Accounting Software Interfaces
Village does not replace your accounting software. It interfaces with whichever system you use — or plan to use. The goal is practical: your invoices, receipts, and time data flow into your accounting system without manual re-entry. If your current system is non-sovereign, Village can bridge the gap until you are ready to move.
Design principle: Village never locks you into a single accounting provider. All financial data can be exported in standard formats (CSV, PDF, JSON). Integrations are opt-in and can be disconnected at any time without data loss.
Available Interfaces
Xero is widely used in NZ and Australia. Village can sync invoices, receipts, and expenses to your Xero organisation via OAuth. Your accountant sees transactions in real time.
Sovereignty consideration
Xero stores all data on Amazon Web Services (AWS) servers in the United States (Chicago, Dallas). Under the US CLOUD Act (2018), US authorities can compel AWS to provide data regardless of where it is stored or who owns it. This applies to NZ and Australian Xero users.
- NZ IRD exemption (Section 22(8)(a), Tax Administration Act 1994) permits offshore storage but does not address CLOUD Act jurisdictional exposure
- For EU users: GDPR Standard Contractual Clauses apply, but the EU-US Data Privacy Framework faces ongoing CJEU challenge (appeal filed October 2025)
- Physical server location does not determine jurisdiction — ownership of the infrastructure does
Village position: Xero integration is available as an opt-in for organisations that currently use it. We do not recommend it for new deployments where data sovereignty is a priority. NZ GST (15%) and AU GST (10%) are fully supported.
MYOB Advanced is hosted on AWS Sydney (ap-southeast-2), keeping data physically in Australia rather than the US. It provides NZ GST, PAYE, and Australian BAS/GST compliance out of the box.
Sovereignty note: AWS Sydney is physically closer but AWS is a US company. CLOUD Act exposure persists. MYOB is an improvement over US-hosted Xero but not fully sovereign.
Status: Interface planned. Contact us if MYOB integration is a priority for your Village.
Odoo is a full-featured open-source ERP: accounting, CRM, inventory, invoicing, and payroll in one system. The Community Edition is free and can be self-hosted on sovereign infrastructure — including Catalyst Cloud (NZ-owned, ISO 27001, all-of-government approved).
- NZ GST compliance module (l10n_nz) — pre-configured for IRD GST return
- Bank statement import via OFX/QIF (automated direct feeds require Odoo Enterprise)
- No CLOUD Act exposure when self-hosted on NZ infrastructure
- Data never leaves your jurisdiction
Status: Interface planned. Odoo is our recommended sovereign accounting path for NZ and Australian organisations. Village will provide a bridge for organisations migrating from Xero.
ERPNext is a fully open-source ERP built on the Frappe framework. It handles accounting, invoicing, inventory, and project management. Self-hostable on any infrastructure.
- GST framework available (NZ-specific configuration required)
- Multi-currency and multi-company support
- No licensing fees — fully open source (GPL)
Status: Interface planned for organisations that use ERPNext as their primary system.
Lightweight open-source accounting for small organisations. Invoicing, expenses, bank connections, and reporting. Simpler than Odoo or ERPNext — suitable for community organisations and small committees.
Status: Under evaluation for community and governance Villages that need basic financial tracking without full ERP complexity.
Comparison
| Software | Sovereignty | NZ GST | AU GST | Self-host | Cost | Village Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xero | Caution | Yes | Yes | No | From NZD $33/mo | Live (opt-in) |
| MYOB | Partial | Yes | Yes | No | From AUD $25/mo | Planned |
| Odoo CE | Sovereign | Yes | Yes | Yes | Free (self-host) | Planned |
| ERPNext | Sovereign | Partial | Yes | Yes | Free (self-host) | Planned |
| Akaunting | Sovereign | Limited | Limited | Yes | Free (self-host) | Evaluating |
How It Works
Village accounting interfaces are one-way data bridges. Your Village generates invoices, tracks time, and records expenses. When you connect an accounting system, that data flows into your accounting software automatically. Your accountant works in their preferred tool. You work in Village.
- Opt-in: No data flows anywhere until you explicitly connect
- Disconnect any time: Your Village data stays, only the sync stops
- Export always available: CSV, PDF, and JSON export regardless of integration
- Multiple systems: Future releases will support simultaneous connections (e.g., Xero now, Odoo later)
Other jurisdictions (UK VAT, EU VAT, US sales tax) are in development. NZ and Australia are the current focus. Contact us if your jurisdiction is a priority.