Accounting Mistakes Startups Are Making (And How to Fix Them)

Financial mistakes can quietly drain runway, delay funding, and create long-term risks for startups. In this practical session, Ruben Portz (COO, Novabook) and Tom Kelly (Chartered Accountant & Chief of Staff, Novabook) break down the most common accounting errors founders make and the simple fixes that keep your startup investor-ready and compliant.

Whether you're pre-seed, scaling fast, or preparing for your next raise, you’ll leave with actionable systems, templates, and financial best practices you can apply immediately.

What You’ll Learn

• The filings and compliance steps founders often miss
• Bookkeeping hacks that prevent costly errors
• VAT & payroll setups that save thousands
• Smarter cash, expenses, and R&D credit management
• Tax-efficient tactics most early founders overlook

About the Speakers

Ruben Portz

COO, Novabook

Former Head of Growth at Seneca Learning, where he helped scale the company to its acquisition by GoStudent. Ruben brings hands-on insight into how financial missteps quietly grow into expensive problems at scale and exit.

Tom Kelly

Chartered Accountant & Chief of Staff, Novabook

With 5+ years at PwC and experience supporting 300+ tech startups, Tom specialises in helping founders get accounting, compliance, and financial systems right from day one.

About Novabook

Novabook is the accountant built for startups. Their software-plus-accountant model helps founders save time, reduce admin, and stay fully compliant across bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, taxes, and more. Trusted by 500+ startups, Novabook keeps teams focused on building not paperwork.