The Authentic Advisor

As President and CEO of the 2nd largest association of independent accounting firms across the globe, Mark Koziel is in a unique position to provide insights into future trends and opportunities for accounting firms. In this wide-ranging discussion with James Mason, Mark shares his thoughts on how firms can address increasing client demands, strategies for growth in the face of capacity issues, an...

Helen’s story is an unusual one and what sets her apart from other accountancy practice leaders is her background of more than 30 years in Human Resources. With a belief that culture is what sets apart great professional service firms she's gone about guiding WR Partners through a time of intense change. Generously sharing her approach to driving strategy implementation across the business, Helen...

What's the secret to creating leverage in an advisory business? Mindshop's James Mason talks to Sean Martyn about the approach he's taking with Business by Design, taking a 'done for you' approach based on great systems and processes, why systemisation 'kills waste' and the importance of not 'winging it' when selling. Listen in to hear a wealth of insights from somebo...

As an established business owner and entrepreneur, Adrian Romero has been on a rapid growth trajectory, now employing over 500 employees across a range of businesses. In this episode of the Authentic Advisor, James Mason sits down with Adrian to discuss the secrets to his growth success and how a focus on return on time is crucial to allowing him to stay productive and juggle his many co...

Attracting great staff is more challenging than ever and employers are finding they're no longer in the box seat. With less people in the market expecting more money, plus work from home flexibility, wellbeing support, career progression and great social activities, how can employers hope to get it right? James Mason talks to Suzanne Whitmarsh, Managing Director at 1st Executive about the importan...

Often for the head of a family business, work is intrinsic to their sense of self, the foundation of their relationships, status and position in the community and the question of succession planning is one that's avoided until too late. Harry Kras has been facilitating in the challenging but rewarding family business niche for over 25 years and he shares his story, approach and insights with Minds...

Attraction and retention of good staff is already a challenge. Then add an alleged post-pandemic 'great resignation' and it's looking insurmountable. One firm going against the tide is US firm Herbein + Co, Inc enjoying low turnover rates and high levels of unsolicited employment applications in contrast to many in the accounting world. In this podcast, Herbein's Managing Partner David Stonesifer...

For Neil Sinclair and the team at WK Advisors and Accountants based in New Zealand's South Island, the concept of community purpose is more than 'ticking a box' as part of their strategic plan, it's part of who they are and is in the firm's DNA. Talking to Mindshop's Managing Director, James Mason, Neil shares how the 'WK Effect' evolved from a genuine desire to help the local community to becomin...

Paul Hopwood hasn't had a face to face meeting in 18 months and that's the way he (and his clients) like it. Mindshop Expert, chartered accountant, and independent advisor of over 20 years, Paul talks to Mindshop's James Mason about the lack of downsides to working virtually, (apart from the toll on your eyesight). Working with over 60 retainer-based clients, Paul rev...

Business advisory conversations come naturally to some. But bringing a wider accounting team with differing levels of interest and aptitude on an advisory journey requires structure, tenacity and planning to successfully turn informal chats into commercialised services. Wendy Davies, Director Business Advisory at Nexia Perth, Australia talks to Mindshop's Managing Director about busy accountants,...

This compelling episode charts Angela Grogan's successful journey from taking shorthand as a receptionist to becoming partner of an accounting firm and then making a leap of faith to go out on her own as an independent business advisor. Angela reveals how having a great mindset helped her overcome challenges of juggling family and the risks of setting up on her own to achieve her goal of becoming...

Over the past decades, Dr Chris Mason has guided the success of thousands of senior advisors and business leaders from major corporates to micro businesses. In this latest ‘Authentic Advisor’ podcast from Mindshop he shares his experiences with Mindshop’s Managing Director, James Mason on how he’s currently delivering significant value by coaching over 140 senior leaders from around the world. In...

How do you go about pricing and packaging your high value advisory services? Should you offer monthly retainer pricing, project or hourly rates? Independent business advisor and Mindshop Expert, Russell Cummings based on the Gold Coast, Australia shares his experiences on this hot topic gathered over the past 35 years with Mindshop’s Managing Director, James Mason in the latest ‘Authentic Advisor’...

In episode 8 of ‘The Authentic Advisor’ podcast, James Mason Managing Director of Mindshop is joined by David Smith, Managing Partner of MHA Henderson Loggie, Chartered Accountants, Tax and Business Advisors a 110 year old firm with four offices across Scotland. David shares his journey in growing MHA Henderson Loggie’s advisory businesses, exploring how the development of four Growth Hubs support...

Michael Burke is an independent advisor who works with business leaders to develop and implement high performing strategies, through strategy development, implementation coaching and executive problem solving. In this episode Mike and James Mason, Managing Director of Mindshop take a deep dive into the evolution of delivering strategic planning support services as an advisor to align with the chan...

Mike Boyle, Mindshop's resident sales scientist from Sales Shift Australia joins James Mason, Mindshop's Managing Director to talk all things sales for advisors. With a long career in direct sales, sales management and consulting, Mike helps clients boost their sales performance through training, coaching and leadership strategy development. Discussing what selling advisory actually means in the c...

There are a multitude of business and personal profiling tools out there, with 25 years' experience in the market, Susannah Brade-Waring, Managing Director of Aspirin Business Solutions, UK talks to Mindshop's Managing Director James Mason about why she selects particular profiling tools over others, the benefits they provide and how best to integrate them as part of a wider advisory business mode...

Psychologist, coach, author and speaker Dr Darryl Cross joins Mindshop's Managing Director James Mason to discuss how advisors and their clients can build resilience to succeed in both their personal and professional lives. Dr Cross is a clinical and organisational psychologist with a career spanning government and academic roles, he subsequently established a private practise to deliver managemen...

In this 'must listen' podcast for those in accounting firms who want to provide exceptional advisory services through the effective use of technology, James Mason is joined by Dixie McCurley, Co-Founder and President of Trusted CFO Solutions based in Atlanta, USA. Dixie shares her decade long experience in the provision of virtual CFO services and reveals the key elements to her success. Starting...

In the second episode of 'The Authentic Advisor' podcast series, Mindshop's Managing Director, James Mason interviews Craig Stanmore, CEO of Enspira Financial, an advisory and accounting firm based in Sydney, Australia. James and Craig discuss the different ways business advisors can improve efficiency and capacity and how using various technologies can assist in 'unlocking the numbers' to problem...

In the inaugural episode of 'The Authentic Advisor' Mindshop's Managing Director, James Mason interviews James Atkins, Director of Vantage Strategy, who shares his experience and ideas on marketing insights to create cut through in a cluttered business advisory market. James works with boards as an advisor and director, he is Chairman of Big 4 Holiday Parks and Greening Australia, is a non-executi...