One of the gold positives out of this pandemic has been a stronger collaboration between the accounting and the [...]

Reinventing Forecasting & GSheets Integration Served With Chilled Tea Leaf 🍵 Vodka | Geoff Baker

"We believe that we've reinvented a better way to forecast. So this is a three-way longer-term forecasting. We won't [...]

Don’t Sell Your Time ⏰, Make Them Subscribe to Your Mind | Kelly Gonsalves

"I always say it takes time. It's more of a race, not a sprint when you're building content and [...]

📺 Start Up TV: WeCrashed, The Dropout and Real Stories From the Accounting Eco-system

Start Up TV: WeCrashed, The Dropout and Real Stories From the Accounting Eco-system The Tech Buzz May 22 has [...]

BizTech Landscape: 2021 Reflections 2022 Predictions | Matt Paff

"I'd like to think of myself as strong opinions loosely held, right? So, I used to be the guy [...]

Gain free CPE for episodes of the Cloud Stories podcast via the Earmark CPE mobile App

I have some exciting news. You can gain free CPE for past episodes of the Cloud Stories podcast via [...]

The Accounting Innovation and Technology Buzz | Nov 21

Today on the Cloud Stories, I bring you The Accounting Innovation and Technology Buzz: Current News, Trends and Analysis [...]

💽 Data: A Superpower That Accountants and Bookkeepers Should Explore

"Be the most insightful and trusted small business platform. There’s just no way you can be trusted if you don’t [...]

Leveraging Technology: Standing Out From Your Competition and Saving Money

Today I’m sharing with you a panel discussion on the topic: Leveraging technology: Standing out from your competition and [...]

The Accounting Innovation and Technology Buzz | Oct 21

Today I’m trying out something new. I’ve given it the big hairy audacious title of The Accounting Innovation and [...]

Supercharging 🔋 Business Productivity by Using No-code Automation Tools | Kelly Goss

"I help businesses and my company help businesses to increase productivity by simplifying, streamlining, connecting tools and automating processes [...]

Using Online Advisory Services to Increase 🔺 Your Revenue

Today I’m sharing with you a panel discussion on the topic: Using online advisory services to increase your revenue [...]

Virtual Cards: The Future 📡 of SMB Payments | Daniel Kniaz

"We see ourselves as a very product-focused team. We spend a lot of time talking to our customers and [...]

Do Accounting Firms Need an Office 🏢 Anymore?

Today I’m sharing with you a panel discussion on the topic: Do Accounting Firms need an office anymore? produced by [...]

📢 Introducing the Xero App Store: Simplifying Small Businesses’ Digital Needs | Nick Houldsworth

Nick Houldsworth Exec GM Ecosystem of Xero joins me on the Cloud Stories podcast and we discuss the launch [...]

How to Kickstart the Digitalisation of Your Practice in 2021 🛴

Today I’m sharing with you a panel discussion on the topic: How to Kickstart the Digitalisation of Your [...]

Shaping the 📡 Future of Your Firm – AccTech and the Digital Firm

Today I bring to you a panel discussion entitled Shaping the Future of Your Firm - AccTech and the [...]

6 Steps to Transform to a Digitally-Enabled and Sustainability-Focused Accountancy Services Firm

Today I’m sharing with you something a little bit different. I was asked to give a keynote speech as [...]

Researching an App? How Accountants/Bookkeepers Charge Their Time ⌚ | Postcard

Postcards are short current episodes, addressing a topic that currently interests me, host - Heather Smith. In the App [...]

Makers 🆚 Managers: The Battle Over Remote Work | Postcard

Postcards are short current episodes, addressing a topic that currently interests me, host - Heather Smith. In today's postcard, [...]

Dext Vision 2021 | James Parker

On the Cloud Stories podcast, I'm speaking with James Parker, General Manager of Asia-Pacific (APAC) of Dext. As you [...]

Delivering Practice Management Solutions for Professional Services | Celso Pinto

"So for us to be able to find the right positioning, what we want to do, and having it [...]

An Australian-built Business Streamlining Payroll and Employee Management | Jon Arrigo

"The idea was to try and eliminate as much of the unnecessary work as possible via automation. That’s really [...]

A Female Fintech Entrepreneur Transforming Technology | Amreeta Abbott

"I’m really big on communication. You have to have 'the conversation'. I think too many people hide behind compliance [...]

