2019 marked our fourth year attending the bookkeepers conference, and what fun we had. This year’s Bookkeepcon was held last weekend in Christchurch. Since we’re based in Wellington, we decided to take the Picton Ferry and drive down. Not only were the Sounds beautiful, but we were lucky to avoid to fog that saw some people fly down, circle, and fly back!

It doesn’t seem that long ago since we attended BookkeepCon for the first time, in 2016. We were there to ask if you wanted us to solve the sign up and authorities issue. By putting your name in support, we could try to get backing from government to help. You did, and we did, and 2Shakes was born!

In our second and third years we had a booth set up AND this year we are stoked to have been a proud sponsor of the event! It feels really great to be able to give back.

Ata and Mike with Di, President of NZ Bookkeepers

2Shakes features on the sponsor sign – feels good!

BookkeepCon Award Winners

Well done to all of those who received awards last weekend.Amazing to see that 6 out of the 7 award winners are 2Shakes users…hopefully it won’t be long before the 7th joins us too.

Award winners:

• The Gayle Buchanan Memorial Award for Bookkeeping Trainer of the Year went to Haylee Wrenn from Accountabill Limited in Hawkes Bay.
• Community Contributor of the Year went to Dee Workman from Keep It Simple Solutions in Nelson.
• Emerging Bookkeeper of the Year for 2019 was Rachel Paterson from Conduit Bookkeeping Ltd in Paihia.
• Bookkeeping Business of the Year went to Admin Army, located in Taupo.
• The Bookkeeper in a Small Practice Award went to Haley Wilson from My Two Cents Accounting Services in Kaiwaka.
• Sustainable Business Award which went to MBP Advisors + Accountants from Taupo.
• The Services to Bookkeeping was awarded to Trish Madison from Accounta Ltd and Audits AML Ltd.

2Shakes for Teeshirts

We had some awesome tees printed for the conference this year, which got quite a bit of interest on social media. Everyone who wanted a shirt had to shake the 2Shakes maracas.

It was great fun watching you all shake for 2Shakes! Can you find yourself?

All the 2Shakers shaking for t-shirts.
Our Champagne Winner…

As well as the T-shirt giveaway, we also ran champagne draw at our booth, because wine not.

Congratulations to 2Shakes user Stella Vockins of Count Me In on being the lucky winner of our bottle of bubbles – enjoy!

Stella holding her bubbly prize with Mike and Ata.

And then we sailed back to Wellington – thanks and goodbye Christchurch, until next year Bookkeepcon!

All the best,

Team 2Shakes

Everyone is saying 2019 is a really busy year – and it’s the same here at 2Shakes – can you believe it’s nearly March already?

First off, a quick shout out to Digital Identity NZ.  DINZ wants to make it easier to prove your identity, digitally, in New Zealand, and 2Shakes is really proud to be a founding member.

In this update….

• The answers to the 5 top things we get asked: Find out the answers to the most common questions 2Shakes gets asked.
• Solving Paperwork Problems: How AccountSolutions solved the Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association’s paperwork problems using 2Shakes
• 2Shakes gets a face lift: A fresh new look is coming, get a sneak peak.
• Cutting Red tape: Find out how the Innovation Fund powered by Westpac and All of Government helped co-fund 2Shakes to include AML compliance.
• 2Shakes is going South: 2Shakes are off to Nelson. We are going to the visit ICBNZBAI Bookkeepers and have a booth at the ATAINZ annual conference. Come meet us and ask questions.

The top 5 things we get asked

Here at 2Shakes we get asked some interesting questions. Reflecting on the past 6 months we have complied a short list answers to some common questions.

• How do I read the electronic Identity Verification (eIDV) report? To understanding the results of the range of checks that make up an electronic ID Verification, find out more here.
• What if the customer is owned by a trust? 2Shakes helps you to sign up, get authority, or perform AML CDD on a trust, find out more here.
• What if the customer is a deceased estate? If you are acting for a deceased estate you’ll need to work with the executors, find out more here.
• Can I do AML without signing up a client? 2Shakes released an AML Only option find out more here about the difference between Sign Up and AML Only.
• How do I set up 2Shakes to work for me? Frequently asked questions include changing the logo and catering for Terms and Conditions to suit different services or types of clients, find out more here.

2Shakes offers a totally unique set of features to help you onboard clients, get authority to act for them, and carry out AML Customer Due Diligence.  Better still –  2Shakes is free for 10 uses!  After that you can choose the $30 monthly plan or the $20 pay as you go plan. Our electronic IDV is only $5 and includes an address and a PEP check. Our support from NZ government and others means you get a premium product at a great price, find out more here.

Solving Paperwork Problems

How AccountSolutions solved the Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association’s paperwork problems using 2Shakes

2Shakes is cloud onboarding and AML software. Sure it makes signing up your own clients quick and easy. But onboarding is a common business problem. So why not use 2Shakes to help your clients with onboarding THEIR clients? That’s exactly what Trish Broking did, and it absolutely delighted her client UMF.

