Team Lead – Data Engineering

The new Xero Accounting app navigation: what's changing and why it matters. If you use Xero's Accounting app on your phone, you may soon notice a refreshed look and feel. Xero is releasing an updated navigation experience in the Xero Accounting app for iOS and Android. The purpose of this update is to help users find what they need faster and navigate more clearly to the features they're looking for. All customers will receive access over the coming months once the update is released. (Source: Xero Central) Below is a practical overview of what's changing - and what it means for everyday use Xero has redesigned the app's navigation to make it clearer and easier to use, particularly when you're looking for specific features A refreshed navigation experience The main change is an update to how you move around the app. Xero has redesigned the app's navigation to make it clearer and easier to use, particularly when you're looking for specific features. The refreshed navigation is intended to reduce confusion and make it simpler to get to the right place without unnecessary steps. This is a design update rather than a change to how features work - the focus is on clarity and accessibility. An updated navigation bar The navigation bar at the bottom of the screen has been updated. As part of this change: - Dashboard has been renamed to Home - Contacts has been replaced by Menu These updates are designed to make it clearer where to go when you're looking for features or information in the app. A new Menu that lists all features The new Menu is a central place to access all features available in the Xero Accounting app. You can use the Menu to: - Locate features across the app - Access shortcuts to key areas such as invoices owed, bills to pay, and contacts Rather than navigating through multiple screens, the Menu brings everything together in one place. A relocated "Create new" button The Create new (+) icon has been moved to the bottom of the screen, just above the navigation bar. Tapping this icon allows you to quickly create new items such as: - Invoices - Bills - Quotes - Purchase orders - Contacts - Files This change makes it easier to start common tasks from anywhere in the app. Easier access to profile and organisation details There is now a user profile icon in the top left corner of the Home screen. From the profile screen, you can: - Manage your account details - Update notification settings - Contact Xero support - Log out - View Xero's terms of use and privacy notice Your organisation name also appears at the top of the Home screen. Tapping it lets you: - View organisation details - Navigate to Files - View subscription details (if you're the subscriber) - Switch between organisations (if you have access to more than one) What this means for day-to-day use This update is focused on navigation clarity, not adding complexity or changing core functionality. The refreshed layout is designed to: - Help users locate features more easily - Reduce unnecessary navigation steps - Make the app simpler to use, especially when working on the go Everything you already do in the app still works - it's just organised more clearly. When will you see the update? The refreshed navigation is rolling out gradually. Once it's available to you: - Update to the latest version of the Xero Accounting app - The new navigation will appear automatically No additional setup is required. Tashly Consulting Xero Bookkeepers Adelaide are Registered BAS Agents #86318001, and Tashlyconsulting is dedicated to providing seamless, high-quality, transparent bookkeeping services - If you would like any further information please contact Tashlyconsulting via telephone (08) 8121 4424 or via email to discover how the multi-award-winning team at Tashly Consulting can help you better manage your business bookkeeping. Tashly Consulting Xero Bookkeepers Adelaide - Not your average Bean Counter! Disclaimer: All or any advice contained in this blog/newsletter is of a general nature only & may not apply to your individual business circumstances. For specific advice relating to your specific situation, please contact your accountant or other professional adviser for further discussion.

New in Xero Payroll - Employee Self Onboarding. Xero has introduced an employee self onboarding feature within Xero Payroll designed to streamline how new employees provide their payroll information. Rather than manually collecting and re-keying forms, employers can invite new starters to securely enter their own details online, improving efficiency and accuracy in the onboarding process. [visit central.xero.com for more information] How Xero Employee Self-Onboarding Works Using the Payroll menu, employers send an onboarding request to a new employee with just their name and email address. The employee completes a secure online form, providing their required details, and submits it back through Xero. Sensitive information remains protected through the process. [visit central.xero.com for more information] Once submitted, the onboarding does not automatically create an employee - Instead, Xero requires a review and approval step: - You receive an email notification when employee details are ready for review - You can review, edit, and either "Save and continue" to finalise, or reject the submission - Only approved data flows through to become an official employee record in Xero Payroll Important note: While Xero does provide email notifications and an approval workflow, there is no dedicated onboarding status report. Oversight relies on notifications and manual review within the Payroll menu rather than a standalone reporting view. Information Collected During Self Onboarding The self onboarding form captures key payroll information required for compliant payroll processing, including: - Date of birth, gender, address, phone numbers, emergency details - Tax declarations - Superannuation nominations - Bank account details for wage payments Once approved, this data integrates directly into Xero Payroll, reducing duplication and the risk of transcription errors. Record Keeping Obligations: A Critical Reminder While Xero's self onboarding simplifies data collection, employers remain legally responsible for record keeping. Under Fair Work legislation, general employment records must be kept for at least seven years. These include employee details, pay records, hours worked, allowances, and leave information. Records must be accessible, legible, and retained even if your systems change. [visit fairwork.gov.au for more information] Its Recommendation Tashlyconsulting strongly recommend regularly downloading and securely storing employee records outside of your accounting or payroll software. This ensures: - Continued access if you change software providers - Protection if a subscription is closed - Compliance assurance during audits or Fair Work reviews Maintaining independent record backups is a simple but vital compliance safeguard for every employer. See its blog post about employee self-onboarding tools here: [read article] If you'd like guidance on implementing Xero's self onboarding feature or managing compliant payroll record keeping, feel free to get in touch with its team. Tashly Consulting Xero Bookkeepers Adelaide are Registered BAS Agents #86318001, and Tashlyconsulting is dedicated to providing seamless, high-quality, transparent bookkeeping services - If you would like any further information please contact Tashlyconsulting via telephone (08) 8121 4424 or via email to discover how the multi-award-winning team at Tashly Consulting can help you better manage your business bookkeeping. Tashly Consulting Xero Bookkeepers Adelaide - Not your average Bean Counter! Disclaimer: All or any advice contained in this blog/newsletter is of a general nature only & may not apply to your individual business circumstances. For specific advice relating to your specific situation, please contact your accountant or other professional adviser for further discussion.