Advanced analytics involves moving beyond traditional business intelligence tools and using statistical techniques based on data science. In the era of big data, these more sophisticated approaches to analysis are crucial to enable finance teams to become strategic business advisers.

How can finance departments and internal audit make the most of data science? This was the main question Centrica's internal audit team and ICAEW discussed at a workshop on 15 October 2018.

Ethics is particularly important for the accountancy profession, with a code for professional ethics based on five basic principles – integrity, objectivity, competence and due care, confidentiality and professional behaviour. However, the emergence of new technologies raises some new challenges for the profession to address.

There are many situations where you might want to calculate a cumulative total in an Excel spreadsheet, from a straightforward running total for a list of bank transactions to cumulative values for use with an Excel chart that is animated over time.

I often get sent spreadsheets containing issues to try and sort out. Sometimes, it's the seemingly straightforward problems that can prove to be the most difficult to solve

As cyber security risks continue to expand and evolve at an increasing pace, so cyber resilience becomes critical to an organisation’s ability to operate. George Quigley covers the best approach in four steps: business assessment, governance and oversight, risk management framework and incident response and recovery.

Brexit and data protection – what you need to know and how to prepare your business. 

The lead negotiators for the UK and the EU have agreed a withdrawal agreement that would provide for a transitional period until December 2020, as well as a political declaration on the framework for a future relationship thereafter. Both need to be formally adopted.

Simon Hurst continues his guide to data display with some tips on how to keep up to date with changes and enhancements to customise your content.

Power BI Desktop offers new ways to visualise and present data. In part one of his guide, Simon Hurst uses Facebook posts to demonstrate some of its capabilities.

Although it's generally a good idea to keep reports as simple and clear as possible, the sparing use of unusual graphics can sometimes add to impact.