“…the automation of it, the collation of it – I can’t ask for more. It’s VERY efficient. Before it was all over the show. Now with 2Shakes it’s simple and it saves a lot of problems.”

Read here to find out more.

Face Lift for 2Shakes

2Shakes is getting a fresh new look.

After 3 years of our original look, we have decided it is time for a spring clean. Don’t worry, the way 2Shakes works will stay just the same. We just have clearer lines and new colours. We will be moving our new look 2Shakes into the training environment soon for you to have a look, then into the Production environment.

Cutting Red Tape

How the Innovation Fund helped co-fund 2Shakes to include AML compliance

2Shakes state of the art AML compliance onboarding software is helping AML Phase 2 Reporting Entities meet their AML compliance needs. The reality of that is that every day there are Bookkeepers, Accountants, Real Estate Agents, Lawyers and many others using 2Shakes for their AMLCustomer Due Diligence.  If you are a Reporting Entity we automatically expand and graph company ownership structure,integrate Identity verification, and support ALL the Customer Due Diligence you need to do.  This sets you up for audits, monitoring and annual reporting.

‘Now that 2Shakes has made AML compliance easier, business owners can focus on their core product or service – and the New Zealand small business sector can continue to flourish.’

And we could do all of this, because of the co-funding we received from the Innovation Fund powered by Westpac and All of Government.  Read here to find out more.

Going South – Will we see you here?

2Shakes are heading to the top of the South Island next week.

NZ Bookkeepers (ICBNZBAI)

2Shakes will be talking with members from the Institute of Certified NZ Bookkeepers in Nelson on the 28th February If you are a member in the top of the South Island please come along – we’d love to see you there.  We will be talking about how to streamline your onboarding process, get clients set up and all things AML CDD.

Accountants & Tax Agents (ATAINZ)

2Shakes have a booth at the ATAINZ (Accountants and Tax Agents Institute of NZ) annual conference in Nelson on the 1st and 2nd of March.  If you are a tax agent, then now is an excellent time to sort out your client onboarding, engagement letter, terms and conditions, services fees and AML Customer Due Diligence.  With 2Shakes you can sign up clients quickly and easily – all online.

AccountSolutions are a team of client focused Bookkeepers that go above and beyond for their loyal clients. One of their clients, Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMF), needed a solution to meet their yearly requirement for updating their licensees agreements. Trish Brocking from AccountSolutions thought, “Hang on a minute, 2Shakes might just work here”. Here’s how Trish used 2Shakes to solve her client UMF’s problems chasing licensees to sign.

Read More

In this update….

• Welly Tech: Drink or Drive, but you gotta Dunk! – Did we catch you on film?
• Tax Agents: Talking to ATAINZ – Watch our informative presentation.
• Real Estate Agents: AML is coming 1st Jan – Find out more.
• Media & Events: Get up to date – Read our press & find out what 2Shakes has been up to.
• 2Shakes is going South: We are going to Nelson. Come, meet us, ask questions.

Welly Tech

WellyTech is an end of year celebration of all the technology that comes from the Wellington region in NZ from Access Granted. This years WellyTech was the biggest yet and was held at Westpac Stadium. 2Shakes had a stand between BossPac and Whare Hauora. 

FIGURE: Taking a shot – slam dunking forms.

In keeping with the fair ground theme, we had a Drink OR Drive competition, involving Dunking your paper forms (a subject very close to our hearts).  You could win either a bottle of champagne (drink) or a Star Wars Drone (drive). But NOT both!

FIGURE: Welly Tech was well attended by members from Star Wars empire, all hoping to win the 2Shakes Star Wars drone!

We filmed a time lapse video of the whole night. Check it out and see if you can spot yourself taking a shot!

Dylan was the lucky winner of the Drone and Dr Will Koning won the Champagne.  We caught up with Will who works for Kantar as the Chief Data Officer supporting Kantar’s operating brands Colmar Brunton and Kantar TNS. Will helps his clients get the full value from their data by turning data into insights that drive growth, cut costs and improve outcomes. Nice!

2Shakes with AML 

…for Tax Agents

2Shakes is onboarding software that helps financial professionals sign up clients, get authority to act, perform AML customer due diligence and use blockchain security for their client agreements. We presented on our AML extensions to members of the Accountants & Tax Agents Institute of NZ in Palmerston North. Watch our informative presentation here.

…for Bookkeepers

2Shakes had a fantastic time in Christchurch this November talking with lovely bookkeepers.

FIGURE: Mike takes a selfie at the Christchurch meet up for NZ Bookkeepers Association (ICBNZBAI).

…for Accountants

AML/CFT phase 2 for accountants came in October. We have had a large uptake of accountants using 2Shakes to onboard and do AML CDD checks. 

FIGURE: Ata talking in Tauranga to accountants from Chartered Accountants Australia & NZ (CAANZ).

…for Real Estate Agents

Real Estate Agents need to comply with AML from January 2019.  This means that Real Estate Agents need to have completed AML Customer Due Diligence (CDD) checks on their customers before they can sign their agency agreement (listing authority). The CDD checks must be completed on all the owners of the property or a properly authorized signatory (for example, a solicitor or family member with power of attorney). If the customer is a company, trust or other legal entity then CDD checks are needed for beneficial owners too.

