In a recent interview, Liv Thomson, Enterprise Growth Manager at Xero, delved into the company’s partnership with Allinial Global. She highlighted the benefits for Xero’s customers, particularly small businesses, and explained the driving factors behind choosing Allinial Global as a strategic partner. Thomson also touched upon the partnership’s potential impact on the accounting industry as a whole, emphasizing the increased support and resources it brings to the table.
As the Enterprise Growth Manager at Xero, Liv works closely with accountants and advisors across Canada to empower them with cloud accounting technology. As a Chartered Accountant and Prosci Certified Change Management Practitioner, Liv has over 10 years of experience in driving digital transformation and change within the accounting industry. Liv is passionate about efficiencies and providing small and medium sized businesses with valuable insights that lead to smarter decisions and accelerated growth.
Can you give us an overview of the partnership between Xero and Allinial Global? What are the main objectives of this collaboration?
Xero has partnered with Allinial Global in a three year agreement with the objective of bringing the powerful capabilities of cloud accounting technology to more of its member firms. The partnership enables the Xero team to work closely with Allinial Global to help embrace the benefits of the Xero platform and ecosystem, and manage changes and challenges happening in the industry together. For the member firms who participate in the global partnership, Xero will unlock resources to provide tailored support and will work jointly with Allinial Global to deliver training and educational resources. Our team here in Canada are excited to start working with the six current Allinial member firms coast to coast to help them realize the efficiencies of the cloud, and drive increased value and insights to their small and medium sized business clients.
How do you believe this partnership with Allinial Global will benefit Xero’s customers, particularly small businesses and their advisors?
Small businesses that work with Allinial Global member firms will be able to access the benefits of the Xero platform, including increased efficiencies and access to real time financial information and insights. In addition, they will benefit from the real time collaboration with their advisor.
Having a trusted advisor is pivotal to the success of a small business. Leveraging technology is a force multiplier for advisors as they have more time to build relationships and service their small business clients in a more meaningful way. The power of an advisor goes well beyond accounting, a good advisor instills confidence in a small business owner and the human element is so important.
Allinial Global is known for its extensive network of accounting firms. How do you see this network playing a role in expanding Xero’s reach and influence?
We know we have greater impact when we partner with large associations like Allinial, who have a shared vision to drive value and growth to small to medium sized businesses. With over 250 member firms across the globe, Allinial is committed to growing the most agile, flexible, and client-centric solutions anywhere, and we see cloud technology as a key enabler of this commitment.
What was the driving factor behind choosing Allinial Global as a strategic partner, and how do their core values align with Xero’s mission?
Our mission at Xero is to make life better for small business owners and their advisors. The partnership will create a Xero “community” within Allinial Global, making it easy for members to access information and resources about Xero and share their experiences with others. This will foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing, helping them stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and innovations in technology, particularly in the cloud.
What impact do you expect this partnership to have on the accounting industry as a whole, particularly in the context of digital transformation and the adoption of cloud-based solutions?
The partnership between Allinial Global and Xero will continue to accelerate the transformation of the accounting industry and drive the adoption of cloud based solutions. Our priority is to ensure small business owners have access to cutting edge technology and business advice, and the relationship between Allinial Global members firms and Xero will help us take a step forward in achieving this.
Insights from Adam French, National Director – Canada at Allinial Global
As Allinial Global’s National Director for the Canadian market, Adam serves as a dedicated resource for the association’s Canadian market, with a focus on growing regional membership, maintaining member relations, and introducing valuable Allinial Global products and services to our Canadian members. His ultimate goal is to facilitate the sustainable growth of his Independent Canadian member firms and make them ‘’Future Firm Ready” through collaboration & connectivity, timely resource allocation, and leveraging of global partnerships.
Adam holds a master’s degree in business administration with a focus on international business from the University of Munich of Applied Sciences, as well as a Master of Management with a focus on management from Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia. He also holds a Project Management Professional designation. Skilled in development, stakeholder management, business development, and project management, he focuses on growing the association’s Canadian membership, strengthening relationships among regional peers, and addressing the most pressing membership needs for Canadian member firms.
With experience in global business development projects in Europe, Africa and North America, he is well versed in putting together the teams to execute large scale projects. In his community in British Columbia, Canada, he is looked upon as a resource for Sustainable economic development as Director of the regional Chamber of Commerce and Treasurer of Pacific Centre of Family Services and Community Health Centre.
Can you give us an overview of the partnership between Xero and Allinial Global? What are the main objectives of this collaboration?
For Allinial Global it is a key opportunity to collaborate with a leading industry partner, to better serve our existing and future members in the Canadian community and beyond. Everything we do is under the premise of “Firms of the future”, and our partnership with Xero is another example of how we intend to support our independent members in getting there.
How do you believe this partnership with Allinial Global will benefit Xero’s customers, particularly small businesses and their advisors?
You will see a common theme in my responses. “Collaboration” amongst our Canadian firms is part of our value proposition. Yes we are big, but we are also a thriving close nit community. Allinial Global is the only Association I am aware of that has a dedicated National Director to support our members and their respective clients. This attention to detail and understanding of our Canadian market, allows Allinial Global members and industry partners to serve their respective SME clients with a deeper understanding of their realized and unrealized needs. All of our independent member firms are growing in Canada, their clients are thriving, and so are our key partners.
Allinial Global is known for its extensive network of accounting firms. How do you see this network playing a role in expanding Xero’s reach and influence?
Allinial Global is a global “association” of independent accounting firms that see the value in collaboration. The reach Xero will accomplish in partnership with the #2 Accounting association in the world, is the same connectivity and influence that is our member firm’s reality every day. Whether its leveraging trade agreements to boost cross border commerce opportunities, or firms in different regions collaborating to scale their offering with our real-time connectivity and partnerships, Allinial Global sees Xero’s partnership as another opportunity to showcase why it is a leader in leveraging technology to transform Accounting and Advisory firms. With 261 firms in 105 countries, Allinial global extends its reach to strategic partnerships and our independent firms. The influence is felt.
What was the driving factor behind choosing Allinial Global as a strategic partner, and how do their core values align with Xero’s mission?
Allinial Global is truly a global association, yet regionally specific. Like Xero, we aim to understand and meet firms unique regionally specific needs and address their challenges with viable forward-looking solutions. Xero is one of our solutions, and we are excited!!
What impact do you expect this partnership to have on the accounting industry as a whole, particularly in the context of digital transformation and the adoption of cloud-based solutions?
What do you get when you combine a powerhouse supportive Association and a leader in cloud accounting software solutions that Xero is? Another opportunity for our firms of the future to maintain their competitive advantage with services like Xero that offer scalable, cost effective and easy to use solutions.
