AccountingWEB

When Steve Hare first qualified as an accountant, he never imagined presenting to 4,000 people as chief executive of the UK's largest technology firm, steering it into the age of AI. However, he believes his accounting background will prove pivotal in managing one of the most transformational technologies seen in a generation. Hare joined AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert at the Sage Future user conference in Atlanta last week, where he spelt out his vision for how artificial intelligence will be implemented across Sage's product lines, helping the vendor leapfrog competitors and position Sage at the forefront of AI accounting – but also outlined why he believes there will always be a need for accountants.

With the cut to Level 7 apprenticeship funding now confirmed, Richard Hattersley explains what it means for firms and training across the profession. He shares reactions from professional bodies and considers the long-term impact of the decision. Tom Herbert looks at the shift in focus from vendors and investors, from small business cloud accounting to the mid-market. He breaks down what “mid-market” means, why interest is growing and how the competition is shaping up. Herbert outlines three key categories and who fits where before the team asks: who has it the hardest? Though it almost feels taboo to mention on this podcast, Matthew Ord introduces the brand new Progressive Firm Podcast, which is out now. Episode one focuses on growth and Ord recaps the first episode – what was discussed, who joined and how it went. He also gives a sneak peek at what's coming in episode two, so keep an eye out.

In the first episode of The Progressive Firm Podcast, Laura Leslie of DSG and Scott Heath of DJH pull back the curtain on their growth journeys, looking at how such an idea is born and subsequently implemented.

After attending six events this year, Tom Herbert wraps up the spring events season and shares what stood out. Suggesting there's been a big push around software that sorts, stores and manages data, Herbert looks at why there's an increased interest and whether firms actually want it or whether it's a way for vendors to justify their GenAI investments. Meanwhile, Richard Hattersley digs into HMRC's latest move against one of the UK's most well-known tax avoidance promoters, Paul Baxendale-Walker. With a Stop Notice now issued, Richard explains what it means and whether HMRC's tougher stance is finally starting to bite. And to round things off, Matthew Ord looks into the concerns about the ethical consequences of using AI. After chatting with Brad Channer, he explores the environmental cost of AI and whether the pressure to keep up with tech is worth the long-term impact.

Just ahead of the bank holiday, the government released a surprise Spring tax update. Richard Hattersley breaks down the key announcements, including the delay to the mandation of payrolling benefits and updates to the CEST tool. He also looks at proposed simplifications, such as helping businesses integrate gov.uk guidance with their AI products. As cybersecurity threats become more sophisticated, Tom Herbert shares a conversation with the owner of a small family firm that recently fell victim to a breach. He explains why such firms are attractive targets and reflects on advice from Francis West of Security Everywhere on how firms can protect themselves and respond if a breach occurs. Matthew Ord explores MHA's decision to pursue an initial public offering (IPO), speaking with CEO Rakesh Shaunak about why he chose this route over private equity (PE). With few firms openly turning down PE investment, the team discusses MHA's approach and whether more firms might follow with IPOs of their own.

With HMRC expanding the MTD pilot from 16 April, Richard Hattersley unpacks the updates, including long-awaited multi-agent access and questions around the value of quarterly updates. Tom Herbert adds insight into technical challenges and what this means for accountants. Herbert then shifts gears to agentic AI, a more advanced form of artificial intelligence that carries out complex, multi-step tasks. Drawing from a conversation with tax advisor Alastair Wilson, he explores how this tech could reshape the profession, reduce overheads and impact entry-level roles. To close, Matthew Ord looks at a string of audit sanctions against EY, including issues with audits of Thomas Cook and Stirling Water Seafield Finance. Hattersley rounds out the discussion with news of the FRC's investigation into EY's handling of the Post Office audit, as the team reflects on the growing need for reform.

With the new tax year starting on 6 April, Richard Hattersley runs through the key changes, from the rise in employer national insurance to HMRC's focus on debt management. He also covers the MTD countdown, HMRC's confidence in a 2026 rollout and whether it's time to rethink the UK tax year. Tom Herbert shares the latest MTD software market updates. Herbert also looks into the latest in artificial intelligence (AI), starting with ICAEW president Malcolm Bacchus's call for a mindset shift in the profession. Herbert then highlights recent AI product launches from Jenesys, NetSuite and Vinyl. Lastly, Matthew Ord looks at Wilson Partners' acquisitive growth, with their latest deal doubling the team working in high-growth tech and life sciences. Tom Herbert explores why now is a smart time to target these sectors, while the team weighs in on the rising concerns around private equity's growing role in accounting following their partnership with PE firm Fordhouse.