App Advisory for Accounting Professionals | Kellie Parks

"Communication is a key piece. Keeping it consistent, keeping it on brand, keeping it meaningful and actionable to the [...]

Building a Reconciliation Solution for eCommerce Businesses | Shopify Stripe Square | Michael Astreiko

"It's our main goal to make reconciliation possible. It's not only about having the right inventory but also having [...]

How to Double Your Clients’ Profits in 5 Easy Steps | Aynsley Damery

"We've created simplicity in numbers. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication as a great designer once said. And so everything [...]

Never Talk Directly to Clients About Cash Flow, and Other Secrets From the Cash Flow Queen | Martha Yasso

"Clients value that. They will pay for that person that's going to listen and provide... That's all your clients [...]

Presenting, Storytelling and Communicating for Accountants | Alexandra Bond Burnett

"When I talk about influence and being an influence is about using your powers for good. If you think [...]

A Restaurant Solutionist Creating Magical Client Experiences | Kristen Nies Ciraldo

"There’s something in our social connectivity that is enhanced by the act of sharing food, in my opinion, and [...]

Why an Accountant Started a Bookkeeping Business | Meryl Johnston

"One of my beliefs is about setting an example. I am always reading, listening to podcasts, learning, thinking about [...]

Accountants empowering their client base through podcasting | Tim Garth and Dan Osborne

"What we want is for our customers to be able to take the bull by the horns with their [...]

How hosting a podcast helped this bookkeeper develop active listening skills | Alexi Boyd

"This is the advice we give to all of our clients. Get the business name nailed, get the business [...]

Orangilicious Secrets to Building and Running a Highly Engaged Community | Catherine Walker

"Who I am online is exactly who I am in person. I guess that could be a decision point. [...]

Supporting Your Clients and Yourself Through Uncertainty | Dylan Burgess

Today I’m speaking with Dylan Burgess, Partner Relationship Manager of Float Cash Flow Forecasting. Dylan is based in Sydney, [...]

20 Trends Changing the World of Work and Transforming the Nature of Careers in Accountancy | Kevin Fitzgerald FCCA

Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here. Kevin can you share with us [...]

The Future of The Accounting Profession | Kenji Kuramoto

"One opportunity this pandemic did give us is it has allowed us to bring people together from all over [...]

How to provide constructive feedback to apps | Beau Gaudron

Make sure that it's not something that you're doing wrong. Make sure you've done your research, to ensure there [...]

Building Communities, Influencer Marketing and Customer Experience 2.0 | Alison Ball

"The really successful communities are the ones where people really understand that the more you give, the more you [...]

Has a black swan event changed this Evangelists views on niching? | David Leary

"Ultimately, if you're in the small business space and you're building an app that adds on to either QuickBooks [...]

How to Build Culture While Working Remotely | Brian Walsh

"Employees always come before the customer, because if you have happy employees and if you have a really good [...]

Sitting in the passenger seat with founders helping them achieve their dreams | Martin Zych

"What we're doing as accounting and finance professionals is helping to drive smart decision making. So if we can [...]

A Cloud Integrator for the Construction Industry | Robert Hudman

"I don't want the accounts team feeling like they've got to navigate through this world of construction software. We [...]

Building a multi-disciplinary professional services business | John Knight

'Mongolia was about me taking myself out of my comfort zone. That was about me stretching myself to think [...]

Bridging the People Advisory gap | Will Lopez

I just believe it's actually the personal side of the profession. When you look at GL advisory, a lot [...]

What the future of banking can mean for accountants and bookkeepers | Yoseph West

We're seeing the government actually provide FinTech banking charters in the US, which still it's very early days on [...]

A chat about Insolvency and how advisors can help their clients through these difficult times| Jarvis Archer

Help you identify triggers which should raise concerns, help you, help your clients navigate their journey, and help you [...]

How company collapse and embracing disruption led to XBert helping businesses succeed | Troy Brown

"It strengthens and protects the relationship between the business owner, accountant, and the bookkeeper. It's not just about little [...]

A marketing platform and content library purpose-built for the Accounting profession | Ian Christie

"If you have a well articulated reason for being, so this is why my practice exists, and this is [...]

At 14 Years Old Meet, the Youngest Xero Certified Advisor in the World!

