LLMs and spreadsheets, Companies House IDV, and the OBR’s role

Host Philippa Lamb is joined by Simon Thorne, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science, Cardiff Metropolitan University, to talk about his research into LLMs' effectiveness when it comes to spotting errors in spreadsheets, with some clear winners and losers from the process.

Next, Mike Miller, ICAEW’s Economic Crime Manager, gives an update on Companies House ID verification and what Directors and accounting firms have to do to prepare. Finally, Martin Wheatcroft, adviser on public finances for ICAEW, explains the role and methodology of the OBR.

Time codes:

Spreadsheets and AI – 01’06”

Companies House ID Verification – 13’28”

How the OBR works – 23’14”

Transcript

You can read a full transcript of the episode here.

Links:

• ICAEW: The best and worst gen AIs for spreadsheets
• Simon Thorne’s study on LLMs and spreadsheets
• ICAEW: Authorised corporate service providers (ACSP) and ID verification
• ICAEW: ID verification is coming – everything directors need to know
• ICAEW: ID verification is coming – everything accounting firms need to know
• ICAEW: Companies House: who needs to be an ACSP and when should they register?
• UK productivity downgraded
• Rachel Reeves v the OBR: chancellor aims to loosen the watchdog’s grip
• Labour fury at OBR is understandable but misplaced
• New Economics Foundation – A democratic fiscal framework

Host

• Philippa Lamb

Guests

• Simon Thorne, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science, Cardiff Metropolitan University
• Mike Miller, Economic Crime Manager, ICAEW
• Martin Wheatcroft, adviser on public finances, ICAEW

Producer

• Natalie Chisholm

Episode first published: 28 October 2025

Podcast recorded: 22nd October 2025