Xero expands Chaney partnership with Melio payments

Xero has expanded its partnership with Chaney & Associates, adding Melio to the accounting firm's existing setup.

The arrangement is designed to centralise accounting, payroll and cross-border payments for the churches and faith-based non-profits served by Chaney & Associates, which has worked with Xero since 2012.

Chaney & Associates, a CPA firm focused on churches and faith-based organisations, has built its client service model around Xero's software. It has now integrated Melio's payment tools into its client-facing dashboard through Xero's open API.

The move is intended to support annual growth of about 50 new client organisations while reducing the need for clients to use separate financial systems. Many customers manage international mission activity, outreach funds and non-profit tax requirements, creating a need for accounting and payment tools that work across borders.

Integrated workflow

The updated setup brings together core accounting records, payroll processes and bill payments in a single workflow. Clients can use one interface for tasks that would otherwise sit across several systems, while Chaney & Associates can manage a larger book of business through its proprietary platform.

The integration also shows how accounting firms are using connected financial software to tailor services for specialist sectors. Here, the focus is on churches ranging from small start-ups to large congregations, where operational structures and reporting needs can differ from those of conventional businesses.

Jonathan Meltzer, Managing Director, US at Xero, said the partnership reflects how firms are adapting their service models around specific customer needs.

"Chaney & Associates is a strong example of how an accounting firm can build a future-forward practice by focusing on their clients' unique needs and then using technology to scale their support efficiently," said Jonathan Meltzer, Managing Director, US at Xero.

"Bringing Xero and Melio together is a powerful way to serve their clients, offering greater visibility into their financial performance and more control over how they manage payments across borders," Meltzer said.

Sector focus

Faith-based non-profits can face distinct administrative demands, particularly when sending funds overseas or supporting mission teams in multiple countries. Those tasks can add complexity to payment handling, internal oversight and compliance, especially for organisations without large in-house finance teams.

Chaney & Associates said its dashboard and advisory model are designed to address those issues by combining software with CPA-led support. Adding Melio's payment functions is intended to automate parts of the cross-border payment process while keeping financial information visible within the wider accounting system.

Steve Chaney, Founder and President of Chaney & Associates, described the practical role of each provider in the firm's setup.

"Xero provides the accounting foundation, and Melio connects bill payments within the Chaney & Associates financial system. Together with our customized dashboards, proven technology playbook, and CPA-led advisory, they help us deliver a seamless approach to financial management for churches of every size - from startups to megachurches - giving leaders the insight and guidance to move their mission forward," said Steve Chaney, Founder and President of Chaney & Associates.

The announcement also underlines Xero's broader push to deepen relationships with accounting firms that use its software as the basis for wider advisory work. Rather than selling only bookkeeping tools, software providers are increasingly seeking to become the central system through which firms manage payroll, payments and reporting for clients.

The trend is particularly relevant in specialist verticals such as non-profits, where firms can build repeatable service models around a narrow client base. By standardising workflows and embedding payment tools into a single platform, firms can support more organisations without expanding administrative work at the same pace.

Xero says it serves 5 million small businesses and accounting and bookkeeping professionals across more than 180 countries, giving it a broad footprint from which to develop such partnerships.