Advertise on podcast: Business Without BS

#CarrieJames #Insolvency #HMRC #BusinessWithoutBS #SmallBusiness What actually happens when a business goes bust? And what should you do before it gets that far? It's Halloween on Business Without BS, so we're tackling the thing every business owner is frightened of and almost nobody understands: insolvency. Carrie James is an insolvency partner at Oury Clark. She spends her working life with directors at their hardest moment: rescuing businesses that can be saved, closing the ones that can't, and making sure creditors are treated fairly along the way. In this episode, Carrie joins Andy Oury (The Rebel Accountant) and Jemma Hotta (The Lovely Lawyer) to take the hocus pocus out of insolvency: why HMRC quietly becomes your lender, what a personal guarantee can really cost you, and why the biggest mistake directors make is not making a decision at all. Why it matters: most business failures don't start with one disaster. They start with unpaid PAYE and VAT, a director's loan account nobody's watching, or a personal guarantee signed years ago. The earlier you spot the problem, the more options you have. A conversation with your accountant and your lawyer, without paying for the meeting. Two expert lenses, one business problem, no jargon. 🎯 In this episode, you'll hear: • Why HMRC becomes a "silent lender", and why PAYE and VAT were never your money to trade with • When a company is actually insolvent (it's not always when you think) • What insolvency practitioners really do, and why calling one early can save your business • The options, from a quiet negotiation to CVAs, pre-packs, administration and liquidation • Can a personal guarantee cost you your family home? • The overdrawn director's loan account trap • Pre-packs and phoenixing: rescue or stitch-up? • Time to pay with HMRC, and who gets paid first when a company fails • How sole traders and suppliers can protect themselves when a customer goes bust • Awake at 3am worrying about your business? What to do first thing in the morning • Carrie's scariest appointment, and a Halloween round of Business or Hocus Pocus? ⏱ Chapters 00:00 Cold open 00:14 Welcome and meet Carrie James 03:18 Quickfire questions 08:34 The scariest thing in business 10:16 Why HMRC becomes the "silent lender" 13:39 When is a company actually insolvent? 17:05 Statutory demands, wrongful and fraudulent trading 23:08 What an insolvency practitioner really does 26:20 Your options: negotiation, CVAs, pre-packs and liquidation 33:41 Personal guarantees and the family home 40:10 Overdrawn director's loan accounts 45:51 Administration, pre-packs and phoenixing 53:05 HMRC, time to pay and who gets paid first 1:00:27 When your customer goes bust 1:09:14 Carrie's scariest appointment 1:14:48 Awake at 3am? What to do next 1:19:04 Business or Hocus Pocus? 📌 About our guest Carrie James is an insolvency partner at Oury Clark, working with companies and individuals in financial distress. Her approach: stay calm, look at every option, and don't delay the decision. The sooner directors take advice, the easier the solution. 📌 Meet the hosts Andy Oury is a Chartered Tax Adviser, Chartered Accountant and CEO of Oury Clark. Through The Rebel Accountant, he helps entrepreneurs understand tax, build better businesses and challenge common misconceptions about the economy. Jemma Hotta is a lawyer and co-host of Business Without BS, bringing a legal perspective, sharp questions and a refreshingly practical approach to conversations about business. 🔗 Connect with the hosts: Andy Oury – LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewoury/ Jemma Hotta – LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemma-hotta/ 🔗 Connect with the guest: Carrie James – LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrieannjames/ 🎧 Listen to Business Without BS wherever you get your podcasts: ▶ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/business-without-bs/id1528844106 ▶ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6J1YMncmYCLODOKi8A0CFU ▶ Website https://withoutbs.com 👉 Subscribe for more conversations with the experts you'd normally have to hire. https://www.youtube.com/@bwblondon This is general discussion, not professional advice. If your business is in difficulty, speak to a licensed insolvency practitioner, accountant or solicitor about your own situation. Business Without BS is powered by Oury Clark. Real-world business intelligence. No gurus. No fluff. No BS.

