AccountingWEB: Recent Episodes
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Sharon Cooke, technical director at 20:20 Innovation, joins the latest episode of No Accounting for Taste to talk about training in a changing profession, the skills accountants will need and why development should support a firm's wider strategy.
Despite Tom Herbert missing Xerocon, Richard Hattersley was on hand to fill him in – including the big slide and ball pit. He explains how AI dominated the event, with Xero’s Anthropic integration taking centre stage. Herbert discusses the announcements that stood out, Hattersley’s podcast with Xero CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy and signs of growing discontent among users.Hattersley then reflects on the stories shaping the profession over the past three months, from pressure on owner-managed businesses and reporting reform fatigue to financial reporting changes and the launch of Making Tax Digital (MTD). Looking ahead, he predicts a busy summer, with the first MTD submissions due in August, tax uncertainty under the new prime minister and chancellor, continued reliance on rolling forecasts and a possible AI reality check. The team asks whether the profession is facing its biggest period of change in years. Finally, Matthew Ord shares insights from his conversation with Richard Davis, founder of FNLY and former CFO at SpareRoom.co.uk and Coolr, about choosing your battles when finance leaders cannot afford to be ‘yes people’. Rather than simply saying yes or no, they need to ask why, challenge decisions and act as informed business partners. Hattersley argues that finance leaders must bring independent thinking and in-depth knowledge to become effective co-pilots, while Herbert adds that they must step outside their comfort zones as finance becomes less siloed.
Xero Ultra: Solving the painful leap from small business to full ERP with advanced analytics and seamless book-to-tax workflows.Listen now to find out why model advances are a product tailwind rather than a market threat, and how to move from compliance drudgery into high-value advisory work.For full show notes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/tech-pulse/xero-ceo-ai-builder-class-rewrites-accounting
How can firms ensure technology improves the client experience rather than complicates it and can such a step be taken without affecting that relationship? David Gartside and Luke Farren join The Progressive Firm Podcast to discuss.
Bookkeeping Show, after FAB picked up two event awards. Richard Hattersley reflects on what the wins say about the show and what’s next for FAB 2027.Tom Herbert turns to HMRC’s tax gap figures and asks whether Making Tax Digital for income tax (MTD) is still the right answer. He looks at research from Mazuma founder Lucy Cohen, which suggests MTD could add to the tax gap rather than reduce it. Herbert explores why AI is at the heart of the issue and what can be done.Hattersley then looks at the tax uncertainty caused by Westminster’s latest shake-up. With a change in prime minister on the way, the team considers what could happen next on tax. He explores what went wrong for Keir Starmer, the rise of Andy Burnham and what it all means for accountants.Finally, Matthew Ord discusses how CFOs and FDs should use the time technology gives back. Drawing on his conversation with fractional CFO and FAB speaker Dhosjan Greenaway-Dalini, Ord argues that finance leaders should focus less on vanity projects and more on getting closer to the business, joining up teams and doing work that makes a real difference.
Tom Herbert shares his takeaways from Tax Tech Live in London, where the AI conversation felt more grounded. Rather than sweeping claims about revolutionising the profession, the focus was on practical use cases, how teams are using AI now, and what this could mean for training and the profession. Herbert also warns that a pricing crunch may be coming as AI costs rise.Matthew Ord then looks at EY's latest Global DNA of the CFO survey, which suggests CFO ambition is running ahead of execution. While many finance leaders want to drive value creation, fewer are leading those conversations. Ord and Herbert explore why finance still struggles to translate data, technology and insight into boardroom influence, and why the future of finance depends on effectively bringing talent and technology together.Finally, the team talks about audit, following BDO’s £2m penalty. Ord explains what happened before discussing what the Financial Reporting Council’s findings say about audit quality, professional scepticism and the question of what happens next now that audit reform has stalled.
Matthew Ord opens the podcast with good news for anyone still working on their Accounting Excellence entry: the deadline has been extended to 3 June. So if you haven’t quite finished your entry or wished you’d have started one, now is the time to get it done.Tom Herbert shares news that Bokio, a cloud accounting system, is pulling the plug on its UK operations on 30 June 2026. He explains what has happened, what it means for users and whether it could be a warning sign for the latest wave of artificial intelligence (AI) products entering the accounting software market.To close, Ord asks whether finance leaders can still be effective if they are not tech-savvy. He and Herbert discuss how technology has become part of the finance leader’s day-to-day role, and whether finance professionals now need to think more like tech leaders rather than accountants.
As Tom Herbert returns from sunny San Francisco, he reflects on his time at Sage Future and the event’s focus on building trust in artificial intelligence (AI). He shares the research from the conference, the push to improve user confidence and the announcements pointing towards a more practical, pragmatic phase of AI adoption.Mathew Ord explores the perception and performance gap facing finance professionals. He looks back on his conversation with Chris Argent, founder of GENCFO and Accounting Excellence judge, about the disconnect between finance teams that see themselves as strategic business partners and those genuinely operating in that role.Staying with finance, Ord also highlights this year’s Accounting Excellence finance categories, including Finance Digital Transformation, Finance Team of the Year and Finance Leader of the Year. Get your entries in before the 20 May deadline.
