ELMO Group acquires AI-powered workforce leader Rotageek in major UK expansion
ELMO GROUP, THE PARENT COMPANY OF LEADING UK SME HR PLATFORM BREATHE HR, HAS ACQUIRED ROTAGEEK – A UK AI-DRIVEN WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT AND ROTA SOFTWARE PROVIDER. THIS STRATEGIC ACQUISITION STRENGTHENS ELMO GROUP’S POSITION IN THE UK MARKET AND REINFORCES ITS COMMITMENT TO DELIVERING CATEGORY-LEADING SOLUTIONS FOR GROWING BUSINESSES.
A trusted people technology software provider,
ELMO Group serves over 18,000 customers across Australia, New Zealand and the UK. By combining ELMO Group’s scale and HR expertise with Rotageek’s cutting edge technology, this acquisition sets a new standard in workforce management – delivering an intelligent, end-to-end platform that supports organisations at every stage of growth, from SMEs to complex enterprise operations.
In the UK, the ELMO Group provides HR software solutions through both ELMO UK and Breathe HR. In total, ELMO and Breathe support
over 16,000 companies in the UK to streamline their HR operations, saving over a million hours in admin annually. Breathe HR is trusted by organisations such as the RSPCA, Wrexham AFC, Brixton Brewery, and dryrobe, while ELMO UK supports brands including Carlsberg, Grind, and Northampton Saints.
Founded in 2009, Rotageek began as a smart scheduling tool for A&E departments.
Find out more
Sleek Raises US $23 Million Series B Led by Ellerston Capital; Now Valued at Up to US $175 Million
SLEEK, A LEADING PLATFORM FOR INCORPORATION AND ACCOUNTING FOR SMES AND ENTREPRENEURS, ANNOUNCED TODAY A USD 23 MILLION SERIES B LED BY AUSTRALIAN INVESTMENT FIRM ELLERSTON CAPITAL, ONE OF THE LEADING AUSTRALIAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FIRMS.
THE ROUND ALSO INCLUDED PARTICIPATION FROM MONEY FORWARD, A PROMINENT ACCOUNTING SAAS PROVIDER IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION.
This investment underscores the strong positioning of Sleek as a comprehensive one-stop-shop for SMEs, emphasising exceptional service deliv-
ered through cutting-edge technology. It also validates the attractiveness of Sleek's established and diverse geographical footprint, currently serving clients in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and the UK.
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Projectworks $12M USD Series A extension: Powering our mission to get consulting back to the work that matters
WE’RE THRILLED TO SHARE THAT WE’VE ADDED $12M USD TO OUR SERIES A, THANKS TO A SIGNIFICANT FUNDING EXTENSION LED BY NEW INVESTOR TEN COVES CAPITAL, ALONGSIDE CONTINUED SUPPORT FROM BRIDGEWEST GROUP AND PUNAKAIKI FUND. THIS BRINGS PROJECTWORKS’ TOTAL FUNDING TO OVER $20M USD - A MILESTONE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE 15,000+ CONSULTANTS WHO TRUST US EVERY DAY.
Backed to take on the world
This new investment brings Projectworks’s total fund-
ing to more than $20M USD, making it a massive milestone for our company - and the 600+ firms who use our software. This new funding reflects a belief that nimble, expert-led consulting firms — armed with the right tools — can take on the world.
Our new US-based investor Ten Coves Capital comes with a stellar track record of backing and scaling highgrowth start-ups, and we’re excited to have them backing our mission.
“It’s a good time to challenge the status quo. With the latest advances in project intelligence, specialists with lean teams and deep experience can go toe-totoe with larger firms — and win. Projectworks is the first end-to-end solution built for
consultants from the ground up. It breaks down silos that get in the way of growth, and gives firms the tools to bid for and manage projects from a position of strength. Having backed Mark Orttung when he served as president of BILL, we are thrilled to reunite with him and support his team as they break new ground in the professional services automation space.” Steve Piaker, Managing Partner, Ten Coves Capital.
We’re excited to welcome Steve to our board of directors, knowing his insights will help us build a better business, and a smarter platform, for our customers.
Updates & News
Figured Benchmarking, Built for Advisory Joiin Featured in Xero’s 'Featured Apps' Collection This Month
BENCHMARKING HAS ALWAYS HAD POTENTIAL, BUT UNTIL NOW, IT’S BEEN STUCK IN SPREADSHEETS, SEPARATE TOOLS, AND ONCEA-YEAR REPORTS. THAT’S CHANGED.
Benchmarking is now live inside Figured, using the actuals already flowing through Farm Manager and Farm Reporter. No uploads. No formatting. No lag.
Just relevant comparisons, ready to go, for every dairy client.
XU BIWEEKLY - No. 107
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A New Benchmark for Benchmarking
For years, benchmarking was slow and disconnected. Most firms had to:
• Reformat data manually across farms
• Wait weeks for results
• Settle for averages that didn’t reflect supplier, region, or ownership structure
The result? Benchmarking was rarely used in planning or real-time advice.
Now, it’s part of your workflow, not outside it.
Instant Insight, Built from the Data You Already Trust
Figured Benchmarking draws from the same quality-checked data you use every day — so you can:
• Filter by region, supplier, and ownership type
• Compare key metrics using FY24 actuals (with seasonal updates coming)
Keep reading
JOIIN, THE FINANCIAL REPORTING PLATFORM BUILT FOR ACCOUNTANTS AND MULTI-ENTITY BUSINESSES, HAS BEEN FEATURED IN XERO’S 'FEATURED APPS' COLLECTION THIS MONTH - A CURATED SELECTION OF APPS RECOGNISED FOR PROVIDING GREAT EXPERIENCES FOR XERO CUSTOMERS.
Selected from over 1,000 apps on the Xero App Store, Joiin will be showcased throughout June on the App Store homepage across all supported regions. This recognition highlights Joiin’s continued focus on simplifying com-
plex consolidation and reporting tasks and delivering a consistently high-quality experience to users around the world.
