In this episode of Digi-Tools in Accrual World, we break down a massive fortnight of news in the accounting tech ecosystem. From leadership changes at the top of the UK’s biggest platforms to the "unbundling" of SaaS pricing, we analyse the strategic moves that will define 2026.

The Big Xero Shift: The team reacts to the continued fallout from Xero’s new API pricing model and the news that Alex von Schirmeister is stepping down to join Nomentia. We discuss whether Xero is moving away from "inclusivity" as it pivots toward profitability.

The AI Reality Check: Despite the hype, recent data shows a decline in active generative AI usage in the workplace. We explore why Microsoft Copilot is struggling to gain traction and why "Ask Digits" represents the future of AI as a primary software interface.

Acquisitions & Payments: We look at the strategic implications of Mollie acquiring GoCardless for £1.1bn and how Intuit is tightening its grip on the UK market with the official launch of QuickBooks Payments.

Strategic Pricing: Finally, we analyse Unleashed Software’s move to "unbundle" its pricing. Is functionality-driven pricing the new standard for SaaS?

00:00 Welcome To Digi-Tools in Accrual World

App News

03:08 Ecosystem Friction: Developers React to Xero's API Pricing Model

10:42 Leadership Change: Alex von Schirmeister Steps Down at Xero

17:56 Xero Update: MTD Support for Multiple Businesses

19:02 M&A Alert: GoCardless Acquired by Payments Giant Mollie

23:33 Why Microsoft is Struggling with AI Agent Traction

32:33 The AI Dip: Workplace Surveys Show Usage Decline

35:58 App Spotlight: Digits Unveils "Ask Digits" AI Interface

38:06 QuickBooks Payments Officially Launches in the UK

40:06 Intuit's "Agentic" Capabilities for QuickBooks & MailChimp

43:52 Briefcase Platform: Absorbing Complex Tax Codes via AI

46:07 SaaS Strategy: Unleashed Unbundles Pricing & Inventory Features

49:53 Like, Subscribe and Join Us!

Keywords / Hashtags: #AccountingTech #Xero #Intuit #QuickBooks #GoCardless #Mollie #SaaSStrategy #AI #GenerativeAI #FinTech #Unleashed #SaaSActivation #ChannelStrategy

This week on Digi-Tools in Accrual World, John Toon joins Indi from Las Vegas to unpack a massive week in accounting tech.

We cover Thomson Reuters' major move to integrate their PPC methodology with AI audit partners like Trullion and Fieldguide. We also break down Xero's two biggest announcements: the "JAX" powered automated bank reconciliation that learns from your history, and a complete overhaul of the dashboard into a "financial command center".

Plus, we discuss the confirmation of a "soft landing" for MTD for Income Tax penalties and the UK Budget’s surprise announcement mandating B2B e-invoicing by 2029.

0:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World!

App News 02:49 Thomson Reuters Integrates PPC Methodology with AI Audit Partners 06:50 Xero Rolling Out JAX-Powered Bank Reconciliation 11:00 New Xero Homepage Dashboard Launched 16:03 Xero Celebrates Ecosystem Innovation with November Updates 17:34 MTD Penalty Soft Landing Confirmed 21:43 Budget 2025 Mandates E-Invoicing by 2029

22:50 Like and Subscribe!

This week on Digi-Tools in Accrual World, we dive deep into the biggest accounting tech news of the week. Indi is joined by accounting tech veteran Leigh Stallard to break down the "spicy" new tiered pricing model for the Xero API - a move that could change the landscape for Xero's ecosystem.

We discuss whether this is a strategic defensive play or a barrier to innovation. Plus, we cover MIMO's new AI Associate for month-end automation, TaxCalc’s unique hybrid cloud announcement, and FreeAgent’s latest MTD controls.

Chapter Markers 00:00 - Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World 02:41 - App News 02:46 - Partners celebrated in 2025 Global App Awards 05:21 - Developers face new tiered pricing model for Xero APIs 14:35 - Reporting updates include percentage rows and better Excel formatting retention 16:26 - November update adds purchase order revisions and pause timers for billing 18:37 - New controls from FreeAgent launched for MTD for Income Tax 21:21 - Live two-way integration with Engager removes data re-keying requirements 23:09 - TaxCalc confirms hybrid future with browser-based option for compliance suite 29:04 - Mimo releases AI Associate to automate month-end journals and anomalies 34:04 - Rate and Subscribe

The Taxfiler founders are back with TaxPad, a new compliance suite for smaller firms, but will accountants trust them after the sale to Iris? Ryan and Indi discuss the market’s cautious reaction and whether a commitment to not sell is enough .