Oracle NetSuite founder Evan Goldberg and senior vice president EMEA Nicky Tozer join AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert to discuss new products launched at the show, how the developer is using artificial intelligence to connect businesses, and why technology could enable the first billion dollar company run by one person. For full show notes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/netsuite-founder-on-ai-progress-breaking-down-siloes-and-the-one-person-unicorn

Rachel Reeves kept her promise with no tax changes in yesterday's Spring Statement. With expectations low, Richard Hattersley recaps the key takeaways, including the eight consultations and policy papers released and looks ahead to what the Autumn Budget might bring. One of the policy papers released confirmed that sole traders and landlords with incomes of more than £20k would be pulled into the system by 2028. Tom Herbert explains what this means and why Reeves didn't mention MTD in the Spring Statement. Matthew Ord shifts focus from the Spring Statement to HURST, an accounting and business advisory firm with big growth plans. He recalls his chat with managing partner Tim Potter on their strategy, recruitment challenges and tech investments.

Recording on location from the Festival of Accounting & Bookkeeping, accountants Della Hudson and Aaron Patrick join host Tom Herbert to discuss the software systems that should be on practitioners' shopping lists in Spring 2025. The trio discuss Making Tax Digital, artificial intelligence and practice management systems, and make a few predictions about what will (and won't) be hot news on the show floor in 2026.

In this short but sweet episode, recorded live on day two of the Festival of Accounting & Bookkeeping (FAB), the team take a look back at the key moments from day one and get ready for the discussions ahead. With AI continuing to reshape the profession, Making Tax Digital developments and tax changes keeping accountants on their toes, there was plenty for the AccountingWEB team to unpack. Tune in to hear the latest insights straight from the show floor.

Fresh from QuickBooks Get Connected, Tom Herbert kicks off the podcast with the start of event season. He recaps key announcements, Making Tax Digital (MTD) product updates and the upcoming Festival of Accounting and Bookkeeping (FAB) on 12-13 March, highlighting the importance of these events being the last proper window for vendors to push their MTD message. Continuing with MTD, Richard Hattersley covers HMRC's plan to start writing to sole traders and landlords in April. The team debates whether this signals real progress or if it's still too early to tell. Herbert also shares how event attendees are reacting to MTD and why HMRC's presence at FAB makes it a must-attend. This week's special guest is Jess Brindle, co-founder of Jessica & Morton and an upcoming FAB speaker. Matthew Ord talks with Brindle about the changing role of finance leaders, their expanding responsibilities and the need to stay ahead of tech advancements. She also previews her FAB session, What's The Forecast and the importance of preparing for upcoming changes.

Special guest Grace Hardy, founder of Hardy Accounting and upcoming speaker of the Festival of Accounting & Bookkeeping (FAB) joins the podcast to share her journey in starting and scaling her business. She speaks about finding her voice, overcoming challenges and using social media to grow her brand. As part of the next generation of accountants, Hardy offers perspective on whether the profession meets young people's needs, what firms need to do differently and how apprenticeships shaped her career. Richard Hattersley continues on the topic of apprenticeships amid National Apprenticeship Week and concerns over Level 7 funding. He discusses the benefits, the impact of potential funding cuts and what firms should do to prepare. Matthew Ord closes the podcast with some recent M&A activity with Blick Rothenberg having recently agreed to buy Greenback Alan. He explores the deal, why the firm is looking to expand and how to make sure that everyone in the business feels at ease.

