The Operator's Playbook

You send a client a list of what you need. They reply with half of it, two things wrong, and now you're ten emails deep. James Rose has spent years helping firms solve exactly that problem. James is the co-founder of Content Snare, and he spends his days watching why firms can't get information out of their clients. In this conversation we get into why chasing clients is a systems problem (not a p...

What if adding more software is actually making accounting firms less efficient? Trent McLaren has spent 13 years in accounting technology and is the founder of Journey, and co-founder of Vinyl, an AI meeting intelligence platform built for accountants, and The Firm. In this conversation, we unpack why more than 1,000 apps haven't made firms simpler, why highly skilled accountants often spend time...

Most business owners call a liquidator far too late. Liam Bailey wants to change that. Liam is the managing partner of O'Brien Palmer and a registered liquidator, and he spends his days helping businesses either turn around or wind down. In this conversation he explains the warning signs of insolvency most owners miss, why shame and hope keep people from asking for help until it's too late, and ho...

Most accountants take every client who can pay. Elle Green built her firm by turning most of them away. Elle is the co-founder of Acctivate Business Accountants, and 18 months in she's declined more work than she's accepted. In this conversation we get into why being that picky actually protects the firm, what changed when she stepped into the director role, how she's using AI to take over the adm...

When you hire a plumber, you don't ask what brand of power tools he uses. You just want the job done. Paul Sweeney says that's exactly what most accountants get wrong. Paul runs Pretium Solutions and has spent 30 years advising small and medium businesses (he also hosts the Business Behind Your Business podcast). In this conversation we get into why firms sell software and reports instead of the o...

Peter Ristevski says most accountants can't even run their own business, and that is exactly why they can't help you grow yours. Peter is the CEO of Investment Plus Accounting Group, the self-described "financial surgeon," and he doesn't hold back. In this conversation we get into why most accountants hide in compliance, why the word "accountant" isn't even legislated (and what that means for who...

with Chris Davey In this episode of The Ledger , we explore why so many accounting firms are still relying on manual processes — even with modern tools available. Chris Davey shares real-world perspectives from inside growing firms, unpacking how compliance pressure, fragmented systems, admin overload, and confidence gaps quietly keep teams stuck in reactive work. We talk through where time really...

with Nathan Rigney, Founder of NGR Accounting In this episode of The Ledger , we unpack why so many business owners avoid their numbers — and how that avoidance quietly keeps firms stuck. Nathan shares real-world insights from working with owner-led businesses, explaining how building a relationship with your numbers leads to better decisions, confidence, and sustainable growth. 🔗 Connect with ou...

. In this episode of The Ledger , we unpack one of the most frustrating realities for growing businesses: strong profits on paper, but never enough cash in the bank. Morgan Wilson breaks down why this happens so often, even in well-run firms — and how cash flow blind spots quietly limit decision-making and growth. We talk through the real reasons cash disappears, the signals most business owners m...