Is AI about to replace accountants, or are we overlooking what makes human expertise so valuable? This week on Business Without BS, Andy Oury and Jemma Hotta are joined by Lucy Cohen, co-founder of Mazuma, the youngest-ever President of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), and a doctoral researcher investigating artificial intelligence in accounting and finance. Lucy started Mazuma at just 23 with £100, a laptop and an idea that challenged the traditional accounting industry. Nearly two decades later, she's questioning another major transformation: the rise of AI. But while businesses rush to automate everything, are we creating a bigger problem? Lucy explores the dangers of AI-generated financial information, what she calls “deep fake accounting”, and why replacing experienced accountants could leave businesses exposed to mistakes they don't even know they're making. The conversation also covers Making Tax Digital, the realities of running a small business, the challenges of changing established systems and why accountants need to demonstrate their value beyond spreadsheets and tax returns. In this episode: Is AI really killing accounting? Why AI-generated numbers could create serious problems for businesses What is “deep fake accounting”? How Lucy built Mazuma with just £100 Making Tax Digital: progress or unnecessary complexity? Why human judgement and experience still matter The future of accountants, entrepreneurs and professional services Business Without BS brings you real-world business intelligence through honest conversations with people who challenge conventional thinking. No gurus. No fluff. No BS. Hosted by Andy Oury and Jemma Hotta. Powered by Oury Clark. Connect with the hosts: Andy Oury: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewoury/ Jemma Hotta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemma-hotta/ 🔗 Connect with the guest: Lucy Cohen – LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucycohen/ Lucy Cohen – Website https://www.lucycohen.uk Watch and follow Business Without BS: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bwblondon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwblondon/ Website: https://withoutbs.com

#UKBudget #BudgetPredictions #Tax #BusinessWithoutBS #TheRebelAccountant What’s actually going to happen in the next Budget, and what’s just noise? In this special episode of Business Without BS, Andy Oury and Jemma Hotta put the rumours, headlines and tax speculation under the microscope and make their predictions for the upcoming Budget. From pensions and capital gains tax to wealth taxes, property, inheritance tax and frozen thresholds, they break down what they think could change, what probably won’t, and the consequences those decisions could have for entrepreneurs, business owners and taxpayers. Think of this as a conversation with your lawyer and your accountant, you just don't have to pay for it.Honest opinions, practical insights and no unnecessary jargon. 🎯 In this special episode, you'll hear: • Why Andy and Jemma think pensions could be targeted • Could Capital Gains Tax increase again? • Will the UK actually introduce a wealth tax? • Why a land value tax keeps entering the conversation • Could stamp duty and council tax ever be replaced? • Why frozen tax thresholds matter more than they might seem • What could happen to dividend taxes and the self-employed • Could inheritance tax be changed again? • Why Andy believes the tax system needs long-term reform rather than constant tinkering 🔮 Their predictions? Andy expects tax thresholds to remain frozen or become less generous, and doesn't expect a wealth tax. Jemma expects further changes around pensions, but doesn't expect stamp duty land tax to disappear. Now the question is: how much will they get right? 📌 About the hosts Andy Oury is a Chartered Tax Adviser, Chartered Accountant and CEO of Oury Clark. Through The Rebel Accountant**, he challenges conventional thinking around tax, entrepreneurship and the economy. Jemma Hotta brings the legal perspective to Business Without BS, cutting through the complexity behind the rules and what they mean in practice. 🎧 Listen to Business Without BS wherever you get your podcasts: ▶ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/business-without-bs/id1528844106 ▶ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6J1YMncmYCLODOKi8A0CFU ▶ Website https://withoutbs.com 👉 Subscribe for more conversations with the experts you'd normally have to hire. https://www.youtube.com/@bwblondon