This is a bonus episode of Cloud Stories recorded for the beginning of the Australian Financial Year. Ollie Beale, [...]

Accountants are like financial doctors and Covid19 is like all your patients are sick at once | Jamie Beresford

"Whereas from a hacker's perspective, it's easier to trick then hack, and it's about access security, okay? They go [...]

Find opportunities for growth in your product career | Rosemary King

Now I'm back to my initial passion which is software, fintech, which is a domain that I've always found [...]

A chance meeting with Rod Drury on her honeymoon, changed this female software engineer’s destiny | Shanu Mehta

We were in the city, Hawke's Bay (on our Honeymoon), and we were walking around. And we heard somebody [...]

Accounting World Domination | Liz Mason

I have the best people. I have nothing without my team. I have good ideas and I have vision, [...]

How a modern future-focused firm scopes, selects and implements best of breed cloud solutions | Lee Duffield

I'm really fussy about the way salespeople contact me. If they start spamming me and if I think they've [...]

Unlocking your untapped capacity using cloud applications | Amy Holdsworth

You can't be half pregnant. If you're going to adopt new software, new processes, new procedures, then damn well [...]

Common traits of successful modern accountants and bookkeepers | Luis Sanchez

Some of the best Accountants and Bookkeepers are extremely opinionated. They challenge the hell out of their clients and [...]

Living up to the critical role of “Recession-Proof Accountant” | Will Lopez

The two terms that came out of the Great Recession here in the US were 'Flat is Up', and [...]

Tackling the challenges Accounting Apps face navigating Covid 19 | Nick Houldsworth

I think there's challenges, significant challenges, but any big kind of shift like this also creates opportunities. So, being [...]

How to create a scalable modern firm that can sell | Ryan Lazanis

"I mandated across the firm what type of clients we would work with, the personalities of those clients, the [...]

Playing the cloud game: how a computer game designer turned accountant built an app to transition his practice to the cloud | Paul Murray

Xero have been the first to say we're going to create a ecosystem and we're going to have an [...]

Lance Rubin – Decision making the art and science of finding value

We're going to run out of cash in five months time. So what do we do to avoid that [...]

Natalie Lennon – Starting and running a 100% cloud-based practice

When a client comes in. We'll say, look what apps are you using? What's the workflow? What's happening there? [...]

Michael Ly – A serial entrepreneur, building businesses, navigating cultural differences, and always learning

As an entrepreneur, you have to get really good at selling what you envision you want to provide and [...]

David Cristello – Building a practice workflow solution to solve the problem of client work falling through the cracks

Jetpack Workflow was really built to solve the problem of client work falling through the cracks. When I was [...]

People, Processes, Technology, Data – essential elements of a sustainable business

We've got some clients that have been going with us for over six years now and their team members [...]

10 Tips to Write Better Content

What's the most dangerous thing you've ever done? It's an interesting question. One thing pops to mind but [...]

An Inventory Nerd Solving Complex Problems with Simple Solutions | Jeri Wambeek

The biggest thing is time savings, and then, of course, if you're paying people by the hour time savings [...]

Building a better world at work | Ben Thompson

We've built a business partner portal on top of Employment Hero, which allows one of our business partners, be [...]

Reducing fraud and improving supplier relationships through digital approval workflows | Martin Peirce

If you control the buying process, then first of all you can knock out the waste, the duplicate purchases, [...]

How Accountants Can Effectively Scale Power BI Analysis | Cameron Lynch

Today I am speaking with Cameron Lynch. Cameron is a Chartered Accountant and the founder of the Etani Business [...]

What are cloud-based app solutions? My interview on the Tax Wrap podcast.

I was interviewed about Accounting Technology on the Tax Wrap podcast. Steve Burnham and I talked about: What are [...]

Chris Hooper – World’s First Accounting Futurist

My name is Chris Hooper, and I'm the C.E.O. of Accodex, which is a market network for freelance accountants. [...]

Laura Venables – Flipping the Australian Accounting conference model on its head

My name's Laura Venables, I'm the event director of AccounTech.Live and Accounting Business Expo. What does that really mean? [...]

Colin Hewitt – Building a cashflow forecasting solution that the business owners can rely on

I'm Colin Hewitt. I'm the CEO and co-founder of Float, which is a cash-flow forecasting piece of software that [...]

