Accountancy Insights

Hosted by ICAEW

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Episodes

139

Latest episode

Aug 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

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60 recent

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

June 16, 2026Episode 12835 min

Behind the Numbers: When is CEO pay a problem?

Last year CEO pay rose 20 times faster than workers’ pay, according to new research from Oxfam and the International Trade Union Confederation. At the most extreme end of that pay scale, investors approved an executive package for Elon Musk worth a potential $1tn. So when does CEO pay become too high? What are the commercial, ethical and cultural implications for organisations if they’re perceived to be over-paying their CEOs? And as businesses compete globally for the best executive talent what can Boards do to keep pay packages in check? Links Top CEO pay statistics from Oxfam - https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/top-ceo-pay-increased-20-times-faster-workers-pay-2025 ICAEW: Remuneration Committee ebooks - https://www.icaew.com/technical/corporate-governance/committees/remuneration-committees/remuneration-committee-ebooks ICAEW: Guidance on remuneration - https://www.icaew.com/technical/corporate-governance/committees/remuneration-committees ICAEW: How a CEOs pay package influences corporate culture - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2025/apr-2025/how-a-ceos-pay-package-influences-corporate-culture ICAEW CPD record - https://www.icaew.com/membership/cpd/online-cpd-record Host Philippa Lamb Guests Shefaly Yogendra, independent Board director, board adviser and author Peter van Veen, Governance and Ethics Director, ICAEW Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 17 June Podcast recorded: 11 May

June 2, 2026Episode 12723 min

Accountancy Insights: Understanding tokenisation plans; rethinking the audit report

The government has plans to tokenise financial markets. What exactly is tokenisation? What might it look like in practice and what are the big questions about it that still need answering? Polly Tsang, ICAEW’s Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager, explains. After that, audit reports: ICAEW has created the Auditor Reporting Lab, alongside audit firms, to encourage modernisation in the market. KPMG Partner in Professional Practice, Accounting & Reporting, Pamela Taylor, has been thinking hard about how to make them more useful and more user-friendly. This podcast counts towards your annual CPD – click the link below to log your time. Links ICAEW: What is tokenisation, and what are the challenges for accountants? - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/may-2026/what-is-tokenisation-and-the-challenges-for-accountants Government tokenisation announcement - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-fintech-backed-to-embrace-future-payments-technology FCA call for input on the future of tokenisation - https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/calls-input/future-tokenisation-joint-vision-authorities-uk-wholesale-markets ICAEW: Digital Assets Conference - https://www.icaew.com/learning-and-development/events/digital-assets-conference ICAEW: Auditor Reporting Lab - https://www.icaew.com/policy-and-research/thought-leadership/audit-and-assurance-thought-leadership/auditor-reporting-lab ICAEW: Rethinking the auditor’s report - https://www.icaew.com/policy-and-research/thought-leadership/audit-and-assurance-thought-leadership/auditor-reporting-lab/rethinking-the-auditors-report ICAEW: Audit and Assurance Conference - https://www.icaew.com/learning-and-development/events/audit-and-assurance-conference ICAEW podcasts - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast Host Philippa Lamb Guests Polly Tsang, Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager Pamela Taylor, Partner in Professional Practice, Accounting & Reporting, KPMG Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 3 June 2026 Podcast recorded: 19 May 2026

May 19, 2026Episode 12629 min

Behind the Numbers: Are you taking fraud seriously enough?

Fraud is the largest reported crime in England and Wales, and the UK government wants to bring numbers down. With failure to prevent fraud now an offence, there is some onus on business to address the issue. But are enough businesses taking it seriously? In this episode, we take a look at the common types of fraud, what businesses should be vigilant of, and how can they protect themselves? Links UK government fraud strategy - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fraud-strategy-2026-to-2029 UK fraud statistics - https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/natureoffraudandcomputermisuseinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2025 ICAEW: Fraud helpsheets - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tas-helpsheets/fraud ICAEW: What the government’s new fraud strategies mean for business - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/apr-2026/what-the-governments-new-fraud-strategies-mean-for-business ICAEW: podcasts - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast Host Guy Ruddle Guests Tristan Yelland, Partner, Forensic and Investigations, Grant Thornton Will Christopher, Partner, Kinsgsley Napley Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 20 May 2026 Podcast recorded: 20 April 2026

