Stuart Miller (Xero): MTD, AI, Policy and Financial Literacy for Bookkeepers

In this Leadership Takeover Session, Stuart Miller, Director of Public Policy and Technology Research at Xero, shares what’s really happening behind the scenes with MTD, AI and financial literacy – and what it all means for UK bookkeepers. If you’ve ever wondered who sits in the rooms with government, regulators and tech companies speaking up for small businesses and their advisers, this episode joins those dots. Stuart didn’t set out to be an accountant. He fell into practice to avoid paying rent to his parents, trained through AAT, and built his career in firms where tattoos, shaved heads and “not fitting the mould” were still frowned upon. He talks about the managers who backed him, the crying client whose tax-return anxiety helped him find his purpose, and the R&D projects where better tax advice funded real-world change – like extracting myrrh oil to support schools in Africa. Today, his role at Xero spans smart data, late payments, e-invoicing, unique business identifiers, AI policy and MTD. He explains what his week actually looks like: responding to consultations, sitting on smart data groups, meeting departments like Business and Trade, and feeding the voice of accountants and bookkeepers into policy. Find out about the benefits of becoming a Xero Partner, here: https://www.xero.com/uk/partner-programme/?UTM_Source=6fb The conversation also tackles AI. Stuart sees AI as an efficiency driver, not a replacement for bookkeepers. He talks about using AI to speed up reconciliation, summarise long email newsletters and surface insights, while the real value sits in the 20% of work that is deeply human: handling ambiguity, context and emotion. A big theme is financial literacy and social mobility. Stuart is passionate about closing the gap for people who were never taught about interest rates, APR or cash flow at home or at school. He talks about Xero’s financial literacy campaign, which offers bite-size guidance and mentoring for people from disadvantaged backgrounds or those starting a business with no financial training. Crucially, it’s open to everyone, not just software users, and supported by accountants and bookkeepers who volunteer their time to help. ----------------------------------------------- About us We're Jo and Zoe and we help bookkeepers find clients, make more money and build profitable businesses they love. Find out about working with us in The Bookkeepers' Collective, at: 6figurebookkeeper.com/collective ----------------------------------------------- About our Sponsor This episode of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is sponsored by Xero. Get 90% off your first 6 months by visiting: https://xero5440.partnerlinks.io/6figurebookkeeper ----------------------------------------------- Promotion This video contains paid promotion. ----------------------------------------------- Disclaimer The information contained in The Bookkeepers' Podcast is provided for information purposes only. The contents of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. The 6 Figure Bookkeeper Ltd disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast.