9 articles on The Firm, 1 summit session
A playbook for the owner of a one-person firm deciding on a first hire, from the full cost and break-even to the role, the pay range and the first 90 days. It sets out the employment basics in Australia, the UK and the US as at November 2026, from the Fair Work Ombudsman, ATO, HMRC, The Pensions Regulator, IRS and USCIS.
Jordan Vickery · 9 Nov 2026 · 9 min read
A sceptical explainer on the “AI native” label as vendors and firms use it, and what it would actually mean for a ten-person accounting firm. It separates the real work (process redesign, systems of record, data access) from the marketing, and gives a ten-question self-test and an order of work.
Jordan Vickery · 9 Nov 2026 · 8 min read
A step-by-step playbook for small firms training graduates in a practice where AI drafts much of the routine work. It sets out what juniors do by hand on purpose, how reviewing AI output becomes the training, weekly explain sessions, rotation, a sign-off ladder, how to measure capability, and a 12-month pathway to copy.
Jordan Vickery · 9 Nov 2026 · 9 min read
The first published 2026 benchmark numbers for small and mid-sized accounting firms in the US, Australia and the UK, with what each survey actually measures and who it describes. It then sets out how AI changes the reading of revenue per FTE, utilisation, realisation, wage ratio and lockup in FY26.
Jordan Vickery · 9 Nov 2026 · 8 min read
A first AI hire can mean a person whose work is AI-assisted or an AI assistant deployed into part of a role, and both start with designing the role task by task. This guide covers what to delegate first and never, supervision, who owns the output, and a delegation map to copy.
Jordan Vickery · 9 Nov 2026 · 9 min read
Whether you need a bookkeeping certification depends on the country: Australia makes TPB registration a legal gate for BAS work done for a fee, the UK requires anti-money laundering supervision to run a practice, and the US leaves it voluntary. This guide sets out the main credentials in each, from the Cert IV to AAT, ICB and AIPB, with requirements, study time and published costs as at September 2026.
Jordan Vickery · 27 Sept 2026 · 9 min read
Accrual’s purchase of Puzzle’s firm business rests on the argument that tax and client accounting services live in separate systems and firms rebuild context every time an engagement crosses between them. The crossing cost is real, the trade is that your weakest module becomes your standard, and one count over a single quarter tells you which side of the argument your firm is on.
Jordan Vickery · 4 Sept 2026 · 8 min read
OpenAI’s GPT-6 Astra launch on 3 September 2026 included the model completing a federal tax return in a browser from a W-2. The task it automated is the cheapest part of a compliance engagement, and the useful response is not to cut what you ask for but to find out how much of your work was ever mechanical.
Jordan Vickery · 4 Sept 2026 · 9 min read
The article highlights that the most valuable asset in accounting firms lies in the conversations with clients, not just in financial reports.
Jordan Vickery · 30 Mar 2026 · 5 min read
Trent McLaren Publisher, The Firm 
Nick Ferguson Strategic Group 
Andrew Noble Founder, LodgeiT Labs 
Beau Gaudron Tech Ninja, Growthwise 
Brian Clare Founder, Blueprint Accounting 
Chad Davis Co-founder, LiveCA LLP 
Corey Cacic Founder & Lead Developer, Annature Annature 
Corinne Smith CEO and Founder, Abby How we report, source and correct our work: editorial standards.