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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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Accountancy Insights

Inside the Industrial Strategy and navigating VAT reform

  • Podcast
  • ICAEW Insights
In this episode, we discuss the government’s new Industrial Strategy and, in particular, its sector plan for professional and business services.
Listen now

Latest news

Excel’s six most useful formula hacks
  • Article
  • 22 Jul 2025
Working with formulas can be a challenge for even regular Excel users – but according to specialist trainer Simon Hurst, there are ways to make the process simpler and swifter.
Revisions to Provision 29 of the UK Code: what auditors need to know
  • Article
  • 22 Jul 2025
What are the new requirements for companies under Provision 29 of the FRC’s Revised UK Corporate Governance Code?
Masterclass 9: Building a ring-fenced AI platform
  • Article
  • 21 Jul 2025
Jared Goodrich ACA, Senior Manager, Digital Transformation, Moore Kingston Smith explains how the firm is building a ring-fenced generative AI platform and how, among many other examples, it is used to analyse the outputs from client board meetings.

Latest tax news

HMRC promises new digital solutions for taxpayers and agents
  • Article
  • 22 Jul 2025
HMRC has launched a Transformation Roadmap setting out more than 50 IT projects, services and measures that it says will modernise the UK’s tax and customs systems and make it easier for taxpayers and agents to interact with HMRC.
HMRC continues to miss performance targets
  • Article
  • 21 Jul 2025
HMRC’s accounts and charter report for 2024/25 show that it continues to underperform, with key targets missed and delays increasing for clearing correspondence. New digital services are promised for taxpayers, but with no mention of tax agents.
How to fix VAT: strategies for reform
  • Article
  • 21 Jul 2025
Is there hope for a significantly reformed and improved UK VAT in the future or are we restricted to endlessly tinkering with the existing design? A panel discussion at ICAEW’s recent How to Fix VAT Conference explored the options.

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
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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

Appraising Starmer’s Labour
  • Podcast
  • 15 Jul 2025
In this episode of Behind the Numbers, we discuss the hits and misses of the Labour government’s first year in power.
Inside the Industrial Strategy and navigating VAT reform
  • Podcast
  • 08 Jul 2025
In this episode, we discuss the government’s new Industrial Strategy and, in particular, its sector plan for professional and business services.
Investment risk: lessons from Russia
  • Podcast
  • 20 Jun 2025
In this episode of Behind the Numbers, we discuss how businesses can best navigate geopolitical risk.

Charts of the week

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.
chart thumbnail image
Chart of the week: Energy price cap
  • Article
  • 04 Jul 2025
Our chart this week looks at the domestic energy price cap since its peak in the first quarter of 2023.

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.