The beginning of February marks the end of the self assessment season so Richard Hattersley starts the podcast sharing how accountants on AccountingWEB coped on deadline day. The team speaks about the 1.1m who missed the deadline and what's next for accountants now that another self assessment is over. Tom Herbert details the Companies House agent filing system, requiring firms filing for clients to register on a new system. He looks at the rollout timeline, its impact on accountants and whether it will have the desired effect. To wrap up the podcast, Matthew Ord explores the journey to the boardroom and how CFOs rise through the ranks. The team discusses the evolving role of CFOs, who now have to oversee all aspects of operation

With the self assessment deadline next week, the worst has happened for some tax agents who have been locked out of their agent accounts. Tom Herbert examines the timing, the impact on practitioners' livelihoods, and HMRC's poor communication around the issue. Continuing on with HMRC, Richard Hattersley reviews the criticism HMRC has come under, from exchequer secretary James Murray being grilled on customer service to a scathing public accounts committee report on poor service levels. The team considers what it will take for HMRC to change. Matthew Ord shares insight from his conversation with Pete Fendall, one of the youngest CFOs in the alternative investment market, who reveals how he proved himself at such a young age. Lastly, Herbert discusses the software market for large firms. He spoke with John Toon, tech strategy lead at Beever and Struthers about how 2025 might bring an increase in spending.

Our tech editor, Tom Herbert kicks off the podcast with the shutdown and acquisition of online bookkeeping giant Bench. He details who Bench are, what happened when the company ceased operations, why we should care and the dangers of using technology without proper oversight. With January being a busy month for accountants and the 31 January self assessment deadline looming, Richard Hattersley talks about HMRC's statistics that 5.4m taxpayers are still left to file their return. The team questions whether it is just human nature that a deadline is a deadline for a reason and they see how accountants are coping. Finally, Matthew Ord reports on the calls for change in audit. He looks at whether any progress has been made so far and the Financial Reporting Council's (FRC) desire for audit to be more effective.

With Christmas and New Year fast approaching, the AccountingWEB team reunites for their final podcast of 2024, reflecting on the year's biggest stories. They kick off with the 20-year Post Office scandal, which gained renewed attention in 2024 after the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office. The team discusses ongoing lessons and why it's important to keep this issue in focus. Next, they tackle HMRC's pattern of U-turns, including this year's reversals on double cab pickups and helpline cuts, sharing what these shifts reveal about HMRC's direction. The conversation turns to major anti-money laundering (AML) failures, such as Metro Bank's £16.7m fine and the accountant who faked being an auditor for 34 years. The team questions why AML continues to be an issue and whether things will change. General election highlights and two budgets – Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget and Rachel Reeves's inaugural Autumn Budget – also feature, with their impact being examined. Finally, Richard Hattersley and Tom Herbert share bold predictions for 2025, exploring where the accounting profession might head in the coming year.

In a podcast rounding up 2024 in accounting tech, Tom Herbert, Billie Mcloughlin and Ryan Pearcy discuss the emergence of AI assistants in accounting tech, what the latest round of software consolidation means for accountants, and whether switching bonuses are potentially misaligned with the profession's ethical standards. For links to all stories featured in the pod, visit https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/tech-pulse/ai-assistants-acquisitions-and-switching-bonuses-2024-in-accounting-tech

Special guest Thomas Adcock, a tax partner at Gravita joins this week's podcast to shed light on the recent protests from farmers. Last week, tractors drove through Westminster to protest the changes announced in the Budget. Adcock discusses the changes that have impacted the farming sector, what farmers can do and whether there is a better route for them. With the government deciding to create an AI-powered chatbot, Tom Herbert fills us in on the details, where it can be found, what it does and his general thoughts after trying it out. Finally, Richard Hattersley speaks about his chat with Alastair Barlow and Paul Layte, founders of flinder and Next Level Business. They have announced plans to merge and target the outsourced finance director sector. The team questions how firms have embraced virtual finance services, how technology will play an important role and where this craze will go.

Kicking off the podcast is news that TaxCalc has landed a major investment from private equity firm Symphony Technology Group (STG). Tom Herbert discusses TaxCalc's history, what we know about STG, what's next for TaxCalc and the state of the accounting software market. Richard Hattersley shares tales from his time at the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) Summit. He tells all about how the event was, some of the big headlines like MTD, its focus on the future and what this means for bookkeeping. Lastly, Matthew Ord reveals some anti-money laundering (AML) woes, specifically Metro Bank which has been hit with a £16.7m fine for failing to monitor potential AML activities. The team questions why companies are still not using the right processes and procedures.