Speaking to AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert at Sage Future, Sage’s annual user conference in San Francisco, chief executive Steve Hare argued that artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in accounting will depend less on flashy generative features and more on whether finance teams can inspect, verify and trust the outputs. Hare also addressed the wider market anxiety caused by large AI platforms such as Anthropic and Perplexity moving further into professional services software, how AI could affect software pricing in the future, and Sage’s move to take its popular desktop tool Sage 50 to the cloud.For full show notes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/accounting-software/sage-ceo-accountants-wont-trust-black-box-ai
How does an accounting firm navigate the breakdown of a relationship with a difficult client and what’s the cost of letting such a scenario play out for far too long? Muntazir Bhimji and Natasha Millward join The Progressive Firm Podcast to discuss.
There is just under a month to go until entries for the Accounting Excellence Awards close on 20 May. Matthew Ord shares more on this year’s awards, including the new categories, while Tom Herbert outlines the trends he expects to see in the entries and offers some good advice on what actually makes a good entry.After an Any Answers post criticised AccountingWEB for covering artificial intelligence (AI) too much, Herbert argued that AI is changing the profession too quickly to ignore. Calling it a “noisy tech transition”, he said there is a clear appetite for education and information. Drawing on conversations from Sage’s AI roadshows, Herbert noted that many attendees were sole practitioners and small firms at the start of their AI journey, looking for guidance, something which AccountingWEB can provide.Finally, Ord looks at the profession’s ongoing skills gap, which shows little sign of easing. He reflects on his conversation with AAT chief executive Sarah Beale, who warned that the profession is still not doing enough to show how much it has changed. Ord and Herbert agree that finance and accountancy have never been especially strong at selling themselves, keeping old ideas about the profession alive.
Making Tax Digital (MTD) has finally become a reality, more than a decade after it was first announced. Richard Hattersley reflects on the journey so far, from the highs and lows to where MTD stands today, including the National Audit Office report, confidence levels, costs and how the initiative has changed. The team also argues that the real crunch point is not 6 April, but the first filing deadline on 7 August, as they discuss systems, preparedness, sign-ups and what comes next.Tom Herbert then turns to another hot topic, artificial intelligence (AI). After attending NetSuite, he shares what he saw, what was announced and the key themes that emerged. He also looks at OpenAI’s growing interest in tax policy, outlining what has been said and what it could mean for the profession.Finally, Matthew Ord reflects on the first series of Inside the Numbers, which featured conversations with FDs and CFOs about the metrics they use. The team explores finance leaders’ attitudes to technology and automation, what comes next as AI frees up more time, and why KPIs matter as early warning systems. Stay tuned for the second series of Inside the Numbers on AccountingWEB.
While MTD and AI dominated the chatter at the Finance, Accounting and Bookkeeping Show, one theme kept surfacing above the noise: accountants are still searching for software that solves real problems rather than just adding another shiny layer of complexity.This was the broad verdict from Hancock and Hastings director Amy Hancock and AAG managing director Aaron Patrick, who joined AccountingWEB’s No Accounting for Tech podcast from the show floor in Birmingham to talk through what had caught their eye, what had not, and where firms may be placing their bets as the software shopping window opens.For full show notes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/software-shopping-season-less-sizzle-more-substance
How can a firm broadening their horizons improve a relationship with a client? Aaron Patrick and Eriona Bajrakurtaj join The Progressive Firm Podcast to discuss the journey of introducing a new service line and knowing when the time is right.
A boom: what is the endgame for private equity-backed firms? He explores the possible exit routes, from sales to larger private equity houses and further consolidation, to initial public offerings, outside buyers such as banks or tech vendors, or even a wave of management buyouts if private equity interest collapses. The team weighs up each one and how realistic it may be.Matthew Ord closes the episode with news that the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has set out plans for what it calls a major evolution of its audit supervisory model, following the scrapping of the audit reform bill in January. He examines what is being proposed, when changes could take effect, and whether this latest attempt at reform has a genuine chance of improving audit oversight. The team shares their views on whether it will lead to meaningful change.
In the latest episode of our Inside the Numbers podcast – which pulls back the curtain on the KPIs of finance leaders – Chris Sharp of Intercity Technology sees out series one with the three main metrics that help him navigate his work, as well as discussing his non-traditional route into the profession and the need to be able to tell a story with data.
Recorded live on day two of FAB, the team discuss the sessions they hosted, the conversations happening across the show floor and hot topics, from artificial intelligence (AI) to Making Tax Digital (MTD). They also unpack the insights from the MTD Accountability Club session, Sage’s AI Labs and the growing interest in fractional CFO services. Sharing takeaways from roundtable discussions with mid-tier firms and finance leaders, along with reflections on keynote sessions from Dan Neidle and Rebecca Benneyworth, the team have been busy.Catch up on the key insights and conversations from the show floor.