The UK Budget is coming — but what’s actually likely to change, and what’s just speculation? In this special episode of Business Without BS, Andy Oury and Jemma Hossa break down their predictions for the upcoming UK Budget, looking beyond the headlines at the tax changes that could affect individuals, entrepreneurs and business owners. From pensions and Capital Gains Tax to wealth taxes, property taxes, inheritance tax and frozen thresholds, Andy and Jemma look at the options available to the government, what they think could realistically happen and the potential consequences. Could pensions be targeted? Will Capital Gains Tax rise? Is a UK wealth tax realistic? Could stamp duty eventually disappear? And are frozen tax thresholds already functioning like a tax rise? Think of this as a conversation with your lawyer and your accountant — you just don’t have to pay for it. In this episode: • What could happen to pensions in the next Budget • Capital Gains Tax — could rates rise again? • Why wealth tax remains such a controversial proposal • Stamp duty, council tax and the case for a land value tax • Why frozen tax thresholds matter • Inheritance tax and changing allowances • The impact tax changes could have on entrepreneurs and SMEs • Andy and Jemma make their Budget predictions No political theatre. No unnecessary jargon. Just Business Without BS.

What does it really take to turn an idea into a consumer brand, and convince investors to back you before you've even finished the product? Maya Bedeau is the founder of 'Onest Energy, a natural energy drink created to bring more transparency to a crowded category. Just eight months after launching, 'Onest won Best Sports & Energy Drink at the UK Soft Drinks Awards, competing against established brands with significantly more history and money behind them. Maya joins Andy Oury and Jemma Hotta to talk about what building a physical consumer brand actually looks like behind the scenes - from raising £225,000 in early investment and establishing a valuation before launch, to manufacturing, distribution, marketing and finding the right audience. They also get into the importance of authenticity in founder-led marketing, why your audience needs to see themselves represented in your brand, choosing investors for more than their money, and why listening to too many opinions can sometimes pull a founder away from the original vision. And, of course, Maya faces Business or BS, with takes on first-mover advantage, revenue vs profit, VC investment, Bitcoin and more. Think of this as a conversation with your lawyer and your accountant, you just don't have to pay for it. Honest opinions, practical insights and no unnecessary jargon. In this episode: • Building a consumer brand from scratch • Raising investment before having a finished product • SEIS and early-stage startup funding • How founders value a business before meaningful revenue • Breaking into a crowded drinks market • Finding and understanding your target audience • Authenticity and founder-led marketing • Building in public and putting your team on camera • Choosing the right investors • Why founders shouldn't listen to every opinion • First-mover advantage and competing with established brands • Revenue vs profit • Business or BS About Maya Bedeau Maya Bedeau is the founder of 'Onest Energy, a natural energy drink brand focused on transparency and providing an alternative within the traditional energy-drink category. Before launching 'Onest, Maya spent years working inside another drinks startup, where she gained hands-on experience across marketing and the realities of running a small business. Connect with Maya LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-bedeau-08951a109/ 'Onest Energy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkonest/?hl=en Connect with Business Without BS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bwblondon Website: https://withoutbs.com Connect with Andy Oury LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewoury/

What does it really mean to work for yourself? There are around four million sole traders in the UK, yet they rarely get the same attention as employees, startups or big businesses. No paid holiday. No guaranteed salary. No corporate safety net. You find the work, do the work, chase the invoice — and then do it all again. That's exactly the world this episode explores. This week, Andy Oury and Jemma Hotta are joined by Giulio Miglietta, a multidisciplinary artist, craftsman and long-time sole trader. Giulio's route into business was anything but conventional. He arrived in London with around £200, couch-surfed and occasionally slept at Victoria Coach Station while trying to create a life and career for himself. His goal was deliberately to get uncomfortable, find opportunities and learn how to make things work. That journey eventually took him through graphic design, illustration and lecturing before developing his own multidisciplinary embroidery studio and distinctive creative practice. The conversation gets into the reality behind self-employment: independence, uncertainty, finding clients, building skills, standing out in a crowded creative market and choosing a career where there isn't always a safety net. And because this is Business Without BS, there's also plenty that has absolutely nothing to do with sensible business advice — including why an Italian prefers tea to espresso and whether Giulio needs to find himself a vice. In this episode: • Giulio's journey from Italy to London with just £200 • Couch-surfing, squatting and deliberately choosing discomfort • How struggle helped him develop determination and spot opportunities • Building a career through transferable skills rather than following a traditional path • Going from graphic design and illustration to becoming a sole trader • Why independence is such a big part of self-employment • The reality of having no paid holiday or traditional employee safety net • Whether social media has made it easier or harder for young creatives to build careers • Why standing out matters more than ever • The forgotten role of craftspeople and sole traders in the economy • Tea vs espresso — and Giulio's questionable status as an Italian This episode also ties into The Rebel Accountant's Sole Trader Anthem — a rallying cry for the millions of people working for themselves across the UK. Think of Business Without BS as a conversation with your lawyer and your accountant — you just don't have to pay for it. No unnecessary jargon. No corporate b****t. Just conversations about what running a business is actually like.