Joiin helps accountants and finance teams aggregate, consolidate, and automate financial, sales and KPI data, enabling faster, smarter decision-making. Xero users can connect their account and start generating powerful, real-time reports via joiin.co/ connect-with-xero
Why Accountants and Finance Teams Choose Joiin
• Simplify group reporting across multiple entities
– Consolidate data from different companies, automate eliminations, and manage inter-company transactions with precision.
• Gain clarity with real-time, AI-powered insights – Build custom reports and dashboards with multi-currency and budget support and surface trends and anomalies instantly.
• Collaborate confidently
– Share live reports with clients and colleagues, manage user permissions, and keep teams aligned with always upto-date access.
Keep reading
Automate reminders and track receivables with Stripe and Chaser
LATE PAYMENTS AREN’T JUST FRUSTRATING—THEY CAN BE GENUINELY DAMAGING. THEY DISRUPT CASH FLOW, TIE UP WORKING CAPITAL, AND KEEP FINANCE TEAMS STUCK IN REACTIVE CYCLES. IN FACT, THE AVERAGE MIDSIZED BUSINESS IS OWED OVER £300,000 IN LATE PAYMENTS AT ANY ONE TIME (INTUIT), WITH 87% OF INVOICES PAID AFTER THEIR DUE DATE (THE LATE PAYMENT REPORT). THAT’S NOT JUST ADMIN— IT’S A MAJOR THREAT TO YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH.
Stripe has become the go-to payment solution for modern businesses, especially SaaS companies,
marketplaces, startups, and digital platforms. But while Stripe handles payment processing beautifully, it’s not built to manage the end-to-end accounts receivable (AR) process. That’s where Chaser comes in.
Chaser's new direct integration with Stripe—gives users access to advanced AR automation, intelligent insights, and a seamless way to get paid faster, with less manual effort.
Why Stripe users need more than a payment processor
Many businesses—especially in SaaS and ecommerce—use Stripe as their system of record. It’s where
payments are tracked, invoices are issued, and customer data lives. But it’s not an accounts receivable platform, and it doesn’t provide:
• A structured reminder workflow
• A central timeline of chasing activity
• Visibility into when an invoice might become a problem
• Tools to personalize reminders without hours of manual work
• This gap often leads to missed follow-ups, poor visibility, and delayed payments. The Chaser integration with Stripe is designed to solve all of that.
This gap often leads to
missed follow-ups, poor visibility, and delayed payments. The Chaser integration with Stripe is designed to solve all of that.
Take the manual work out of chasing payments
Chasing overdue invoices is one of the most time-consuming tasks in finance. The average midsized business spends 14 hours per week on credit control tasks (Intuit). That’s nearly two full working days.
With Chaser, all those follow-ups are automated—intelligently.
Once your Stripe account is connected, Chaser auto-
matically pulls invoice and customer data and begins sending smart, personalized reminders based on your rules. Choose when reminders go out, how often, and via which channels—email, SMS, phone calls, auto-calls or letters.
Each message is sent from your own email address, with your name, signature, and brand style, so it never feels robotic or impersonal.
And it doesn’t stop at automation. Chaser helps you escalate gracefully.
Find
Receipt Bot Update: HMRC VAT Receipts, Mobile Editing and more
WE’RE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE ANOTHER UP-
DATE TO RECEIPT BOT. THIS RELEASE INTRODUCES FEATURES LIKE HMRC VAT RETURN RECEIPTS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO MOBILE APPS AND REPORTING FEATURES.
New Features
Save Your HMRC VAT Submission Receipts
The system allows you to prepare your VAT return using data from your bills and invoices. A “Print VAT Re-
turn” button has been added, enabling you to save a copy of your VAT return after a successful submission to HMRC.
Enhanced Reporting
We have improved the filtering of the report data to be more intuitive. This update brings several improvements to the Reports page:
Reports will now display all months within your selected date range, even if some months have no transaction data, ensuring a complete chronological overview.
You can quickly sort the “Grand Total” column to see the highest or lowest values.
Edit Purchase and Sales Details on Mobile
Managing bookkeeping on the go is essential. We identified the need to expand the editing capabilities within our mobile app.
You can now edit details for purchase and sales documents directly from the Receipt Bot mobile scanner apps.
Find out more
New in Zoho Payroll USA: Multi-state payroll and more
RUNNING PAYROLL SHOULDN’T GET HARDER AS YOUR BUSINESS GROWS. WHETHER YOU’VE EXPANDED INTO NEW STATES OR BUILT A TEAM WITH UNIQUE NEEDS, WE BELIEVE YOUR PAYROLL SOFTWARE SHOULD SCALE WITH YOU WHILE STAYING JUST AS SIMPLE.
Today, we’re rolling out a powerful set of features and an all-new Professional plan for Zoho Payroll USA—designed to support growing teams and complex payroll operations. And of course, it all comes with the same simplicity and clarity you count on from Zoho.
Books Club, split billing, and AI-
labelling: What’s new at Apron in May
IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS ONLY YESTERDAY THAT WE RELEASED APRON CARD, OUR VERY OWN EXPENSE CARD FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE ACCOUNTANTS AND BOOKKEEPERS WHO BACK THEM.
Time flies when you’re building something great with a community of tensof-thousands, and this month we’ve released even more features to help business owners clear the way to success. So, shall we dive right in?
Apron Books Club: The rewards programme from Apron
Books Club is our new partner programme (Part-
ners is the name we use for the amazing accountants and bookkeepers who use Apron).
As a partner, you’ll earn points automatically whenever your firm, and any connected clients, use Apron. As you capture documents, make payments, or use cards you’ll unlock plan discounts, CPD credits, priority support and more.
We wrote a blog post on the release of Books Club, which we encourage you to check out.