The government’s Making Tax Digital programme has prompted a rush of banks to release tools to handle its new quarterly filing requirement through basic accounting functionality, without the complexity of a full-scale accounting platform. Is the all-in-one ledger finally here? AccountingWEB speaks to Starling Bank’s Dan Hogan to find out. For links to everything discussed and full show notes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/accounting-software/can-banks-become-the-front-door-to-accounting-data No Accounting for Tech was written and produced by Tom Herbert
. For full show notes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/brights-ceo-reflects-on-practice-pain-points
With our technology editor, Tom Herbert, off on holiday, we have parachuted in Rebecca Benneyworth, an upcoming speaker at FAB to offer her thoughts in the run up to the event. Ahead of her first session, MTD Accountability Club Live, Benneyworth reflects on her hands-on experience of MTD testing. She outlines what she has learned, how the process has worked in practice, and the growing pressure as deadlines approach. She also encourages firms to sign up at least one client now to understand the year-end filing process and what it will really involve.Staying with MTD, she sets out what the final weeks before 6 April 2026 should look like for practices – what needs to be actioned, what should already be in place, and where firms cannot afford to fall behind.Turning to her second session, Rebecca Benneyworth: Live At FAB, she highlights the tax and technical changes on the horizon. In particular, she focuses on the new tax agent registration requirements, explaining what is changing, why it matters, and how firms should prepare.
In this special episode, Sam Gooding, Nikki Adams and James Bennett - all of whom are speaking at the Finance, Accounting and Bookkeeping Show (FAB) - discuss some of the lessons learned on their growth journeys.
In the latest episode of our Inside the Numbers podcast – which pulls back the curtain on the KPIs of finance leaders – Alton Nutile of GeoAcoustics reveals the three main metrics that help him navigate his work, as well as how the role is evolving and why being able to explain the facts and figures is so important.
L) accounts with Companies House has been paused following stakeholder concerns. Richard Hattersley outlines what happened and whether this was expected. He reveals that many have welcomed the delay with 2027 already shaping up to be a busy year. And lastly, Matthew Ord shares his chat with Bob Horgan, FD at Central Technology who believes there’s a push towards AI and automation to cut costs and free finance for more strategic work. The team questions whether these organisations have the culture, data quality and system fit to turn that promise into real value.
The new series of the show sees Emma Reid of Cottons and Paul Attridge of Gerald Edelman look at how to keep client relationships strong during the sometimes difficult-to-navigate self assessment season.
A market? The team reflects on valuations, market activity, regulatory changes and whether large private equity firms may shift their focus from small practices to larger targets.
In the latest episode of Inside the Numbers – which pulls back the curtain on the KPIs of finance leaders – Kay Chaplin of Mantle Space reveals the three main metrics that help her navigate her work, as well as discussing skills, software and spreadsheets.
January means one thing for accountants: self assessment season. Richard Hattersley opens the podcast with the latest filing statistics. He compares these to the figures from previous years and reveals the statistics from the festive period. Every year, AccountingWEB checks in with the community and Hattersley highlights a few member responses. The team then explores what’s changed with the rise of artificial intelligence to how Making Tax Digital might change future Januarys.ACCA has revealed that it can no longer police online exams due to AI-fuelled cheating and, as a result, is going back to in-person exams from March this year. Tom Herbert walks us through what happened, how students were cheating, the reaction that followed and whether it was the right move.The Carillion saga continues with the FCA imposing fines on two former FDs. The team provides a refresh of the Carillion story and Matthew Ord explains the latest development of the penalties that have officially been given to Richard Adam and Zafar Khan.
It’s that time again as the team reunites for their final podcast of the year, reviewing the biggest stories of 2025 and finishing with some juicy predictions.
As the dust settles on the accounting tech landscape for another year, guests Billie Mcloughlin and John Toon join AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert to discuss the impact of AI, run the rule over the major players in the profession, and analyse the upcoming introduction of Making Tax Digital and e-invoicing. For show notes and full details of all the stories discussed, visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/accounting-technology-year-in-review-2025-ai-apis-and-mtd
In the latest episode of Inside the Numbers – which pulls back the curtain on the KPIs of finance leaders – Michael Burgess of DJH reveals the three main metrics that help him navigate her work, and also discusses his transition to becoming a CFO.
Chris Maslin, a speaker at The Finance, Accounting and Bookkeeping Show (FAB), joins the podcast to discuss selling a controlling stake in his firm to an employee ownership trust (EOT). He explains why he chose this route, how the transition worked, adjusting to reduced control and the alternatives he considered. Maslin also talks about launching Go EO, his consultancy helping other businesses explore EOTs, and gives his reaction to the Budget announcement cutting capital gains tax relief on EOT disposals from 100% to 50%. He’ll be going more in-depth into his journey at FAB on 11-12 March at the NEC.Tom Herbert covers ICAEW’s new tech hub for ACA students, created to close the skills gap by giving graduates free access to industry-standard apps. He and Maslin share their thoughts and what’s still missing.Finally, Matthew Ord discusses Grant Thornton data showing CFOs and FDs often being left out of the loop. Drawing on chats with FAB speaker Clare Elliott and fractional CFO Marc Obrart, the team explore the risks of poor communication and why alignment across finance teams matters.
