9 must-see sessions at Accountex Summit Manchester 2024

Thousands of accountants, bookkeepers and finance professionals will soon converge on Manchester Central on September 17, 2024 for Accountex Summit Manchester. 

It’ll be an intensive day of networking and getting up-to-speed across accounting tech, trends, and legislative updates. It promises to be an action-packed day, and managing your time effectively may be difficult. 

Below is your guide to the must-see booths, features and seminars on offer.

The best features, booths, and hubs to engage with 

Social Network Hub

Tailored advice from the 15-Minute Guy, Ashley Leeds, on how to attract more clients through LinkedIn. True to his name, he’ll show you how to grow in just 15 minutes a day. 

Content Creation Clinic

Learn how to build an engaged social media following with Rachel Harris, Founder of Accountant_She and Director at striveX Accountants. She’ll share how to create engaging content for a stronger online presence. 

Podcast Pitstop

The Ask the Accountant team will interview an exciting line-up of experts live from the show floor.

Accessibility features and other initiatives

• BSL (British Sign Language) interpreters will be present at every stage for the majority of the seminars, with hearing loops available at all theatres

• A quiet room to decompress away from the show floor, if needed

• Carma has pledged to plant a tree for every attendee at Accountex Summit Manchester 2024

9 must-see sessions at Accountex Manchester 2024

32 seminars is a lot for one day. Here is a curated list of nine exciting sessions to help you overcome decision paralysis.

Turning AML compliance disasters into triumphs

Sophie Maxwell (Firmcheck) and David Winch (MLRO Support) will share real-world stories of AML non-compliance, highlighting common pitfalls and how easily they can be addressed. 

This session will provide you with practical tips and insights, set to empower you to achieve success in your AML compliance efforts.

Current topical tax issues

Catch up with the latest tax developments with Rebecca Benneyworth (Rebecca Benneyworth & Co.). She will present key issues and changes, taking you through practical implications and advice prompts for your clients.

The secrets of a successful bookkeeper 

A panel of exciting bookkeepers, chaired by ICB, will share their practical advice and inspiring insights. 

Helen Bower (Adder Bookkeeping), Lara Manton (LJM Bookkeeping Ltd) and Claire Bartlett (Arden Bookkeeping) will recount their experiences across all aspects of running a practice, including:

• Managing difficult clients

• Pricing

• Software

• Finding new business

It’s an interactive Q&A with an ‘Ask me Anything’ section, so it’s set to be an interesting session.

To niche or not to niche?

This expert panel will explore the world of specialising in a niche market. 

Bev Flanagan (BFF), Matthew Irvine (Optimum Digits Ltd), Christina Eggleton (Next Level Accountancy Ltd) and Sarah Hedley (Brickbooks and Payroll Ltd) will delve into targeted marketing strategies, and the benefits and challenges of focusing on a specific market segment.

This session is a great opportunity to learn how niching can help your practice grow and thrive in a competitive landscape. 

Decoding difficult people: How to avoid expensive mistakes and build great working relationships

Author and executive coach Nick Robinson will draw on his new book, ‘The 9 Types of Difficult People’ and share practical strategies that will avoid costly mistakes and quickly improve workplace relationships and team dynamics.

You’ll learn how to manage difficult people and their behaviours, understand why they’re difficult, and lead with empathy.

The pursuit of global environmental sustainability

Learn how you can transform your firm into a sustainable business with advice from this expert panel.

Gavin Spencer (Beach Accountants Limited), Vicky Ireson (VN Accountancy and Bookkeeping), Mick Seddon (The Green Accountants) and Jim Holland (Carma) will provide their unique angles and experiences so you can understand how to add sustainability to your firm and empower your clients to do the same.

Why accountants are prime targets: Upping your cyber resilience

This session dives into the surge of cyber attacks on accounting firms and how criminals exploit vulnerabilities. Dan Giannasi from North West Cyber Reliance Centre will unveil practical steps every accountant can take to reduce their risk from common cyber threats and build more robust protection for client data security.

The Gen Z approach to innovating your practice

Grace Hardy (Hardy Accounting) started her first practice at 21. Now, she advocates for entrepreneurship and talks about her journey in the hopes of inspiring other young people to start their own businesses. 

In this session, she’ll take you through her journey as an apprentice to CEO and cover some innovative solutions that helped her business grow.

11 years and the 11 barriers to accounting firm success

Join Will Farnell (Farnell Clarke) as he shares 11 years of research by fellow ProNation mentor, Martin Bissett. Through his work with hundreds of firms worldwide, Martin has condensed every accounting and bookkeeping firm challenge into 11 significant barriers. 

Will is set to explore the practical implications of these barriers—plus how to remove them for a clearer road to firm growth and success. 

A day packed with value, information, and opportunities

There will be plenty to do and see at Accountex Summit Manchester. If you get the chance, say hi to the Karbon team at stand J17.