An Accounting Technologist embracing symbiotic relationships with software providers | Clayton Oates

Heather Smith: Thank you so much, Clayton, for being on Cloud Stories with me and our listeners today. I'd [...]

Phong Le – Underdogs disrupting and challenging the big players

Today I am speaking with Phong Le Head of Growth APAC from Expensify the only expense claims and management [...]

The Journey of Upgrading from DOS to Windows to the Cloud for this Tech Company| Daniel Tramontana

Today I am speaking with Daniel Tramontana. Daniel joined BGL in 1997. During this time, Daniel has been part [...]

Ep.53 David Barrett – Expensify – Build a product with a strong end user experience

Today I am speaking with David Barrett, the founder and CEO of Expensify. He's an all around alpha geek [...]

Ep.48 Lessons learnt from Xerocon South 2016

Following on from Xerocon South 2016 a powerhouse crew from Brisbane came together to discuss and dissect the lessons [...]

Ep.47 Sophie Hossack – Receipt Bank – An English Lit grad thriving

Today on episode 47 of the Cloud Stories podcast I’m talking with Sophie Hossack. Sophie is the Australia Country [...]

Ep.46 Andrew Van De Beek – illumin8 – Gen-Y accountant interested in new business, original ideas, and challenging the flexibility of the cloud

Ep.46 Andrew Van De Beek – illumin8 – Gen-Y accountant interested in new business, original ideas, and challenging the [...]

Ep.45 Wayne Schmidt – A trailblazer helping accounting and bookkeeping firms to grow, embrace change and drive profitability

Today on episode 45 of the Cloud Stories podcast I’m talking with Wayne Schmidt. Wayne has over 28 years’ [...]

Ep.44 Jacqui Jones – tempted to templetize for quality and growth?

Today on episode 44 of the Cloud Stories podcast I’m talking with Jacqui Jones the founder of Way We [...]

Ep.43 Danetha Doe – Brazilians, beauty and bookkeeping – Financial Freedom is a journey of self love

Today on episode 42 of the Cloud Stories podcast I’m talking with Danetha Doe. She is a celebrity financial [...]

Ep.42 Greg Tuckwell – Achieving Platinum through Processes and Collaboration

Today on episode 42 of the Cloud Stories podcast I’m talking with Greg Tuckwell who’s been the Director of [...]

Building a Cloud Banking solution from the Ground Up | Jessica Ellerm

Today on episode 41 of the Cloud Stories podcast I’m talking with Jessica Ellerm who is the Partner Development [...]

Ep.40 Matt Wilkinson – Online Marketing for Accountants and Bookkeepers

Today on episode 40 of the Cloud Stories podcast I’m talking with Matt Wilkinson who is the founder and [...]

Ep.39 Richard Francis – The Perfect Advisory Relationship

Today on episode 39 of the Cloud Stories podcast I’m talking with the Richard Francis who’s the founder of [...]

Ep.38 Lisa Martin – The ultimate guide to delivering quality Xero training

Today on the Cloud Stories podcast I’m talking with the Lisa Martin owner and manager at GoFi8ure. The business [...]

Ep.37 Bernadette Schwerdt – Secrets of Online Entrepreneurs

Today on the Cloud Stories podcast I’m talking with Bernadette Schwerdt. Bernadette is the author of Secrets of Online [...]

Podcast: Cloud Stories – Exploring the cloud universe and beyond

I host an online podcast show called Cloud Stories: an independent accounting and bookkeeping podcast showcasing in-depth interviews with cloud [...]

Ep.36 Geni Whitehouse – Even a Nerd Can Be Heard

Geni Whitehouse divides her time between working as a winery consultant at Brotemarkle, Davis & Co in the Napa [...]

Ep.35 Blake Oliver shares apps he recommends for accountants, bookkeepers and his clients

Subscribe to Episode 35 of Cloud Stories on iTunes In this episode Blake Oliver and I discuss his recommended [...]

Ep.34 Dan Schmidt – The Emerging Business CFO

Based Missouri, USA, Dan Schmidt has embraced Xero as the core solution for his clients. Dan likes to solve [...]

Providing Businesses With a Stop Shop | Jamie Davison

Focused, driven, committed and energetic. Jamie has a whole host of traits that have led him to where is [...]

