Introduction

What's happened

Why it matters

What to do next

Resources and links

Across Australia and New Zealand, smaller accounting firms are navigating ongoing talent pressure, changing client expectations and the accelerating impact of AI, automation and digital tools. 

In this episode of Small Firm, Big Impact Express, Karen Meredith, Co-founder of PeopleEX, explores the HR runway and why firms need to look beyond immediate resourcing issues.  

Karen explains how smaller practices can plan for the next 12 to 24 months, rethink role design, build capability and use technology to support higher-value client work. 

You’ll hear practical prompts to help your firm step back, assess the skills and structure it needs for the future, and build a more resilient team. It’s about creating enough runway now so your people, processes and technology can adapt with more confidence as the profession continues to change. 

Resources and further reading: 
Learn more about PeopleEX 
Visit the Smaller Practices Centre for general practical tools and guidance 
Build capacity in your practice with the Creating Capacity webinar series [Australia] | [New Zealand]
Listen to us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts 

Across Australia and New Zealand, smaller accounting firms are navigating ongoing talent pressure, changing client expectations and the accelerating impact of AI,&nbsp;automation&nbsp;and digital tools.&nbsp;
In this episode of&nbsp;Small Firm, Big Impact Express, Karen Meredith, Co-founder of&nbsp;PeopleEX, explores the HR runway and why firms need to look beyond immediate resourcing issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Karen explains how smaller practices can plan for the next 12 to 24 months, rethink role design, build capability and use technology to support higher-value client work.&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ll&nbsp;hear practical prompts to help your firm step back, assess the skills and structure it needs for the future, and build a more resilient team.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s&nbsp;about creating enough runway now so your people, processes and technology can adapt with more confidence as the profession continues to change.&nbsp;
Resources and further reading:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://caanz.s.gy/jxe09G">PeopleEX</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><a href="https://caanz.s.gy/jxe09G">Visit the Smaller Practices Centre for general practical tools and guidance</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Build capacity in your practice with the Creating Capacity webinar series [<a href="https://caanz.s.gy/6Ew6zv">Australia</a>] | [<a href="https://caanz.s.gy/R5OLQ5">New Zealand]</a></li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Listen to us on <a href="https://caanz.s.gy/zmbeIC">Spotify</a> or <a href="https://caanz.s.gy/JkWgAl">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Need regular small practice updates on the go? Small Firm, Big Impact Express (SFBI Express) delivers essential insights for Chartered Accountants in just 5 minutes. ​ 

Each episode, we bring you the best minds across the accounting industry to share critical regulatory changes, compliance updates and emerging trends that impact you.​  

Whether you are commuting, taking a coffee break, or between client meetings, SFBI Express helps you stay up to date. Listen to find out what’s changed, why it matters, and what you need to do next. 

If you’re looking for deeper conversations and bigger-picture thinking, explore our long-form podcast, Small Firm, Big Impact, where we unpack the ideas and issues influencing the future of smaller practices. 

Need regular small practice updates on the go? Small Firm, Big Impact Express&nbsp;(SFBI Express)&nbsp;delivers essential insights for&nbsp;Chartered&nbsp;Accountants in just 5 minutes.&nbsp;​&nbsp;
Each episode, we bring you the best minds across the accounting industry to share critical regulatory changes, compliance updates and emerging trends that&nbsp;impact&nbsp;you.​&nbsp;&nbsp;
Whether you are commuting, taking a coffee break,&nbsp;or&nbsp;between client meetings, SFBI&nbsp;Express&nbsp;helps you stay up to date. Listen to find out&nbsp;what&rsquo;s&nbsp;changed, why it matters,&nbsp;and what you need to do next.&nbsp;
If&nbsp;you&rsquo;re&nbsp;looking for deeper conversations and bigger-picture thinking, explore our long-form podcast,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/news-and-analysis/news/podcasts/small-firm-big-impact">Small Firm, Big Impact,</a>&nbsp;where we unpack the ideas and issues influencing the future of smaller practices.&nbsp;