Silverfin co-founder Joris Van Der Gucht tells AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert that AI can automate 80% of accounting tasks, but warns the 'human in the loop' must evolve. Welcome to the age of the 'AI Orchestrator'. For full show notes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/tech-pulse/why-ai-orchestrator-might-be-the-next-job-title-in-practice
Bookkeeping Show (FAB), joined to share his take. He discussed the day and what measures stood out. He mentioned the impact of extending the income tax and employer national insurance thresholds, whether this was the way forward and the issue of applying NICs to salary-sacrificed pension contributions of about £2k a year. He concluded the podcast by sharing concerns that he had and the next steps for a tax expert like himself.
Accounting tech founder Duane Jackson lifts the lid on the limits of artificial intelligence in accounting, the suite-vs-best-of-breed battle, and why he’d be “very surprised” if he sold a third business to IRIS. The Kashflow and Staffology creator joins AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert to to unpack the AI race, the shifting dynamics between suites and specialist tools, and why he’s keen that his “redemptive” life story does not eclipse his ability to build a product.For full show notes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/practice-software/duane-jackson-on-ai-suite-wars-and-the-fight-for-future-talent
In the first episode of the new Inside the Numbers podcast - which pulls back the curtain on the KPIs of finance leaders - Clare Elliott of NetSupport reveals the three main metrics that help her navigate her day-to-day, and also discusses her journey to becoming a CFO.
Nick Williams, global product director at Intuit opens the podcast by announcing the global availability of AI agents on the Intuit platform. He explains how it works, why they’re launching now, and risks and reactions. The team discusses new Intuit QuickBooks research showing small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) can achieve up to 58% more revenue growth by closing the gap between ambition and execution. Williams explores the role of AI, automation, the importance of readiness and unlocking potential. Tom Herbert talks about the return of tech founders, covering six founders who built and sold successful accounting tech products and are now back with new software. Herbert details their return and the growing tech gap for small businesses.With the Budget weeks away, Richard Hattersley chats about rumours, likely changes, Rachel Reeves’s briefing and the team share their thoughts on which tax updates might actually happen.Matthew Ord wraps up discussing ICAEW AML compliance. A new report shows that rates have remained consistent but non-compliance is rising. He reviews the findings and whether the FCA will be ready to act on them.
Accounting firm founders Emily Vass of Nourished and Dean Shepherd of Eat, Sleep, Excel, Repeat join AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert to discuss their practice tech setups, the tools that have saved them time, and the false starts along the way. For full show notes, visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/accounting-software/new-firms-lean-stacks-how-startup-practices-can-dodge-accounting-techs
The AccountingWEB team celebrates the 200th podcast episode by looking back in time at some notable moments and reflecting on the first episode.Matthew Ord takes a look at the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) new role as anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) supervisor for all accountancy and legal firms. He recalls his chat with AML expert David Winch, who warned it won’t be a light-touch regime. Ord explores why the move has frustrated supervisory bodies and whether the FCA really understands the profession.Tom Herbert turns to Making Tax Digital (MTD) and the part that banks are starting to play. With 840,000 taxpayers not yet using commercial software, Herbert talks about which banks have made their MTD move, his concerns about this approach and how he sees it all playing out. Back from the US, Richard Hattersley shares his experience at NetSuite’s SuiteWorld where AI was the topic of conversation. The team unpacks the launch of NetSuite Next and the push toward the “autonomous close”, asking whether finance teams are ready for AI.
Caseware CEO David Marquis tells AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert about the company's UK priorities: cloud parity, safer AI, platform consolidation and a shift from compliance to advisory – and why firms shouldn’t sit on their hands when it comes to tech transformation.For full details see the show notes at: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/accounting-software/caseware-chief-on-audits-next-tech-leap
HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) programme director Craig Ogilvie joins the team to share the latest updates on MTD testing and why joining early is the best way to prepare. The team also discusses the exemptions process and who qualifies, with Ogilvie warning listeners not to leave applications until the last minute.He outlines its benefits, talking about how MTD goes beyond compliance to build a modern, data-driven tax system. With better record keeping and improved accuracy, MTD aims to create a fairer, more efficient and resilient tax environment.The conversation then turns to multi-agent functionality, software support and HMRC’s efforts to help both agents and unrepresented taxpayers through helplines, targeted communications and regional engagement.Ogilvie closes with some practical advice: get your Agent Service Account (ASA) ready, sign up clients early and make sure your software and records are in shape because April 2026 will come around fast.
The team had a wonderful evening at the Accounting Excellence Awards (AEA) and we hope everyone who joined did too! They share their highlights, with Richard Hattersley reflecting on how the winners shed light on trends shaping the profession. Focusing on the small, mid-tier and large firm winners, Hattersley talks about private equity, management buyouts and growth. Many of these winners will also be speaking at the Finance, Accounting and Bookkeeping Show at the NEC, Birmingham, on 11-12 March 2026.Tom Herbert spent the day after the awards at Wolters Kluwer’s CCH Connections User Conference. Herbert shares his experience with Wolters Kluwer’s integrated Making Tax Digital (MTD) solution ahead of the mandation date, what the next six months are going to look like for firms and the mood among attendees as MTD nears.Matthew Ord concludes the podcast by recalling his chat with ICAEW president, Derek Blair. Appointed in June 2025, Blair outlines the legacy he wants to leave, what his goals are and his focus on a social mobility programme to tap into new talent.
