Beyond Finance

Hosted by ICAEW

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Episodes

145

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

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. Prevously known as Accountancy Insights.

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October 20, 2026Episode 13747 min

How can business overcome its biggest challenges – live at ICAEW Conference

In this episode, recorded from ICAEW’s Annual Conference, we speak to the biggest speakers from across the day about the challenges facing businesses in a variety of sectors, and what can be done about them. From the economy to cybercrime and growing in unpredictable environments, we cover a lot of ground. You may also note the change of name: as the podcast has grown, it has attracted a broader audience. Our new name – Beyond Finance – reflects that broader remit, while still anchoring us to its finance and accountancy origins. Links Conference page - https://annualconference.icaew.com/event/c82cf3f3-7895-4ff6-83d4-02bbfd01faa0/summary?RefId=Speakershttps://annualconference.icaew.com/event/c82cf3f3-7895-4ff6-83d4-02bbfd01faa0/summary?RefId=Speakers Baroness Hazarika – political career - https://members.parliament.uk/member/5024/career ICAEW: The Economic backdrop to the Budget - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/sep-2026/suren-thiru-on-the-economic-backdrop-to-the-budget ICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord Host Philippa Lamb Guests Baroness Ayesha Hazarika Jo Fairley, Co-Founder, Green & Black’s Tim Doubleday, CFO, Burger King UK Ololade Adesanya, Global Head of Audit – Insurance, Asset Management, Branding and Marketing, HSBC Glenn Wilkinson, CEO, Agger Labs Neil Cutting, ICAEW Vice President/Transformation Director, Oracle Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 20 October Podcast recorded: 16 October

October 13, 2026Episode 13632 min

Behind the Numbers: Modernising Corporate Reporting – the big questions

In this special bonus episode, we hear exclusively from the Department for Business, Innovation Science and Trade (BIST) on the government’s plans for corporate reporting, the Modernising Corporate Reporting (MCR) agenda. It’s a potentially huge change and the government wants to implement it quickly, so now is the time to address its implications. In this episode, we run through the major changes and address some of the concerns expressed by preparers. Links ICAEW: Introduction to Moderinising Corporate Reporting - https://www.icaew.com/technical/corporate-reporting/corporate-reporting-resources/by-all-accounts/articles/2026/introducing-the-modernisation-of-corporate-reporting ICAEW MCR resources - http://www.icaew.com/mcr Government Modernising Corporate Reporting page - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/modernising-corporate-reporting ICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord Host Philippa Lamb Guests Debbie Crawshawe, Head of the Accounting and Audit Centre of Expertise, BIST Sally Baker, Corporate Reporting & Governance Director, ICAEW Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 14 October Podcast recorded: 9 October

October 6, 2026Episode 128 min

The Audit Report: What does Modernising Corporate Reporting mean for auditors?

On the first ever episode of The Audit Report – the podcast that looks at the factors shaping modern audit – we’re discussing the long-awaited consultation on Modernising Corporate Reporting. The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade is consulting on what it should look like. What could it mean for auditors? This, and all future episodes of The Audit Report, can be found under The Audit Report podcast, search "Audit Report" on your podcast provider. Links ICAEW: Modernising Corporate Reporting survey - https://www.icaew.com/technical/corporate-reporting/improving-corporate-reporting/modernising-corporate-reporting/mcr-have-your-say ICAEW: Government consults on sweeping reforms to modernise corporate reporting - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/sep-2026/gov-consults-on-sweeping-reforms-to-modernise-corporate-reporting ICAEW: Modernising Corporate Reporting hub - https://www.icaew.com/technical/corporate-reporting/improving-corporate-reporting/modernising-corporate-reporting ICAEW: Beyond finance podcast - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast ICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord Host Alex Russell Guests David Smith, Director of Quality and Professional Standards at Kreston Global Matt Stroh, Audit Partner, Compliance and Ethics, for Azets Katharine Bagshaw, Senior Manager, Audit Standards at ICAEW Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 6 October Podcast recorded: 28 September

October 6, 2026Episode 13536 min

Accountancy Insights: Is your identity at risk?