Everybody has an opinion on tax havens. But how many people actually understand what they do? This week on Business Without B******t, Andy and Gemma are joined by Tom Dugdale, a lawyer who has led Harneys’ Offshore Funds team in the UK for the last eight years, working across jurisdictions including the BVI, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Jersey and beyond. Together, they get beyond the headlines and ask what tax havens — or international finance centres, are actually for. Are they simply places for the wealthy to hide money? Or are they an important piece of the plumbing behind international business, investment funds and the global economy? They discuss why offshore structures exist, the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion, why “zero tax” doesn’t necessarily mean no tax is ever paid, the role offshore jurisdictions play in investment funds and pensions, and whether tax competition actually puts a useful limit on governments. They also get into the Panama Papers, offshore secrecy and transparency, regulation and anti-money-laundering rules, America’s unusual position in the system, and the surprising history of Britain’s own offshore territories. And there’s a bigger question underneath it all: What would global finance actually look like without tax havens? No slogans. No easy villains. Just a proper look at how the system actually works. 🎙️ Business Without B******t Featuring Tom Dugdale, Andy and Jemma.

The UK has a new Prime Minister. Now come the big questions. In this special episode of Business Without BS, Chartered Tax Adviser Andy Oury and commercial lawyer Jemma Hotta discuss the policies they hope Andy Burnham will prioritise to help Britain become a stronger place to build businesses, attract investment and drive long-term economic growth. Think of this as a conversation with your lawyer and your accountant—you just don't have to pay for it. Honest opinions, practical insights and no political spin. In this episode: How can the UK attract more foreign direct investment? What incentives should Britain offer entrepreneurs? Can Britain compete globally in AI and innovation? Should wealth creation be encouraged or taxed? How can SMEs become the engine of economic growth? What should Andy Burnham's first priorities be? What policies would actually encourage businesses to invest? How can Britain become more competitive internationally? About the guests Andy Oury Andy Oury is a Chartered Tax Adviser, Chartered Accountant and CEO of Oury Clark. Through The Rebel Accountant, he helps entrepreneurs understand tax, build stronger businesses and challenge common misconceptions about the economy. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewoury/ Jemma Hotta Jemma Hotta is a commercial lawyer specialising in corporate law, international business and complex legal structures. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemma-hotta/ Listen to Business Without BS Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/business-without-bs/id1528844106 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6J1YMncmYCLODOKi8A0CFU Website https://withoutbs.com Subscribe for more conversations with the experts you'd normally have to hire.

The focal premise of this podcast episode centers on the pervasive misconceptions surrounding tax havens and their perceived utility for affluent individuals. I elucidate that the notion that wealthy citizens are evading taxes through offshore accounts lacks substantive foundation, as contemporary regulations have significantly curtailed such practices. We explore the historical context of tax havens, tracing their emergence to post-war fiscal policies, and discuss the intricate balance between legal tax optimization and ethical considerations. Furthermore, I emphasize that while there may exist specific scenarios where offshore entities could be beneficial, these instances are exceedingly rare and fraught with complexity. Ultimately, we advocate for a nuanced understanding of taxation, underscoring that the current UK corporate tax framework offers several advantages that should not be overlooked. Takeaways: The common misconception that wealthy individuals exploit tax havens to evade taxes is largely unfounded. Tax havens are not as beneficial for individuals and businesses as public perception suggests. The increasing regulation surrounding offshore accounts has made it exceedingly challenging to utilize tax havens effectively. The UK provides a favorable corporate tax environment, which can serve as an attractive alternative to offshore tax planning. Companies mentioned in this episode: Gary Stevenson Tom Dugdale Jimmy Carr