Richard Hattersley recalls his chats with Dan Heelan, director at Heelan Associates, and Ria-Jaine Lincoln, the founder of the Beauty Accountant, who have both found themselves having to correct AI-generated misinformation brought in by clients. The AccountingWEB team of two discuss the risks of relying on AI for advice and how accountants can get ahead of this issue when trust is on the line.Tom Herbert looks ahead to 31 January 2026 as the first self assessment season where most taxpayers will use AI. With a survey from Taxfix showing 59% expect to turn to AI before the deadline, they explore why people are using it, how firms are applying it and why accountants remain irreplaceable.
A date has finally been announced for the Autumn Budget – 26 November. Richard Hattersley looks at the political kite flying that has happened over the summer and what we can potentially expect from the Budget. With the government’s pledge not to increase national insurance, income tax and VAT, Hattersley shares his conversation with James Quarmby, a partner at Stephenson Haywood, on what he thinks will happen. From Downing Street to Brisbane, Tom Herbert speaks about Xerocon 2025. He details the big announcements and what caught his attention, namely Xero’s new partnership with OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT. Herbert explores what this partnership means, its impact, and concerns over data and accuracy.Lastly, Matthew Ord recalls his conversations with Grace Hardy, founder of Hardy Accounting, and James Wright, lecturer for accountancy and finance at the University of Chichester, on the next generation’s desire to start their own firm. With 75% of accounting students wanting to start their own business, Ord questions whether this is a wake-up call for the profession to rethink its approach to talent to tackle the skills gap.
On the latest episode of The Progressive Firm Podcast, Emma Reid and Ana Dima of Cottons and Dougie Todd of HaysMac discuss how a rebrand can aid a firm’s growth plans.
With Matthew Ord and Tom Herbert having some well-earned holiday, Richard Hattersley called in some back up for this week’s episode of No Accounting for Taste. He is joined by Wes Rashid, co-founder and CEO of Accountancy Cloud, Nikki Adams, joint managing director at Ad Valorem and Alex Falcon Huerta, CEO and founder of Soaring Falcon. The panel kicks off with the profession’s big debate: private equity (PE) vs independence. Hattersley recalls his chat with Simon Massey, the managing partner of Menzies, which has recently merged with Beever and Struthers and remains committed to staying independent. With consolidation on the rise, the guests debate whether smaller firms can compete with PE-backed rivals, discussing the pros and cons of each route. Closely linked to the topic of PE is tech adoption. While firms are now experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI), the panel questions how it’s really being used and whether the profession is falling behind in other areas. They explore the gap between progressive firms pushing for more innovation and smaller practices still catching up with cloud adoption. The risk, they warn, is that some practices could fall so far behind that succession planning becomes much harderThey wrap up by looking at how firms can respond to these pressures. With so much upheaval, collaboration and community are becoming essential. The panel stresses the power of knowledge sharing and peer support, noting how in-person events help practitioners create stronger trust and better client relationships.
Lisa Miles-Heal, CEO of Silverfin, joins AccountingWEB's technology editor Tom Herbert to unpack research showing senior accountants are embracing AI faster than their younger peers. They explore the surprising trend, from access and trust issues to the different roles each generation plays in accounting firms.
After seven years of waiting, audit reform faces yet another delay. Matthew Ord reports that business minister Justin Madders has confirmed the draft Audit Reform and Governance Bill won’t move forward for pre-legislative scrutiny. He shares reactions from Julia Penny, Bruce Cartwright and Iain Wright, as the team wonders when reform will finally happen.Tom Herbert then rewinds 30 years to look back on how we have used accounting software. What started as a menu-based, point-and-click system is shifting toward AI-driven free text boxes, but is this really the future? Herbert questions how effective this will be and whether firms are ready to embrace it.Looking ahead, Richard Hattersley turns to growing Budget speculation. With the National Institute for Economic and Social Research warning of a £41.2bn gap, he discusses the potential fallout for businesses, the likelihood of broken manifesto promises and what moves the government might make.
A approach to growth, the ongoing influence of private equity and the importance of developing a gut feeling.
L filing and why the situation has become so unclear.Back from Norway, Tom Herbert takes a look at the audit market and shares his growing concerns about the role of auditors. He draws on David Graeber’s “Bullshit Jobs” concept, where people feel their work lacks real purpose, and wonders if audit is heading in that direction. Once seen as a pillar of financial integrity, audit may be losing its meaning. Herbert reflects on what this could mean for attracting new talent, the growing skills gap and the deeper identity crisis facing the profession.Matthew Ord shares a new ICAEW report on the evolution of mid-tier accountancy firms, highlighting that many still aren’t convinced by private equity. He runs through some of the findings, as the team explores why some independent firms remain cautious, whether we’ll ever agree on whether PE is good or bad and how the ongoing skills gap continues to shape the conversation.
Marc Jeschonneck of EY joins AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert to discuss the importance of addressing AI concerns, ensuring buy-in from auditors and accountants who aren’t up to speed with the latest developments, and the ongoing role of regulators in the space.