Oh, and we’re taking Books Club on the road with a special roadshow for accountants and bookkeepers. It’s your chance to:
• Learn all about everything that’s new with Apron’s capture and bill pay workflows.
• Get practical tips on introducing clients to Apron.
• Ask any questions you have about how to get the most out of Apron.
• Pick up loads of free Apron merch, and a free lunch.
Keep an eye on your inbox for more information on the Apron Books Club Roadshow.
Split billing: More control, fewer surprises
Split billing gives your firm the flexibility to separate payment-related fees from invoice capture fees.
New at Airwallex: May Edition
THIS MONTH, WE’RE MAKING IT EVEN EASIER TO GROW
GLOBALLY WITH EXPANDED SWIFT COVERAGE, STREAMLINED SPEND APPROVALS, AND IN-STORE PAYMENT OPTIONS NOW LIVE IN ASIA. HERE’S WHAT’S NEW.
Business Accounts
Send SWIFT transfers to more countries
You can now send SWIFT transfers to 207 countries,
including new markets like Ghana, Nicaragua, and Lebanon, making it easier to pay global suppliers, employees, and partners from a single Airwallex account. Support for 25 currencies is available today, with early access open for an additional 40 currencies. View the full list of supported countries and currencies here.
Improve routing with intermediary bank SWIFT code specification
Specify intermediary bank
SWIFT codes when creating SWIFT transfers or recipients in the WebApp or mobile app to improve routing and reduce payment delays.
Spend
Increase spend control with request and approval workflows
Streamline employee purchases with centralised request and approval flows.
Find out more
Here’s everything that’s new:
Multi-state payroll made easy
Hiring across states is a big milestone, but it also brings a maze of tax rules, filing requirements, and compliance risks. From differing state income taxes to local employment laws, staying compliant while paying your team can quickly turn into a full-time job.
With Zoho Payroll’s new multi-state payroll, you can onboard employees from different states, pay them all in a single run, and automatically stay compliant
with each state’s tax laws. We handle withholding and take care of taxes, so you can stay focused on taking care of your team.
Multiple pay rates for flexibility
Whether it’s overtime, shift allowance, or project-based pay, your people deserve accurate pay for every hour worked. Now you can assign multiple hourly rates to employees and switch between them as needed—all while keeping things smooth and compliant.
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By default, companyplans are billed directly to your clients, giving you peace of mind that unexpected charges won’t show up in your monthly invoice (unless you choose to cover them). The choice is yours.
This new feature can help to improve the working relationships you have with your clients, as you can have an open conversation about what works best for each of you.
And perhaps the best part? You can have different rules for each client, so everyone gets what they prefer.
Find out more
Fathom launches new offering to help firms stay ahead of client needs
ATHOM, A GLOBAL LEADER IN FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND REPORTING SOFTWARE, HAS LAUNCHED THE INSIGHTS DASHBOARD AND FATHOM PORTFOLIO PLAN, TWO POWERFUL NEW SOLUTIONS DESIGNED TO HELP ACCOUNTING FIRMS MONITOR CLIENT PERFORMANCE ACROSS THEIR ENTIRE BASE, IDENTIFY ADVISORY OPPORTUNITIES, AND ENGAGE BUSINESSES WITH PROACTIVE FINANCIAL INSIGHTS.
The challenge for accountants: how to move from reactive to proactive
Accountants are facing mounting challenges from market pressures, increasing client demands and the need to maintain firm efficiency. And while business advisory has become a key service offering for many firms, delivering proactive insights at scale remains a challenge.
“One of the key themes
we’re hearing from firms today is the need to be on the front foot, to spot potential issues and offer timely guidance,” said Geoff Baker, Head of Customer at Fathom.
A recent Fathom survey found that 27.5% of firms lack a structured process for monitoring client performance, making it difficult to anticipate issues before they arise.
Find out more
Karbon launches end-to-end tax workflows, AI innovations, and Practice Intelligence to accelerate firm growth
New automation, real-time insights, deep integrations, and pricing tools streamline tax season, while Karbon’s Practice Intelligence drives a new era in AI-powered firm operations.
KARBON, THE GLOBAL LEADER IN ACCOUNTING PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, TODAY ANNOUNCED NEW FEATURES TO AUTOMATE END-TO-END TAX WORKFLOWS, AND PRACTICE INTELLIGENCE, ITS BOLD VISION FOR AI-POWERED FIRM OPERATIONS. THE ANNOUNCEMENTS WERE MADE DURING KARBON NEXT, THE COMPANY’S CUSTOMER EVENT WHERE 150 SENIOR LEADERS FROM TOP GLOBAL FIRMS
GATHERED TO EXPLORE THE FUTURE OF MODERN ACCOUNTING.
Chief Product Officer Sara Goepel debuted both the tax workflows and Karbon’s vision for Practice Intelligence during her keynote. The announcements come as the accounting profession faces significant workforce challenges, with nearly 75% of AICPA members nearing retirement, M&A on the rise, and increasing pressure to modernize.
BGL receives 22nd Australian Achiever Award for outstanding customer service
BGL Corporate Solutions (BGL), Australia's leading provider of company compliance, self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF), investment management, identity verification and AI-powered paper-to-data software solutions, is proud to announce it has again been recognised with an Australian Achiever Award for outstanding customer service. This is the 22nd Australian Achiever Award won by BGL.
This prestigious award highlights BGL’s outstanding service in the Information and Communication Technology Services sector. The results are based entirely on customer feedback and evaluated across eight key
criteria: time efficiency, addressing client needs, care, value, attitude, communication, overall perception and likelihood of referral.
BGL achieved an impressive customer satisfaction rating of over 90%, clearly reflecting the strength of its client relationships and unwavering commitment to service excellence.
“This is another incredible achievement in BGL’s journey,” said Daniel Tramontana, BGL’s Chief Executive Officer. “It reflects our customer-first mindset and our ongoing mission to deliver innovative solutions that empower professionals. But what truly sets us apart is the exceptional support we provide alongside our technology.”
