IRIS Interviews

One of the Department For Education's Trust Quality Description Pillars sets out expectations for trusts to create a culture of continuous improvement. Cleary defined in this pillar is the need for an effective strategy to maintain the performance of existing schools and improve the performance of new ones that join the trust.Key to delivering improvement is being able to implement a centralised performance management process, benchmarking school performance across student, workforce and financial metrics, as a mechanism for sharing best practice.​Iona Jackson, Head of Insights for Edurio, and Nicholas Clark, Senior Product Manager for IRIS Software Group, discuss how trusts are combining and monitoring workforce, student and finance data to discover the real drivers of positive pupil outcomes.​

Working environments have always been places of mixed culture, age and opinion. But as older generations return to work and Gen Z enters the workforce, how does an organisation ensure unity? A tendency exists to treat workers based on generational stereotypes rather than facts, taking a blanket approach, but workplace demographic shifts more polarised than ever before, In this podcast, Jessica Zwaan, Chief Operating Officer for Talentful, and Lizzy Barry, HR Director for IRIS Software Group, explore how leaders can make decisions based on resounding truths rather than sweeping generalisations, using workforce data to ensure a more effective approach to people management.

What is driving the boom in the accountancy space? The bookkeeper! The role of the bookkeeper has expanded to being almost identical to the accountant, taking a much more entrepreneurial approach to their service. Gone are the days of only keeping the books. Thanks to advancements in technology, unqualified employees can also process bookkeeping data making it more attractive to set up a bookkeeping business and bring in support staff. In this podcast, Ami Copeland, CEO of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and Emma Crawford-Falekaono, Accountancy Sales Director at IRIS Software Group explore this changing role and detail the implications on the industry.

Workers are less emotionally invested and they put up with very little. In a candidates' market, there's no room for poor management or uninspiring workplaces. This is a huge challenge in the accountancy sector. If you find a suitable candidate, you might not be able to keep them. With this in mind, innovative firms are rethinking the resources they need and are looking elsewhere for talent. In this podcast, Jonathan Mackie, Director at NRB Chartered Accountants and Emma Crawford-Falekaono, Accountancy Sales Director at IRIS Software Group explore how this movement has come about and how firms can set themselves up for success.

There's no question that the hype around AI has re-invigorated the conversation around technology in accountancy and the value that connected data and analytics can bring in.There are a host of potential benefits from implementing AI, many of which revolve around automating costly, lengthy and mundane tasks.This podcast explores the areas where AI has the potential to empower accountants to change how they do business and its practical application today within forward-thinking firms.Tune in now with Alistair Brisbourne, Head of Technology Research at ACCA and Steven Cox, Director of Business Intelligence at IRIS Software Group.

Within Multi-Academy Trusts, the executive leadership team is accountable for effectively implementing the trust strategy and operating plan - deciding where to dedicate resources and how best to drive impact. It's about creating a culture of ethical leadership and ensuring the team is made up of those with the necessary expertise. But what qualities are needed for a successful leadership team and what can trusts do to identify and attract the leaders of tomorrow? Find out from Lord Jim Knight, Former UK Minister for Schools, Digital & Employment and Simon Freeman, MD of Education at IRIS Software Group.

Open, honest and collaborative communication has become the norm with topics such as social justice issues and mental health spoken about far more.   As a result, managers need to adopt a more intimate and personalised approach to keep employees united as a single community, using data to understand what is and isn't working.In this podcast Joey Price, CEO of Jumpstart: HR and Stephanie Coward, MD of HCM at IRIS Software Group, explore how a manager can become more of a ‘coach' who tunes into the emotional side of management while juggling the needs of the business and their team.