On this week's No Accounting for Taste, it's all things Budget. We are joined by Sophie Hossack, head of partnerships at Allica Bank and Dan Heelan, director of Heelan Associates to break down and digest Rachel Reeves's first Budget. The panel shares their general thoughts on the Budget, the main tax changes, measures hidden within the Red Book and what impact these will have.

The trio start by looking back at the Accounting Excellence Awards 2024 after a successful night at the Roundhouse in London, where the most ambitious firms and individuals in the profession were celebrated. With the Budget less than two weeks away, Richard Hattersley examines the rumours and speculation surrounding what Rachel Reeves may announce on the big day. Will we get an increase in employers' national insurance? And if we did, might that break Labour's manifesto pledge? Tom Herbert pulls back the curtain on The Payroll Site announcing its plans to close in 2025. An influx of legislation has made the payroll software market increasingly complex and demanding, while a whole host of competitors have also moved into the cloud payroll space in the intervening years. Is the role of the CFO evolving? Matthew Ord does a deepdive into what the position may look like in the months ahead, why that shift is well underway and what the challenges could be.

The government has launched a consultation on electronic invoicing to help improve productivity, reduce fraud and close the tax gap for businesses. Tom Herbert explains e-invoicing, what's been announced and the next steps. Richard Hattersley looks into the Administrative Burdens Advisory Board (ABAB) survey results which revealed further criticisms around Making Tax Digital for income tax and HMRC's customer service. The team discusses what's been said and whether this survey will make a difference. Looking into another set of results, Matthew Ord shares the The Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision (OPBAS) report into AML supervision. The report said they had not seen any material improvement in supervisors' effectiveness in the core areas of supervision. Matthew Ord questions what needs to be done.

Tom Herbert's busy schedule has taken him to NetSuite's SuiteWorld in Las Vegas and Accountex North in Manchester. He talks about how they were, any similarities or differences and the big topics from the show floor. After a couple weeks off interrailing, Richard Hattersley returns to the podcast with some insights on dealing with unscheduled work calls on holiday. The team shares their thoughts on whether people should stop ringing unannounced and the importance of setting boundaries. Lastly, Matthew Ord discusses a report from the ACCA and Chartered Accountants ANZ, in association with PwC about why chief financial officers only have five years to adapt to rapidly changing demands or face becoming obsolete. They look at what this means for finance teams and what needs changing.

This week's podcast brings together four cloud accounting commentators to discuss the evolving role of technology in accounting, the varying adoption rates of cloud solutions, and the future of artificial intelligence in the industry. Recorded on location at Oracle NetSuite's SuiteWorld conference in Las Vegas, AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert was joined by American duo Blake Oliver and David Leary from The Accounting Podcast and Australia's Heather Smith from the Accounting Apps Podcast,

This week AccountingWEB is joined by Bradley Channer, CFO at UBIO and CIMA council member. Channer talks about how the managing director of Mineral Resources wanted to hold his staff captive all day, not wanting them to leave even for a coffee. The team shares their opinion, emphasising why workplaces need to be attractive for employees and what accounting can learn from this. Tom Herbert speaks about carbon accounting software, explaining what it is, why accountants should care and what kind of software is available. And finally, with the government proposing to hike windfall taxes from 75% to 78% and the industry raising their concerns, Matthew Ord questions whether the government will listen.

James Brackley, lecturer in accounting at the University of Sheffield and lead author of the Audit Reform Lab report on Birmingham City Council's bankruptcy joins this week's episode. Brackley chats about how behind the audits are for local governments, how it was allowed to get to this point and whether they can catch up. He takes a look at Birmingham City Council's financial crisis, sharing what happened and the next steps. Richard Hattersley speaks about HMRC's generic nudge letter campaigns. However, due to the generic nature of these letters, it is becoming increasingly hard to tell them apart from scams. The team talk about what HMRC should do to prevent taxpayers getting scammed. Finally, with GCSE and A-Level results day, Matthew Ord looks at the importance of apprenticeships and how they can be a vital piece of the puzzle to help firms with the recruitment crisis and skills gap.