Keep reading
A modern infrastructure for tax season and beyond
Karbon’s new tax workflows and features enable firms to manage the entire tax work lifecycle, from client intake to filing and archiving, while improving speed, reducing manual work, and increasing transparency.
"The way most tax firms run today is broken and we're fixing that," said Sara Goepel, Chief Product Of-
ficer at Karbon. "Our newest features solve the chaos of managing extensions, reviewing returns, and chasing clients, while reinforcing Karbon's vision of intelligent, scalable workflows for every service line. Whether you're a tax firm or an advisory-first practice, Karbon gives you the platform to grow with confidence."
Karbon’s new tax workflows and features:
• Integrated client organiz-
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ers: Deep integration with StanfordTax brings a modern client intake experience with organizers and workpaper management directly embedded into Karbon workflows.
• Progress reports: Real-time insights show how work moves through each tax stage, improving visibility for partners, teams, and clients.
• FIFO workflow queues: Prioritize client work using first-in, first-out queues to stay organized and fo-
cused on the most urgent tasks.
• Automated extension management: Track and manage extensions within Karbon to reduce missed deadlines and manual effort.
• Tax tech stack integrations: Connect with leading providers including Intuit ProConnect Tax, TaxPlan IQ, TallyFor, and TaxNow to create a unified tax ecosystem.
Find out more
TO OUR CUSTOMERS, PARTNERS AND TEAM – THANK YOU.
Today, we celebrate having reached a $1 billion revenue run rate in just over six years – a milestone that only a small handful of companies achieve. It reflects not only the strength and stability of our business, but also the progress we’re making in enabling the global future of work.
When we founded the
company in 2019, we could never have dreamed of what the company looks like today. Yet the more we listened to customers, the clearer it became: payroll and HR weren’t built for the way the world works today.
What began as a product to hire and pay contractors is now a full payroll and HR suite that serves 35,000 customers and 1.25m workers in 150+ countries.
Find out more
I
NTRODUCING JOIIN UNWRAPPED, YOUR GO-TO UPDATE ON THE LATEST FEATURES, NEWS AND DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE JOIIN TEAM.
28 May 2025. Here’s what’s new:
Your inside track on the latest features, integrations and updates from the Joiin team.
In this issue of Joiin Unwrapped, Lucien Wynn (CEO & Co-Founder) and Harry Symons (Head of Customer Success) chat through our latest feature releases, including powerful new reports and dashboards, the launch of our Excel Add-In, expanded integrations, and AI-driven insights.
With major updates now live and even more planned for Q3 2025, we’re continuing to transform financial consolidation for Xero, QuickBooks Online and Sage users.
New Reports & Dashboards – Designed Around Real Customer Use Cases
We’ve rolled out a fresh set of reports and dashboards shaped by direct customer feedback. From investor-ready reporting packs to high-level group summaries, these new tools give you faster access to the insights that matter.
Tailored to real-world workflows, they save time and boost clarity across your financial data.
Try for free
Excel Add-In – Live Joiin Data in Your Spreadsheets
Now you can work with live Joiin data directly in Excel. Our new Excel AddIn combines the power of Joiin’s consolidation engine with the flexibility of spreadsheets – ideal for deeper analysis, tailored reports, and custom workflows.
Keep reading
Xero offers Tap to Pay on iPhone for US small businesses with a Stripe account
An easy, secure and private way to accept contactless payments with an iPhone and the Xero Accounting iOS app
XERO, THE GLOBAL SMALL BUSINESS PLATFORM, HAS LAUNCHED TAP TO PAY ON IPHONE, ENABLING XERO CUSTOMERS IN THE US WITH A STRIPE ACCOUNT TO SEAMLESSLY AND SECURELY ACCEPT IN-PERSON CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS WITH THEIR IPHONE AND THE XERO ACCOUNTING APP — NO ADDITIONAL HARDWARE OR PAYMENT TERMINAL NEEDED. TAP TO PAY ON IPHONE ENABLES BUSINESSES TO ACCEPT ALL FORMS OF CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS, INCLUDING CONTACTLESS CREDIT AND DEBIT CARDS, APPLE PAY, AND OTHER DIGITAL WALLETS.
Using Tap to Pay on an iPhone is easy, secure and private. With Tap to Pay on iPhone, at checkout, the merchant can simply prompt the customer to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch with their contactless credit or debit card, Apple Pay, or other digital
wallet to pay with their contactless credit or debit card near the merchant’s iPhone. The payment will be securely completed using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. Tap to Pay on iPhone also supports PIN entry, which includes accessibility options.
Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone technology uses the built-in features of iPhone to keep the business’ and customers’ data private and secure. When a payment is processed, Apple doesn’t store card numbers or transaction information on Apple servers, so merchants and customers can rest assured that their data stays theirs.
Empowering businesses with more ways to pay
Managing cash flow is more important than ever for small businesses, and receiving timely payments from customers is a fundamental piece of the puzzle.
Find out more
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Updates & News
Chaser is shortlisted for three Credit Strategy Awards 2025
PROUD TO SHARE THAT CHASER HAS BEEN SHORTLISTED FOR THREE AWARDS AT THE 2025 CREDIT STRATEGY AWARDS: BEST COMPANY TO WORK FOR, BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR, AND BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY. THESE AWARDS CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION WITHIN THE CREDIT AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY.
Recognized as a leading workplace: building a thriving culture of care and growth
The Best Company to Work For shortlist highlights
a commitment to creating an excellent work environment. Chaser stands out for its culture, which is built on core values: care, courage, candour, and celebration. These values are part of how the team works every day, creating a space where talent grows and strong connections are made.
