Humanise The Numbers Archives - humanisethenumbers.online

Episode 159: Georgi Rollings, Founder and co-CEO at Starfish Accounting

Paul Shrimpling — Tue, 05 May 2026 12:21:47 +0000

No doubt you want to feel a sense of pride about the way you and your team work – a sense of satisfaction that the work you do generates the results you want financially for the firm and for yourself, as well as delivering brilliantly for your clients.
What's clear in this podcast discussion with Georgi Rollings of Starfish Accounting is Georgi's pride in the firm she and her co-owner have created – but there’s also sense of humility around how there's more to learn going forward.
When you achieve fees per FTE that Georgi and the team have managed there – which are healthy, but with room improvement, for sure – you can see that there's a commercial, practical edge to what Georgi and her team are doing.
And you can see the humanity around how she and the team make it work so that they feel a sense of pride, they feel it's an enjoyable place to work – and it delivers the results.

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Episode 158: Dominic Ashley-Timms, Line Management Capability Expert, Author, Speaker and CEO

Paul Shrimpling — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:24:33 +0000

One of the most influential and, I think, most important books I've read in recent times is The Answer is the Question, by Dominic Ashley-Timms. It’s important because it lays out a clear pathway to transforming the quality of conversations across your team.
Arguably, it influences how you're going to raise the bar in terms of the conversations with your clients as well.
If you listen in to this podcast discussion with Dominic, you're likely to walk away with insights and ideas that could save you and everyone who is in a management role in your firm a time saving of somewhere between 20% and 40%, which is, by the way, what Dominic suggests is more than likely.
So, please listen to this podcast and scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Dominic and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

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Episode 157: Neil Campbell of Pure Path Advisory

Paul Shrimpling — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:49:30 +0000

I suspect that every one of your business clients seeks to work with you and your firm because you bring a dose of good business sense to everything you do with them.
Yes, there's accounts. Yes, there's tax. Yes, there’s audit and other accountancy services that you provide but, ultimately, their reason for working with you is connected with more than just the services.
It's connected with the way you help them feel that they've got a better, safer future – for themselves and their business, their families, their team, and their clients. In my discussion with Neil Campbell about sustainability, I was able to see, all of a sudden, how important that subject is, because it makes good business sense.
If you want one or two very simple, very practical frameworks around which to form a sustainability conversation with every one of your clients, a conversation that's got a practical edge to it, that raises the bar in the way they trust you, then seek out this podcast with Neil Campbell. Please scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Neil and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

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Episode 156: Martin Wardle of TH Ward

Paul Shrimpling — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:34:53 +0000

What persuaded Martin Wardle to give up a partnership in one of the fastest growing firms in the Northeast to start his own business, not in general accountancy, but as a specialist tax boutique focusing only on tax returns.
What were the triggers for that event happening?
In the course of this podcast with Martin Wardle of TH WARD, we cover a lot of ground, including the pace of technology and where Martin sees the future of accountancy going. He also tells some great stories about the significant impacts he's had on clients that he's worked with over the years, and he shares a lot about what he's learned, both about himself and about the profession.
This is one not to miss. Please scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Martin and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

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Episode 155: Derek Granger of Aris Growth

Paul Shrimpling — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Given the current pace of technology, how can you know how it will impact your firm?
Well, you obviously can't know for sure, but isn't it good to get an insider's viewpoint on how technology will change things?
In this podcast with Derek Granger of Aris Growth, Derek talks about where he works and how he sees the changes coming through into today’s firms, changes that will have a significant impact, not only on recruitment and training, but also on fundamental work practices.
To hear more about technology and to listen in to a wide-ranging conversation where we discussed private equity and the importance of soft skills in accountancy, listen to this podcast and please scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Derek and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

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Episode 154: Luke Farren of The Modern Firm

Paul Shrimpling — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:25:37 +0000

When we discuss technology in relation to accounting, it seems that there has been a rapid pace of change with technology for years now, and it's only accelerating. And with the advancements in artificial intelligence, perhaps the speed of change will accelerate even more.
When I interviewed Luke Farren of The Modern Firm recently on the podcast, I felt that Luke's comments about why accounting needs shaking up are certainly worth a listen.
To hear more, join me and Luke and please scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Luke and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

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Episode 153: Gareth Burton, Chief Impact Officer at Progress Accountants and Auditor at Assure UK

Paul Shrimpling — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 06:31:00 +0000

When someone with an engineering background moves into accountancy, what skills do they bring along with them?
What struck me in this podcast with Gareth Burton of Assure UK was Gareth's curiosity about the way that accountancy is carried out and the potential improvements to processes that can happen across virtually every part of our business. Gareth has got that down to a tee.
To listen to more of that and to further useful insights about how and why Gareth set up his firm in the first place, join us and please scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Gareth and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast

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Episode 152: Phil Hobden of Sage

Paul Shrimpling — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:12:33 +0000

How do you ensure that you are continually delivering value to clients, so that they never question the fees that you charge, especially in this volatile, uncertain world in which we're living?
In this podcast with Phil Hobden of Sage, Phil and I cover several topics that are very relevant to the profession today, including: how do we deliver value?
Phil shares some great insights into his nine years working with accountants in a tech space, and also how he's developed a real understanding of accountants and their motivations and capabilities.
And we have a really interesting chat around how accountants explain what they do to clients.
So, please tune in and scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Phil and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

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Episode 151: Paul Miller of Cornish Accounting Solutions

Paul Shrimpling — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 12:27:59 +0000

As an accountant, do you think of yourself first and foremost as a storyteller? Probably not. And I've not met many who do.
But in this podcast episode with Paul Miller of Cornish Accounting Solutions, that's exactly what I found. Paul genuinely thinks of himself first and foremost as a storyteller.
The reasons for that will become apparent during the podcast, and that's why I highly recommend it to you. In a wide-ranging discussion, Paul and I talk through the importance of client selection, as well as how a scare with meningitis affected Paul’s outlook, not just on his firm, but on life in general.
And you'll certainly want to dive into what's on Paul's ‘sacred cow’ and ‘magic wand’ lists.

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Episode 150: Jonathan Gaunt of FD Works

Paul Shrimpling — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 09:36:40 +0000

Occasionally, you have the privilege of having a deep conversation with someone who's well-versed in the profession, has worked in industry, has set up multiple businesses, who runs his own accountancy practice and, at the same time, is doing everything he can to influence the success of the profession.
That's the discussion that I dived into with Jonathan Gaunt from FD Works. He set up Xavier, which was sold to Dext and became Dext Precision, and then set up Socket.
In this conversation with Jonathan, we struggled to get to the numbers part of Humanise the Numbers and talked quite a bit about some very specific small things that have big results in enabling you to build your culture the way you want to build it – the working environment that you can be proud of, enjoy, and which delivers real financial success as well.
Scroll down the podcast’s episode page for Jonathan’s contact information and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

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