Gary Turner, the former UK CEO and co-founder of software giant Xero, has been appointed to the board of directors at Mazuma. The company's co-founder and CEO Lucy Cohen joined us – alongside Gary – for a chat on how the appointment came to be, what accounting and tech firms can learn from each other, and whether there's life left in the traditional partner-led model. Alongside the Budget being confirmed for 30 October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves also announced a £22bn black hole in the public finances, as well as promising that tax rises are coming. Richard Hattersley looks at where the money might come from, and revisits VAT on private school fees and the abolition of non-doms. Finally, Matthew Ord looks at the worrying report into local authority audits from The Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors. Concerns have been raised that a high proportion of functions might be unable to complete their internal audit plans for 2023/24, with the under-resourcing of such a critical area also causing some nervousness.

Sage's AI research has revealed that the widespread adoption of AI in accounting and bookkeeping could add £2bn to the UK economy alongside 20,000 jobs in the long term. Tom Herbert looks at AI's impact on accounting and the concerns accountants and bookkeepers have. With a new ICAEW president, Malcolm Bacchus, Matthew Ord shares their discussion on plans and expected changes, emphasising a need to continue building trust within the profession. As the summer Olympics begin tomorrow, Richard Hattersley brings up Eugene Amo-Dadzie, the world's fastest accountant. The team discusses the transferable skills between being an athlete and an accountant and wonders if there should be an accounting Olympics?

The AccountingWEB team dive right into Labour's landslide victory last week, talking about Keir Starmer and the first female Chancellor, Rachel Reeves. They question whether Reeves will pause and take consultation from those involved in the industry. Tom Herbert discusses a popular topic, choosing the right software and apps. He explores the term ‘best', why that's not always the case for software and other factors that need to be considered. Turning back to the election, Richard Hattersley shared that accountancy candidates were obliterated. Has the electorate fallen out of love with accountants and why? Finally, Matthew Ord sheds light onto HMRC who was criticised for being unable to fix a problem of its own making after the department wrongly refunded voluntary class 2 national insurance contributions.

This week on the podcast, the AWEB team joined by Nimesh Shah, CEO of Blick Rothenberg does a deep dive into the election manifestos. With just a week until the election, Nimesh Shah reveals the reality of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat manifestos. The panel also gives mention to some notable initiatives from the Green Party and the Reform Party as well as questioning what will happen post-election.

Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, CEO of Xero, tells AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert why the cloud accounting platform has shifted to a more focused approach, how accounting firms can take more risks, and what doing the books for her family's business taught her about the profession. For full shownotes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/accounting-software/xero-ceo-sukhinder-singh-cassidy-talks-strategy-risk-and-pricing

Richard Hattersley follows on from the previous episode of election talk by going through each party's manifestos and the tax promises they are pledging. The AccountingWEB team look at what's missing and how the political parties expect to pay for these promises. We are joined by Tom Herbert live at Xerocon, giving us the inside scoop on the latest announcements that are being made and some updates on AI. Our special guest Mike Goldsmith, head of events at Sift, chats about the Accounting Excellence Awards. He shares what's new, popular categories and the trends he is seeing. He offers some advice on what the judges are looking for in this year's entries. Goldsmith also reveals an increased deadline to 28 June so get applying! Matthew Ord rounds off the podcast with some M&A chat, looking at the uncertainties that life can bring and why having an exit strategy is so important. This episode of No Accounting for Taste is sponsored by Comarch, a global IT business and solutions provider that optimises operational and business processes: https://www.comarch.com/

Richard Hattersley kicks off the podcast with the big news of the election. He explores what this means for accountants and tax agents and what we can expect to see over the next month as well as questioning how the political parties are going to fund their plans. After a busy conference season for Tom Herbert, he talks about the biggest trends he has seen. These trends include AI, outsourcing and a shoutout to some new players on the scene. Matthew Ord wraps up the episode by sharing a new report published by The Audit Reform Lab which looked into the audit performance of the Big Four. The report revealed that the Big Four auditors are failing to perform their core functions.

On another episode of No Accounting for Taste, Tom Herbert kicks off the podcast by sharing a few recent GovTech developments. These include the launching of an online voluntary NI payments tool, MTD Income Tax private beta testing going live and stories of agent accounts being frozen. Both Richard Hattersley and Matthew Ord this week look into workplace culture and lifestyle. Richard delves into Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May), its importance and what needs to be done and Matthew questions whether the 9-5 life is the way to go.

