Accountancy Insights
In this podcast series from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), a panel of guests dissect the latest headlines and provide expert analysis on the top stories from across the world of business, finance and accountancy
Episodes
132 episodes
Accountancy Insights: Can businesses mitigate rising energy prices? Plus AI in audit, UK GAAP
Everyone’s talking about energy costs at the moment. Greenfields Energy Group’s co-founder LIAM CONWAY walks us through the energy impacts of the Iran War and outlines the best ways for businesses to protect themselves from global energy shocks...
Behind the Numbers: Is AI accelerating the brain drain?
AI is already having an impact on the make-up of audit teams and there’s some evidence it’s already reducing the number of junior roles. But it’s all still new, and developing all of the time. What about the medium and longer term effects? How ...
Accountancy Insights: What does the Iran conflict really mean for British Business?
We’ve already seen immediate spikes and fluctuations in the oil price and the wider financial and commodity markets. But how will the UK economy be affected in the months to come and how heavy a price will British Business pay? RSM Chief ...
Behind the Numbers: UK SRS – what’s in it, and the FCA consultation
UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) are bringing sustainability reporting in line with international standards. So who will be mandated to use them and how will they apply in practice? The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is consult...
Accountancy Insights: Corporate reporting is changing, MTD on the way
There’s just one month to go till Making Tax Digital kicks in for Income Tax; we take a look at how the transition will go. There’s also a lot happening in corporate reporting at the moment – Sally Baker brings us up to speed.Links
Behind the Numbers: How to get to the c-suite
This episode looks at routes to the C-suite, and the traits, skills and capabilities you’ll need to get you there. Accountants are highly represented in the C-suite, with one in four CEOs holding the qualification according to research by Rober...
Accountancy Insights: How to use AI in tax ethically, and group audit best practice
This episode covers AI and tax work and ISA 600 on group audits, following the release of two pieces of guidance on the topics. With several tax cases in which AI has been used and provided incorrect or misleading information, we ou...
Behind the Numbers: How the Celsius scandal is reshaping Crypto regulation
Celsius network claimed to be a safe place to trade digital currencies and assets. In reality, it was using customers’ money for its own ends. In the first Behind the Numbers of the New Year, we explore the collapse of digital currency platform...
Behind the Numbers: A World Cup bump, an AI slump? 2026 predictions
In the first episode of 2026, our usual team of soothsayers David Williamson, Frances Haque and Iain Wright review the events of the past 12 months, and look ahead to what we might expect in the coming year. Will 2026 be more of the sam...
Behind the Numbers: Best of 2025
With Christmas round the corner, we’ve put together a special best of episode of Behind the Numbers, featuring some of the most memorable conversations from throughout the year. From discussions of Trump and tariffs on our 10...
Accountancy Insights: Budget 25: where’s the growth?
This episode is all about the Budget. What was in it? What are the implications? Was there anything positive to glean from it? Stepping in for Philippa Lamb on this episode, Guy Ruddle speaks to the usual economic dream team of Sant...
Accountancy Insights: How should audit firms use AI?
This episode focuses on the integration of AI in audit processes, emphasising the need for practical guidance from the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to build industry confidence, especially with smaller firms. The conversation highlighted t...
Accountancy Insights: LLMs and spreadsheets, Companies House IDV, and the OBR’s role
In this episode, we’re exploring just how useful Large Language Models (LLMs) are when it comes to spreadsheets; what needs to happen by 18 November when it comes to Companies House ID verification; and how the OBR comes to its conclusions....
Behind the Numbers: How to bounce back from a cyber attack
In this episode, we discuss how prepared organisations really are for cyber attacks, what to do if and when your business is affected, and how to manage the communications challenges. We have a great case study from a company that suffered a cy...
Behind the Numbers: Dealing with uncertainty, and mental health
We’re all navigating uncertainty right now. How can accountants manage it professionally and personally? Riaz Shah OBE, former EY Partner and Professor of Practice at Hult International Business School, breaks down the biggest factors affecting...
Behind the Numbers: Should we compensate whistleblowers?
Whistleblowing is a vital process but often fraught with far more risk and emotional upheaval than it should be. In Western Europe, 43% of all occupational fraud cases come to light thanks to whistleblowers. And it’s not just fraud: cases from ...
Accountancy Insights: Kemi Badenoch on growth and the profession
In this special episode of Accountancy Insights, we bring you a timely interview of Kemi Badenoch by ICAEW’s Chief Executive Alan Vallance who sat down with her after a speech she gave at Chartered Accountants’ Hall.Badenoch talked about...
Accountancy Insights: Companies House update, scaling up smartly and the Next Generation ACA
Accountancy Insights explores the month’s top stories in the profession.In this episode, we discuss the introduction of four statutory instruments to enforce Companies House reform, as well as the common mistakes to avoid when scaling up...
Accountancy Insights: Can history teach us anything about digital money?
In this episode of Behind the Numbers, we explore what the history of money can tell us about its future.Currency has been evolving for thousands of years, but the pace of change has now escalated with the introduction of online banking ...
Accountancy Insights: Bonus episode - how to tackle late payments
ICAEW’s Iain Wright hosts a conversation with Emma Jones CBE, the government’s newly appointed Small Business Commissioner, in this special episode of Accountancy Insights. Jones discusses the Small Business Plan, launched on...
Accountancy Insights: Inside the Post Office Inquiry and new mid-tier research
In this episode, we discuss the findings of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry’s first report, including lessons for other companies around culture and values. We also explore ICAEW’s latest research into mid-tier practices, covering the key dr...
Behind the numbers: Appraising Starmer’s Labour
In this episode of Behind the Numbers, we discuss the hits and misses of the Labour government’s first year in power. While there have been some clear wins over the past 12 months, particularly on the international stage, dom...
Accountancy Insights: Inside the Industrial Strategy and navigating VAT reform
In this episode, we discuss the government’s new Industrial Strategy and, in particular, its sector plan for professional and business services with Iain Wright, ICAEW Chief Policy and Communications Officer. Iain is Chair of the Professional a...
Behind the numbers: Investment risk - lessons from Russia
In this episode of Behind the Numbers, we discuss how businesses can best navigate geopolitical risk. With the Trump administration’s push for tariffs, and wars taking place in Europe and the Middle East, doing business inter...
Accountancy Insights: Supporting SME growth and professional judgement in audit
In this episode, we discuss how SMEs can pursue growth in today’s environment of economic uncertainty, as well as explaining how auditors should be fulfilling their responsibilities to exercise professional judgement and scepticism. ...
