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Insights

Pulling together opinion, analysis, interviews and features on the profession along with a focus on the key issues affecting accountancy and the world of business.

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Photo of Alan Vallance, Chief Executive Officer of ICAEW, recording accountancy insights podcast episode 100.
Behind the numbers

Rebuilding trust in volatile times

  • Podcast
  • ICAEW Insights
Celebrating its 100th episode, Accountancy Insights examines the issue of trust and how to maintain it. Guests include ICAEW CEO Alan Vallance.
Watch or listen now

Latest news

Why whistleblowing is a requirement – not a choice – for accountants
  • Article
  • 23 Jun 2025
On World Whistleblowing Day (23 June 2025), Brendan Weekes, Associate Director at S&W and member of the ICAEW’s Ethics Standards Committee, explains the little understood obligations for professional accountants in the event of any suspected non-compliance.
E-commerce: how this brand hit £20m sales in three years
  • Article
  • 23 Jun 2025
Sales at nutritional supplements company Ancient + Brave exploded from £1m in 2022 to £20m last year. In this E-commerce Week, and with eyes on the US market, CFO Carl Moore explains how online sales have been the foundation of its meteoric success.
WWII accountants: Major Mostyn Llewellyn Davies
  • Article
  • 20 Jun 2025
The story of a man who could have spent the Second World War using his accountancy skills behind a Civil Service desk, but who chose to become a field agent, commanding a team in enemy territory and paying the ultimate price.

Latest tax news

Tax gap falls slightly as a percentage of tax liabilities
  • Article
  • 20 Jun 2025
Based on estimated figures published by HMRC, the tax gap for 2023/24 is £46.8bn, equal to 5.3% of total tax liabilities. ICAEW’s Tax Faculty looks at the key figures.
HMRC updates its guidance on capital allowances
  • Article
  • 18 Jun 2025
ICAEW’s Tax Faculty provides a summary of recent changes to HMRC’s guidance on capital allowances, including updated guidance on the meaning of “unused and not second-hand" for the purposes of first year allowances (FYAs).
Help write ICAEW’s MTD income tax engagement letter
  • Article
  • 18 Jun 2025
ICAEW’s Tax Faculty would like feedback from members on a draft engagement letter schedule for Making Tax Digital (MTD) income tax.

Insights specials

A listing of one-off Insights specials that focus on a particular subject, interviewing the key people, identifying developing trends and examining the underlying issues.

How to fix VAT
  • Hub page
ICAEW explores the challenges and opportunities offered in reimagining VAT and it's application. Read about the history of VAT, the lessons that can be learned from outside the UK and the potential of digitalisation.
Global Ethics Day
  • Hub page
ICAEW celebrates Global Ethics Day each year. The 2024 theme is "Ethics empowered: using the power of ethics to build a better world”, and ICAEW is examining the vital role ethics must play in the development of technology.
Local government finance: skills for the future
  • Hub page
Improving financial skills at local authorities is critical in balancing the books and delivering value for citizens. As backstop dates for audited accounts come into force, ICAEW explores how local authorities can strengthen their approach to financial management.

Accounting Intelligence

ICAEW has created a range of resources to support members in business and practice build their understanding of AI. There are video masterclasses, as well as features discussing opportunities, challenges, limitations, risk management and ethics.

Browse resources Watch AI masterclasses
Computer screen with text relating to generative AI

Videos

AI masterclass on better audit sampling
AI masterclass on better audit sampling
  • Video
  • 29 Oct 2024
Konrad Bukowski-Kruszyna ACA, Head of Audit Data Analytics, RSM UK outlines how generative AI can help ensure that audit sampling is being handled correctly.
What is VAT?
What is VAT?
  • Video
  • 19 Nov 2024
Value added tax is a vital tool for raising revenue to fund education, healthcare and more. We explain how it works and how it could be improved.
AI masterclass on reviewing company controls
AI masterclass on reviewing company controls
  • Video
  • 30 Oct 2024
Jenny Blewett FCA, Head of Finance at Costello Medical talks about how she used generative AI to help check her firm’s banking controls when she was new in post.
Private equity: is it here to stay?
Private equity: is it here to stay?
  • Video
  • 22 May 2024
Matt Meadows, Managing Partner, Moore Kingston Smith, and Caroline Monk, Executive Partner, Beever and Struthers, on their views of private equity on the accountancy sector.

The opinions expressed by external guest speakers in interviews or other publications included on this website are, by their nature, those of the speaker. They are not necessarily fully endorsed by the ICAEW or purport to reflect the official policies and views of the ICAEW or its members.

Podcast episodes

Investment risk: lessons from Russia
  • Podcast
  • 20 Jun 2025
In this episode of Behind the Numbers, we discuss how businesses can best navigate geopolitical risk.
Supporting SME growth and professional judgement in audit
  • Podcast
  • 13 Jun 2025
We discuss how SMEs can pursue growth amid economic uncertainty and how auditors should exercise professional judgement and scepticism.
Rebuilding trust in volatile times
  • Podcast
  • 30 May 2025
Celebrating its 100th episode, Accountancy Insights examines the issue of trust and how to maintain it. Guests include ICAEW CEO Alan Vallance.

Charts of the week

thumbnail image for chart of the week on increased UK spending
Chart of the week: Spending up
  • Article
  • 20 Jun 2025
Our chart this week looks at what the Spending Review 2025 does to total day-to-day spending and capital budgets over the next three years.
chart of the week june 12 thumbnail
Chart of the week: Spending Review 2025
  • Article
  • 13 Jun 2025
Our chart this week looks at the government’s priorities as expressed through departmental budgetary allocations over the next three years.
chart of the week thumbnail image for 5 june 2025
Chart of the week: NATO defence spending
  • Article
  • 06 Jun 2025
Our chart this week looks at how much NATO members would need to spend to meet President Trump’s proposed new target of 5% of GDP for defence and defence-related expenditure.

Insights by topic

Student Insights Interviews, guides and features giving you fresh insights, innovative ideas and an inside look at the lives and careers of ICAEW students and members. No matter what stage you’re at in your journey with us, you’ll find content to suit you.
Insights index
  • Listing
This page provides an entry point to the articles that have formed the daily, monthly and weekly member emails, arranged by section and month. It also contains an index of themed Insights specials and the Quarterly magazine.
Climate hub
  • Hub page
Climate change is a crucial issue for the accounting profession. Are you professionally ready to mitigate the risk and maximise the opportunity of climate change? Find inspiration, information and practical resources to support the goals set out in the Paris Agreement and in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Diversity and Inclusion
  • Hub page
ICAEW is committed to Diversity and Inclusion. In this hub we bring together timely D&I resources on the protected characteristics of the Equality Act, along with our latest insights into diversity in the profession.
EU and international trade
  • Hub page
A range of resources on the implications of the UK leaving the EU on 31 December 2020.
Regulatory News
  • Listing
A round-up of regulatory and conduct updates and communications from the ICAEW Professional Standards Department.
Sponsored content
  • Listing
Hear what our partners are saying on topical issues impacting the accountancy profession.