AccountingWEB’s MTD Accountability Club is in full swing. In association with Sage, it follows accountants and bookkeepers preparing for the first mandation date. Richard Hattersley goes through the early results from our recent survey (which is still open), on how the profession is coping, exploring what the answers reveal about MTD readiness.Tom Herbert shares the news that Xero has acquired the bill payments platform Melio for $2.5bn. Herbert explains who Melio are and what it signals about Xero’s global strategy, especially as UK users already have an end-to-end accounts payable workflow and recent price hikes are causing concerns.Finally, Matthew Ord turns to audit reform as the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy confirms plans to update the corporate reporting framework. The team discusses what’s coming and shares their thoughts on key topics also on the agenda, including talent, AI, sustainability reporting, and money laundering regulations.
On the latest episode of The Progressive Firm Podcast, Leanne Wilkins of MHA and Jorgia Hatton of JS discuss the importance of recruitment in a growing firm, why communication is key and bridging the skills gap.
Tom Herbert returns from the Sage Future user conference in Atlanta and spills all. He shares Sage’s artificial intelligence insights, classified into waves, and explores what each means. While discussing tech adoption, he argues that it’s not all about the technology, explaining other ways to get the attention of customers. Richard Hattersley reflects on the government's spending review. While no tax changes were announced, he talks about the document confirming a £500m investment in HMRC’s digital services. Alongside this, another document was released: Tax Policy Making Principles. Hattersley explains the concept of this document, its principles and whether they’ll remain unbroken.Matthew Ord closes the podcast with a look at private equity’s presence in audit. He recalls his chat with CEO Bruce Cartwright on why audit quality must stand apart from private equity’s influence. The team discusses the fine balance that the profession needs to get right seeing as both private equity and audit have come under scrutiny.
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.
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. ProcessesThey continue to discuss how their firms are improving efficiency, staff development and the quality of services they provide. GrowthLastly, 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 scam6m 18s Self assessment statistics12m The start of practice software shopping15m 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 timings1m 30s Mazuma’s investment news11m 40s Self assessment season discussion30m 40s MTD ITSA testing36m 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-aiEditor’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 HattersleyTom HerbertGlenn MartinProducer/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 HattersleyTom HerbertSamantha NealmsProducer/editor:Will Cole
Last week, HMRC announced that the removeal of its 10-minute call waiting time target for the Agent Dedicated Line, as well as re-routing its PAYE calls. For the accounting community, the news was a depressing, yet unsurprising revelation, with many agents regularly finding themselves waiting for well over HMRC's previous target.For Richard Wild, head of tax technical team at the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), the news mirrored the frustration accountants have felt when dealing with HMRC, with the CIOT's recent survey painting a particularly bleak for the tax authority.Wild gives AccountingWEB keen insights into how agents are feeling about HMRC's track record and discusses what needs to be done for the beleagured tax authority to turn its reputation around.Also on the pod, tech editor Tom Herbert has his hands full as he talks us through the raft of tech news hitting AccountingWEB this week from the movers and shakers in the sector.Podcast speakers:Richard HattersleyTom HerbertRichard WildProducer/ editor:Will Cole
With so many time-saving tech tools available to the modern accountant, why is the profession busier than ever? What did Xero announce at their big Sydney summit? And what has HMRC done to agent VAT authorisation? Our panel of experts get to grips with these questions and more on the latest edition of our No Accounting for Tech podcast.Joining AccountingWEB’s technology editor Tom Herbert on the podcast were:Heather Smith: Accountant, columnist, author and host of the Cloud Stories podNicola Mason: Managing director at Point Accounting & Contractor UnlimitedJohn Toon: Tech advisory lead at Beever and Struthers and co-host of Digi-tools for Accrual World podcast.For links to all stories featured in the pod visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-tech-ep18-is-technology-helping-accountantsPodcast written and hosted by Tom Herbert and produced by Will Cole.
With intense deadlines, demanding clients and the ever-lurking threat of fines dangling above your head, accounting can be a stressful profession to join. With the Any Answers community asking whether the pressure of the job is worth it, podcast guests Rachel Harris and Lucy Cohen sympathise with their fellow accountants. As the leaders of their respective businesses, Cohen and Harris have been through the ringer when it comes to stress. Sharing their own stress-inducing experiences in accountancy, Cohen and Harris share their tips and tricks to keep the cortisol levels low and growth high in the face of difficult circumstances.Touching on everything from building a successful brand to becoming the leader your team wants to follow, Cohen and Harris offer listeners a sneak peek behind the curtain of two superstar accountants at the top of their game. Podcast Speakers:Richard HattersleyTom HerbertLucy CohenRachel HarrisEditor/Producer:Will Cole
Once a staple on the UK highstreet, the ever-present retail giant has been subjected to a spectacular fall from grace after falling into administration last week.
Citing supply chain issues and the cost of living crisis as main drivers for its downfall, Wilko's future remains uncertain as administrators continue to weigh up bids.
While Wilko's collapse may seem sudden, how exactly did it get to this point? Joining us this week, Kirsty McGregor, head of the Coporate Fianance Network, examines the retailers demise and what it means for other companies unprepared for the rocky economic road ahead.
Also on the pod, we're joined by newly appointed associate director at Accounts and Legal, Max Whiteley. Still only in his twenties, Whiteley discusses his meteoric rise to accounting success, as well as examining the less-trodden, yet equally valuable, paths young accountants can take in order to acheive in the profession.
