We are excited to share key insights from our CEO, Jeanne Hardy, who recently joined David Bergstein on Botkeeper’s “On the Edge” series. Jeanne and David had a thought-provoking discussion about the future of accounting, the role of technology, and how Levvy’s work management software is making work easier and less stressful. Jeanne, who also leads Creative Business Inc., a business advisory firm, brought her unique perspective to the conversation.
Jeanne’s journey from the arts to entrepreneurship has given her a unique perspective on the accounting industry. She emphasized the evolving role of accountants, highlighting the shift from traditional number-crunching to proactive advisory roles:
“The future of accounting has a lot more to do with the relationship with the clients and the value that you’re bringing to them, almost on a daily basis.”
Jeanne elaborated on how her background in the arts influenced her approach to accounting. Managing finances for well-known artists during a booming art market sparked her passion for helping creative entrepreneurs and other business leaders navigate their day-to-day and long-term challenges alike. This experience showed her the importance of understanding clients’ unique goals and providing tailored advice and services, which is at the heart of Levvy’s philosophy.
At Levvy, we believe in leveraging technology to empower accounting teams to become trusted advisors for their clients. Automating routine tasks is just one example of how we achieve this, freeing up teams’ time for more strategic client work.
Jeanne also discussed how technology, particularly AI, is revolutionizing the accounting industry by enhancing efficiency and reducing errors:
“The emergence of AI as a daily tool that you could use is kind of mind-blowing. It removes some of the stress around errors and makes businesses work a lot better.”
She explained how integrating new technologies into daily workflows can improve accuracy and reduce the stress of managing data across multiple systems. Technologies like AI help reduce errors and streamline processes, making businesses more efficient and allowing accountants to focus on higher-value tasks.
A highlight of the conversation was the development of Levvy, our next-generation work management software. Jeanne explained that a primary reason it was created was to address complex workflows, improve collaboration, and reduce employee burnout:
“Levvy organizes all of the client information, all of the knowledge, all of the tools like BotKeeper, putting them all together on a per-client basis. It helps reduce context switching and stress.”
Jeanne shared a story about an employee who was overwhelmed by the complexity of managing multiple clients and systems. This scenario was common, and it, along with other factors, inspired the development of Levvy. By centralizing client information and integrating various tools, Levvy simplifies workflows, making it easier for team members to collaborate, reduce stress, and improve work-life balance.
Jeanne also shared insights on the changing expectations of younger professionals entering the accounting field. Today’s workforce values learning opportunities, a sense of purpose, strong company culture, and active participation in decision-making:
“Young people want to feel like they’re bringing something to the firm. They want to be part of the decision-making process and build initiatives.”
Jeanne discussed how Creative Business Inc. fosters a collaborative and engaging work environment through practices like weekly presentations and team goals discussions. These practices encourage knowledge sharing and personal growth, which are crucial for improving employee engagement. She emphasized the need for companies and human resource professionals to rethink their approach to hiring and employee development to attract and retain top talent.
Jeanne and David’s insights from the “On the Edge” series give us a clear vision of the future of accounting and the important role of technology. Jeanne highlighted how Levvy’s innovative approach to work management tackles current challenges and sets a new standard for efficiency and employee satisfaction. As Jeanne aptly put it:
“Let’s bring all this great technology together in an organized way that makes it easy for people to keep using it.”
To dive deeper into this engaging conversation, watch the full episode on Botkeeper’s YouTube channel:
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