Reimagining Cashflow: Universal Contra-Accounts Explained

Course Outline

Course Overview

You know that if you owe me $50 and I owe you $30, we just settle the difference. Businesses do this too — and with a Universal Contra-Account, a company can do it across all its customers and suppliers at once, so much less cash is tied up, invoices net off, and payment risk disappears.

Cashflow problems are often structural — everyone chasing cash. Traditional solutions — loans, invoice finance, extended payment terms — reduce the pressure but add cost and complexity. They treat the symptom rather than the cause. The banks have been doing this between themselves for hundreds of years, netting off approximately $300 billion daily in Australia. Meanwhile, Australian SMEs hold approximately $470 billion in outstanding receivables on any given day — still waiting to be paid gross.

This course introduces Universal Contra-Accounts (UCAs): a mechanism that coordinates multilateral invoice netting across businesses that each hold a UCA. Rather than each invoice requiring a payment, only the net balance settles. The result is a fundamental shift in how cashflow is managed — less friction, less financing, simplified accounting, and far fewer payments.

This course provides 2 CPD hours of practical online training (2 modules)

Who should enrol

This course is designed for professionals who work closely with SME clients — particularly those with authority to advise on, or act on, cashflow and working capital strategy. This includes:

• Bookkeepers
• Accounting firm managers and senior accountants
• Virtual CFOs
• Business advisors and consultants
• Anyone involved in client cashflow, working capital, or financial strategy

It is particularly relevant where clients:

• Experience regular cashflow pressure
• Rely on loans or invoice finance
• Carry high volumes of receivables and payables across a regular customer and supplier base

Course Content

Course Structure

Module 1: Rethinking Cashflow

• Cashflow problems are often structural — not simply a matter of timing
• Traditional tools add cost and dependency without addressing the underlying issue
• Payment delays and manual reconciliation create ongoing friction that compounds over time
• Universal Contra-Accounts introduce a fundamentally different model: netting invoices rather than settling each one individually

Module 2: Universal Contra-Accounts in Practice

• A UCA coordinates invoice netting across all businesses that hold one
• Cash moves only for net balances — reducing payment volumes and the admin that comes with them
• The result is lower financing costs, less reconciliation effort, and reduced payment risk
• Accounting professionals are well placed to identify suitable clients and guide implementation

Outcome

Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how Universal Contra-Accounts work and why they represent a structural improvement over conventional cashflow tools. They will be able to identify which clients stand to benefit, explain the concept with confidence, and take the first practical steps toward implementation.

Course Expert

The course is presented by Dr Richard Johnsson, founder and CEO of Clearitt and the Sirius Institute. Dr Johnsson is an economist and financial strategist with a global background in banking and financial services. He brings both academic rigour and practical experience to the subject — offering a clear, credible account of how Universal Contra-Accounts work and what they mean for SME cashflow management in practice.

Course Structure

• Learners can complete courses at a place that suits them, within and outside work hours
• Each learner will have a dedicated login to give them personal access to their course
• Module material includes online presentations, workbooks, PowerPoint Slides, templates, scripts and articles
• All modules also incorporate formal qualitative assessment tasks that encourage learners to develop practical actions demonstrating understanding of the concepts
• All assessment tasks are scored, with directed feedback to learners on their response
• As the learner progresses, they develop their personal SMART action list to drive change
• Managers are able to see at a glance how their staff are progressing
• All learners have access to course content for 12 months following their enrolment

Learning Process

Our self-paced eLearning courses follow a 4-step process in relation to learning objectives:

All modules are structured with specific learning objectives and assessment tasks. Learners are expected to demonstrate that they understand learning objectives and can apply concepts through completion of the assessment tasks. A SMART action planning template is used to consolidate specific actions and to ensure that a timeframe for completion is established and followed. Regular review of progress is ensured through commitment to completing the course.