CLOUD accounting is reaching new heights for Sussex-based chartered accountants MHA Carpenter Box.

The firm, with offices in Worthing and Gatwick, has embarked on an exchange programme with an Australian firm of accountants.

There is a cloud accounting expert from each practice flying to the other side of their respective worlds to share best practice.

MHA Carpenter Box has welcomed Hayden Winters from Smart Business Solutions near Melbourne to its Worthing office on a four-month secondment.

At the same time, MHA Carpenter Box Accounts Senior David Taylor, a member of the firm’s ACCA training programme, has recently settled into life at the Melbourne firm.

Hayden said: “Although it’s been a bit chilly weather-wise, my first few weeks at MHA Carpenter Box have been outstanding.

“I’ve been given a really warm welcome by a great team with a great culture.”

During his time in Sussex, Hayden will be exchanging ideas with his new colleagues – particularly around cloud accounting and its add-on ecosystem.

The use of cloud technology is currently more embedded in Australian business culture, so Hayden’s expertise will help the Sussex firm.

He said: “

“Similar to MHA Carpenter Box, our clients increasingly look to us for services beyond conventional ‘number crunching’ and we are now positioned as business advisers as well as experts in business finance and tax.”

Hayden is from the south of Melbourne and graduated from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 2016 with an accounting degree.

He is now training on the Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand programme.

David Taylor, Hayden’s UK exchange buddy, is now settling into the Melbourne business community. He has worked extensively with Xero cloud accounting software.