Chaser knows that a happy, connected, and supported team drives business success. Employees benefit from working arrangements that fit different needs, from personal development to work-life balance. This focus on well-being was clearly shown during the Gran Canaria 2025 global
offsite, an event designed to build team cohesion and shared purpose. Highlights included activities like team hackathons, demothons, and games nights which fostered camaraderie through friendly competition. These initiatives are part of a wider commitment to fostering meaningful relationships and work-life harmony.
Employees find long-term fulfillment here. As Dean, an integrations engineer, puts it: "On Sunday evening, I'm excited to start my Monday." This shows the engaging and supportive atmosphere. Investment in professional and personal growth is also a high priority. Ac-
cess to industry-accredited training, such as CICM programs ensures continuous learning and skill improvement. Team members often move into new, fulfilling roles within the company, showing a real commitment to career growth. Katan, a software engineer, confirms this, stating: "I moved from IT support to development, thanks to the training Chaser provided." Similarly, Dean shares: "I transitioned from design to support with my team's full encouragement."
Keep reading
Meet the 2025 Karbon Excellence Awards Winners
The winners of the 2025 Karbon Excellence Awards have been revealed, celebrating accounting firms from around the world who are redefining what it means to lead with innovation, purpose, and impact.
AFTER HUNDREDS OF NOMINATIONS AND A SHORTLIST THAT SHOWCASED THE VERY BEST OF THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION, THE 2025 KARBON EXCELLENCE AWARDS WINNERS HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN ANNOUNCED.
More than 500 nominations were submitted by Karbon firms from across the globe. These awards celebrate firms that aren’t just using Karbon to build more connected, efficient practices, but are also shaping the future of the profession through leadership, service, culture, sustainability, and innovation.
Congratulations to this year’s winners: Karbon Excellence Award for Sustainability
Recognizes a firm lead-
ing in sustainability through purposeful practices, community impact, and environmental responsibility.
Winner: MAD Wealth, Australia
MAD Wealth has embedded sustainability into its core operations. Over the past year, the firm launched carbon accounting services, offset 150% of its emissions, and certified its entire team in carbon accounting. Sustainability insights are now standard in every client engagement, demonstrating a holistic commitment to environmental responsibility and community impact.
Finalists:
• Beato, Pimentel & Associates P.A., USA
• Tashly Consulting, Australia
• System Six Bookkeeping, USA
• True North Accounting Okotoks Professional Corporation, Canada
• Hot Toast, Australia
• Leskun & Son Accounting, Canada
• Accountimize Inc, Canada
• MAD Wealth, Australia
Karbon Excellence Award for Diversity & Authenticity
Recognizes a firm championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that’s authentic, approachable, and impactful.
Winner: Sayer Vincent, UK
Sayer Vincent fosters an inclusive culture where neurodiverse team members and those with health challenges feel genuinely supported. The firm’s open approach to recruitment welcomes people from diverse backgrounds and nontraditional paths. With mental health training, clear
accommodations, and a focus on honest feedback, Sayer Vincent creates an environment where people can thrive.
Finalists:
• Luminary Tax Advisors, USA
• Syncopate CPA Professional Corporation, Canada
• Seth and Alexander, USA
• Ho Withers & Associates, Australia
• Leskun & Son Accounting, Canada
• Plan Tax, Australia
• Indinero Inc, USA
• Accountimize Inc, Canada
• Sayer Vincent, UK
Keep reading
Updates & News
Deputy Launches Payroll in
Australia: Purpose Built
for
ShiftBased Businesses.
DEPUTY, THE GLOBAL PEOPLE PLATFORM PURPOSE-BUILT FOR SHIFT WORK, OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED DEPUTY PAYROLL IN AUSTRALIA TODAY — A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO MEET THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF SHIFT-BASED BUSINESSES.
From hiring and scheduling to timesheets and payroll, Deputy now offers a complete solution for shiftbased businesses — helping them make smarter decisions, improve profitability, and stay on top of compliance, all in one integrated platform.
“With the launch of Depu-
Karbon appoints Twyla Verhelst to lead AI transformation and elevate the accounting community
Trusted industry leader joins as VP of Industry Relations and Community to amplify firm voices, drive AI adoption, and strengthen firm success.
Kty Payroll, we’re closing the loop on what shift-based businesses have been asking for — one powerful endto-end people platform that scales as you grow”, said Silvija Martincevic, CEO of Deputy. “This isn’t payroll retrofitted for shift work — it's payroll that has been designed around the unique needs of Australian shiftbased businesses. We've built a platform that not only simplifies compliance and reduces errors, but helps businesses operate more profitably whilst delivering employees a more transparent, mobile-first payroll experience.”
Find out more
Ignition unveils plans for AI-powered pricing intelligence to help firms and agencies price
smarter
AI-powered pricing suggestions coming soon to help businesses optimize revenue and price with confidence
IGNITION, A RECURRING REVENUE AND BILLING AUTOMATION PLATFORM FOR FIRMS AND AGENCIES, TODAY UNVEILED EARLY PLANS FOR A GROUNDBREAKING NEW CAPABILITY AIMED AT USHERING IN A NEW ERA OF PRICING INTELLIGENCE FOR SERVICE-BASED BUSINESSES.
The professional services industry has long operated without meaningful pricing benchmarks; relying instead on guesswork, gut feel or outdated references. Ignition’s planned AI-powered pricing feature, currently in early development, is designed to change that. Drawing from real billing data across thousands of services, it will deliver tailored pricing suggestions that help businesses price with greater confidence.
Greg Strickland, CEO of Ignition, provided an early
preview of the company's latest AI product innovation at an accounting industry event, AICPA Engage. “Undercharging services. Underselling value. Second-guessing prices. These are problems dragging down profitability across the industry,” said Strickland.
“With AI-powered pricing intelligence, our goal is to help business owners stop guessing and start pricing with confidence. They will be able to see whether a price falls below, within or above the expected price range, alongside the AI-suggested price for that service.”
