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News

Up-to-date coverage of all that is happening in the worlds of accountancy and finance. Analysis and insights of the latest trends affecting the profession along with podcasts and videos offering fresh perspectives on accountancy.
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Peter van Veen, Philippa Lamb and Shefaly Yogendra
Behind the Numbers

When is CEO pay a problem?

  • Podcast
  • 17 Jun 2026
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.
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Latest news

Wind turbines on a wooded hillside at dusk surrounded by clouds
London Climate Action Week: what it means for finance professionals
  • 25 Jun 2026
ICAEW was an active participant in London Climate Action Week announcing new practical guidance and partnerships to boost sustainability knowledge and practice. Ravi Abeywardana outlines what you need to know.
A hand holding a magnifying glass looking at some papers
New practical guide for buyers of sustainability assurance
  • 25 Jun 2026
During London Climate Action Week, ICAEW and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development have updated guidance to support CFOs, audit committees and boards buying sustainability assurance services.
Chart of the week: the fiscal inheritance
  • 25 Jun 2026
Our chart this week looks at the fiscal plan that the next prime minister and chancellor (whoever they may be) will inherit and how tax rises and spending restraint are key to turning the current budget deficit into a surplus.
A person holding a tablet device displaying various graphs
AI agents behaving badly: real-world cautionary tales
  • 25 Jun 2026
AI agents don’t always stick to the script. These examples demonstrate the risks of not setting proper, tailored guardrails.

Latest tax news

HMRC warns agents to review excepted estates
  • 25 Jun 2026
Agents are being encouraged to check that the criteria for excepted estates are met and to consider submitting an IHT 400 where there is doubt as to the valuation of assets and liabilities or the application of allowances.
Significant changes announced at Tax Update 2026
  • 24 Jun 2026
The government launched a raft of consultations on 23 June 2026, including proposals to allow HMRC to recover low value tax debts by deducting instalment payments directly from the taxpayer’s bank account.
Tax news in brief 24 June 2026
  • 24 Jun 2026
Highlights from the broader tax news for the week ending 24 June 2026, including a warning from HMRC for companies claiming the creative industry tax reliefs.
Tax gap widens to 6.4% of total tax liabilities
  • 23 Jun 2026
Based on provisional figures published by HMRC, the tax gap for 2024/25 is £59.2bn (6.4% of total tax liabilities), compared to £52.8bn (6%) for 2023/24. ICAEW’s Tax Faculty gives its initial reaction to the key figures.

Podcasts

Peter van Veen, Philippa Lamb and Shefaly Yogendra
When is CEO pay a problem?
  • 17 Jun 2026
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.
Stephen Relf, Rob Janering and Simon Atkins
How to prepare for a VAT enquiry
  • 10 Jun 2026
HMRC is stepping up its compliance activities when it comes to VAT. In this episode, we explain what businesses can do to prepare for a VAT enquiry and we explore how HMRC and the government could better support businesses in meeting their VAT obligations.
Polly Tsang, Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager
Understanding tokenisation plans; rethinking the audit report
  • 03 Jun 2026
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.

Videos

Showcasing recent news-related video content from ICAEW.
Displaying 1-5 of 35 results
ICAEW's latest research into the evolution of mid-tier accountancy firms
ICAEW's latest research into the evolution of mid-tier accountancy firms
  • 13 May 2026
  • 00:00:45
Chief Executive, Alan Vallance, introduces the 2026 edition of ICAEW's research into the activities of the UK's mid-tier accountancy firms and their plans for the future.
ICAEW Annual Report 2025
ICAEW Annual Report 2025
  • 24 Apr 2026
  • 00:01:07
Alan Vallance recaps some of the highlights in 2025. To find out more read the ICAEW Annual Report 2025 at https://www.icaew.com.
Looking ahead: financial services in 2026
Looking ahead: financial services in 2026
  • 24 Feb 2026
  • 00:00:52
Polly Tsang, ICAEW's Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager, previews the year ahead in financial services.
Looking ahead: technology and cyber security in 2026
Looking ahead: technology and cyber security in 2026
  • 18 Feb 2026
  • 00:00:56
Esther Mallowah, ICAEW's Head of Tech Policy, previews the year ahead in technology and cyber security.
Looking ahead: regulation policy in 2026
Looking ahead: regulation policy in 2026
  • 18 Feb 2026
  • 00:01:03
Sophie Wales, ICAEW's Director, Regulatory Policy, previews the year ahead for regulation policy in accountancy and finance.
Displaying 1-5 of 35 results

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.

Charts of the week

Chart of the week: the fiscal inheritance
  • Article
  • 25 Jun 2026
Our chart this week looks at the fiscal plan that the next prime minister and chancellor (whoever they may be) will inherit and how tax rises and spending restraint are key to turning the current budget deficit into a surplus.
Chart of the week: government bond yields
  • Article
  • 18 Jun 2026
Our chart this week highlights how the UK has one of the highest government bond yields (the interest rates payable by governments) among advanced economies.
Chart of the week: employment and unemployment
  • Article
  • 11 Jun 2026
Our chart this week explains why the employment rate of 75% and unemployment rate of 5% don’t add up to 100%.

News specials

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

Cheery tree with blossom
Mental health and wellbeing
  • 07 May 2026
There is now a far greater understanding that we should look after our mental health with the same care as our physical health. Discover ICAEW's and caba's resources for maintaining your mental health..
Road winding through hilly countryside with sun rising in the background
Prepare for 2026
  • 25 Feb 2026
Accountants face some significant challenges, but also some key opportunities in 2026. Hear from ICAEW experts on the important issues that members need to be thinking about over the next 12 months.
Diverse group of people smiling and looking up
Global Ethics Day
  • 07 Oct 2025
ICAEW celebrates Global Ethics Day each year. The 2025 theme is "Ethics Re-envisioned,” challenging us to think boldly about how we embed ethical principles into the heart of our organisations.

Featured sections

Diversity and Inclusion
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 news into diversity in the profession.
Regulatory News
A round-up of regulatory and conduct updates and communications from the ICAEW Professional Standards Department.
Sponsored content
Hear what our partners are saying on topical issues impacting the accountancy profession.
News and Insights index
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 news and the Quarterly magazine.
News archive
In this section you can read some of the best material that was in ICAEW's monthly magazine, Economia, as well as from the Insights section published in 2020.

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