Technology Series Archives - humanisethenumbers.online

Episode 160: Amy Spillard and John Toon of HLB

Paul Shrimpling — Mon, 25 May 2026 13:53:00 +0000

In a world where technology, and AI in particular, is becoming ever more dominant, it makes sense to investigate and delve into how the interrelation between the adoption of technology and how it works for your team and for your clients is relevant to you and your firm.
In this podcast with John Toon and Amy Spillard from HLB, the global accounting network, we discussed the importance of understanding that anything to do with innovation around technology becomes a process of leading and managing change.
Amy, John, and I unpack their experiences of working with different fintech companies, and with different technologies, and how they've made it work across HLB and the other firms that they had previously worked for.
If you're interested in working out how to implement better, faster, deeper technology innovation in your firm, check out this podcast with Amy and John from HLB.
Please scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Amy and John 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 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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Episode 145: Miranda Kendall, MD of Spotlight Reporting

Paul Shrimpling — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:00:43 +0000

When your background is in the corporate world and in the world of startups, how do you harness that experience when it comes to trying to sell a product to accountants that you know that they want, while sometimes dealing with resistance from the accountants themselves?
If all of that sounds a curious mix, please join me and Miranda Kendall of Spotlight Reporting on this podcast, where you'll find out the answer to this question and more.
Miranda talks very passionately about why accountants do what they do and how we can harness that to enable better relationships with clients. And she's also got some really good snippets about how to handle team members.
I found Miranda a wonderful guest – very passionate about what she does and also very clear and concise about the importance of being present in conversations, whether it's with a client or with a team member.
Please scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Miranda and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

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Episode 135: Mark Allen, Co founder of the TAG Community

Paul Shrimpling — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:11:56 +0000

If there's a phrase that encapsulates the content of this podcast discussion with Mark Allen, it would be 'applied wisdom'.
We tap into Mark's several decades of working within the profession, first as a board director of PLCs, then transitioning into a practice leader, starting up and successfully selling a three-office firm, and finally moving into working with networks for accountants across the UK.
Mark is a bit of a hero of mine, overcoming serious health challenges to continue to pursue his passion for what you and your firm do – helping your clients succeed, helping your team succeed, helping yourself succeed.
I hope you take time out to dive into the handful of profoundly powerful insights that Mark shares. It was a real pleasure and privilege to invite Mark onto the podcast.
Please scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Mark and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

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Episode 132: Dan Crowther, CEO of Thorne Widgery

Paul Shrimpling — Fri, 16 May 2025 10:34:45 +0000

Chances are that the vast majority of the people in your firm want to do a good job, whatever their role – accounts, bookkeeping, audit, tax or payroll.
They get out of bed every morning to do good work.
But to be successful as an accountancy firm, it's more than just the accountancy services that matter. As valuable as these are, what also matters is the care with which the work is done and the care with which a firm looks after and serves clients.
In this podcast discussion with Dan Crowther from Thorne Widgery, Dan makes an impassioned plea for the privilege that is doing accounts – which is worth listening to in its own right – and he also unpacks a handful of things that we should take seriously if we want a firm that's fit for the future.
Dan also runs a technology business, so he's got an eye on the future of technology as well as an eye on what's right for a firm’s team and, if he had a third eye, it would be on a future that's right for a firm’s clients too.
I heartily recommend you check out this Humanise the Numbers podcast.

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Episode 131: Dan Cockerton, Founder, Digital Accountancy Show

Paul Shrimpling — Fri, 09 May 2025 14:42:02 +0000

It's a unique experience to have someone who is in the digital space in a deep way coming on the podcast to talk about humanising the numbers. Getting Dan Cockerton onto the Humanise the Numbers podcast has been an ambition of mine for the last 12 months or so – and we've finally managed to make it work. And it was a bit of a relief that, when challenged about digital first versus human first, Dan chose human first.
On the podcast, he unpacks and shares his insights of working with the profession, with individual firms, and with his own experience of starting up a new event space, one which had 600 people at the first event and has just had more than 5,000 attendees at the fifth. It shows you what's possible when you put your mind to it.
If you want to get deep and meaningful and personal, Dan shares something very personal within this podcast, something that shows how important goal setting is to the success of an individual and to the success of a business.
I really appreciated Dan being so open and candid about this because it was as human as it gets.

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