Speakers: Richard Hattersley Kirsty McGregor Max Whiteley
Editor: Will Cole
As costs continue to rise across the board, it's no surprise that the age-old conversation of fee increases has resurfaced on AccountingWEB.
In a recent episode of Any Answers Live, one viewer admitted that they had not increased their fees in over a decade, due in part to the fear of confrontation. Yet, in light of inflationary pressures, is this strategy sustainable anymore?
Joining us on the podcast to discuss this is Minerva Accounting founder Della Hudson. A practitioner who has increased her fees year on year in order to remain profitable, Hudson reveals how and why she has kept to her guns on fee increases, as well as the various pitfalls and opportunities that come with such a strategy.
Also on the podcast, we take a look into the future and discuss how AI could change the way accountants run their business. As AI-assisted continue to gather pace, could these new innovations free accountants up to focus on the work that matters to them most?
Podcast speakers: Richard Hattersley Tom Herbert Della Hudson
Producer/editor Will Cole
HMRC's HMRC’s accounts, consultations, as well as it's annual Charter report has finally been released. Now that the dust has settled, the newly released documentation has been thumbed through by the AccountingWEB team to give you the lowdown on the tax authority's reports.
To help us sift through the papers, we are joined by Glenn Collins, Head of Technical and Strategic Engagement at the ACCA, who offers some keen insights into HMRC's reports.
Collins also had some interesting thoughts on R&D tax credits, in particular the massive levels of error and fraud plaguing the operation.
Also on this week's pod, tech editor Tom Herbert takes a deep dive into the murky world of Big Tech and accounting after American tax software companies were caught sharing sensitive data with tech giants Google and Meta.
Podcast speakers: Richard Hattersley Tom Herbert Glenn Collins
Podcast producer: Will Cole
Podcast notes: Error and fraud hounds HMRC’s annual accounts Agents slam HMRC's performance in Charter report Is your tax information being shared with BigTech and others? Maybe!
As accountants feel the pressure over increased scrutiny of their AML reporting, the Treasury has tabled a new consultation that is set to overhaul anti-money laundering supervision as we know it.
The Treasury have put forward four new ideas that could potentially reform the supervision of accountants and lawyers' compliance with money laundering regulations.
The options ranged from bolstering the current supervisors of supervisors OPBAS to the more extreme option of stripping the professional bodies and HMRC of its supervision responsibilities and creating a brand new supervisor - the one supervisor to rule them all.
On this week's podcast, David Winch explores the four potential reforms and offers advice to accountants anxious of upcoming changes.
Also on the pod, the AWEB team discuss ICAS' recent review of MTD for ITSA and its call to scrap the controversial project's decision on quarterly reporting, as well as taking a closer look at AI and asking: is this new technology a friend or foe when it comes to tax?
Podcast speakers: Richard Hattersley Tom Herbert David Winch
Producer/editor: Will Cole
This week’s podcast picks through the bones of the blistering NAO report on Making Tax Digital in the company of Richard Wild from the CIOT and Andrew Burman from global tech firm Ryan. The panellists discuss the criticisms levelled against the tax transformation project and examine what can be done to get it back on the rails.
After some expert sleuthing from our tech editor Tom Herbert, AccountingWEB discovered that the government's much-lauded 'Help to Grow' scheme, designed to small businesses adopt new technology, including accounting software, shut up shop hitting a paltry 1% of its sign-up targets.
Costing the taxpayer around £30 million, many were left some firms unsurprisingly angry at the way the scheme was handled, with Crunch CEO and founder Darren Fell being one of them.
Joining Tom and Richard on this week's episode, Darren recounts his experience with the doomed scheme and offers insights into exactly way Help to Grow failed to germinate.
Also on the pod this week, Richard and Tom take a look at the recent MOVEit data breach and discuss what firms can do better in order to protect their firms and clients from cybercrime.
Podcast Speakers: Richard Hattersley Tom Herbert Darren Fell
Producer/editor Will Cole
With the news that HMRC was closing its VAT helpline on the 22nd May, a mere five days after its announcement, the AccountingWEB community were unsurprisingly incensed about the decision. And with the date of the closure spotted to be a whole year out of date, accountants are beginning to feel a "sense of chaos" from HMRC. On this week's episode, Richard and Tom are joined by contributor Jason Croke to discuss HMRC's decision and its focus on Digital by Default.Also on the pod, Tom and Richard chat about the recent announcement of Intuit Quickbook's desktop discontinuation and consider what this decision means for the UK accounting sector. Podcast Speakers:Richard HattersleyTom HerbertJason CrokeProducer/editor:Will Cole
Two accounting tech specialists join AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert this week to discuss the themes running through the recent software conference season, with the biggest undoubtedly being the explosion in artificial intelligence tools available for accountants.