Unlike traditional pricing tools or static benchmarks, Ignition’s AI-powered pricing insights model will provide dynamic, contextual suggestions based on specific service attributes entered by a customer.
Find out more
ARBON, THE GLOBAL LEADER IN ACCOUNTING PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, TODAY ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT OF TWYLA VERHELST AS VICE PRESIDENT OF INDUSTRY RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY. A CPA, ENTREPRENEUR, AND RECOGNIZED VOICE IN THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION, VERHELST BRINGS A UNIQUE BLEND OF STRATEGIC INSIGHT, FINTECH EXPERTISE, AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP TO HER NEW ROLE. SHE WILL SPEARHEAD KARBON’S EFFORTS TO INSPIRE, ED-
UCATE, AND ELEVATE ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONALS WHILE ADVANCING THE COMPANY’S CUSTOMER-LED GROWTH STRATEGY.
As part of Karbon’s executive leadership team, Verhelst will engage across the accounting community to build trusted relationships with firm leaders, influencers, and partners. Her mission is to strengthen the global accounting community by championing firm success, showcasing customer stories, and leading conversations around innovation,
AI adoption, and the future of the profession.
“Twyla’s leadership in the accounting industry and her passion for transformation and AI adoption make her the perfect fit for Karbon at this moment,” said Mary Delaney, CEO of Karbon.
“We’re committed to driving innovation that’s rooted in the real needs of accounting firms. Twyla brings both the strategic insight and the community-first mindset to help us do that.”
Verhelst joins Karbon from Mercury, a fintech company,
where she served as Head of Accounting Partnerships. There, she successfully launched and scaled the firm’s accounting partner ecosystem, overseeing brand, go-to-market strategy, product positioning, partner sales, and experience. Prior to Mercury, she was General Manager of Accountants at FreshBooks, where she built and led accountant channel strategies that drove revenue growth and increased retention.
Xero Asia Awards 2025: Beyond the trophy
WE’RE FAST APPROACHING THE 2025 XERO ASIA AWARDS CEREMONY IN AUGUST! WITH NOMINATIONS CLOSING ON 20 JUNE, IT’S NOW OR NEVER IF YOU’D LIKE TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY AND BE A PART OF THIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NIGHT.
What are the Xero Asia Awards? A Quick Recap
Every year, the Xero Asia Awards recognise the very best in our partner community across the region, honouring their efforts to drive digital accounting forward and enable SMEs across the region to thrive.
This year, we’ve evolved the award categories to reflect the diverse achievements within our Xero partner community:
• Xero Partner of the Year: Recognising overall commitment and success in leading the way with Xero across Singapore, Malaysia, and the rest of Asia.
• Emerging Partner of the Year: Spotlighting newer partners who have made exceptional progress in their first year with Xero.
• Total Xero Award: Celebrating practices that have made Xero part of their business DNA, championing its use with clients and running their firm on Xero.
• Digital Innovator of the Year: For practices that have revolutionised their operations, culture, and client services through digital innovation.
• Advisory Partner of the Year: Recognising partners who have excelled in making a difference in their SME clients’ lives through advisory services.
• e-Invoicing Champion of the Year: Celebrating partners in Singapore and Malaysia who have championed e-invoicing adoption and educated clients on its benefits.
All nominations are to be submitted via a video no longer than three minutes.
But it’s less about how pro-
Keep reading fessional the production is, and more about how authentically you tell your story. We want to hear all about the genuine impact you’ve made on your clients and their businesses.
For more guidance on how to put your best foot forward for your video submission, check out our tips and tricks blog post here.
Beyond the trophy: Prestige, growth, morale and community
Winning a Xero Asia Award goes beyond just a single prestigious moment on stage
Keep reading
E’RE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING YOU WITH THE LATEST EXPANDLY FEATURE UPDATES INCLUDING NEW INTEGRATIONS AND PLATFORM DEVELOPMENTS; ALL UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE YOU CAN REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN THE FAST-PACED WORLD OF ECOMMERCE FULFILLMENT AND CONTINUE BEING ABLE TO USE EXPANDLY FOR YOUR COMPLETE ORDER FULFILLMENT OPERATIONS.
In Expandly Promote & Expand, there is a new EPR page. This allows you to setup your EPR registration, reporting, authorised representation and minimum contributions.
ASN - bulk select products using CSV
When creating an ASN you can now select products in bulk using a CSV. The CSV only needs the SKU and total quantity columns.
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NTEGRATE ACTIVE EASILY WITH THE REST OF YOUR CLOUD TECHSTACK TO CREATE SEAMLESS, AUTOMATED, ENDTO-END WORKFLOWS.
xero
2-way integration to sync data from your Xero ledger into Active, and push journals and adjustments back to Xero.
QuickBooks
2-way integration to sync data from your QuickBooks ledger into Active, and push journals and adjustments back to QuickBooks
Open your workpapers within Excel (Microsoft 365) and have automated, pre-populated worksheets so you can get to the heart of the numbers.
FYI
Integrate document management into your compliance workflow. Preparers can add supporting evidence and reviewers can easily check it without jumping between apps.
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Venmo Unleashes Next Phase of Commerce with the Venmo Debit Card and Venmo Checkout
VENMO, A LEADING SOCIAL PAYMENTS PLATFORM, TODAY ANNOUNCED AN ACCELERATED EXPANSION OF ITS COMMERCE CAPABILITIES, INTRODUCING EVEN MORE BENEFITS FOR CUSTOMERS TO USE THEIR VENMO BALANCE BEYOND PEER-TO-PEER PAYMENTS - FROM EVERYDAY PURCHASES TO EARNING ENHANCED REWARDS INSTORE AND ONLINE WITH THE VENMO DEBIT MASTERCARD®1.
Venmo has been a go-to solution for sending money to family and friends, with over 64 million U.S. accounts using Venmo every month to split meals, send birthday gifts, and pay their portion of rent and utilities. Now, with consumers
looking to simplify their financial lives and optimize their spending, Venmo is evolving into a more flexible and rewarding way to spend a Venmo balance on everything from rideshares to cookware.
