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The AI Advantage: How the award-winning "Emerging Advisory Firm of the Year" uses Aider
Customer Case Study
Hipp Accounting officially started in 2015 when Susi Hipp (Matthias Hipp’s mother), couldn’t find a job and decided to start her own accounting firm after completing her degree in business and accountancy. Her first client was Matthias’ father and over the years the business grew naturally, attracting more clients. By 2019, the workload had increased, and Matthias, who was still farming at the time, started helping out with GST returns for extra income. Then COVID hit, demand surged, and Matthias and Susi got a glimpse into advisory work, beyond the compliance side of accounting.
Susi asked Matthias to join full-time, proposing that they either scale or maintain the status quo. Though initially hesitant, Matthias agreed to jump all in, with the condition that they focus on growing the business together. While juggling farming and studies, Matthias moved into the office, taking on more advisory work, which aligned with his true passion:
“I’ve always been more interested in helping clients achieve results, rather than just focusing on compliance tasks,” Matthias explains.
Their complementary skills helped set a long-term vision for Hipp Accounting. As the advisory side expanded, they brought on their first employee to handle compliance work, freeing Matthias to dive deeper into advisory services. A key moment was when they worked with the buyer of Matthias' father’s business, who then became their first advisory client. Helping the new owner grow the business while continuing his father’s legacy, was a very rewarding experience.
"Aider blew me away," he says. "We got chatting and learned more about Aider, and the more I use it, the more I'm falling in love with AI."
Matthias believes AI will enhance accounting jobs, not replace them. "AI isn’t going to take the accountant’s job, but the accountant that embraces AI will. It’s allowing us to serve more clients, more effectively."
Seeing the transformation when clients understand their business strategies is what drives him. One client, a subcontractor, wanted to buy the business he worked for but didn’t know where to start. Matthias helped him secure financing, create a business plan, and worked with him monthly. Over time, the client went from sole trader to successful business owner, an example of how advisory work can be transformative.
Initially, much of the firm’s knowledge was in Susi’s head, and they needed systems to scale. "We’ve experimented with plenty of tools," he says. "Finding the right mix is key." He highlights Aider as particularly valuable for picking up discrepancies quickly. “It’s amazing how much time it saves when you’re not waiting until year-end to catch things,” Matthias notes.
“The person you are is more important than the skillset you bring, because skills can be taught,” he says.
While Hipp Accounting values fun, they also expect a strong work ethic. “When it’s time to work, you’ve got to have a certain work ethic,” he adds. The firm is focused on continuous improvement, supporting the community, and staying curious, always looking for new ways to grow and help clients achieve their goals.
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