Grant Thornton and Xero launch pro bono program for women-owned businesses
Grant Thornton Canada, in partnership with accounting software firm Xero, has launched “Business Boost,” a pro bono program delivering business consulting and software to women-owned small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Women have been disproportionally impacted by the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 200,000 women falling into long-term unemployment as of January 2021, according to Statistics Canada. Women accounted for approximately two-thirds of jobs in hospitality and retail, as well as two-thirds of part-time jobs, which were especially susceptible to job losses in the pandemic era.
Grant Thornton’s Business Boost program will provide up to five women-owned SMEs with a complimentary custom cloud ecosystem. The program includes a free two-year subscription to Xero accounting software, up to 15 hours of cloud accounting services – including setup and support – from a Grant Thornton advisor, training on the cloud accounting ecosystem, and the setup of key performance indicators to measure success.
“Grant Thornton is committed to helping businesses and communities thrive. That includes supporting women-owned small businesses who continue to face unique challenges amid these uncertain times,” said Kevin Ladner, CEO of Grant Thornton Canada.
Grant Thornton’s cloud accounting practice helps clients leverage SaaS platforms such as Xero that help businesses automate tedious tasks, seamlessly collaborate with advisors, and even replace traditional bookkeepers depending on the size of the operation.
Cloud accounting software provides remote access to data on a variety of devices and streamlines and automates document management, payroll, and payments. It also provides greater visibility into finance operations, including the ability to better monitor and forecast cash flow and track KPIs.
Xero is a popular accounting SaaS option for small businesses, with over 2.7 million subscribers globally.
“We know these last 18 months have been hard for all Canadian SMBs, but that women in particular have been disproportionately impacted,” Faye Pang, Xero’s Canada country manager, said. “We hope to help complement and build upon the great work these women are already doing so they get time back to focus on doing what they love.”
Applications for the first cohort of the program are being accepted until November 5 on Grant Thornton Canada’s website.
