Redefining What's Possible

Redefining what's possible

A Small Firm’s Seat at the Table with Syft and Xero

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been selected as part of the testing group for Syft, recently acquired by Xero — joining a network of early adopters helping shape the path forward before Syft becomes fully integrated into the Xero platform.

It’s an opportunity that’s both exciting and a little unexpected.

Because let’s be honest, these kinds of invitations don’t usually go to small firms working outside the city grid. There’s this quiet assumption that innovation belongs to the big firms, the flashy firms, the ones with teams of specialists and big marketing budgets. But I’m here to say small firms aren’t small thinkers.

When Xero reached out, I said yes! Not just for myself, but for the clients I serve.

Syft is a powerful financial reporting and analytics platform that transforms raw data into clear, compelling business insights. Now, backed by Xero, it's on track to become one of the most valuable tools in a cloud accountant’s toolkit.

And because I get early access, my clients do too. That means deeper reporting, smarter forecasting, and clearer conversations delivered in a way that makes sense for real businesses run by real people.

Let me give you a couple of examples.

First, there’s the mechanical workshop. A sole trader with three employees, flat-out busy servicing everything from utes to harvesters. Brilliant with engines, not so keen on spreadsheets and we won't mention his paperwork. Using Syft’s visual dashboards, we were able to track service categories, spot seasonal revenue dips, and highlight rising costs in consumables. Suddenly, the numbers weren’t a stress. They were a tool. He told me, “I actually feel like I’m ahead of things for once.”

Then there’s the brickies in a partnership. Two guys, one on the tools, the other juggling invoices between job sites. They mostly subcontract to new house builders, so cash flow can be lumpy and timelines unpredictable. With Syft, we built a custom report that projected their pipeline alongside actuals, which helped them renegotiate supplier terms and prep for quieter months. It wasn’t about ‘just knowing the numbers’. It was about using them to make decisions with confidence.

That’s the kind of shift this opportunity brings.

Being part of the Syft/Xero journey at this early stage means I can advocate for the kind of tools small firms and small businesses actually need. Not in theory. In practice.

Because even if you’re not in the big end of town, your goals are still big. Your clients are still ambitious. And your seat at the table? You earned it.

Small firm. Big vision. Proud to be part of what’s next.

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