The talent crisis seems to be going nowhere and pressure is still on HR to bring people in and add resources to overworked teams. However, the recruitment process is incredibly time-consuming – from job descriptions to candidate matching – limiting how much can actually be achieved.So, how can HR teams (and business owners) improve their recruitment efforts, and fill their desperately needed roles? In this podcast Lee McQueen, Founder and CEO of Phoenix51 and Natalie Tedstone, VP of Talent and Organisational Development at IRIS Software Group, explore technology automation and AI tools, suggesting where your teams could make time-savings to help empower every hour.

Britain is less productive than most ‘Group of Seven' economies.Figures show the UK generates £46.92 of output per hour, compared to £58.88 in the US, £55.83 in Germany and £55.50 in France.Conversely, the UK is now the second-largest data producer in the world and academics have described data as the fuel of the economies of the future.​In this podcast, Steve Cox, Director of Business Intelligence at IRIS Software Group and Pete Wilkinson, Founder and CEO at Reclaro, explore whether the data revolution could reverse the trend of middling performance and years of lacklustre growth, looking practically at how companies today can unlock the ‘data' opportunity.

Generative AI has taken the world of work by storm, perhaps being the biggest technological change we've ever seen.But how does such a robotic tool fit into the world of people management?Well, we're seeing mass innovation in the recruitment space, with many tech and HR experts predicting AI will revolutionise the way we use employee data, opening up far more opportunities for enhanced employee wellbeing, engagement and L&D.In this podcast, Julian Musson, Senior Product Director here at IRIS Software Group and Kinsey Li, Associate Director of HR Analytics at EY, talk about all things AI in HR. Kinsey.

Does a specific department have high churn? Is an employee struggling to meet objectives? Are hybrid workers performing better?​ There are endless HR questions and endless ways to make a bigger impact, but one thing is needed: good data. Data has the power to catalyse the effectiveness of your people management and create a happier and more engaged workforce. In this podcast, Steph Kelly, Chief People Officer at IRIS Software Group and Jason Averbook, Senior Partner at Mercer and Author of 'The Ultimate Guide to a Digital Workforce Experience', explore how data can support strategic decisions and the role of AI in transforming operations.

The pandemic created mass disruption, requiring quick reactions and the need for both business leaders and employees to be innovative. Since returning to some level of normality, the new way of working we were promised where people would have greater freedom, better usage of new technology and more opportunity to be daring seems to have ground to a halt, trapping many in a monotonous cycle, resulting in poor mental health. But with uncertainty caused by the cost of living, economic pressure and now the transformative promise of artificial intelligence (AI), the need for fresh thinking has once again arisen.In this podcast, Anthony Wolny, Communications Business Partner at IRIS Software Group, interviews Liggy Webb, Award-Winning Speaker & Author, to uncover how reigniting innovation and comradery in the workplace can fuel better employee engagement and wellbeing.

Headlines have been dominated by trends such as the great resignation, quiet quitting and quiet firing!But these trends are far from new; In fact, quiet quitting simply used to be known as coasting and quiet firing was called constructive dismissal.So, why are we suddenly seeing the headlines dominated?Managing Director for HCM, Stephanie Coward, speaks with Coach, Author, Speaker and Founder of Living Brave, Guy Bloom, about what's causing the recent surge and how leaders can manage.

A session exploring how we might measure trust performance in light of the dropping of the Schools Bill, which was due to firm up the regulation of MATs. Tom Kershaw, Education Market Specialist at IRIS Software Group, interviews Dr Christopher Mansell, who has been through one of Ofsted's MAT Summary Evaluations, which are being conducted to try to establish some kind of regulatory framework.

Finding your feet in the business world can be challenging. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the workforce, it can be difficult dealing with unconscious biases, progression barriers and stereotypes. In this podcast, Senior Market Specialist at IRIS Software Group, Bev Flanagan, and Partner at Hg, Dawn Marriott, share their experiences, providing tangible advice on how to thrive in the workplace and create a winning mindset.

A stereotype exists in the industry, claiming accountants are stale, male and pale.Is this view correct, and is it why the industry has been struggling with talent?Communications Business Partner, Anthony Wolny, speaks with our CEO, Elona Mortimer-Zhika, and Senior Market Specialist, Bev Flanagan, exploring their thoughts on the topic and delving into their experiences in the industry.

