In an ever-evolving economic, regulatory and technological landscape, finance practitioners must keep abreast of a wide range of topics. ICAEW produces regular podcasts offering easy updates with expert analysis and practical assessments of the key issues affecting the profession and the wider economy. 

The Accountancy Insights podcast series brings together panels of experts to discuss the latest headlines from the world of business, finance and accountancy to its 37,000 listeners. Recent editions have covered: 

• How well AI works with spreadsheets, the development of Companies House identity verification and the role of the Office for Budget Responsibility.  
• Kemi Badenoch’s views on growth and the profession in conversation with ICAEW’s Chief Executive Alan Vallance. 
• The four statutory instruments introduced to enforce Companies House reform, scaling up smartly and the Next Generation ACA. 
• The culture and values lessons companies can take from the Post Office Inquiry, and new mid-tier research. 

A Budget special, with both Accountancy Insights and the Tax Track releasing episodes at the same time, launch Monday 1 December following the Autumn Statement on 26 November.

Behind the Numbers

Deeper dives into major business issues are provided through our Behind the Numbers series. The latest episode – [insert episode name and add link] – scrutinises guidance released by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) on how auditors should be using AI. The FRC's Ramana McConnon joined the panel to answer questions about how the guidance would apply in practice for firms of all sizes.

As part of Cyber Security Awareness Month in October, we spoke to Nadeem Raza from Microlise about his experiences of handling a cyber security breach in How to bounce back from a cyber attack. The episode questions how prepared organisations really are for cyber attacks, what to do if and when your business is affected, and how to manage the communications challenges. 

Our 100th podcast – which you can also watch – went live in May and brought together experts from across business, politics and technology to look at a fundamental problem that’s holding back economic growth: trust. Hear from ICAEW CEO Alan Vallance and Baroness Margaret Ford, Chair, The Centre for Public Interest Audit, on the trust crisis in business and institutions and how it can possibly be rebuilt as economic volatility persists. 

Popular episodes from the back catalogue include Should we compensate whistleblowers? Andrew Pepper-Parsons, Director of Policy and Communications at whistleblowing charity Protect, and Brendan Weekes, Associate Director at accountancy firm S&W, joined our host Philippa Lamb to discuss why a significant minority of whistleblowers don’t get the requisite protection and what the forthcoming regulation and potential SFO and HMRC schemes will mean for UK business. 

Tax Track 

Following the success of ICAEW’s accountancy podcasts, the institute launched Tax Track in 2024. Each month, experts from ICAEW’s Tax Faculty share their insights and analysis of the latest developments in tax practice, policy and regulation. 

Recently the team looked ahead to the 2024/25 tax return season, highlighting areas to watch out for, and explain our concerns with draft legislation for Finance Bill 2025/26 that promises to make significant changes to the tax system, particularly for agents.  

This month, the podcast focuses on Making Tax Digital, looking at where accountants are still going wrong, whether HMRC's systems are ready for it, and how to get the 'digital refusers' among your clients on board.   

Episodes this year have discussed the end of non-doms, got the inside track from HMRC on how the organisation intends to reform the tax system and close the tax gap, and explored two ways HMRC and taxpayers can sidestep self assessment for income and gains. 

Listen your way 

As well as listening to podcasts on icaew.com and on the MyICAEW App, you can subscribe via Apple podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube, and get the latest episodes straight to your device.