STONE Accounting Group: Building a Connected Global Network Around Local Expertise
As businesses grow more connected across borders, accounting firms are rethinking how they support clients and operate beyond their home markets. The global market for SME cross-border payments is projected to grow by 54%, from US$13.8 trillion in 2024 to US$21.2 trillion by 2032, reflecting the increasing volume of international transactions that smaller businesses must manage. For STONE Accounting Group, this changing environment has driven a steady evolution from an Australian practice into a global network, now spanning Australia, Japan, Vietnam and, most recently, Canada.
Accounting is, by nature, local. Regulations, tax systems and business norms differ from market to market, making on-the-ground knowledge essential. STONE does not replace this with a centrally imposed approach. Each office brings its own understanding of the market in which it operates, while working within a shared framework for quality, professional standards and client care.
STONE's connected model reflects a broader view of accounting, not simply as a compliance function, but as a discipline that helps businesses make informed decisions, respond to change and grow with greater confidence.
According to Lydia Atwell, Executive Director of STONE Accounting Group, the next stage of the Group’s development will focus not only on expanding its geographic presence, but also on strengthening how its network operates.
“Growth is not simply about opening more offices. It is about giving our professionals better ways to work together and creating a stronger operating platform around them. SMART automation can reduce repetitive work and improve consistency, while SMART outsourcing allows firms to access the right capabilities without losing focus on their clients, their market or the relationships they have built locally.”
This direction reflects a wider shift across the profession. In 2025, 21% of tax, audit and accounting firms reported using generative AI at an enterprise level, up from 8% in 2024. As adoption accelerates, the focus is increasingly moving beyond technology itself towards how firms can integrate automation into their operations while preserving professional judgement and the quality of client relationships.
For STONE, technology and shared resources are intended to support professionals rather than replace their judgement. Used deliberately, they can give teams greater capacity to focus on advisory work, client relationships and the business decisions where human experience remains essential.
The model creates value on both sides of the relationship. Accounting professionals gain the opportunity to work within a broader international community while continuing to build practices shaped by their own markets. Clients, in turn, benefit from advisers who remain closely connected to local conditions while drawing on broader perspectives and expertise when needed, particularly as more businesses operate across multiple jurisdictions. The strength of the network lies not in making every practice the same, but in allowing distinct local capabilities to work more effectively together.
The launch of STONE's new global domain, stoneacc.com, is a tangible step in this direction. Moving from an Australian domain to a global platform reflects the Group's growth beyond its original market and brings its expanding presence under one clear identity. The domain itself is not the story. It is a visible marker of a shift already under way, giving professionals, partners and clients a single point of connection as STONE introduces its offices, shares expertise and develops its presence in new markets.
STONE's next chapter will be shaped by the professionals and firms that become part of the network, bringing their own market knowledge while contributing to a wider international community. Its progress will not be measured by geographic reach alone, but by how well it sustains local relevance, strengthens collaboration and turns a shared global direction into practical value for both its members and clients.