Despite challenges such as almost forty-year high inflation rates and the increasing cost of living, some businesses are moving forward with optimism, with plans to grow and thrive. But relying on the ways of yesterday could hold your business back from seeing tomorrow. Head of Market Insights, Steve Cox, and Author, Keynote Speaker and Business Owner, Carl Reader, offer guidance and advice on growing your business during these unpredictable times.

Whether you like them or not, timesheets hold a lot of weight in the accountancy industry. Some accountants have ditched them, claiming it's the best thing they've ever done, while others swear by them. Our Accountancy Market Specialist, Bev Flanagan, and Mentor & Coach, Reza Hooda, share their thoughts on timesheets, offering guidance on how firms can update their way of working.

How can centralisation be used by Trusts to make budgets go further? What are the pitfalls to avoid? Which functions are best suited to a centralised model? Tom Kershaw, Education Market Specialist at IRIS Software Group, and Jeff Marshall, Managing Director at J&G Marshall Ltd & Advisory Board at MATA, delve into the topic of centralisation, offering tangible advice and guidance.

Getting your pricing right is tough.Pricing by the hour is undoubtedly outdated; instead, accountants need to start pricing by the value provided.But where do you start? Our Accountancy Market Specialist, Bev Flanagan, and Mentor & Coach, Reza Hooda, tackle common worries and offer tangible advice.

Unconscious biases, stereotypes, personal responsibilities, career barriers. There are challenges and hurdles we all face on a day-to-day – the world of work can be tough. Our CEO, Elona Mortimer-Zhika and Senior Market Specialist, Bev Flanagan, share their personal experiences and what it's like to be women in business; however, as discussed in the podcast, Elona and Bev's advice isn't only applicable to women in business and can hold value for all those looking to thrive in the business world.

With the Government's vision for all schools to be part of a MAT by 2030, it poses the question: is there capacity or even a desire for this change? Our Education Market Specialist, Tom Kershaw, and Former Cabinet minister in the Labour Government and member of the Privy Council and the House of Lords, Lord Jim Knight, delve into this topic, sharing their thoughts and advice.

While reports show the value of the £ increasing and that half of SMEs expect to grow this quarter, inflation still remains at a nearly 40-year high, with the cost of living continuing to rise.What can businesses do to ride the current recession and come out the other end stronger than before?While economic uncertainty has placed untold pressure on businesses for some time now, with the right mindset, you can unlock your power.Head of Market Insights, Steve Cox, and Author, Keynote Speaker and Business Owner, Carl Reader, offer guidance and advice.

THE HUMAN SOURCE — a podcast for tomorrow's HR and Payroll professionals.What can you put in place to engage staff at a more meaningful level to ensure they deliver on what the business needs them to?Our dynamic duo, Stephanie Kelly, Chief People Officer, IRIS Software Group, and Stephanie Coward, Managing Director, IRIS Software Group, bestow their many years of experience in the HR field with a view to helping inspire your own people policies.

ACCOUNTED FOR — a podcast for the future-fit accountant.Accounting roles rank in the top seven positions that are hardest to fill, making candidates more in-demand than ever. People have more choices and if the talent shortage hasn't bitten you just yet, it will.To remain competitive in an increasingly crowded sector, accountants and bookkeepers need to work hard to meet the needs of staff.Steve Cox, Head of Market Insights, IRIS Software Group, and Jim Scott, Managing Director for Accountancy, IRIS Software Group, delve into how firms can revolutionise the way they operate to attract and retain top talent.

UNCOMPLICATED — a podcast for school leaders, managers and teachers.Let's be frank: change is difficult, especially within schools and MATs.Without an effective change management strategy, schools are failing to capitalise on the technology they're investing in – something that can't continue with the current economic climate.Nicholas Clark, Senior Product Manager, IRIS Software Group, and Lisa Henderson-Clark, Change Manager, Hable, explore the management of technological change, sharing tips on how to tackle fear, communicate plans and manage staff.