Ep.32 Mick Devine – Calxa – a cashflow forecasting software company that has donated over $1M to grassroots organisations

Mick Devine is the CEO and co-founder of Calxa, producers of the leading budgeting, reporting and cashflow forecasting software [...]

Ep. 31 Peter Vessenes – ProfitSee

Subscribe to Episode 31 of Cloud Stories on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/cloud-stories-heather-smith/id908333807 Peter Vessenes has served as a high level corporate advisor [...]

Ep.30 Paul Meissner – 5ways Group – Should accountants offer cloud integration services?

Subscribe to Episode 29 of Cloud Stories on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/cloud-stories-heather-smith/id908333807 Heather: I'd like to start off by asking you [...]

Ep.29 Matt Flanagan – BlueHub – helping businesses automating complex business processes

Subscribe to Episode 29 of Cloud Stories on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/cloud-stories-heather-smith/id908333807 Heather: Matt - what actor would play you in [...]

Ep.28 Guy Pearson – Practice Ignition – Developing an on-boarding & management solution for accounting practices

Subscribe to Episode 28 of Cloud Stories on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/cloud-stories-heather-smith/id908333807 Heather: Guy, who would you like to have coffee [...]

Ep.27 Sonia Cuff – Computer Troubleshooters – Building a successful home based IT support business

Highlights of my conversation with Sonia Cuff Challenges and successes of Computer Troubleshooters Shifting her business to a 100% [...]

Ep.26 Marcus Wilson – Surgical Partners – Cloud integration for practice management systems

Heather: So Marcus, why did you start Surgical Partners? Marcus: I started Surgical Partners to address a gap in [...]

Ep.25 David New – Building teams and growing businesses in superfast time!

Highlights of my conversation with David New Addressing safety and security concerns in cloud-based practice Experiences and challenges in [...]

Ep.23 Andrew Sims – The Full Suite – organising accounting files in the cloud

Highlights of my conversation with Andrew Sims Helping accountants achieve a fully cloud-based modern practice Growing a product focused [...]

Ep.22 Steven Shelley – Deputy – business cultural improvements through staff rostering

Highlights of my conversation with Steven Shelley Zero time theft From solving an internal problem in an aerospace company [...]

Ep.21 David Tuck – Chaser – politely and persistently chasing debts

Highlights of my conversation with David Tuck From accountant to launching and growing a startup SAAS based in London [...]

Ep.20 Lisa Martin – GoFi8ure – The world’s first Xero Hero

Highlights of my conversation with Lisa Martin Working with a mentor to develop leadership skills Quality Management in a [...]

Ep.19 Blake Oliver – Cloudsourced Accounting – One of the first Xero endorsed US bookkeeping and cloud integrators firms

Highlights of my conversation with Blake Oliver One of the first US based bookkeeping firms and cloud integrators to [...]

Ep.18 Nick Hazel – Café Bookkeepers – the ultimate café cloud solution (Hint it includes Xero!)

Highlights of my conversation with Nick Hazel Benefits of focusing on a niche customer base Unexpectedly becoming a business [...]

Mastering Your Day with an Affordable Appointment Scheduling Solution | Ryan Baker

Highlights of my conversation with Ryan Baker Promoting Work Life balance with a 100% remote team Scaling a business: [...]

Ep.16 David Watson – Fathom – Helping you understand what’s happening in your business and how to improve your business’s performance.

Highlights of my conversation with David Watson Benefits of cloud integration for franchise businesses What you need in place [...]

Ep.15 Alex Falcon Huerta – Creating a 100% cloud accounting practice in the UK

Highlights of my conversation with Alex Falcon Huerta founder of Soaring Falcon Accountancy Technology used in a 100% cloud [...]

Ep.14 Saul Colt – The world’s greatest intrepreneur embracing the role of Xero’s Chief Evangelist

Highlights of my conversation with Saul Colt Ruffling feathers by being interesting, original and fun: the story behind the [...]

Ep.13 Steven Renwick – transforming an Oxford MBA assignment into a Cloud Credit Control Solution success story

Highlights of my conversation with Steven Renwick Offering cloud credit control and accounts receivable solutions to small business turning [...]

Ep.12 Barry Dowling – TransferMate Global Payments – Minimising costs and complexities associated with foreign currency payments seamlessly from within Xero

Highlights of my conversation with Barry Dowling Spending time understanding your client Using client feedback to tweak the solution offered [...]