Accountants of tomorrow have a new hero in Xero. The cloud-based small business technology provider announced the launch of its Xero Learn solution this week, providing a new tool to improve financial literacy in the workplace and the classroom. Five institutions, including Swinburne University of Technology, University of Southern Queensland, Auckland University of Technology, Macquarie University, and AccountingPod, have already signed on to use the technology with their students.
“Xero Learn will revolutionize and future-proof the way educators teach their financial lessons,” Chief Partner Officer for Xero, Anna Curzon, said. Curzon underscored the number of schools and universities that have already embraced the technology, referring to the partnership as a “joint mission to empower the next generation of accountants, bookkeepers, and business owners with in-demand skills, knowledge, and job opportunities.”
Xero Learn helped the company earn Best Services Innovation honors at the Australian Financial Review (AFR) Innovation Awards this summer. The platform enables educators to establish business scenarios and gives students the ability to solve problems and work through tasks using Xero’s professional cloud accounting technology. Xero Learn can be integrated readily into business or accounting course curricula, and was “fine-tuned” in cooperation with more than 30 educational institutions during an early access program last year.
The company’s success with Xero Learn is only the most recent headline from the New Zealand-based fintech. In addition to opening new Americas headquarters in Denver, Colorado last month, Xero announced an integration with B2B payments platform and fellow Finovate alum, Paystand. The company acquired paperless accounting firm, Hubdoc in August, as well, and forged a strategic alliance with fellow Finovate alum Gusto in July. Earlier this year, Xero integrated with BBVA’s API Market for small businesses, launched Connected Accounting to give businesses better visibility into their finances, and partnered with IT management solutions provider, Kaseya.
Xero is a publicly traded company, headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, and trades on the Australian Stock Exchange under the ticker, XRO. Founded in 2006, the company has a market capitalization of $4.6 billion ($7 billion NZD) and 2018 revenues of more than $262 million ($400 million NZD).