Ambitious Accountants Podcast

Hosted by Sumith Dissanayake

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Latest episode

Aug 2025

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EN-AU

About the show

Welcome to Ambitious Accountants — the podcast for forward-thinking accountants shaping the future of the profession in Aotearoa. Each episode dives into the real stories of New Zealand accountants who’ve carved their own path, tackled challenges head-on, and built practices that reflect their values and ambition. Join us as we explore the work they’re doing, the lessons they’ve learned, and the trends they’re watching — from advisory growth to tech adoption and everything in between.

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41 recent

August 29, 2025Episode 1122 min

Taking Leaps of Faith: Adventures in Business with Alison Blanchett-Sax

What do camel riding in Jordan and running an accounting practice have in common? More than you'd think, according to Alison Blanchett-Sax from Smart Business Centre in Nelson.In this chat with Sumith Dissanayake, Alison reveals how her adventurous spirit – from standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon to navigating desert landscapes – mirrors her approach to helping small business owners take those crucial leaps of faith. "If you don't try, you don't know," she says, and it's this philosophy that drives her work with passionate entrepreneurs.Alison doesn't fit the typical accountant mould. She believes in understanding her clients' cultural backgrounds, passions, and dreams before crunching any numbers. Her multicultural team brings diverse perspectives to serve Nelson's varied business community, and she's adamant that authenticity beats standardised packages every time.The conversation touches on how AI will reshape accounting (spoiler: it won't replace the human touch), why she pays her staff hourly rather than salaries, and her ongoing quest for work-life balance – though she admits she hasn't quite nailed that one yet.From humble beginnings with just a printer and computer, Alison has built a practice that prioritises bespoke advice over cookie-cutter solutions. Her next adventure? Vegas and another crack at the Grand Canyon – this time with her husband in tow.Got something to say about the future of accounting in NZ? Let’s chat — you could be our next guest. Email - Sumith@brisca.co.nz

August 23, 2025Episode 1030 min

From Navy Diver to Crypto Tax Specialist: Tim Doyle's Unconventional Path

In this episode of the Ambitious Accountants Podcast, host Sumith Dissanayake sits down with Tim Doyle, Director of Doyle Accountants in Cambridge, New Zealand. Tim shares his unconventional path from leaving school at 17 to join the Navy, through to building a successful accounting practice. He talks about the discipline and life lessons the Navy taught him, his realisation about business and money while working in a shoe shop, and his adventures scuba diving in Thailand and working in London. Tim discusses the challenges of leaving a business partnership, his approach to capacity planning and recruitment, and how he's carved out a profitable niche in cryptocurrency tax advice. He also explores the future of accounting with AI, why compliance work still matters, and shares his philosophy on work-life balance - including how he managed to fit in 36 holes of golf in one week. Tim wraps up with practical advice for young accountants looking to build experience and navigate an industry in transformation.Got something to say about the future of accounting in NZ? Let’s chat — you could be our next guest. Email - Sumith@brisca.co.nz

July 26, 2025Episode 828 min

From Dairy Farming to Accounting: Matt Hipp's No-Bullshit Approach to Advisory Work

Matt Hipp's story isn't your typical accountant origin tale. The Director at Hipp Accounting in Hastings went from 4am cow milking in Taranaki to telling potential clients "if you just want your tax return done and forgotten about for 12 months, we're probably not the right fit."In this episode, Matt gets real about how he negotiated partnership with his mum (instead of just working for her), why he reckons work-life balance is complete rubbish, and his take on advisory work: "It's not about having all the answers - it's about helping clients find theirs."He's not shy about sharing how he flipped a 100% compliance practice, why he turns clients away who won't engage properly, and his thoughts on AI being the accounting world's "tractor moment." Plus, practical advice for accountants wanting to ditch the boring stuff and actually make a difference.No corporate fluff. Just someone who figured out how to do accounting differently and isn't precious about the details.Got something to say about the future of accounting in NZ? Let’s chat — you could be our next guest. Email - Sumith@brisca.co.nz

July 25, 2025Episode 923 min

Embracing Risks and Building a Lifestyle Accountancy Firm with Lisa Gottlieb

Host Sumith talks with Lisa Gotlieb, Director at Jam Accounting in Auckland, about her path from EY to running her own firm.Lisa covers her time in France and Hong Kong, leaving stable employment at EY for contract work, and finding her niche with expat accounting. She talks about taking calculated risks, working with clients who want proper advisory services, and using tech to get more done.The conversation touches on collaborative partnerships, building a business around your lifestyle, and Lisa's work promoting New Zealand Sign Language through her sister's project.Practical insights for accountants looking to move beyond compliance into advisory work.Topics covered: • Leaving EY for contract work in Hong Kong • Building Jam Accounting back in Auckland • Finding the right clients for advisory services • Using AI and automation effectively • Collaborative partnerships vs traditional hiring • Work-life balance in practice • Supporting New Zealand Sign LanguageGot something to say about the future of accounting in NZ? Let’s chat — you could be our next guest. Email - Sumith@brisca.co.nz

July 18, 2025Episode 730 min

From Five-Year-Old's Dream to Practice Owner: Patrick Leong's Journey to Advisory Excellence