With entries to the 2024 Accounting Excellence being open, Karen Kennedy, director at Kennedy Accountancy and Andrew Griggs, senior partner at Kreston Reeves join Richard Hattersley and Matthew Ord to talk all things accounting excellence. Kennedy Accountancy won last year's New Firm of the Year Award and Kreston Reeves picked up the award for both the Audit Team of the Year and the AccountingWEB Pride Award for ESG. They discuss the three pillars of accounting excellence: Client care Kennedy and Griggs speak about how big of a focus client care is, how important it is to their firm, how things have changed and the initiatives they have both undertaken. Processes They continue to discuss how their firms are improving efficiency, staff development and the quality of services they provide. Growth Lastly, both Kennedy and Griggs explore what growth looks like for them and how they successfully keep up and achieve balance when growing.

Richard Murphy is a professor of accounting practice at Sheffield University Management School, a chartered accountant and an economic justice campaigner. He joins AccountingWEB for a new episode of No Accounting for Taste. Discussion begins on Labour's plans to raise an extra £5bn a year by tackling tax avoidance. Murphy offers his take on whether shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves is looking in the right places and whether she is speaking to the right people. Murphy's taxing wealth report is shared as he discusses that with certain measures, £90bn could be raised. Talk then turns to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales's (ICAEW) annual accounts being recently published. The team alongside Murphy looks at the funds paid to the ICAEW as a result of fines and penalties given to chartered accountants, whether things have changed in the accounts and what's next for the reserves.

After the Easter weekend, the AccountingWEB team joined for another episode of No Accounting for Taste. Tom zeroes in on HMRC matters, exploring their new One Login service, questioning why now and what impact this will have. He also delves into recent complaints lodged against HMRC after their letter to Devonports LAS accountants contained multiple errors. The team asks how a letter like that gets posted and how are they written. With the recent news that the Accounting Excellence Awards are now open, Richard looks back at the entries from last year and discusses the most common trends and challenges. Interested in starting your entry for Accounting Excellence? Click here. Matt closes off the podcast by recounting an interview with AJ Chambers' James Gosling, speaking about M&A trends. They talk about issues with succession, consolidators and firms struggling to retain talent.

AccountingWEB's technology editor Tom Herbert is joined by experts Natasha Everard from Bewitching Bookkeeping and Bhimal Hira from Prysm Financial to share their insights into what's hot and what's not on the accounting technology runway in 2024. For full shownotes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/accounting-software/whats-on-accountings-spring-software-shopping-list

The team discuss what they got up to at the Festival of Accounting & Bookkeeping (FAB), coming back together for another packed episode of No Accounting for Taste. Just before we hit record, HMRC made a sudden U-turn on the decision to make permanent cuts to the helpline. Matthew, Richard, and Tom delve into the ensuing chaos and the swift turnaround in their decision. A popular topic at FAB, Richard speaks about the government consultation to regulate the tax advice market. He looks at what this means and what accountants have to say. Tom moves on to a fraud case where cybercriminals stole £53,000 from an accountant's Revolut business account. He details Revolut's response and explores the rules of reimbursement. Lastly, we hear from a special guest, Kate Bell, farms and estates partner at Albert Goodman on the trials and tribulations of farming, its need for stability and how they are navigating tax measures. Kate talks about the impact that basis period reform, double cab pick-ups and the furnished holiday lettings regime has had on farming.

On this week's No Accounting for Taste, it's all things Spring Budget. Chatting with Allica Bank's Conrad Ford, Richard and Tom look at Jeremy Hunt's “Budget for long-term growth”, questioning whether this was the pre-election Budget they were expecting. This session is sponsored by Allica Bank, who provides full-service banking for established businesses in the UK.

Alongside Richard and Tom we welcome our new deputy editor, Matt who will be joining the No Accounting for Taste podcast. A big story this week was the U-turn made by the government regarding double-cab pickups. Richard looks at what happened and what this says about the government. With self assessment been and gone, HMRC provided Tom with some more interesting statistics. Tom shares the percentages of how many tax returns were filed by agents, how many were filed digitally and what this all means for making tax digital. In other HMRC news, Matt speaks about the name and shame made by HMRC for employers who failed to pay minimum wage. Matt talks about the big names involved, reasons why this might have happened and whether naming and shaming was the correct approach. And finally, the sad news of the death of actor and comedian Ewen MacIntosh, who played big Keith in The Office, prompted the team to remember MacIntosh's impact on the fictional accounting world. With only three weeks away, we also get a sneak peek of what the team are looking forward to at the Festival of Accounting and Bookkeeping (FAB).

