Elizabeth Kirchner, Director of Partnerships at Aiwyn, has spent the last four years building strong relationships across the accounting tech ecosystem. She’s played a key role in shaping how Aiwyn shows up as a partner, from driving integrations that matter to championing collaboration that moves the profession forward.
In this edition of Behind the Build, Elizabeth shares her perspective on where the profession is headed, what meaningful partnerships look like, and why firm innovation depends on working together.
Q1: Share a little bit about yourself and your role at Aiwyn.
A: I’ve been with Aiwyn since nearly the beginning, and currently serve as Director of Partnerships. My role centers around building and growing strategic relationships—whether that’s with referral partners, technology vendors, or ecosystem allies. I spend a lot of time figuring out how to bring value to our firm customers through thoughtful collaboration. Because I’ve worked closely with Sales, Customer Success, Product, and Marketing over the years, I bring a cross-functional lens to how we activate partnerships in a way that’s relevant and useful to the firms we serve.
Q2: Over the past four years with Aiwyn, what shifts have you seen in the accounting profession?
A: It’s been a transformative period. At a macro level, the profession has moved from a place of curiosity about tech to a place of strategic adoption. There’s also been a cultural shift—a recognition that capacity challenges and changing client expectations require firms to operate differently. That shift has elevated the role of operations, innovation, and transformation leaders within firms. We’re also seeing more intentionality around software investments—firms are no longer looking for “point solutions,” they’re looking for platforms and partners that drive long-term value.
Q3: How do you see the role of vendor relationships evolving as firms become more tech-savvy?
A: Firms are demanding more than just product—they want partnership. The vendors that are winning are those that understand firm workflows, educate thoughtfully, and work together to drive real adoption. As firms become more tech-savvy, they’re also becoming more discerning. They expect vendors to collaborate across systems, reduce friction, and support them through change. It’s less about “selling software” and more about building trust and enabling transformation.
Q4: Why should firms care about how well their software integrates? What’s at stake if they don’t?
A: Disjointed systems create friction—for staff and for clients. Poor integration means more manual work, more context switching, and ultimately less value from the technology investment. On the flip side, great integration unlocks efficiency, improves data integrity, and enhances the client experience. If firms aren’t thinking about integration, they risk burnout, poor adoption, and missed ROI. It’s no longer optional—it’s foundational to modern firm operations.
Q5: How do you see collaboration driving the industry forward?
A: This industry is built on relationships, and the same is true in tech. When vendors, firms, and other ecosystem players collaborate, we accelerate change. Whether it’s co-developing integrations, sharing best practices, or supporting firm innovation teams, collaboration ensures we’re not solving in silos. It also creates space for more voices—especially from firm leaders who are shaping what “future-ready” looks like. I think we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible when collaboration is the norm.
Q6: What’s something you’re excited to see shift or mature in the accounting tech ecosystem over the next few years?
A: I’m excited to see a move toward connected platforms and more open ecosystems. The past decade was about digitizing core processes—what’s next is about orchestrating them. I think we’ll see more APIs, more interoperability, and more willingness to share data across systems in service of better client and staff experiences. I’m also hopeful that the industry will continue to elevate transformation leaders—the ones championing change within firms—and give them the tools and voice they need to drive impact.