This week's accounting tech news:

Fintech Exits: Lloyds Banking Group acquires Curve for £120m—less than half of what the fintech raised—marking a sobering reality for valuations. Meanwhile, US spend management platform Ramp hits a massive $32bn valuation.

AI Agents: Expensify releases a "hybrid contextual AI expense agent" that works across the platform .

Compliance & Audit: TaxCalc launches biometric ID checks for Companies House verification , and Caseware brings group audit functionality to the cloud .

New Tools: TaxNav launches a simple bridging tool for landlords, Solver integrates with Microsoft Fabric, and BrightPay Cloud introduces a new app for employees.

Finally, John Toon speaks with Peter Hucker from Xledger about the friction in the audit process . They discuss how giving auditors read-only access and using automation for month-end accruals can solve the annual audit pain for mid-market finance teams.

Timestamp 00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World!

App News 02:47 Taxfiler founders return with TaxPad 08:16 TaxCalc launches biometric ID checks 11:02 Expensify releases hybrid AI expense agent 14:14 Caseware brings group audit functionality to the cloud 15:51 Lloyds Banking Group acquires fintech Curve for £120m 20:01 Solver announces new data integration with Microsoft Fabric 21:47 TaxNav launches simple MTD bridging tool for landlords 22:49 Ramp hits $32bn valuation in latest funding round 27:00 BrightPay Cloud introduces new manager and employee app

28:46 The Problem With Audit... 38:57 Rate and Subscribe!

Is the audit profession under threat from AI? Ryan and Indi discuss a viral discussion sparked by a graduate questioning if they should accept a Big Four internship given PwC's heavy investment in AI audits.

The hosts discuss whether automation will replace juniors or simply change the nature of the work.

Also - this week in accounting tech news:

Intuit and OpenAI: Intuit announces a strategic partnership with OpenAI to power new AI agents across Credit Karma and TurboTax.

Digits' Bold Claim: The platform says it can automate the monthly close and bank reconciliations to save significant time on manual work.

New Entrants: Record OS launches to fix the data collection bottleneck for self-assessments, whilst Vinyl releases a mobile app to capture client meeting data.

Integration News: Karbon connects with Active Workpapers and Socket, whilst FreeAgent integrates with Pleo via Shift API.

Plus, good news for the industry as Mazuma founder Lucy Cohen is appointed President of the AAT.

Finally, Ryan speaks with Anoop Rehal from BKL for the Xledger spotlight. They discuss why mid-market firms are turning to outsourcing to solve talent gaps and how moving away from complex app stacks to modern ERPs helps drive efficiency.

➡️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World podcast! 03:32 PwC bets big on AI audits 10:37 Intuit deploys AI agents across Credit Karma and TurboTax 14:50 Karbon connects with Active and Socket 16:22 FreeAgent connects with Pleo 19:47 Digits claims to fully automate the monthly close using AI bank reconciliation 21:36 New entrant Record OS launches to fix the self-assessment bottleneck 23:52 Vinyl launches a mobile app to help accountants manage meetings on the go 27:30 Dext releases November product updates 28:43 AAT appoints Mazuma founder Lucy Cohen as its new president

32:34 Mid-Market Outsourcing: Solving Talent Gaps and Tech Stacks with BKL - Xledger

44:16 Rate, like and subscribe

John Toon and Indi speed-run a huge week in accounting tech news, and the theme is clear: AI. New research suggests half of UK firms are planning £100k+ AI investments, and the vendors are delivering.

This week's fintech news covers Adfin's new "Autopilot" AI credit controller that writes and sends chasers, Bill.com's "touchless" AI agents, and Thomson Reuters' move into agentic AI for tax and audit.

Plus, Dwayne Jackson is back. The founder of Kashflow and Staffology has launched Sodium, a new practice management platform - another future IRIS acquisition?

Also in this episode: * Ben Carter from Access joins to give tangible examples of Evo's AI, from solving "mystery margin" to an "autopilot world". * Laura Brophy from Xledger explains their "Pick and Mix" approach to digital training, based on adult learning theory * Updates from NetSuite, Digits, and Fathom.



