ABOUT Us

Why I Started the Accounting Academy

I started The Accounting Academy because I saw too many talented accountants being used as cheap labour instead of being properly mentored.

Most experienced practitioners don't want to train the next generation. They're too busy, too protective of their knowledge, or just not interested. Training people is genuinely what I enjoy most, so I decided to build something around it.

20 Years in the Trenches

I've spent 20+ years working across pretty much every corner of accounting: financial accounting, bookkeeping, virtual CFO work, and I was in the thick of it when cloud accounting first took off in Australia. Xero, Unleashed, the whole wave of apps that changed how practices run.

I've worked in traditional accounting firms, in firms that only served startups, and eventually helped build one of Australia's first fully remote, tech-driven accounting practices from the ground up. That breadth gave me a perspective most supervisors don't have: I've seen what good looks like across a lot of different models and I've seen how badly the industry can let people down when they're trying to build something real.

I decided to stop watching and start fixing.

Fixing a Broken System

The problem I kept seeing was simple: talented accountants and bookkeepers who wanted to become registered Tax Agents couldn't find a supervisor who actually gave a damn about their development. They'd get a sign-off arrangement that was barely supervision at all: no training, no feedback, no community. Just an invoice.

I built what I wished existed.

Where We're At

Today we are a community of 60+ practitioners who support each other daily, collaborate on real client scenarios, and are actively building their own practices.

  • 2,300+ tax returns lodged under supervision

  • Xero Platinum Partner

  • Registered Tax Agent

  • Chartered Accountant

  • A private community that never really goes quiet

Hi, I’m Daniel van der Heyden. If you're ready to take the next step, I'd love to hear from you!

Connect with me on LinkedIn

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TESTIMONIALS

  • Claudia Bellardino

    The Accounting Academy’s exceptional knowledge and teaching skills have been invaluable to my growth as a BAS agent. Their support and guidance have boosted my confidence and contributed significantly to the success of my business.
    I highly recommend The Accounting Academy to anyone ready to take the next step in their career.

    The Consultory Hub

  • Shiva Rajbhandari

    Tax Agent Program offers flexibility to tax agent pathway and with Daniel it has been a great journey till now. With more than a decade of experience of Daniel, the program offers proper guidance, support and knowledge to be a competent tax agent. I would highly recommend Tax Agent Program to anyone who is looking to take the next big step in tax practice.

    AAS Accountants

  • Linja Reid

    The BAS Agent program was invaluable to me, as a bookkeeper moving into the realm of BAS services. Daniel made sure that he walked me through all the processes, answered all of my questions and was on hand for anything that popped up between our meetings. Definitely recommend anyone who is stepping into this space and needing a mentor!

    The Connected Bookkeeper

  • Neeraj Dhiman

    The biggest challenge for me was understanding how to go from onboarding a client to delivering tax advice. I didn’t know how to structure it or what to say, now I have a clear process and know exactly what to do. The community has also been a big part of that. Being able to ask questions, see how others approach things, and learn from others has made a huge difference

    Genesis Hub

QUESTIONS? LET’S CHAT.

HAVE QUESTIONS OR JUST WANT TO CHAT? BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION WITH ME.

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