EP 430 — Investors are betting AI-native businesses will outrun traditional operators by stripping out human overhead. Ben Thompson argues that the real divide in business is now AI-native versus everyone else. Legacy companies are still structured with humans at the centre, while fast moving AI-native firms start with agents and add people only where judgement is required. This episode breaks down how AI-first businesses are built, why investors are pricing SaaS firms like they will not keep up, and what SMEs should actually do as AI shifts employment, recruitment and productivity. It also digs into UK and Australian policy choices that shape hiring. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Build an AI stack that puts agents at the centre of operations • Rethink recruitment workflows using AI screening and interviewing • Spot where employment regulation increases risk for SMEs • Prepare for labour market disruption without panicking about automation • Understand how tax policy influences where founders build companies This episode is for founders and operators who want a grounded, practical view of how AI is reshaping work and where SMEs can still win. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 AI native businesses 02:00 Early work, first jobs 05:00 Building Employment Hero 10:00 Employment complexity and trust 15:00 Unions, awards and compliance 22:00 AI replacing labour 27:00 Building an AI stack 33:00 Recruitment, screening and agents 40:00 Remote work and scaling globally 48:00 Tax, capital gains and policy 55:00 Culture, work and incentives 1:02:00 Business or BS Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - [email protected]

EP 428 — Simon Leadbetter argues that most UK businesses are running on guesswork instead of evidence. Marketing, he says, only works when you start by admitting the customer doesn’t care about you. In this fast, sharp conversation, Simon breaks down why instinct-led decisions misfire and why most firms operate without even basic knowledge of their audience. Andy and Simon cover data, attribution, surveys, brand dilution, influencers, and why most online stats are bots talking to bots. It’s a full tour of how to actually understand a market before spending money on it. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Use research instead of hunches to choose channels • Avoid cognitive bias when deciding who your customer is • Apply the five‑stage ISTAR marketing process • Test ideas cheaply with real UK sampling • Improve your Net Promoter Score and act on detractors Perfect for UK business owners who want marketing that works because it’s grounded in evidence, not noise. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 Customers don’t care about you 02:00 Data vs instinct 05:00 What marketing actually is 09:00 Surveys, sampling and bias 13:00 Property, portals and real behaviour 17:00 The five‑stage ISTAR model 22:00 Channels, talent and capability 27:00 Bots, ad fraud and bad data 32:00 PR, email, social and direct mail 37:00 Brand complexity and consolidation 43:00 Mental availability and sales activation 49:00 Creativity, crazies and guerrilla ideas 55:00 Influencers, niches and trust 1:02:00 The one thing to do this week Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - [email protected]

EP 429 — Two brothers turn British honey into a fast‑growing drinks brand while fighting cheap imports and scaling on a shoestring. Hive Mind Mead Co went from brewing in a garage to landing listings with Selfridges, Co‑op and top restaurants — all while protecting UK beekeeping and battling a drinks industry full of shortcuts. Kit explains the real cost pressures, the rebrand fight, and the constant juggle of production, stock and authenticity. They dig into the practical decisions behind scaling a physical product: pricing under duty pressure, navigating retailers, managing 180 hives, and avoiding the traps that sink early‑stage drinks businesses. No fluff — just the reality of turning a hobby into a viable UK brand. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Price a craft product when duty dwarfs ingredients • Decide when to rebrand and how to manage the pain • Spot BS in food and drink manufacturing • Use small batches as a smart marketing tool • Scale a physical product without wrecking margins Perfect for UK founders building a physical product or anyone curious about growing an authentic drinks brand without losing your soul. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 Starting with too many products 02:30 From geologist and designer to mead makers 06:30 What mead actually is 11:00 Turning a hobby into a business 14:00 The rebrand fight: Y Valley Meadery to Hive Mind 18:00 Retailers, awards and credibility 23:00 Honey sourcing, supply and UK provenance 27:00 Bee health, climate and the rural economy 32:00 Alcohol duty and margins 34:30 Launching honey‑based soft drinks 38:00 Industry shortcuts and authenticity 43:00 Courses, community and brand building 46:00 Business or BS 55:00 Scaling a physical product 57:30 Where to find Hive Mind Mead Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - [email protected]

