Advisory, AP, and Automation: A Bookkeeper's Guide

Jeannie Savage
Feb 10
4 min read

When Jeannie Savage returned to the mic after a six-week break, she didn’t just ease into the year—she kicked it off with a conversation that sets the tone for what’s ahead.

In the milestone 100th episode of The Strategic Bookkeeper Podcast, Jeannie interviews Roger Gregg, co-founder of Lightyear Cloud and one of the pioneers behind accounts payable (AP) automation. What followed was a deep and inspiring conversation about where bookkeeping is heading, the role of automation, and how bookkeepers can confidently step into high-value advisory work.

Bookkeeper on laptop, confidently stepping into high-value advisory work.

Roger’s story is one many bookkeepers will appreciate. With roots in accounting, computer science, and more than two decades in hospitality and manufacturing, he experienced firsthand how inefficient AP could derail operations. Together with his brother Chris, Roger built Invitbox in 2012—an early solution that tackled AP headaches with real-time data extraction. That tech was so ahead of its time, Intuit (the makers of QuickBooks) acquired it in 2014. By 2018, the AP landscape had barely improved, so Roger and Chris launched Lightyear Cloud. Their mission? End manual AP, once and for all. Fast forward to today, Lightyear operates under the Access Group, and the original team still leads the charge with full creative freedom.

This matters because the bookkeeping profession is changing. Data entry is no longer the value. Advisory is. And Lightyear is one of the tools helping bookkeepers make that transition.

Why Lightyear Matters to Bookkeepers

AP might seem like back-office busywork, but it’s where operational efficiency and financial insight intersect. For strategic bookkeepers, Lightyear is more than software—it’s a tool for transformation. Jeannie breaks it down simply: this is the kind of technology that allows bookkeepers to stop punching in data and start advising on it.

With Lightyear Cloud, you get automated data entry that eliminates human error, sub-second data extraction, line-level invoice detail for inventory-based businesses, and seamless integration with platforms like Xero and MYOB. This is especially valuable for clients in sectors like hospitality, construction, aged care, and retail—industries where accuracy and speed in AP make or break profitability.

Unlike traditional AP tools that rely solely on Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Lightyear breaks open PDFs to extract structured metadata. That means clean, accurate data every time, processed in less than four seconds. OCR is still in the toolbox, but only as a fallback. In 99% of cases, Lightyear delivers real-time, 100% accurate data capture without the guesswork. And with their new Smart Extract AI engine, the process is becoming even smarter. For bookkeepers, this level of accuracy means no more double-checking line items or correcting errors post-import. It also means peace of mind—and a stronger foundation for advisory.

COVID-19 forced every business to rethink operations. While hospitality paused, Lightyear quickly adapted, expanding into aged care and construction—sectors that kept operating but needed smarter, paperless systems. What they discovered? Aged care is essentially hospitality with a fixed guest list. The systems, suppliers, and structures are nearly identical. That pivot showed just how wide the market is for modern AP solutions. Wherever inventory meets supplier billing, there's inefficiency—and an opportunity for bookkeepers to lead the charge toward improvement.

And here's the kicker: once bookkeepers introduce clients to these solutions, they instantly become more valuable. They shift from 'doing' to 'leading.' That’s the secret to building a high-margin, low-stress practice.

From Advisory to Empowerment

Jeannie has seen the pattern too many times: brilliant bookkeepers providing hours of unpaid value—helping clients choose software, map systems, and fix workflows. Enough is enough. She’s clear: if a client needs more than 15 minutes, it becomes a paid discovery session. From there, she guides bookkeepers through a structured, value-based pathway: Discovery, Needs Analysis, Software Recommendations, and Implementation (optional). Each step has value. Each step should be charged. This is the gateway to true advisory—and to getting paid what you’re worth.

Roger shares how Lightyear supports two strategic partnership paths. The Business Partner (Parent-Child) model allows you to buy the plan and share credits across your client base—ideal if you’re managing AP directly. Meanwhile, the Advisor Model lets you refer clients, with Lightyear handling the rest, and you earning trailing revenue. The Advisor Model is especially powerful for solo practitioners or those stepping away from full-service practices. It allows you to stay involved, provide strategic input, and get rewarded—without being the one pushing buttons. This aligns perfectly with Jeannie’s vision of the modern bookkeeping practice: streamlined, lean, and high-margin.

The bookkeeping profession is largely female-led—and for good reason. Women bring collaboration, empathy, and community to the table. But Jeannie sees too many still struggling with self-worth, undercharging, and burnout. Her mission? Change that. Inside The Strategic Bookkeeper community, Jeannie supports women to own their expertise, claim their space in the advisory world, and create businesses that support their life goals—not consume them. Roger echoes that belief. He notes that women’s natural strengths make them ideal for leadership in the evolving bookkeeping industry. Together, their message is clear: own your value. Be confident. And charge like the expert you are.

If you’re still manually entering data, feeling unsure how to price advisory, or offering your brain for free, then now is the time to evolve. Tools like Lightyear give you the backend power. The Strategic Bookkeeper gives you the mindset, model, and momentum. Because the bookkeeping industry isn’t shrinking. It’s shifting. And the bookkeepers who adapt, grow, and lead—that’s who will thrive.

Because advisory isn’t just about revenue. It’s about freedom.

Helpful Links