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AI tools now help categorise transactions, draft client emails and summarise statements in seconds. The real skill is prompt engineering: giving clear, specific instructions so AI output is accurate and useful. Used well, AI frees up time for advisory work, letting bookkeepers focus on insights rather than data entry.

If you’re using Xero –  JAX AI (Just ask Xero) is built into your software to help with answering queries, highlighting trends and assisting with workflows

If you’re using MYOB  – AI Business Insights is currently in beta and available to selected Pro and AccountRight browser customers in Australia and New Zealand.  From MYOB

“AI Business Insights helps you spend less time digging through reports and more time focusing on what matters most.

With AI-generated summaries and easy-to-understand insights, get a clear snapshot of your business without manually analysing spreadsheets.”

With costs climbing, healthy cash flow separates thriving businesses from struggling ones. Regularly forecasting income and expenses, chasing overdue invoices promptly, and separating GST and tax savings into dedicated accounts all help. A simple weekly cash flow review can catch problems early, before they become serious funding gaps.

Its also worth checking out:

• Service NSW
• Services Australia

Let us know if you need any help to get started – Contact us at:  0411 2180570 or sue@effectiveservicews.com.au 

From 1 July 2026, super must be paid within seven days of wages – not quarterly. This is a significant cash flow and admin shift. Make sure your payroll software is updated and your bank account is ready for more frequent super payments.

What’s actually changed?

Previously, you had until the 28th day of the month following each quarter to pay super. That gave you a bit of breathing room – some businesses used that buffer to manage cash flow.

Now, super must be paid within seven days of paying wages. If you pay youe employees weekly, super goes out weekly. Fortnightly pay? Fortnightly super.

The amount you owe is now 12% of  qualifying earnings* and the timing is a big shift.  For many SMEs, this is an adjustment that needs to be factored into cash flow planning

*What are qualifying earnings?

Qualifying earnings are the types of payments made to employees that are used to calculate the
super guarantee (SG) under Payday Super.
Qualifying earnings (QE) includes:
• ordinary time earnings (OTE), i.e. payments for ordinary hours of work, including certain types
of paid leave, allowances, bonuses and lump sum payments (find out what payments are
considered OTE at ato.gov.au/OTE)
• all commissions paid to an employee
• salary sacrifice amounts that would qualify as QE had they not been sacrificed to superannuation
• earnings paid to workers who fall under the expanded definition of employee, including payments
to independent contractors paid mainly for their labour.

Good news: the $20,000 instant asset write-off is now permanent – no more June 30 deadline stress. There’s also a three-month fuel excise cut (32c/litre off from April), and $1 billion in interest-free loans for businesses hit by fuel costs.