EP 427 — Preparing UK founders for the shock of needing US GAAP fast when American investors arrive. Most founders only discover the real cost of US GAAP when an investor demands it. Katrina Nacci explains why the pain isn’t the accounting rules, but the sudden need for better systems, documentation and proper consolidation. This episode breaks down the operational gaps that derail UK and European scale‑ups: revenue treatment, data hygiene, legacy systems, multi-entity chaos and how to avoid a six‑month panic. Practical decisions, not theory. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Map when US GAAP is actually triggered • Fix weak processes before an investor audit • Build documentation US auditors expect • Handle multi‑entity, multi‑standard consolidation • Decide when IFRS vs US GAAP matters commercially For founders eyeing US money or expansion, this episode helps you avoid an avoidable mess. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 The hidden problem behind “we need US GAAP” 1:00 When US GAAP is actually triggered 4:00 Why statutory audits don’t prepare you 8:00 Revenue recognition and documentation gaps 12:00 What US auditors expect 16:00 How conversions really work inside a group 20:00 Systems, ERPs and multi‑GAAP reality 24:00 Cost, timelines and team size 28:00 IFRS vs US GAAP in practice 33:00 Cultural realities of US expansion 38:00 Preparing early and avoiding traps 45:00 War stories and common pitfalls Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - [email protected]

EP [number] — Kevin Gaskell argues that clarity, accountability and attitude drive real organisational performance — not slogans or bureaucracy. Kevin Gaskell explains why most struggling companies aren’t failing on product or market, but on leadership clarity. He argues that teams follow certainty, not noise — and that avoiding the ‘difficult bits’ is what actually sinks performance. He breaks down how small teams outperform bigger rivals, why culture beats clever strategy decks, and the practical routines leaders can use to remove noise, raise standards and get their team moving in the same direction. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Build leadership clarity that teams actually follow • Diagnose dissonance in a senior team • Create accountability without fear • Remove noise from daily operations • Make difficult decisions faster This episode is for UK founders and leaders who want to run a sharper, calmer, better‑aligned organisation. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 Opening: why leaders fail 1:06 Extreme rowing and mental endurance 8:29 Resetting the mind through extreme challenges 10:02 Entrepreneurial intensity and burnout avoidance 10:42 Why companies really fail 14:32 Brand experience and operational clarity 15:40 Leadership dissonance and team alignment 18:02 Fixing culture through shared experience 20:22 Building visible plans and priorities 22:03 Respect, accountability and people management 26:20 Creating inspiration, not motivation theatre 30:59 Turning around a failing manufacturing business 38:34 Hard work, standards and UK working culture 44:19 What leaders should do this week 55:54 Business or B******t game Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - [email protected]

EP 427 — Richard Francis argues that accountants who embrace advisory and human connection will outlast any AI wave. Richard Francis lays out why advisory-led accounting beats compliance-heavy firms and why AI won't replace human judgement. He explains how accountants can create more value by asking better questions, choosing the right clients, and focusing on the future rather than the past. He breaks down advisory models, client selection, forecasting, global scaling, and how to build tools that support better decisions without drowning in spreadsheets. The discussion includes AI’s real role in accounting and why trust and context remain the moat. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Build an advisory-led accounting model that clients stay for • Decide which clients to drop to free capacity • Use forecasting to steer SMEs toward better decisions • Blend AI tools with human judgement safely • Structure a global business without losing your sanity For UK business owners and accountants who want practical thinking on advisory, client strategy and staying competitive in an AI-heavy world. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 AI vs human advisors 3:40 Richard’s early accounting career 9:40 Moving from compliance to advisory 15:20 Asking better questions 20:10 Building Spotlight Reporting 28:00 Advisory, tools and AI 35:00 The future of accountants 43:40 Client selection and the Dirty Dozen 50:20 Succession, exits and scale 57:00 Global teams and travel reality 1:04:00 Why advisory will survive AI 1:11:00 Quickfire: Business or BS? Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - [email protected]