THE HUMAN SOURCE — a podcast for tomorrow's HR and Payroll professionals.What can businesses do to boost the productivity of their people?With the very real shortage of people to fill jobs, it pays to maximise the productivity of existing employees as a means of fuelling growth. Stephanie Kelly, Chief People Officer, IRIS Software Group, and Caroline Gammon, HR Market Specialist, IRIS Software Group, provide advice on how to optimise your current workforce.

ACCOUNTED FOR — a podcast for the future-fit accountant.Pricing is an emotive subject in the accountancy world right now.Many firms spent the last few years going above and beyond to support clients through the worst of the pandemic, often at no extra cost. However, with talent shortages and a recession, it's critical to make the most out of what you offer and charge appropriately for the services your firm delivers.Steve Cox, Head of Market Insights, IRIS Software Group, and Martin Bissett, Investor & Board-Level Advisor in Accounting, explore this topic in-depth, offering tangible advice on how accountants can begin charging for their advisory.

A LEADER'S IMPACT — a podcast for business owners, managers and changemakers.It's a jungle out there! Inflation, an energy crisis, rocketing interest rates and a recession – there is mounting pressure on all businesses to support their employees.For many businesses, throwing money at the problem isn't feasible.Stephanie Kelly, Chief People Officer, IRIS Software Group and Stephanie Coward, Managing Director of HCM, IRIS Software Group, talk ‘money' and how employers can have meaningful conversations with staff about how they intend to support them.https://www.iris.co.uk/

THE HUMAN SOURCE — a podcast for tomorrow's HR and Payroll professionals.Skills shortages, as well as economic factors, are pushing companies to rethink their approach to entering new markets in an attempt to secure critical skills.Our payroll gurus, Brona Grogan, Director and Group COO at Paycheck Plus By IRIS and Daniel Grace, Senior International HR Consultant at IRIS Software Group, discuss five different scenarios when employing abroad and outline some key obligations.https://www.iris.co.uk/payroll/https://www.iris.co.uk/hr/

ACCOUNTED FOR — a podcast for the future-fit accountant.Data has always been critical, but with MTD on the way, now more than ever, accountants need to be utilising the information they have available to them.With many practices moving their software to the cloud, patchworks of applications are being created, presenting new data challenges.Paul Onions, Product Director at IRIS Software Group and Jonathan Priestley, Head of Portfolio Modernisation at IRIS Software Group, delve into what the future will hold for the next generation of software and how accountants can benefit.https://www.iris.co.uk/accountancy/

UNCOMPLICATED — a podcast for school leaders, managers and teachers.The UK government wants every school to become part of a Multi-Academy Trust by 2030.MATs are being encouraged to add more schools, but they must also demonstrate strength in a number of key areas. Tom Kershaw, Education Market Specialist at IRIS Software Group and Nicholas Clark, Senior Product Manager at IRIS Education, explore how trusts can improve performance and establish a framework for success using good quality data.https://www.iris.co.uk/education/

A LEADER'S IMPACT — a podcast for business owners, managers and changemakers.Livestock farmer, bakery owner and marketing guru, IRIS' Chief Marketing Officer, David, is without a doubt a man of many talents.In this episode, David Turner, CMO and Growth Champion at IRIS Software Group speaks to Sara Lewis, Head of Communications and Content at IRIS Software Group, sharing his experiences in the business world and exploring the reasons why small and large companies alike need to have a relentless focus on the customer when considering marketing their products and services.https://www.iris.co.uk/

