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Insights

Pulling together opinion, analysis, interviews and features on the profession along with a focus on the key issues affecting accountancy and the world of business.

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Behind the numbers

Can history teach us anything about digital money?

  • Podcast
  • ICAEW Insights
In this episode of Behind the Numbers, we explore what the history of money can tell us about its future.
Listen now

Latest news

PoW accountants of World War II: the exams lifeline
  • Article
  • 15 Aug 2025
ICAEW reflects on the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and remembers an extraordinary lifeline that emerged for captive accountants: professional exams held in the unlikely setting of German prison camps.
Finance transformation: why willingness to learn (and fail) matters
  • Article
  • 15 Aug 2025
Running a transformation project differs from the usual tasks of a finance function. You need to be comfortable not knowing anything.
Study defies mutterings of corporate sustainability climbdown
  • Article
  • 15 Aug 2025
Companies are entering a new chapter of business-led climate action, countering the prevailing narrative of “climate retrenchment and gloom”, says a new report.

Latest tax news

HMRC is taking longer to respond to post
  • Article
  • 20 Aug 2025
Data for the quarter ended 30 June 2025 reveals that HMRC is continuing to improve its performance in dealing with telephone contact but that this has come at the cost of responding to post.
Up to 3 million individuals may need to comply with MTD
  • Article
  • 19 Aug 2025
ICAEW’s Tax Faculty highlights some of the key figures from HMRC’s latest statistics for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax and explains what they mean for taxpayers, agents and HMRC.
Tax news in brief 19 August 2025
  • Article
  • 19 Aug 2025
Highlights from the broader tax news for the two weeks ending 19 August 2025, including: a reduction in HMRC interest rates; and new guidance from HMRC on Pillar 2.

Insights specials

A listing of one-off Insights specials that focus on a particular subject, interviewing the key people, identifying developing trends and examining the underlying issues.

How to fix VAT
  • Hub page
ICAEW explores the challenges and opportunities offered in reimagining VAT and it's application. Read about the history of VAT, the lessons that can be learned from outside the UK and the potential of digitalisation.
Global Ethics Day
  • Hub page
ICAEW celebrates Global Ethics Day each year. The 2024 theme is "Ethics empowered: using the power of ethics to build a better world”, and ICAEW is examining the vital role ethics must play in the development of technology.
Local government finance: skills for the future
  • Hub page
Improving financial skills at local authorities is critical in balancing the books and delivering value for citizens. As backstop dates for audited accounts come into force, ICAEW explores how local authorities can strengthen their approach to financial management.

Accounting Intelligence

ICAEW has created a range of resources to support members in business and practice build their understanding of AI. There are video masterclasses, as well as features discussing opportunities, challenges, limitations, risk management and ethics.

Browse resources Watch AI masterclasses
Computer screen with text relating to generative AI

Videos

AI masterclass on better audit sampling
AI masterclass on better audit sampling
  • Video
  • 29 Oct 2024
Konrad Bukowski-Kruszyna ACA, Head of Audit Data Analytics, RSM UK outlines how generative AI can help ensure that audit sampling is being handled correctly.
What is VAT?
What is VAT?
  • Video
  • 19 Nov 2024
Value added tax is a vital tool for raising revenue to fund education, healthcare and more. We explain how it works and how it could be improved.
AI masterclass on reviewing company controls
AI masterclass on reviewing company controls
  • Video
  • 30 Oct 2024
Jenny Blewett FCA, Head of Finance at Costello Medical talks about how she used generative AI to help check her firm’s banking controls when she was new in post.
Private equity: is it here to stay?
Private equity: is it here to stay?
  • Video
  • 22 May 2024
Matt Meadows, Managing Partner, Moore Kingston Smith, and Caroline Monk, Executive Partner, Beever and Struthers, on their views of private equity on the accountancy sector.

The opinions expressed by external guest speakers in interviews or other publications included on this website are, by their nature, those of the speaker. They are not necessarily fully endorsed by the ICAEW or purport to reflect the official policies and views of the ICAEW or its members.

Podcast episodes

Can history teach us anything about digital money?
  • Podcast
  • 20 Aug 2025
In this episode of Behind the Numbers, we explore what the history of money can tell us about its future.
Bonus episode: How to tackle late payments
  • Podcast
  • 12 Aug 2025
ICAEW’s Iain Wright talks with the government's newly appointed Small Business Commissioner Emma Jones CBE.
Inside the Post Office Inquiry and new mid-tier research
  • Podcast
  • 24 Jul 2025
We discuss the findings of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry’s first report, including lessons for other companies around culture and values.

Charts of the week

chart of the week thumbnail 24 july 2025
Chart of the week: One Big Beautiful Bill Act 2025
  • Article
  • 25 Jul 2025
Our chart this week looks at the impact on the US federal government deficit of the major tax and spending changes passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump on 4 July 2025.
chart of the week thumbnail image 17 july 2025
Chart of the week: climate change and the public finances
  • Article
  • 18 Jul 2025
Our chart this week looks at how climate change is now expected to make the OBR’s dire predictions for the public finances even worse.
chart of the week thumbnail image for july 11 2025
Chart of the week: Balance of payments
  • Article
  • 11 Jul 2025
Our chart this week takes a look at the UK’s balance of payments in the year to 31 March 2025 and wonders what the future has in store.

Insights by topic

Student Insights Interviews, guides and features giving you fresh insights, innovative ideas and an inside look at the lives and careers of ICAEW students and members. No matter what stage you’re at in your journey with us, you’ll find content to suit you.
Insights index
  • Listing
This page provides an entry point to the articles that have formed the daily, monthly and weekly member emails, arranged by section and month. It also contains an index of themed Insights specials and the Quarterly magazine.
Climate hub
  • Hub page
Climate change is a crucial issue for the accounting profession. Are you professionally ready to mitigate the risk and maximise the opportunity of climate change? Find inspiration, information and practical resources to support the goals set out in the Paris Agreement and in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Diversity and Inclusion
  • Hub page
ICAEW is committed to Diversity and Inclusion. In this hub we bring together timely D&I resources on the protected characteristics of the Equality Act, along with our latest insights into diversity in the profession.
EU and international trade
  • Hub page
A range of resources on the implications of the UK leaving the EU on 31 December 2020.
Regulatory News
  • Listing
A round-up of regulatory and conduct updates and communications from the ICAEW Professional Standards Department.
Sponsored content
  • Listing
Hear what our partners are saying on topical issues impacting the accountancy profession.