Join the AccountingWEB team as they talk about the deepfake CFO scam alongside all things post-self-assessment. An excerpt from this week's Any Answers Live, discusses the highs and lows of busy season with Rebecca Williams and Claire Bartlett. With this year's self assessment been and gone, and 1.1m taxpayers missing the deadline, Richard Hattersley and Tom Herbert talk about deadline day statistics, the late and last minute filers, and the HMRC helplines. Now that tax returns are no longer a concern, attention shifts to the beginning of practice software shopping for practitioners. Predictions are being made regarding what practitioners might prioritise this year, with a noticeable interest in data tools emerging as a key focus. We also hear from Rebecca Williams, founder of Eccounting Made Easy and Claire Bartlett, founder of Arden Bookkeeping who are both speaking at the Festival of Accounting and Bookkeeping. In a snippet from this week's Any Answers Live, they reflect on the highs and lows of their self assessment season. Make sure to book your free ticket to the Festival of Accounting and Bookkeeping at the NEC, Birmingham on 13 and 14 March. Interested in practice software? Hear more about the vast array of different vendors and quiz them on new or current software. Enjoyed listening to Rebecca Williams and Claire Bartlett? They will be one of the many expert speakers talking about accounting and bookkeeping. Show timings 1m 09s Deepfake CFO scam 6m 18s Self assessment statistics 12m The start of practice software shopping 15m 50s Rebecca Williams and Claire Bartlett talk about busy season

Lucy Cohen joins the AccountingWEB team on the podcast this week to discuss the challenges of this year's self assessment season, receiving a multimillion-pound investment in her firm and MTD ITSA testing. With just under a week to go before the self assessment deadline, and 3.8m taxpayers still needing to file, the AccountingWEB editorial team talk about the late filers, the missing information, the client chasers, the late nights, the long HMRC helpline wait times and much more, as we chart the highs and lows of this year's busy season. Lucy Cohen, the co-founder of Mazuma Accountants and speaker at the Festival of Accounting & Bookkeeping, pulls back the curtains on her firm's self assessment season. We also catch up with Lucy on the day that Mazuma announced a multimillion-pound investment from Innovation Investment Capital Limited Partnership (IIC), the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) backed fund. Lucy gives the inside scoop on how the investment came about and their plans to scale the firm in 2024. Meanwhile while all attention is on self assessment and planning ahead, the elephant in the room is of course Making Tax Digital. And this week we learned of HMRC's plans to revive the pilot, only we're not calling it a pilot. AccountingWEB's Tom Herbert summarises the latest developments of the digital project. Lucy will be one of the many expert speakers at the Festival of Accounting & Bookkeeping (FAB) on 13 and 14 March at the NEC, Birmingham. Go to Fab.uk to book your free tickets! Show timings 1m 30s Mazuma's investment news 11m 40s Self assessment season discussion 30m 40s MTD ITSA testing 36m 55s Festival of Accounting & Bookkeeping

What does 2024 have in store for the accounting profession? Dan Heelan joins the AccountingWEB team to predict the big topics that will shape the year ahead. In this episode of No Accounting for Taste, the AccountingWEB team and Dan Heelan, a director at the accounting firm Heelan Associates, cast their eyes over the ongoing developments in the Post Office scandal. The Post Office scandal is one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history, where postmasters were wrongly accused of theft and false accounting, and was the subject of a recent ITV dramatisation of the scandal. While the postmasters have received some justice in the court of public opinion, many are still grappling with the compensation payment and the financial consequences of being pushed into a higher tax bracket. The team also looks at IRIS's recent private equity investment and what the ongoing trend of consolidation in the accounting technology space means for accountants and their choice of tools. Finally, Heelan and the AWEB editors place their bets on the big stories they predict in the accounting profession in 2024. Who will take the title of the accounting prognosticator? Tune in to this week's episode of No Accounting for Taste to find out. For links to the stories discussed in this episode go to: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep154-2024-predictions-post-office-scandal-and-iris