This week, Sumith sits down with Patrick Leong, director of Mondo Advisory in New Plymouth, who's got one of the most unusual origin stories we've heard – he knew he wanted to be an accountant when he was just five years old! Patrick takes us through his career journey from Audit New Zealand to Deloitte, then into senior corporate roles before making the leap to practice ownership. What drove him? The classic accountant's dilemma: wanting that elusive work-life balance while building something meaningful. Patrick's refreshingly honest about the realities of buying an existing practice, the massive undertaking of client transitions, and how he's transformed a compliance-heavy firm into a modern advisory powerhouse. He shares his philosophy on hiring for personality over technical skills, his systematic approach to client selection, and why he thinks the future belongs to accountants who can do more than just crunch numbers. If you're thinking about starting your own practice or wondering how to evolve beyond compliance work, this one's packed with practical insights.Got something to say about the future of accounting in NZ? Let’s chat — you could be our next guest. Email - Sumith@brisca.co.nz

July 12, 2025Episode 632 min

Navigating a Non-Traditional Path: From Army Dreams to Accounting Success with Tommy Liu

In this episode of Ambitious Accountants, host Sumith Dissanayake chats with Tommy Liu, Managing Director of Tommy & Co in Auckland. Tommy's story is mental - son of a Taiwanese army general who ended up in accounting because his grades weren't good enough for medicine, English was his second language for law, and engineering didn't work out. Classic Asian family expectations!Tommy talks about growing up barely seeing his dad (army camps and tanks as a kid though), how Māori values shaped his business approach in New Zealand, and his game-changing "six spokes of life" philosophy. He's cracked the code on work-life balance after being 20 kilos heavier and pre-diabetic during his corporate days.The conversation covers his HEART framework for choosing clients, why relationships are more valuable than money, and how AI is changing accounting without killing the human connection. Plus solid advice for anyone thinking about starting their own practice - patience, ethics, and don't be naive about buying existing firms.Real talk about building sustainable business while actually having a life.Got something to say about the future of accounting in NZ? Let’s chat — you could be our next guest. Email - Sumith@brisca.co.nz

July 4, 202527 min

From Baker to AI Pioneer: How Jason Lougher is Revolutionising Accounting Practice

In this episode of the Ambitious Accountants Podcast, Sumith Dissanayake chats with Jason Lougher, director of Calc Business Advisory and co-founder of Numera AI. Jason shares his journey from small-town baker to accounting firm owner and AI innovator after a wrist injury changed his career path. The conversation explores how process automation differs from AI and can transform accounting practices right now. They discuss Jason's approach to genuine work-life balance in his firm, tackling the industry's burnout crisis, and how automation can eliminate the mundane admin tasks that bog down accountants. Jason explains how his team uses AI tools to deliver better advisory services at scale, empowering junior staff to handle major clients independently. The episode highlights practical solutions for reducing administrative burden while improving client relationships and staff satisfaction in the accounting sector.Got something to say about the future of accounting in NZ? Let’s chat — you could be our next guest. Email - Sumith@brisca.co.nz

June 27, 2025Episode 3127 min

Navigating the US Tax Landscape from New Zealand: Insights with David Tzimenakis

In this episode of the Ambitious Accountants Podcast, host Sumith speaks with David Tzimenakis, a specialist US tax consultant and Director at the US Tax Team in New Zealand. David shares his journey from working at a UK bank during the introduction of FATCA legislation to establishing his own tax consultancy firm in New Zealand. The discussion covers various aspects of US tax consultancy, including pre-migration advice, challenges in recruitment, importance of automation, and strategies for managing rapid business growth. David also emphasises the value of creating educational content to better prepare clients and offers advice to young accountants on finding their niche in the industry.Got something to say about the future of accounting in NZ? Let’s chat — you could be our next guest. Email - Sumith@brisca.co.nz

June 13, 2025Episode 3133 min

An Interview with Ric Thorpe:Sidekick Chartered Accountants

What happens when a sales and marketing expert who "couldn't even do a GST return" becomes CEO of a 60-person accounting firm?Sumith chats with Ric Thorpe, Group CEO of Sidekick Chartered Accountants, about scaling an accounting practice from a completely different angle.Key insights:Why "success isn't just being the best - success is just doing it" (lessons from ultramarathons)Using RPA to save 30-90 minutes per tax return across thousands of clientsThe "SWAN" hiring philosophy: Smart, Work hard, Ambitious, NicePricing pitfalls that trap most accountantsWhy being selective with clients beats the "wallet and pulse" approachPractical SPIN sales methodology for accountantsPlus brilliant advice on outsourcing, client avatars, and why you need to "act like a human if you want to be treated like one."Perfect for ambitious accountants ready to think differently about growth and client relationships.Got something to say about the future of accounting in NZ? Let’s chat — you could be our next guest. Email - Sumith@brisca.co.nz

June 7, 2025Episode 3039 min

Harnessing Athletics and Entrepreneurship in Accounting with Ian Black

In this episode of the Ambitious Accountant Podcast, host Sumith Dissanayake sits down with Ian Black, Founding Director of Direct Advisory in Hamilton, New Zealand. They discuss the busy periods in accounting, the influence of Ian's sports background on his professional career, his initial aspiration to become a lawyer, and the roots of his shift to accounting. Ian elaborates on the motivations and challenges behind starting Direct Advisory, the importance of clear communication with clients, and maintaining balance between work and personal life. He highlights the role of outsourcing and AI in streamlining accounting processes and provides insights into sourcing clients and team members. The episode wraps up with a forward-looking discussion on Direct Advisory’s future growth opportunities.Got something to say about the future of accounting in NZ? Let’s chat — you could be our next guest. Email - Sumith@brisca.co.nz