2Shakes are working with Real Estate Agents.  We help by providing clever NZBN integrations with Companies Office to help identify beneficial owners. 2Shakes does electronic identity verification as well.  Our cloud onboarding software lets Real Estate Agents securely store all the CDD & risk assessment records so that they can produce reports and statistics for audits and annual reporting. With the first of January coming we are seeing more real estate agents find 2Shakes, mostly by referral.  If you know any real estate agents we would appreciate it if you can let them know about 2Shakes so we can help them too.

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Media & Events

• Digital Identity – Lightning Lab GovTech: 2Shakes were proud to have helped with the Digital Identity project as part of Lightning Lab GovTech.  Find out about SuperSmooth and the other 12 innovative public sector projects and watch their pitch videos from The Embassy in Wellington during the November Demo Day here.
  
  FIGURE: The Lightning Lab Cohort for 2018 – top marks if you can spot Ata (to the lower right hand side of Sally in the Green top).
• High Tech Awards: 2Shakes attended the Wellington launch event of the NZ High Tech Awards. 2Shakes learned A LOT from Linda Jenkinson and the panel who were very inspiring.

• Special Children’s Christmas party: 2Shakes was really happy to sponsor the Special Children’s Christmas Party in Porirua. It was a great day out.
  
• 2Shakes in Scoop: Scoop featured a news article on 2Shakes’ Anti Money Laundering (AML) extensions https://buff.ly/2Ef1cNu  
• 2Shakes in Japan Breaking News: 2Shakes’ AML extensions are making the news in Japan! 
• 2Shakes featured by Callaghan:  2Shakes were featured as a case study in Callaghan Innovation’s report on Distributed ledgers and blockchains.

Going South – Will we see you here?

2Shakes are heading to the top of the South Island early next year.  

NZ Bookkeepers (ICBNZBAI)

2Shakes will talk to members from the Institute of Certified NZ Bookkeepers in Nelson in March. If you are a member in the top of the South Island please come along – we’d love to see you there.  We will be talking about how to streamline your onboarding process, get clients set up and all things AML CDD. 

Accountants & Tax Agents (ATAINZ)

2Shakes have a booth at the ATAINZ (Accountants and Tax Agents Institute of NZ) annual conference in Nelson.  If you are a tax agent, then now is an excellent time to sort out your client onboarding, engagement letter, terms and conditions, services fees and AML Customer Due Diligence.  With 2Shakes you can sign up clients quickly and easily – all online.

Work with 2Shakes. Grow your customer base. Make 2019 your best year yet!

AML for the Accounting Sector – It’s here!

This means if you are managing client funds or give instructions on transactions in relation to a legal entity (such as a company) you are an AML reporting entity.  You must complete Customer Due Diligence (CDD) on all new customers before you can provide in scope services. Other activities are in scope too. Please review page 8 of DIA’s Accounting Sector Guideance and DIA’s Bookkeepers explanatory note for more details.

As well as any new customers, DIA also recommends Read More

#Bookkeepcon18

2Shakes loves Bookkeepcon. The support of this amazing professional body is where it all started for us. This year 2Shakes presented on AML/CFT along with the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). In the pressure to deliver, while Ata was explaining that AML was about protecting NZs economy and reputation, she got a bit excited and told everyone that when it came to AML Phase 2 they needed to…

“….just suck it up and go with it….”

Ata from 2Shakes with DIA at Bookkeepcon

Read More

We have now launched our Anti Money Laundering (AML/CFT) extensions into production – yay! 2Shakes have extended our onboarding software to help you comply with AML/CFT legislation. Want to find out more?  Take a look at what Sue Pak from Xero has to say about 2Shakes in her blog post. Or contact 2Shakes to request a demo or to participate in one of our FREE 30 minute webinairs.

Read More

2Shakes AML gets Ready to Roll

2Shakes Anti Money Laundering (AML/CFT) extensions are ready to launch. All our research, design and technical wizardry from the past year has been released into our BETA environment for final feedback.

We have done loads of demonstrations to AML compliance experts, lawyers, accountants, bookkeepers and government representatives, and we’ve had great feedback.

We’ll now be inviting all our 2Shakes users in NZ to try the beta software from this week, which will give everyone a chance to see how we can help with AML, and help prepare for their Phase 2 release date.

If you are affected by AML Phase 2 don’t put off getting ready. If you deliver in-scope services then you’ll need to comply.  We have some information about it on our website 2Shakes AML section or check out the AML section of DIA’s website.

Whatever you do, get on top of it now. You could see it as a useful opportunity for you to put in some excellent onboarding processes.

2Shakes AML Further Info

Read More

This retrospective, goes through month by month the 2Shakes journey of the last 2 years as we have iterated, experimented.  Thank you to everyone who has help us on our journey.

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This 2Shakes update focuses to Anti-Money Laundering (AML/CFT). We are also releasing some software features to help with different versions of agreements created in 2Shakes.

It’s coming: Will AML impact you? 

Read More