Venmo's growth is continuing to accelerate as more consumers use their balances for everyday commerce. In the first quarter, Venmo revenue grew 20 percent year-over-year. Pay with Venmo usage surged, with total payment volume up more than 50 percent, and monthly active accounts are up 30 percent. The Venmo Debit Card is also gaining momentum, with monthly active cardholders up 40 percent as more people use it to pay in-store and online.
Sharesight product updates – June 2025
N MY DECEMBER 2023
IPRODUCT UPDATE I MENTIONED WE HAD STARTED WORK ON SOME SECURITY-BASED INITIATIVES WHICH I’D DISCUSS IN MORE DETAIL AT SOME POINT IN THE COMING MONTHS. I’M VERY PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS SECURITY WORK HAS CULMINATED IN SHARESIGHT BEING ISSUED WITH A SOC 2 TYPE 1 CERTIFICATION. TRANSITIONING ALL ASPECTS OF OUR BUSINESS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS CYBER
SECURITY CERTIFICATION
HAS BEEN A HUGE BUT IMPORTANT UNDERTAKING FOR US. MORE THAN
ANY OTHER INITIATIVE, THIS CERTIFICATION HIGHLIGHTS THE FACT SHARESIGHT IS A MATURE AND SERIOUS BUSINESS AND GENUINELY COMMITTED TO PROTECTING CUSTOMER DATA.
The work does not stop here though, and we are now going through our SOC 2 Type 2 certification process, which once complete, will show our commitment to security over an extended period.
Keep reading
"Not only does Venmo deliver best-in-class peerto-peer payment experiences, but we're transforming from a payments app into a full-service commerce experience for users to spend their balance on everything, in-store and online," said Diego Scotti, EVP, General Manager –Consumer Group. "Venmo users trust Venmo to move money, so we're making it easier – and more rewarding – to spend and live their lives with an app that moves as fast as they do."
A More Rewarding Way to Pay
Just in time for summer, Venmo is supercharging its debit card rewards with new, limited-time cash back2 offers at some of its
users' favorite brands. Venmo Debit Card users can now earn 15% cash back from Sephora, Walmart, Lyft, McDonald's, and Walgreens by activating their offers in the Venmo app to earn cash back on their eligible purchases in-store and online.
Venmo Debit Card users can also enjoy these added features:
• Tap-to-Pay: Add the Venmo Debit Card to your mobile wallet to conveniently tap-to-pay in-store.
• Automatically add funds: Easily manage and top up your Venmo balance by setting up automatic transfers
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GoCardless launches the Accountancy Ambassador Programme
Bank payment company GoCardless has announced the launch of its GoCardless Accountancy Ambassador Programme, a community of accountants with special discounts, perks and resources to help their practice thrive.
Those who join the Programme will receive:
• Direct access and support: Ambassadors will get a dedicated point of contact at GoCardless for fast assistance.
• Client benefits: Clients that Ambassadors refer
TransferMate and Deutsche Bank announce strategic partnership
The partnership will open new currency corridors to provide businesses with new local, in-country payment collection capabilities
TransferMate, the world’s leading provider of embedded B2B payments infrastructure as a service (IaaS), has today announced a strategic partnership with Deutsche Bank.
The long-term partnership will see TransferMate work with Deutsche Bank in various countries, enabling TransferMate to provide in-country collections, cross border payments, and the ability to store funds locally.
TransferMate now has the most extensive local collection capabilities of any B2B cross-border payments provider, building on what is already the largest fintech payment infrastructure in the world.
"The strategic collaboration between TransferMate and Deutsche Bank underscores the immense potential of fintech-bank partnerships in accessing and scaling
global markets, particularly navigating the high-growth yet diverse Asia Pacific landscape," said Ole Matthiessen, Head of Cash Management & Head of CB APAC MEA at Deutsche Bank. "This showcases the strength of our offering, aligning seamlessly with our Global Hausbank strategy. We look forward to this journey together, which will drive TransferMate's growth and improve their operational efficiencies through our tailored solutions."
In its initial phase, the partnership will facilitate business in several APAC markets – with an aim to expand into other regions thanks to Deutsche Bank’s extensive global network.
As a result, TransferMate can immediately expand its local in-country collection, payments and stored value capabilities.
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Paysend partners with
Tink to enhance open banking payments for faster seamless transfers
Wwill receive 90 days of feefree service. Referral bonuses are also available to share, providing additional value. Clients of top-tier Ambassadors will also receive benefits like social media training, access to influencers, and invites to exclusive events.
• A chance to shape the product: Select Ambassadors are invited to join a Partner Advisory Committee, giving them a unique opportunity to contribute directly to the future direction and evolution of the GoCardless product.
Find out more
ith Tink’s open banking technology, Paysend customers in selected regions can now authenticate and fund transfers directly through their bank without manually entering details or facing multiple security steps. The result is a smooth, fast and secure payment experience.
Bringing faster and better open banking payments to more markets
The partnership with Tink offers enhanced open banking payments performance and expands Paysend’s open banking capabilities into new markets. This means more customers can fund their international transfers with minimal friction, greater security and improved speed. By leveraging Tink’s extensive network of bank con-
nections, Paysend users benefit from:
• Wider coverage – More banks and financial institutions are now supported
• Quicker transactions – Authenticate with your bank and fund transfers without manual entry
• Enhanced security – Direct bank authentication reduces errors and fraud risk
• A seamless experience –Fund transfers with fewer steps right from your smartphone
A frictionless way to move money across borders
Paysend’s Global Head of Network & Partnerships, James Cresswell said: “At Paysend we’re constantly innovating to make cross-border money movement as simple as possible.
