Australian software company Practice Ignition’s latest funding round from several high profile backers takes its total seed funding to $650,000.

New investors included the co-founder of MYOB and early Xero investor Craig Winkler, Stuart McLeod, Xero’s vice president of payroll, software developer Trineo and a number of accountants.

The former accountant came up with the idea of streamlining the engagement process and managing client interaction in 2012 and launched the app in January 2013.

“The funding validates Practice Ignition as a tool for smart accountants now and in the future and allows our team to speed up our delivery of software to our customers. It’s a great feeling!” said Practice Ignition CEO Guy Pearson.

Pearson said the key to securing funding was finding investors who understood the need for Practice Ignition and believed in the move of accountants to the cloud. The investment would drive market growth through hiring staff, including an enablement team member for new practices signing up.

“Our short term goal is to build out Practice Ignition so that every small/medium accounting practice globally can be onboard and roll over their clients using Practice Ignition and remove the administration cost. Particularly those looking to move online and using value based pricing methodology or monthly retainers,” Pearson said.

Practice Ignition aimed to become the benchmark of client service enablement and to help SMBs find the right advice for their needs beyond the accounting industry. Practice Ignition was used by over 400 accounting practices in 20 countries.