We’ve been building this since 2003—
nice to finally meet you.
We started building online accounting software in London back in 2003—because we were contractors ourselves and couldn’t believe we were still faxing forms and emailing spreadsheets. Today, Joy Pilot is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, with our team spread across New Zealand, the UK, South Africa and Canada.
Built since 2003 · Contractor-first · Global by design
What makes us tick (besides coffee)
We like building tools that make life simpler, less stressful, and more affordable—so you can stay in control and spend more time living the life you’re building.
Inquisitive
We never let ourselves get too comfortable. We re-check assumptions, learn fast, and keep improving what matters most to users.
Action & accountability
We celebrate wins—and we own the misses. Shipping, learning, fixing, and moving forward is the job.
Purpose
We’re accountants and programmers from a contracting background—so we understand the “why” and the “how”, and we build what you actually need.
Built since 2003 · Contractor-first · Global by design
We started building online accounting software in London in 2003—because we were contractors and the tools were painfully behind. Since then, we’ve been early to the shifts that matter (digital filing, open banking, automation, AI)—and stubborn about one thing: making powerful tools accessible without punishing pricing.
Flat monthly pricing from day one
We launched with a simple flat monthly fee—one of the first in the industry to do it. No percentage of turnover, no “success tax,” no surprises. While everyone else was charging more the better you did, we believed capability shouldn’t be gated behind complicated pricing. That principle hasn’t changed.
The spark
Contractors in London, stuck with fax and spreadsheets—so we started building one of the earliest online accounting platforms, designed around a contractor’s real weekly workflow.
Flat monthly pricing from day one
Launched No Worries Company Services with a flat monthly fee—pioneering the model while others still charged a percentage of turnover.
Banking, made less painful
First office, first hires—and a partnership with HSBC to streamline bank setup for new contractors.
Built for real-world workflows
Legislation drives growth; we help freelancers email invoices straight to recruitment firms from inside the software.
Still pushing for digital
As government systems slowly modernised, we kept advocating for smoother online filing and more connected compliance workflows.
Mobile core accounting
A new web app lets users complete core accounting tasks from their phones—because accounting happens in real life, not just at desks.
Rebuilt for what was coming next
Re-released as Simplifi and rebuilt as a modern API platform with a refreshed UX/UI—ready for integrations, automation, and rapid iteration.
Making Tax Digital
HMRC approached us to collaborate on Making Tax Digital, and at 08:43 on 1 June 2018, we filed the world’s first MTD return.
Open Banking + AI foundations
Open-banking compliant bank feeds, payroll integrations, and AI-enabled receipt scanning—early building blocks for smarter reconciliation.
Cloud-first proves itself
When the world went remote, our distributed, cloud-based setup scaled seamlessly across NZ, the UK, Canada and South Africa.
Joy Pilot opens access
Joy Pilot becomes a standalone product—no need to be an accounting client. We expanded from 12 currencies to 174, with FX rates updated every 3 hours.
NZ bank feeds + stronger foundations
Akahu bank feeds for NZ users, major security hardening, and stronger FX handling in reconciliation.
Fresh look, smarter expenses
A reimagined Joy Pilot brand, AI that helps you log expenses in seconds, and region-aware number formatting—so your figures look right whether you’re in London, Berlin or Auckland.
AI + voice takes flight
Voice-enabled invoicing and expenses, your accountant can now log in alongside you, and an AI receipt scanner—capturing the books at the moment work happens.
Bank matching, handled for you
AI now matches your bank transactions automatically—less time ticking off bank lines, more time on billable work. Plus a faster, more reliable platform under the hood.
Always up to date
Live updates so you always see the latest picture of your finances, smoother document handling, and stronger security—your data stays safe and your books stay current.
The main engine room
We’re a small, focused team. We build fast, we support properly, and we care a lot about making accounting feel lighter.
Greg Hanton
Founder
Carrot cake wins every time
Helen McMurtrie
Founder, Customer Success (NZ)
Flat white + fresh croissant
Theo Gibbons
Chief Developer
Candy bars & boiled eggs
Candice Fourie
Customer Success (UK)
Koeksisters + rooibos tea
Real people. Real books. Real relief.
I’ve followed Joy Pilot from the beginning, and I’m always impressed by how quickly they turn ideas into useful improvements. It just keeps getting better.
Shane C.
Genuinely great/easy to use tech platform … so much more effective and modern than traditional accountants through their use of technology.
Pete D.
I feel much more in control of my bookkeeping now, spend far less time on it, and love being able to see my tax brackets clearly, so I worry much less about getting caught out.
Ann-Marie W.
What the future holds
We’re always looking for the next way to remove friction—less admin, more clarity, more automation that feels like help (not hassle).
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Always looking for better ways to do things—we ship updates regularly, driven by real user feedback and real-world testing.
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Always keeping up with what’s changing—from open banking and AI to new compliance requirements, we stay ahead so you don’t have to.
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Always listening to users—and shipping improvements fast. Your feedback shapes what we build next.
Have a cuppa. We’ll handle it. Next up
Slick payment processing, smarter automation, and tools that keep you in the driver’s seat—not buried in admin or oblivious of what tax you pay.
Built in the open
Accounting shouldn’t feel like a members-only club. We’re building Joy Pilot to demystify the numbers and speed up the process—for contractors, freelancers, and sole traders doing the work.
Because if there’s one thing we know about being your own boss, it’s that you’re time-poor. That means less jargon, more clarity, and tools that help you stay compliant and make confident decisions without needing a translation guide.
Ready to see what all the fuss is about?
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