THE HUMAN SOURCE — a podcast for tomorrow's HR and Payroll professionals.The talent shortage is a hot topic on every HR team's lips at the moment.The record-breaking numbers of vacancies and increased demands from talent are making recruitment and retaining top employees more of a challenge each day.It's time to rethink the process.Stephanie Coward, Managing Director HCM at IRIS Software Group talks frankly with Sara Lewis, Head of Communications and Content at IRIS Software Group, about her experiences as a new division Managing Director at IRIS Software Group and how she is addressing talent issues within the organisation.https://www.iris.co.uk/hr/https://www.iris.co.uk/payroll/

ACCOUNTED FOR — a podcast for the future-fit accountant.The accountancy sector has seen a wave of new, tech-savvy, market entrants that are threatening the bread and butter of more established practices.Steve Cox, Head of Market Insights at IRIS Software Group and Jim Scott, Managing Director Accountancy at IRIS Software Group, explore this phenomenon and delve into how practices can evolve, adapt and embrace change to compete in the changing landscape.https://www.iris.co.uk/accountancy/

UNCOMPLICATED — a podcast for school leaders, managers and teachers.Currently, there is fierce competition to hire in the education sector; nationwide teacher shortages are putting considerable pressure on recruitment teams in schools to attract and retain talent.Tom Kershaw, Education Market Specialist at IRIS Software Group and Matt Brown, HR & Compliance Sales Manager at Every By IRIS, explore what activities can help schools and trusts reduce the number of open vacancies and keep staff for the long term.https://www.iris.co.uk/education/

A LEADER'S IMPACT — a podcast for business owners, managers and changemakers.What makes someone a good leader? Are they born, or are they made?Elona Mortimer-Zhika, Chief Executive Officer at IRIS Software Group and Duane Jackson, Senior Technical Director at IRIS Software Group, offer their pearls of wisdom and explore the value of certain leadership styles.In the episode, Elona shares her experiences leading a large business during COVID, and Duane talks candidly about his challenge in learning to become a leader rather than a ‘software coder'.Together they offer some great advice for professionals wanting to charge up the ladder.https://www.iris.co.uk/

THE HUMAN SOURCE — a podcast for tomorrow's HR and Payroll professionals.Given the current economic climate, small businesses may breathe a sigh of relief to hear that money is not the only thing motivating staff to join, stay and/or do their best work for an employer.Our dynamic duo, Stephanie Kelly, Chief People Officer at IRIS Software Group and Stephanie Coward, Managing Director at IRIS Software Group, explore what strategies businesses can look to improve, including internal career moves, manager-employee relationships and wellbeing support.https://www.iris.co.uk/hr/

ACCOUNTED FOR — a podcast for the future-fit accountant.MTD for VAT is so passé; it's all about MTD for Income Tax now!However, a fifth of small businesses (SMEs) are still completely unaware of MTD, and many others still think it isn't going to happen, or maybe they're hoping it won't.Jenny Strudwick, Product Director at IRIS Software Group and Steve Cox, Head of Market Insights at IRIS Software Group know a thing or two about MTD.Join them as they navigate you through the latest developments, explaining what sort of preparation will be key to success.https://www.iris.co.uk/accountancy/

UNCOMPLICATED — a podcast for school leaders, managers and teachers.One of today's biggest challenges for schools and MATs are the four ambitious education objectives set out by the DofE White Paper.In this episode, Simon Freeman, MD IRIS Education at IRIS Software Group, Nicholas Clark, Senior Product Manager at IRIS Education and Tom Kershaw, Education Market Specialist at IRIS Software Group, sit down and share their views on key areas of focus for MAT leaders, education professionals, school staff and teachers.https://www.iris.co.uk/education/

A LEADER'S IMPACT — a podcast for business owners, managers and changemakers.According to recent research, 48% of business leaders are feeling less confident about their decisions than they have done previously.In this episode, Elona Mortimer-Zhika, Chief Executive Officer at IRIS Software Group and Duane Jackson, Senior Technical Director at IRIS Software Group, share glimpses into their pasts, delving into the adversities they faced, and lessons learnt; all helping them to deliver with conviction in the business world to this day.https://www.iris.co.uk/