Cyber criminals spend much of their time working on identity theft. If you hold a responsible position in your organisation, they might very well be working on you. Or worse – they might be lurking in your smart coffee machine. Identity theft is now recognised as the best path to success for cyber criminals and with more and more information about ourselves and our organisations online, we make it easy for them. So how can we identify the likely targets on our workplace teams and protect our businesses? Links ICAEW: Cyber Security Awareness - https://www.icaew.com/technical/technology/cyber-security/cybercrime-awareness-month How identity fraud is changing in the age of AI - https://www.weforum.org/stories/artificial-intelligence/how-identity-fraud-is-increasing-in-the-age-of-ai/ NCSC internet of things guidance - https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/advice-guidance/all-topics/internet-of-things ICAEW CPD record - https://www.icaew.com/membership/cpd/online-cpd-record Host Philippa Lamb Guests Kay Daskalakis, Senior Solutions Architect, SpecterOps Oli Venn, Watchguard Technologies Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 8 October Podcast recorded: 23 September

September 10, 2026Episode 13430 min

Behind the Numbers: Healey's Budget options are narrowing

On 7 September, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey delivered a speech setting out his goals for the Budget, amid twitchiness in the bond markets. What did he hope to achieve, and what does it tell us about the Budget in October? We discuss the speech, the factors that are likely to shape the Budget, and what options the Chancellor has to encourage growth, balance tax and spend, and calm the markets. Transcript You can read the full transcript of this episode here -https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/behind-the-numbers/john-healeys-pre-budget-speech-what-does-it-tell-us/transcript Links John Healey’s speech - https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chancellor-john-healeys-growth-speech-2026 The bond market shock and what it means for Andy Burnham - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/bond-markets-andy-burnham-budget-uk-b3043257.html Jump in energy bills drives UK inflation to highest rate for four months - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdrv7jr8n74o Stock up on food to prepare for extreme weather - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp931m8n3p5o ICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord Host Philippa Lamb Guests Frances Haque, Chief Economist, Santander UK David Wooding, Political commentator and former Sunday Express Editor Suren Thiru, Chief Economist, ICAEW Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 10 September Podcast recorded: 7 September

August 27, 2026Episode 13335 min

Accountancy Insights: How did MTD go? The dangers of digital fraud

In this episode, we take a look at the government’s Fraud in the Digital Age report: what does it tell us about trends and what can businesses do to protect themselves? And with the first submissions deadline for Income Tax under the new Making Tax Digital system just passed - how did it go? We discuss the lessons learned for the next submission. Links ICAEW: HMRC to begin signing up taxpayers for MTD Income Tax - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/aug-2026/hmrc-to-begin-signing-up-taxpayers-for-mtd-income-tax ICAEW: Tax Track Podcast: are you (and HMRC) ready for MTD? - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/the-tax-track/mtd-live-are-you-and-hmrc-ready-for-mtd ICAEW: Making Tax Digital Hub - http://icaew.com/MTD Report Fraud - https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/ Fraud in the Digital Age - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fraud-in-the-digital-age ICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord Host Philippa Lamb Guests Katy Worobec, Fraud Prevention Consultant, A Jolly Consulting Lindsey Wicks, Senior Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 27 August Podcast recorded: 25 August

August 19, 2026Episode 13232 min

How to plan for a Russian test of NATO

For Business, faraway wars feel way closer than they used to. In the current volatile geopolitical environment, businesses need to consider planning for these events. So in this episode, we run through such an exercise: what if Russia tests NATO resolve by firing on Poland and amassing troops near the region? We explore this hypothetical but increasingly plausible scenario in this episode. Links Charles Hecker’s book - https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/zero-sum/ US intel finds Putin could test NATO’s resolve with limited incursion - https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/u-s-intel-finds-putin-could-test-natos-resolve-with-limited-incursion-e3b02e2c Atlantic Council on likely Russian attack on NATO - https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/western-weakness-is-encouraging-putin-to-test-nato/ Oakwood Risk Group - https://oakwoodriskgroup.com/ ICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord Host Philippa Lamb Guests Luke Blake, Founding Director, Business advisors Oakwood Risk Group Charles Hecker, Geopolitical Risk Expert, Author of Zero Sum: The Arc of International Business In Russia Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 19 August Podcast recorded: 28 July

