ICAEW.com works better with JavaScript enabled.

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.

Contents
Back to top
Road winding through hilly countryside with sun rising in the background
Insights special

Prepare for 2026

  • Hub page
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.
Browse resources

Latest news

Three ways Power BI can improve management accounts
  • Article
  • 17 Feb 2026
With its collaborative format, insightful analysis tools and visual user experience, Power BI makes management accounts dynamic and keeps key performance indicators relevant.
What you need to know about money laundering in 2026
  • Article
  • 16 Feb 2026
As 2026 unfolds, new pressures are reshaping the fight against money laundering. Professionals must be particularly alert to the influence of sanctions evasion and advanced technologies.
UK Auditor General calls for step change in government financial management
  • Article
  • 16 Feb 2026
Head of the National Audit Office, Gareth Davies, echoes ICAEW in calling for stronger financial management in government to deliver trust and accountability for taxpayers.

Latest tax news

Prepare for 2026/27: Individuals
  • Article
  • 16 Feb 2026
ICAEW’s Tax Faculty provides a summary of some of the key changes affecting individuals from 6 April 2026, including increases to some of the rates of income tax and capital gains tax (CGT), as well as reforms to inheritance tax (IHT).
HMRC’s performance on post causes frustration
  • Article
  • 13 Feb 2026
Although HMRC is getting closer to meeting some of its key service targets, delays in responding to post and processing repayments continue to cause frustration for taxpayers and agents.
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism begins to take shape
  • Article
  • 12 Feb 2026
The government has published draft regulations for technical consultation setting out how the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will work when it is introduced from 1 January 2027.

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.

Prepare for 2026
  • Hub page
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.
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 2025 theme is "Ethics Re-envisioned,” challenging us to think boldly about how we embed ethical principles into the heart of our organisations.

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 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.
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.
Busy road in London
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 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
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
Video thumbnail - bird's view of a city
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

How to get to the C-suite
  • Podcast
  • 10 Feb 2026
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 Robert Half.
Finance Bill changes for individuals and businesses
  • Podcast
  • 03 Feb 2026
In this episode, we look at the implications for individuals and businesses, from the reform of inheritance tax to changes to capital allowances.
How to use AI in tax ethically, and group audit best practice
  • Podcast
  • 03 Feb 2026
This episode covers AI and tax work and ISA 600 on group audits, following the release of two pieces of guidance on the topics.

Charts of the week

Chart of the week: business births and deaths in the UK
  • Article
  • 13 Feb 2026
Our chart looks at the cycle of business life since 2017, as the number of business births exceeded business deaths in 2025 for the second year in succession.
Chart of the week: quarterly public sector finances
  • Article
  • 06 Feb 2026
This week’s chart looks at how the government is relying on a strong inflow from self-assessment and employee bonuses to meet its revised fiscal targets for the financial year to March 2026.
Chart of the week: global stock markets
  • Article
  • 30 Jan 2026
Our chart looks at how the top 10 stocks from nine companies made up more than a fifth of global stock market values on 31 December 2025.

Insights by topic

Student Insights
  • Hub page
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.
Insights archive
  • Listing
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.