Behind the Mask talks to Chris Hooper about drinking Scotch, Panterra concerts and Accodex's future plans.
@chrishooper87
So, who are you anyway, and what do you do?
I am the CEO of Accodex and my job is to make sure everyone here succeeds.
How did you get into this job?
I kind of give it to myself, but seriously after a couple of mergers of local accounting firms, I was appointed CEO of the consolidated entity. That company then went from being an accounting firm to a software company.
What song from your past still gets you moving today?
Left Foot, Right Foot - Hilltop Hoods
If you could go to one concert from the past, what one would it be? And what would you wear?
Panterra’s last concert in Adelaide. I passed up on the opportunity when they were in town and then they broke up and their guitarist died. I’m still devastated. I’d obviously wear a Pantera shirt, probably one stolen from Markus my business partner, because he had heaps.
A socio-economic question, but feel free to answer from your gut. If AI, automation and robotics are going to replace repetitive and laborious tasks, what impact will this have on your industry and profession?
It won’t have a huge impact on Accodex, because we’re really leading the charge in this space anyway. For the accounting profession as a whole, I think it will translate to a higher quality of service for clients and maybe, just maybe, accountants will enjoy their jobs a little more.
What other challenges face accountants, bookkeepers or SMEs today? And, how should they meet those challenges?
With all of this change, comes some opportunity. What opportunities do you see presenting themselves already?