All about Beany
accountants
Beany uses accounting to put more money in the pockets of you, the small business owner. We want you to do less accounting so you can do more business.
All about Beany
Sue de Bievre
Beany Founder
Accountant
The Beany story
I was working in a local accountant’s office in 2013, looking at the file rooms filled with paper and the clients being charged $5000 for a service they didn’t understand. Xero was on the scene and making our lives a lot easier – but we were still charging the same.
In fact, we were still doing things essentially the same way as when I qualified in 1989.
Accountants were also using scare tactics to keep their clients welded to the practice. “we’re the only ones who can understand your complex business, we know someone at the ATO and will keep you safe, if you leave us, well, we’re not sure what will happen.”
Technology was leaping past the accounting profession; and we could use it to drastically cut costs to business owners. Having been a small business owner myself, I knew about the pressures and anxiety of being one. I don’t just understand small business, I can feel it.
How low could I make the fee whilst retaining a super high-quality service with all the questions answered, a great team of professionals, and a desire to inform and educate about finances? There was only one way to go – develop technology to do a lot of the heavy lifting – after all, it’s all digital information.
I met John Curtis, fresh out of 12 years with Weta Digital and looking for a project. Together we brainstormed, coded, talked, argued – and 6 months later we had our first iteration of Beany. We invited 20 businesses to come into workshops to try and ‘break’ the software – 17 of them became Beany clients and we were off!
The first accountant we took on was Jenny Marklew, an experienced accountant with a gift for helping people understand what’s possible. She’s still our lead accountant.
A true Beany accountant is empathetic and wants to make a difference. Our accountants go above and beyond to provide service. We talk about kindness internally a lot and how hard things can be for you running your business and how we can use our skills to help your business grow. One of the first things we did was set up a helpline that’s manned by accountants and financial whizzes, and it’s completely free so that you, our client, can learn and get help and support whenever you want.
Sue de Bievre
Beany Founder
Accountant
“We’re here to help small business owners live happier lives.”
We help them spend less time accounting and more time working towards achieving their goals.
Our mission
We’re here to help small business owners live happier lives.
We help them spend less time accounting and more time working towards achieving their goals.
Sue de Bievre
Beany Founder
Accountant
What makes us different?
Our incredible people and wicked-smart tech make us a whole lot different than a regular accountant.
BEANY ACCOUNTANT
- Has access to cutting-edge tech to speed though the basics
- Focuses on where you’re going, and always thinks about your future
- Has an in-house tech team building the very latest tech platform
- Knows the numbers and can translate them into actions
- Is fully online, and will see you wherever you are
TRADITIONAL ACCOUNTANT
- Has a passion for paperwork, pens and office supplies
- Loves to talk about the past, gets scared talking about the future
- Thinks the old ways are the best and only ways that work
- Is about your numbers but doesn’t really get what you do
- Has a lovely office, and expects you to come in and visit it
Getting set up on Beany was simple and painless
Accounting is complicated and boring. Beanies are skilled at explaining it, in language that anyone can understand. Even better, they can tell you what your numbers mean, not just what they are.
We will take care of everything including switching from your old accountant
Lachie Campbell
Director, Latitude Commodities
Lachie Campbell
Director, Latitude Commodities
Getting set up on Beany was simple and painless
Accounting is complicated and boring. Beanies are skilled at explaining it, in language that anyone can understand. Even better, they can tell you what your numbers mean, not just what they are.