Find out more
Venmo Unleashes Next Phase of Commerce with the Venmo Debit Card and Venmo Checkout
Starling launches industry-first
AI banking tool in mission to help UK be ‘Good with money’
STARLING BANK CUSTOMERS CAN NOW USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR SPENDING HABITS. THE FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND FEATURE, CALLED ‘SPENDING INTELLIGENCE’, ALLOWS CUSTOMERS TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR MONEY, SUCH AS “HOW MUCH DID I SPEND ON GROCERIES LAST WEEK?” OR ”HOW MUCH DID I DONATE TO CHARITY LAST YEAR?” BEFORE RECEIVING INSTANT ANALYSIS.
This is the first time a bank has given customers the opportunity to use AI and natural language in-app to directly interact with their spending data. It’s the first phase of Starling’s wider plans to implement AI across customer touch points.
Good with money
Spending Intelligence has been built to help customers overcome a key roadblock in money management: knowing exactly where their money goes. It forms part of Starling’s long-term ambition to help customers take active control of their finances, with the bank set to launch a series of pioneering features and tools that make money management an everyday habit.
“At Starling we believe that knowledge is power, and it’s the first step to taking active control of your money. Now, customers can use AI to feed their natural curiosity about their finances so that they can make informed decisions about their budgeting, and better utilise Starling’s suite of money management tools, ” said Harriet Rees, CIO of Starling Bank.
How it works
Starling’s Spending Intelligence feature bolsters the bank’s popular Spending tab, which shows customers how much they spend, where they spend it and when. Transactions are listed by retailer and fall into 50+ customisable categories, from everyday expenses like ‘Bills’, ‘Transport’ and ‘Groceries’, to bigger ticket items like ‘Holidays’ and ‘Weddings’.
Starling’s AI feature sits at the top of the Spending tab. Customers can ask questions via their keyboard, and can even use their voice for a more interactive experience. The app also has suggested prompts that are personalised to the customer’s spending patterns.
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Selfbook Chooses PayPal as Commerce Partner
SELFBOOK HAS TAPPED PAYPAL AS ITS COMMERCE PARTNER TO MAKE PAYING FOR HOTELS FASTER, SMARTER, AND FULLY EMBEDDED IN AGENTIC EXPERIENCES. TRAVELERS WHO CHECKOUT WITH PAYPAL AND VENMO WILL GAIN ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE RATES, GENERATING MEANINGFUL SAVINGS, AND DRIVING BETTER CONVERSION FOR SELFBOOK'S HOTEL CUSTOMERS. SELFBOOK'S HOTEL CUSTOMERS WILL
BE FEATURED ON THE OFFERS TAB IN THE PAYPAL APP. ADDITIONALLY, PAYPAL BUY NOW, PAY LATER (BNPL) WILL BE OFFERED FOR MANY HOTEL BRANDS THAT INTEGRATE WITH SELFBOOK.
The partnership will advance travel booking into the age of agentic AI by leveraging conversational AI to help customers book and pay. Selfbook and PayPal are both partners with Perplexity, allowing consumers
to search, book and pay for hotels within the chat. As consumers increasingly rely on AI agents for shopping and making plans, it's critical that enterprises have the ability to make the checkout experience seamless through an agent chat.
Enterprises that offer PayPal and Venmo at checkout typically see increased conversion rates.
Spend management customers can now report business travel emissions with nextlevel accuracy using emissions intelligence
LUNE, A LEADER IN EMISSIONS INTELLIGENCE, UNVEILED A NEW CAPABILITY FOR SPEND MANAGEMENT PLATFORMS AT MONEY2020 EUROPE. THIS INNOVATION ENABLES USERS TO CALCULATE BUSINESS TRAVEL EMISSIONS MORE ACCURATELY USING ACTIVITY DATA EXTRACTED FROM INVOICES, RECEIPTS, AND TICKETS — WITH MINIMAL EFFORT.
Spend management platforms can now offer their customers more granular, accurate, and actionable
emissions data by modelling fuel-consumption emissions using activity data. Previously, platforms calculated emissions using spend data, such as cost. Prices fluctuate. A plane ticket could cost £200 one day, and £400 the next when demand is high. While this method is compliant, it does not afford the same granularity as activity-based calculations.
By extracting activity data from transaction documents, this new feature will significantly enhance the precision of business travel emissions calculations
across all transport modes. This empowers spend management customers to track their ESG performance more accurately, reduce the risk of misreporting, and achieve their sustainability goals faster.
Lune’s emissions intelligence identifies and calculates emissions using activity data from transactional documents, such as the number of passengers, the distance between the origin and destination, and the specific transport used.
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GoCardless expands payment platform with Outbound Payments
BANK PAYMENT COMPANY GOCARDLESS ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF OUTBOUND PAYMENTS, A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF ITS PLATFORM THAT WILL ENABLE MERCHANTS TO SEND MONEY DIRECTLY TO CUSTOMERS, SUPPLIERS, AND THIRD PARTIES VIA GOCARDLESS.
Merchants will be able to use GoCardless to manage both account-to-account collections and payouts within a single platform, streamlining operations, simplifying reconciliation and enhancing payment visibility. The introduction of payouts will also help
merchants save time and money as they eliminate costly set up, maintenance, and contractual processes by managing both collections and payouts in the same place.
Outbound Payments provides built-in payment security as merchants can reuse stored bank details from payment collections to reduce manual errors when paying out. In addition, Confirmation of Payee helps to ensure that payouts reach the right recipient by confirming that the payee's name matches the registered bank account details before funds are transferred, helping reduce
the risk of accidental or fraudulent transfers.
For Clay, a fintech that helps tech-enabled businesses launch and fund their own lending programs, the new product will streamline their operations. Andres Castaño, Co-founder & CTO of Clay, said: “As a B2B2C lending platform, Outbound Payments are core to our operations — whether we’re disbursing loan funds to customers or issuing refunds. Our credit operations rely on these flows running smoothly.
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