Learn how to harness EVO in Unleashed pre-client meetings. Join our Partner Product Webinar on the 17th November at 9pm GMT - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2dcL0 Find out more about Unleashed - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2cWv0

00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World 03:48 Unleashed: Using AI to Solve "Mystery Margin" & Create an "Autopilot World"

App News 12:23 Firms Plan Major AI Spend as Agentic AI Arrives 16:49 BILL Launches AI Agents for ‘Touchless’ SMB Finance 19:26 Thomson Reuters Unveils Agentic AI for Tax and Audit 22:45 Adfin unveils ‘Autopilot’ AI 25:22 NetSuite launches ‘NetSuite Next,’ 28:04 Sodium practice software expands features 33:08 Digits announces new ‘Connect API’ 36:32 Fathom introduces ‘Forecast Snapshots’

40:25 Xledger: The "Pick and Mix" Approach to Digital Training

The Accounting Tech landscape is shifting under our feet. This week, we're breaking down the major strategic moves from the industry's biggest players and what it really means for your app, your ecosystem, and your channel strategy.

We dive deep into the new AI in Accounting arms race, with Intuit launching its new AI Agents and even HMRC rolling out Copilot.

Meanwhile, the giants are making moves. We explore the launch of Sage's next-gen X3 platform and ask the question: Is Sage50 really cloud-based now?

But it's not all about the platforms. For SaaS leaders focused on SaaS Activation and partnerships, we put two key ecosystem players under the microscope:

Unleashed: In our App Spotlight, we analyze Unleashed's strategic role within the wider Access Group ecosystem and cover its latest production feature enhancements.

Xledger: In our "Channel Focus" segment, we get a partner's-eye view of the Xledger program—a must-listen for anyone building a partner-led growth motion.

Join us for a packed episode of market intelligence to keep your Digital Transformation strategy one step ahead.

Learn how to harness EVO in Unleashed pre client meetings. Join our Partner Product Webinar on the 17th November at 9pm GTM - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2dcL0

Find out more about Unleashed - https://hubs.la/Q03Q2cWv0

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World 06:21 App Spotlight: Unleashed's Role in the Access Ecosystem 15:17 App News 15:32 Sage50 now cloud based? 19:04 Sage X3 next gen launch 25:37 New Intuit Accountant Suite and its AI Agents 28:57 New Kids on the Block: Xero’s October App Store Additions 32:47 HMRC rolls out Copilot 36:25 Unleashed Software Enhances its Production & Inventory Features 40:40 Channel Focus: Xledger from a Partner's Perspective

50:52 Outro

Welcome to the Digi-Tools in Accrual World Podcast, your essential update on UK Accounting Tech News and Fintech News!

This week, Ryan Pearcy and John Toon discuss the strategies shaking up the software world and the latest app updates you need to know about.

First, Ryan speaks with Ben Carter, Product Director for the Small Business Division at Access. Ben shares the vision behind integrating products like Unleashed, MintSoft, and Tradify. He explains their mission to deliver "value in seven minutes" and how they're using AI to revolutionise data onboarding for new trial users.

Then, it's a packed App News segment:

Sumday (Xero): An AI bot has been added to the carbon tracking platform to help analyse data and build sustainability business cases.

AI-Native Payments: Ryan questions if AI-driven automatic payment runs are a genuine innovation or just a buzzword.

Adfin Autopilot: The platform has launched an AI agent to intelligently and automatically chase customer debts.

Karbon & Spotlight: A new integration allows firms to automate the scheduling and generation of Spotlight reports directly from Karbon tasks.

Katana: The inventory tool for manufacturers has introduced a free plan, limited to 30 SKUs and 3 locations.

WorkGuru: The project management tool adds project document templates and an OCR integration with Easy Bills.

Employment Hero: The system now automates the complex calculation of leave entitlement for offboarding employees.

Cyber Attacks: John covers startling research from FreeAgent showing 6 in 10 UK small businesses were hit by a cyber attack last year.

Finally, Kevin Fitzgerald, MD of UK for Employment Hero, returns. He explains the strategic decision to pause and relaunch their bureau program , moving away from a "race to the bottom" on price to a new model focused on integrating HR and payroll services for accounting firms.

This episode is sponsored by Unleashed and Employment Hero.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome to Digi-Tools in Accrual World

03:44 Unleashing Success: Inside the Small Business Division at Access

14:18 App News

14:22 Xero adds Sumday AI sustainability analysis

17:06 AI-native payments promise faster cashflow for firms

20:58 Adfin launches Autopilot automation

23:40 Karbon integrates with Spotlight for automated reporting

25:52 Katana introduces free plan for small manufacturers

27:52 WorkGuru adds templates and purchase orders

30:36 Employment Hero automates leave entitlement on offboarding

32:10 FreeAgent: Three in five small businesses hit by a cyber attack

38:00 Transforming Bureaus: Employment Hero's Approach to Payroll and HR

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