Need to know
ICAEW's guide to directors' duties
This guide provides an overview of directors' duties and responsibilities. It covers responsibilities in relation to insolvent or financially challenged companies, as well as penalties for breach of directors' responsibilities.
Company directors
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The role of boards in managing risk
- Article
- Apr 2026
- ICAEW
This session sought to help boards, directors and their advisers to improve their approach to managing risk. The session drew on the Risk Coalition’s latest publication ‘Raising your Game’, which provides cross-sector guidance for boards and their committees with risk oversight responsibility.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The role of the Board in shaping culture and how to measure success
- Article
- Apr 2026
- ICAEW
Peter Drucker said that ‘Culture eats Strategy for Breakfast’. The board is responsible for setting both and there is compelling evidence that poor corporate culture plays a significant role in unexpected corporate collapses.
TNFD guide affirms nature as a director’s duty
- Article
- Jun 2025
- ICAEW Insights
The first in a series of new guides from the global taskforce helps board members ask better questions about senior management teams’ strategic approach to nature issues.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Corporate Governance Reform are we there yet? The Audit Committee and Auditor view
- Article
- May 2025
- ICAEW
In this session at the ICAEW Corporate Governance Conference 2025, the panel explored whether recent regulatory and legislative developments have put us in a better position on external audit and corporate governance than we were Pre-Carillion - ie, will we be better able to prevent sudden disorderly corporate collapses?
How to embed Nature as a stakeholder in your business
- Article
- Oct 2024
- ICAEW Insights
Embedding nature as a stakeholder in your business could allow you to better fulfil your ESG obligations, directors’ duties and sustainability reporting responsibilities. But how does it work?
No limit to the liability of company directors
- Article
- Aug 2024
- ICAEW Insights
Personal liability to the tune of £18m is the sobering outcome in a case against two former directors of BHS.
CPD Training courses
Stay on top of the rapidly evolving corporate governance landscape and discover how to be a high-performing board director.
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Non-Executive Directors
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Updated FRC Guidance on NED remuneration
- Article
- Dec 2025
- ICAEW
On 5 November, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) issued updated guidance on non-executive director (NED) remuneration to clarify the existing position in the UK Corporate Governance Code 2024 (the Code).
How much is too much for an NED salary?
- Article
- Aug 2024
- ICAEW Insights
More technical expertise, an increased time commitment and greater professional risk – the demands placed on NEDs have ramped up, but remuneration has remained unchanged. Is it time for a pay rise?
Demystifying the role of NEDs in the public sector
- Article
- May 2024
- ICAEW Insights
Chartered accountants possess many of the skills required to be an effective NED in the public sector. We explain what the role entails, how interested members can find vacancies and why they are so desperately needed.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMUNITY
Exploring governance - What is the role of a NED?
- Article
- Jun 2023
- David Levenson
As governance codes have developed, the role played by non-executive directors (NEDs) on boards has become more prominent and exposed. In his series reflecting on how to create a high performing board, executive coach David Levenson outlines the responsibilities of NEDs.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMUNITY
Taking on the role of ‘Non-Executive Director’… boards do need You!
- Article
- Sep 2021
- Louis Cooper
The role of the Non-Executive Director (‘NED’) can be both challenging and rewarding, but it is important to know what you are getting into.
Taking on the role of ‘Non-Executive Director’… boards do need you!
- Article
- Jul 2021
- Louis Cooper
Six simple tips to consider on the path to becoming a Non-Executive Director (NED). The role is critical to a well-run company and boards are waking-up to the need to find the next generation NEDs.
How CFOs create a fairer future
Read our interviews with CFOs on how their role is changing. Access the CFO fairer future toolkit to help CFOs navigate the changing demands and how to make the most of it.
CFO fairer future toolkit 
Company secretary
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Companies House reform and developments in Economic Crime regulations and associated good practice
- Article
- Apr 2026
- ICAEW
Experts outlined the latest developments in UK economic crime related regulations, sanctions and Companies House reforms. This session included Laura Hough and Mike Miller from ICAEW's Ethics Team and Sam Tate, Global Head of Regulatory & Investigations at Clyde & CO LLP.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS DEPARTMENT
Auditor resignations: your responsibilities
- Article
- Apr 2026
- ICAEW
The number of UK companies seeking new auditors has risen sharply in the last couple of years. This has shined a spotlight on the resigning auditors’ responsibilities to issue cessation statements under section 519 of the Companies Act 2006. ICAEW’s Quality Assurance Department would like to remind audit firms of their responsibilities in this area. This follows an increase in issues with cessation statements that are being filed at Companies House.
Companies House data glitch: how to respond
- Article
- Mar 2026
- ICAEW Insights
The Companies House WebFiling service was suspended last weekend after a user found a potentially serious security flaw. Here’s what happened, and what can be learned from it.
2026: What’s next for regulatory reform?
- Article
- Feb 2026
- ICAEW Insights
Although the government chose to scrap the Audit Reform Bill, there is still change on the agenda, explains Sophie Wales, Director of Regulatory Policy at ICAEW.
Challenges of Companies House ID verification for accountancy firms
- Article
- Feb 2026
- ICAEW Insights
Aaron Patrick, Head of Accounting at Boffix, shares his concerns about the implementation of new ID verification processes for limited companies with ICAEW.
Companies House: presenter requirements delayed until November
- Article
- Jan 2026
- ICAEW Insights
Companies House has postponed the deadline for presenters ID and registration measures from Spring until November 2026.
Chair of the board
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The role of the Audit Committee and how to be a successful Audit Committee Chair
- Article
- Apr 2026
- ICAEW
This panel was hosted with the Audit Committee Chairs Independent Forum (ACCIF). ACCIF released a report in 2018 on “How to become an Audit Committee Chair and then succeed” based on over 140 interviews with Audit Committee Chairs, CFOs, Audit Partners and Board Chairs.
Provision 29 dry runs: a way to engage the board?
- Article
- Feb 2026
As part of the Corporate Governance Community’s Provision 29 series, this article examines the merits of conducting a dry run ahead of next year’s declaration and considers the role of audit committee chairs in engaging the full board.
How are boards thinking about assurance for Provision 29?
- Article
- Feb 2026
After boards approve the framework for matching principal risks to material controls for Provision 29, their next step is defining the assurance structures to give them confidence that those controls are working effectively.
How to define material controls for Provision 29
- Article
- Feb 2026
- ICAEW Corporate Governance Faculty
In the second Corporate Governance Community article on Provision 29, experienced audit committee chairs share the three key questions boards are asking about defining and matching principal risks and material controls.