August 4, 2026Episode 13134 min

EY’s backing AI agents; and a new form of insider trading

In this episode, EY UK Digital Assurance Leader Richard Harrison joins us to talk about how the firm is using AI agents in audit. How do they divide tasks between people and tech? And how are they understanding and mitigating risk? Then, Polly Tsang, ICAEW’s Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager tells us about Prediction Markets. While you may not have heard of them, they’re opening up a whole new market for Insider Traders. Polly explains how they work, where the risks lie and what needs to happen to minimise them. Links EY principles of responsible AI - https://www.ey.com/en_uk/insights/ai/principles-for-ethical-and-responsible-ai?channel=TxtV-B Prediction markets spark insider trading fears - https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/09/prediction-markets-spark-insider-trading-fears-how-firms-are-responding.html Microsoft bans prediction markets - https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-prediction-markets-employee-policy-2026-7 Prediction markets are minting a new type of insider trader - https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-polymarket-traders-who-knew-the-future/ Google worker charged with using internal data to make $1.2m - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c052yv259jvo ICAEW CPD record - https://www.icaew.com/membership/cpd/online-cpd-record Host: Philippa Lamb Guests: Richard Harrison, UK Digital Assurance Leader, EY Polly Tsang, ICAEW’s Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager Producer: Natalie Chisholm Series Lead: Mark Rowland Episode first published: 4 August Podcast recorded: 27 July

July 14, 2026Episode 13029 min

Behind the Numbers: Is there really a growing AI bubble?

The question of whether an ‘AI bubble’ is going to burst doesn’t seem to be going away. There’s a compelling case to be made on both sides of the argument, with the growing demand for AI tools, and the huge amount of money and resources needed to deliver on that demand. So what are the actual risks of an AI bubble, and what would that mean for the tools that businesses and firms are investing in right now? We interrogate the various indicators of whether there might be a bubble or not, and discuss the considerations and failsafes that businesses should consider when adopting AI software. Links Data centre planning policy - https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-10315/CBP-10315.pdf Gas use in data centres - https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/dramatic-increase-in-data-centre-developers-wanting-gas-grid-connections-21-04-2026/ Water use for data centres - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/688cb407dc6688ed50878367/Water_use_in_data_centre_and_AI_report.pdf AI company IPOs - https://www.blackrock.com/us/financial-professionals/insights/mega-ai-ipos-and-index-inclusion Increasing demand for AI – Forbes - https://www.forbes.com/advisor/uk/business/software/uk-artificial-intelligence-ai-statistics/ AI boom leaves data centre demand beyond supply - https://datacentrenews.uk/story/ai-boom-to-leave-data-centre-demand-far-above-supply ICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord Host Philippa Lamb Guests Tom Pugh, Chief Economist, RSM UK Tasmin Lockwood, tech and environment journalist Hothyfa Elbeera, Senior Software Engineer, Claimsgate, MoJ Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 15 July Podcast recorded: 08 June

July 1, 2026Episode 12929 min

Accountancy Insights: Looking ahead: HMRC’s digital moves and impacts of Iran war

We’ll have a new PM soon, while the war in the Middle East rages on. Does this mean more uncertainty for businesses in the second half of 2026? ICAEW’s Chief Economist tries to predict what might happen next. If that wasn’t enough, there’s a lot going on in tax at the moment, from MTD Income Tax to new agent registration rules and more tax changes than expected mid-year. Lindsey Wicks explains all the changes. Finally, we get an insight from Junaidy Ab-Mutalib about the profession in Malaysia. What are the unique opportunities and challenges for the profession in the region? Links ICAEW: Suren Thiru on how US-Iran peace deal could influence UK’s economic outlook - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/jun-2026/suren-thiru-on-how-us-iran-peace-deal-could-influence-uk-economy ICAEW: Significant changes announced at Tax Update 2026 - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jun-2026/significant-changes-announced-at-tax-update-2026 ICAEW: HMRC sets timetable for agent multi factor authentication rollout - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jun-2026/hmrc-sets-timetable-for-agent-multi-factor-authentication-rollout ICAEW: HMRC publishes detailed guidance on mandatory tax adviser registration - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jun-2026/hmrc-publishes-detailed-guidance-on-mandatory-tax-adviser-registration ICAEW: MTD income tax and claims for averaging relief - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jun-2026/mtd-income-tax-and-claims-for-averaging-relief ICAEW: CPD record - https://www.icaew.com/membership/cpd/online-cpd-record Host Philippa Lamb Guests Suren Thiru, Chief Economist, ICAEW Lindsey Wicks, Senior Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW Junaidy Ab-Mutalib, Managing Partner, JM & Co Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 1 July Podcast recorded: 26 June

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