Xero Australia Awards – back and bigger than ever!

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The Xero Awards 2019 are about recognising and celebrating the success of Australia’s diverse partner firms, apps, and (a newly included category) small businesses. It celebrates those who are doing extraordinary things in the life of their businesses.

This year’s awards are based on the efforts and performance of a company, rather than an individual. And while excelling at business performance is important, at Xero, we also value and believe in workplace cultures and practices that make day-to-day activities meaningful and purposeful.

So this year, we introduced external judging and some core criteria. We also introduced new awards, to recognise those who are doing big things in the areas of innovation and in the community.

To celebrate, the winners gathered in Melbourne in late November to receive their award and participate in a two-day workshop which included behind-the-scenes experiences at Xero. This workshop kicked-off with an ask-me-anything session with Xero MD, Trent Innes, and the room full of business leaders together discussed the current business landscape, the future economy, and the opportunities that lie ahead.

The second day centred on an opportunity to give back and make an impact in our wider community. Xero invited a local for-purpose organisation, Very Special Kids to come onsite. VSK cares for children with life-threatening conditions by providing a children’s hospice and professional family support services. The Xero award winners were briefed by VSK on the current challenges facing their organisation, and then split into groups to brainstorm and prepare a fundraising pitch ready for presenting to a judging panel. This initiative, which was akin to Dragons Den or The Apprentice, was high pressure, competitive, and for an amazing cause. The innovative ideas and thinking demonstrated by the groups was testament to why they’re award winners.

And the winners are…

Here are the winners of this year’s awards.

Perks – Accounting Partner of the Year

Perks believe that at heart, every business owner is an explorer seeking a promised land of independence and prosperity. Their goal is to guide business owners there. As one of Australia’s largest privately owned accounting and wealth advisory firms, their comprehensive range of services provides their client with continuity of advice.

Bean Ninjas – Bookkeeping Partner of the Year

Bean Ninjas is a bookkeeping and education business. Their mission is to create freedom for entrepreneurs through stress-free business finances. They are a 100% Xero firm and have clients in Australia, Hong Kong, the US and the UK. They believe in people over profit and in educating their clients in financial literacy.

RSM – Enterprise Partner of the Year

As the world’s sixth largest audit, tax and consulting network, RSM helps guide clients through business challenges, both locally and seamlessly across borders. RSM also offers a wide range of specialist international services, such as wealth management, IT strategy and advice, consulting, legal and risk advisory, forensic accounting, human resource consulting, and global compliance reporting.

5ways Group – Cloud Champion of the Year

5ways Group, which was founded by Paul Meissner, was one of the first 100% cloud accounting firms. Paul’s passion is for supporting SMEs and streamlining processes using technology. Paul is also using his more than 20 years as a practicing accountant to champion working in the cloud all around the world through online mentoring and his entertaining podcast.

Cutcher & Neale – Innovative Partner of the Year

For over 65 years, Cutcher & Neale have been at the forefront of innovation in accounting, from owning the first computer in the region to becoming a purely cloud-based accounting firm in 2019. With 130 staff across three locations, they serve their clients with unparalleled dedication, innovation and integrity.

Health and Life – Community Partner of the Year

Chartered accounting firm Heath and Life provides advisory, tax and accounting services to the healthcare industry. Helping create a sustainable and socially responsible healthcare system, they’ve been providing advice on practice set-up, restructuring, and near-real-time industry average GPS analytics, as well as writing unique service fee software, for more than 25 years.

BGL Corporate Solutions – Practice App of the Year

With over 30 years experience, BGL delivers cloud-based corporate compliance management and SMSF administration software solutions to over 8,000 people in 15 countries. It’s all done through a user-friendly and highly intelligent web application which combines a superb user experience with powerful technology and compliance features. It simplifies SMSF work, streamlines corporate compliance management processes and boosts businesses productivity, profitability and growth.

Unleashed – Small Business App of the Year

Founded in 2009, Unleashed Software is a global software-as-a-service (SaaS) company headquartered in New Zealand. It provides businesses with supply, production, inventory and sales software giving them the freedom to better make, manage, and move their products. Since its inception, Unleashed has grown to support thousands of organisations in over 80 countries.

DiviPay – Emerging App of the Year

Say goodbye to expense admin, reimbursements and card sharing with DiviPay’s virtual corporate Mastercard and expense management platform. Instantly issue virtual corporate cards to your team while staying in control of company spending by setting transaction rules. Payment data is instantly categorised and pushed directly in your Xero account.

Jane Simpson Brows – Small Business of the Year

Jane helps those with thin or no eyebrows to feel brow beautiful again. She uses microblading techniques to create natural, subtly styled brows. Microblading is a semi-permanent technique that uses a small handheld tool with a very fine blade. This deposits pigment into the skin that look exactly like hair strokes.

Unstoppable eCommerce – Emerging Small Business of the Year

Unstoppable help ecommerce entrepreneurs sell more on their online store. They do this through online training programs, consulting and done-for-you Facebook ad management.