We take a look at the latest stories in the world of cyber security, including woes for police services, a major attack affecting independent retailers, advice on LLMs, and the murky world of ‘Shadow IT’.

Generative AI presents many opportunities, but also challenges for accountants. ICAEW’s Head of Tech Policy, Esther Mallowah, provides some views on how accountants should approach generative AI and why ICAEW developed its generative AI guide.

Low levels of cyber expertise among board members and an overt deference towards jargon-focused CISOs cited as key vulnerabilities in corporate governance.

Many predictions about AI taking our jobs have not yet materialised, but the threat of AI-driven fraud is a much more worrying development.

Following Bank of England and HM Treasury’s consultation on proposals for a retail central bank digital currency, or digital pound, Reuben Wales, ICAEW’s Head of Financial Services, outlines ICAEW’s key recommendations.

Cyber-security incidents are not always the result of intentional malicious activity by external actors.

In a recent ‘Power Tools Part 2: Harness the potential of Power BI’ webinar, Monica Odysseos explored the fundamentals of Power BI, including loading data and understanding its structure. Monica returns to answer some questions from the webinar she was unable to respond to during the session.

Generative AI presents many opportunities, but also challenges for accountants. ICAEW’s Head of Tech Policy, Esther Mallowah, provides some views on how accountants should approach generative AI and why ICAEW developed its generative AI guide.

Our latest research into the middle market, found that 53% of middle market business leaders believe generative AI can be used to improve customer engagement and 60% believe it will increase productivity. So, what does this mean for consumer-facing industries such as retail, leisure, hospitality and hotels, travel and tourism where human interaction has traditionally been placed at the very heart of the sector?

In this article, Michelle Howard, a skilled leadership and marketing consultant with extensive experience advising and training professional sector firms, discusses how leaders should be prepared to embrace the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the sector. She contends that leaders should think now about adopting a clear strategy and policy of implementation, recruit staff who will be able to deal with AI in the future and train existing staff to become creative leaders in the age of AI.

Blockchain technologies have the potential to disrupt the work of finance teams – particularly those focused on transactional tasks – by offering a system of universal entry bookkeeping, removing the need for independent verification. Here ICAEW’s Tech Faculty and Deloitte outline the basics of this complex and developing technology.

A consultation examines the assessment case for a central bank digital currency, which could have profound implications for consumers, businesses, banks and payment providers within the UK.

With more and more people dipping their toe into the world of crypto, accountants increasingly need to become experts in crypto tax compliance and financial planning. Daniel Howitt looks at how.

Low levels of cyber expertise among board members and an overt deference towards jargon-focused CISOs cited as key vulnerabilities in corporate governance.

Mitigo highlight why senior leaders must take responsibility for their cyber risk management to counter a growing threat.

When considering the implementation of generative AI into your organisation, it is important to consider the risks that LLMs present to your organisation’s cyber security.

It’s a hot topic in finance right now. Rob Binns, CFO at Access Group, discusses why accountants should embrace, not fear, the acceleration of digital transformation.

Finance transformation will be one of the most in-demand skills over the next 10 years, says career coach for financial professionals, Oliver Deacon.

The pandemic has ushered in a new model of working, with many businesses considering adopting more flexibility in the longer term. That’s certainly the case for the Oil and Gas Authority, which is set to adopt a hybrid working method for its post-pandemic way of working.

In a recent ‘Power Tools Part 2: Harness the potential of Power BI’ webinar, Monica Odysseos explored the fundamentals of Power BI, including loading data and understanding its structure. Monica returns to answer some questions from the webinar she was unable to respond to during the session.

ICAEW has brought together these resources to help you understand how digital technologies are transforming economies and workplaces. Learn what it means for businesses and accountancy practices.

ICAEW has brought together these resources to help you understand artificial intelligence and what it means for finance functions. Here you'll find support on identifying how AI can benefit your organisation and how it to start implementing the technology.

ICAEW has brought together these resources to help you understand Robotic Process Automation (RPA), what it means for your organisation and how it to start implementing the technology.

Digital technologies are set to have a revolutionary impact on the work of accountants, both in business and in practice. ICAEW has gathered together these resources to ensure its members understand how finance functions will change, the skills that will be needed and the role you will play.

Tech Essentials guides are designed to update members on the latest technology issues affecting and transforming the accountancy profession. Our cyber security edition explains how to best protect yourself, your business and your clients.

Our chart this week illustrates how home broadband capabilities have been improving in recent years, although still far short of ambitions to provide ultrafast speeds to most households across the UK.

In our first post-pandemic research focused on mid-tier practice technology, we’ve seen some substantial changes in the landscape. Responses have given us cause to be optimistic, but also highlight challenges in the digital transformation journey. Addressing these challenges presents opportunities for firms, software providers and ICAEW.

Digitalisation is transforming how tax is reported and paid, with significant innovation and investment occurring in countries of all kinds. There is no single pathway to digitalisation, as our case studies show, but there is something to be learned from all of them.

Drawing on real-life experiences, this collaborative thought leadership report by ICAEW and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) considers how finance functions can harness automation to deliver greater value to business and the skills needed by accountants in the future.

View the latest community announcements and articles from Tech News and the Excel Community.

The latest opinion and news analysis on tech issues and developments, including artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, big data, and cyber security.

Providing updates on the latest technology issues affecting the accountancy profession. They aim to bring practical tips and expert insights on a range of topics, setting you up for any action you'll need to take.

Technology is at the heart of all organisations today. The pace of change is growing ever faster. In the coming years, the finance profession will be profoundly altered by new and evolving technologies.