May 5, 2026Episode 12532 min

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. Elsewhere on the episode, we discuss new guidance from the Financial Reporting Council on managing the risks for auditors when it comes to AI adoption; and a quick update on UKGAAP: the challenges that the changes pose for smaller entities Links How higher oil prices will change Britain -https://www.thetimes.com/article/f754197a-859b-460b-8ad0-1e36fc878ff1 FRC – AI in Audit: Generative and Agentic AI guidance -https://www.frc.org.uk/library/standards-codes-policy/audit-assurance-and-ethics/guidance/ai-in-audit/ ICAEW UK GAAP hub - https://www.icaew.com/technical/corporate-reporting/uk-gaap/changes-to-uk-gaap ICAEW: Changes to UK GAAP Conference - https://www.icaew.com/learning-and-development/events/corporate-reporting-conference ICAEW podcasts - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast Host Philippa Lamb Guests Liam Conway, Co-Founder, Greenfield Energy Group Ian Pay, Head of Data Analytics, ICAEW Fahad Asgar, Technical Manager, Corporate Reporting, ICAEW Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 6 May Podcast recorded: 29 April

April 13, 2026Episode 12434 min

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 might it change training and career paths and will it ultimately boost or diminish the appeal of a career in accountancy? We’re joined by a young accountant, an ex-accountant turned HR advisor, and the MD of a leading hiring firm in the audit and accounting sector, about how roles, skills and hiring practices are evolving, and what that means for the profession. Links ICAEW: Why we still need junior accountants in the age of AI - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/apr-2026/why-we-still-need-junior-accountants-and-how-their-role-might-change Is There a Brain Drain in Auditing? - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/402277496_Modeling_the_Consequences_of_the_Auditors'_Leaving_the_Public_Accounting_Profession_Is_There_a_Brain_Drain_in_Auditing ICAEW: How to stop accountancy's brain drain - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/behind-the-numbers/how-to-stop-accountancys-brain-drain/transcript ICAEW: How is AI transforming roles in industry? - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/apr-2026/how-is-ai-transforming-roles-in-industry ICAEW podcasts - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast Host Philippa Lamb Guests Lola Abitogun, Fractional HR Director George Oliver, Audit Associate, KPMG Chris Lawton, Group MD, Executive Search, Robert Half Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 15 April Podcast recorded: 11 March

March 31, 2026Episode 12336 min

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 Economist Tom Pugh shares his thoughts. Liz Barclay is Co-founder of Business 111, Special Adviser on Small Business & Entrepreneurship at the Institute of Directors and campaigner for tighter rules on late payments. She gives her views on the Government’s recently announced plans. Finally, with demand growing for AI assurance, what does good actually look like? Expert and Senior Programme Manager in Digital Ethics & AI at TechUK, Tess Buckley, fills us in. Links ICAEW: Iran conflict sends economic shockwave across the Gulf -https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/mar-2026/iran-conflict-sends-economic-shockwave-through-the-gulf Oil prices to stay elevated across Iran War scenarios - https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-prices-stay-elevated-across-iran-war-scenarios-2026-03-27/ Late payments consultation response - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/late-payments-tackling-poor-payment-practices/outcome/late-payment-consultation-time-to-pay-up-government-response-web-version Government AI assurance roadmap - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trusted-third-party-ai-assurance-roadmap/trusted-third-party-ai-assurance-roadmap Ensuring responsible AI development - https://www.techuk.org/resource/ensuring-responsible-ai-development-let-s-talk-about-ai-assurance.html Host Philippa Lamb Guests Liz Barclay, Co-founder of Business 111, Special Adviser on Small Business & Entrepreneurship at the Institute of Directors Tess Buckley, Expert and Senior Programme Manager in Digital Ethics & AI at TechUK Tom Pugh, RSM Chief Economist Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 1 April Podcast recorded: 27 March