This week's podcast rounds up the year that was 2023 in accounting tech, with guests Billie Mcloughlin and John Toon joining AccountingWEB tech editor Tom Herbert to discuss the impact of AI on accounting tech, what's going on with anti-money laundering technology for accountants, and how the gap between the tech haves and have notes is widening. For links to the items discussed on the show visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-tech-ep20-accounting-technology-year-in-review-ai-aml-and-integrations

This year's autumn statement couldn't have been more different than last year's. Back in November 2022, the Chancellor warned the UK of the “storm” of tax rises.  But only 12 months later Jeremy Hunt was announcing cuts to employee and self employed national insurance and making the full expensing capital allowance scheme permanent in what he called “the biggest package of tax cuts to be implemented since the 1980s”.  On No Accounting for Taste this week, in association with Mercia, we're discussing the Autumn Statement. We're looking at all the tax changes. All the news tucked away in the green book.  The AccountingWEB team is joined in the pod studio by Glenn Collins, the head of technical and strategic engagement at ACCA, and Andrew Courts, the director of the accountancy firm Courts & Co, to get an accountant in practice's point of view. Hosted by Richard Hattersley and Tom Herbert, the No Accounting for Taste podcast takes on some of the big stories from across the accounting profession. You can read more about the stories discussed in this podcast on AccountingWEB.co.uk. Find out more about how Mercia can support your training needs: https://www.mercia-group.com/

With so much hype around how the current wave of generative artificial intelligence tools will change accountancy, comparatively little focus has been given to what accountants actually doing the job want or need from the new systems. AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert hit the floor at the recent 2020 Innovation conference to find out what accountants think the AI-driven may hold for the profession. For full show notes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-tech-ep19-what-do-accountants-really-think-of-ai *Editor's note: For technical reasons, some of the interviews were recorded remotely a day or two after the conference*

Dan Neidle joins the AccountingWEB team on the podcast this week to discuss his recent investigation into Property118, the Autumn Statement and tax complexity. Dan is the founder of Tax Policy Associates, a not-for-profit company, that aims to improve tax and legal policy and public understanding of tax. Before his work with Tax Policy Associates, Dan spent almost 25 years as a tax lawyer. He joins the AccountingWEB airwaves to discuss his investigation into Property118, which he called at one point “the worst tax avoidance scheme ever”. And with the Autumn Statement around the corner, Dan gives his thoughts on some of the runners and riders rumoured for the big fiscal event. He also imagines if he was Chancellor for the day and reveals what he would announce if he was given the keys to Number 11. Discussion inevitably turns to tax complications and whether it is a case that the complications are inevitable (tax is complicated!) or that some of the complications are just unnecessary? Hosted by Richard Hattersley and Tom Herbert, the No Accounting for Taste podcast takes on some of the big stories from across the accounting profession. You can read more about the stories discussed in this podcast on AccountingWEB.co.uk.

As the witching hour draws near (and we don't mean the Autumn Statement), AccountingWEB is joined by Glenn Martin, founder of Avery Martin to discuss some of his favourite nightmare-inducing experiences in practice. From dealing with ghoulish governmental bodies, to cursed clients, be prepared: you're in for a scare! Also on this week's spooky pod, AWEB editor Richard Hattersley reveals all from his big trip this year's Suite World in sunny Las Vegas and tech editor Tom Herbert gives us the lowdown on all things tech. Podcast speakers: Richard Hattersley Tom Herbert Glenn Martin Producer/editor: Will Cole

the seemingly endless issue of late payments is one that's been covered extensively on AccountingWEB. Acting as a millstone round the necks of not only small firms and SMEs, but the wider UK economy itself, late payments are putting increasing pressure on businesses up and down the country. Yet, with the government moving to urge big businesses to pay up on time, could we finally see a shift in the discourse? Joining us to discuss this question is Samantha Nealms, founder of LilyIris Accounting. Also on podcast, the team discuss the evolving challenges facing firms in the AML space, as well as hearing all the latest fintech news from tech editor Tom Herbert. Podcast speakers: Richard Hattersley Tom Herbert Samantha Nealms Producer/editor: Will Cole