On this week's podcast, the AccountingWEB editorial team discusses ICAEW's letter to HMRC urging the tax authority to consider "fresh thinking" over the much-maligned MTD ITSA, and they round up the latest updates and announcements from the accounting tech vendors. Due to a delay from HMRC earlier this year in introducing MTD ITSA, many believed that the widely criticised policy would remain absent from the news cycle until its introduction in 2026. However, some are viewing this delay as an opportunity to encourage HMRC to change course.In a letter to the tax authority, the ICAEW has called on HMRC to consider "fresh thinking" leading up to the implementation of MTD ITSA, with the accountancy body proposing that eliminating quarterly reporting could significantly alter the narrative of MTD ITSA.In this week's podcast episode, Richard Hattersley and Tom Herbert examine ICAEW's unexpected intervention in the MTD discussion and question whether HMRC could potentially make further concessions before MTD-Day.Also featured on the podcast this week, Tom shares his experiences from this year's Accountex in light of numerous announcements from tech vendors, and engages in conversations with some of the prominent figures in the fintech sector about the power of AI.Podcast speakers:Richard HattersleyTom HerbertPodcast producer:Will Cole
Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk discuss the growing emphasis accountancy firms are putting on recruitment, employee engagement and training and development.After looking at client service and process, the AccountingWEB team explores the Accounting Excellence pillar that ensures the practice runs smoothly - people. In many ways, this is the most important pillar, because if your people are not happy, you will not be able to serve clients in the way you would like or have high productivity levels. With the war on talent and the skills gap, this has become one of the most invested areas in accountancy firms. Accounting Excellence award winners Kim Slater from FD Works and Anna Averis from Bishop Fleming also join the podcast to reveal how they’ve put people at their heart of their firm by continually improving their employee engagement and training and development to overcome accountancy’s recruitment challenges. If you’re inspired by the conversation in this episode, why not enter the Accounting Excellence awards. You have until 15 May to get your entry over the line - so don’t delay: https://www.accountingexcellence.co.uk/
The number of e-commerce businesses launching in the UK continues to rise dramatically, meaning that demand for e-commerce accounting services is also at an all-time high. However, many accounting firms are struggling to tackle the unique challenges posed by the sector, citing messy data, knotty compliance issues such as VAT and Brexit, and a plethora of ever-changing platforms to keep up with.Joining AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert on the podcast are two accountants who founded their own e-commerce firms, Joe Cox, founder and managing partner at Ecommerce Accountants and Ben Sztejka, managing director of Your Ecommerce Accountant.The panel discussed the pros and cons for accounting firms when working with e-commerce clients, the current e-commerce accounting landscape, typical challenges and opportunities for accounting firms when taking on e-commerce clients, and the best tech and tools to help with e-commerce accounting.
On this week's episode, the AccountingWEB team discusses the growing burden of anti-money laundering regulations, GoSimpleTax's acquisition of Coconut and are later joined by Will Farnell to discuss the philosophy of the human-led firm.With regulators ratcheting up fines and accountants struggling to keep up, tightening AML regulations continue to cause headaches for practitioners. And, with the recent news that one "overwhelmed" practitioner has been slapped with a total financial sanction of close to £25,000 for AML breaches, Richard Hattersley and Tom Herbert discuss how this essential, yet burdensome measure is affecting the profession.Also on the pod, Tom talks us through the winding story of GoSimpleTax's aquisition of accounting app Coconunt after the vendor was doomed to failure thanks to the delay of MTD ITSA earlier this year.And finally, Will Farnell, the founder of Farnell Clarke and digital pioneer, beams into the pod studio to discuss the release of his new book 'The Human Firm' and looks to champion a different, more personal type of accounting.For more information on the stories discussed in this episode visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep-138-aml-coconut-and-the-human-firm
This special episode of the podcast explores the latest trends in accounting software, and how for many firms thoughts have now turned to how to streamline practice processes, chase late clients more efficiently or boost firm revenues. For full details visit the show page here: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-tech-ep14-whats-on-accounting-firms-software-shopping-lists
Just before the Easterweekend, it was reported that HMRC have decided to restrict the Agent Dedicated Line from April 17.The controversial move by HMRC highlights yet another example by the tax authority to transition towards its 'digital by default' vision of nudging agents towards online services.Yet, what does this mean for tax agents still relying on more traditional means of communication, and are HMRC going about realising their vision in the right way?To discuss this growing issue, Richard and Tom are once again joined by friend of the pod and tax expert Paul Aplin OBE as he takes time away from his new border collie puppy to chat about HMRC's desire for digital, while looking at ways for everyone to enjoy the fruits of the digital revolution.Podcast Speakers:Richard HattersleyTom HerbertPaul Aplin OBEProducer:Will Cole
Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk are back once again with a brand new episode of Secrets of Accounting Excellence. This week's episode shines the spotlight on process and efficiency, an area filled with opportunity for the ambitious firm. Whether it's implementing tools to boost efficiency, or striving for continuous improvement amongst their team, accountants can transform the operations by ensuring this essential pillar of accounting excellence is met.Joined by BluSky's Client Relationships Director Nathan Embleton, the panel will be giving you a peak behind the curtain of what it takes for a firm to take their processes and worflows to that next, award-winning level.
On this week’s podcast FreeAgent CEO Roan Lavery tells AccountingWEB tech editor Tom Herbert about his part in the company’s growth from a side project into a major player in the cloud accounting industry and where he believes the vendor’s future direction lies.
News of an unnamed OnlyFans creator who claimed cosmetic dental work and breast implants as a business expense created a media storm last week. One newspaper raged, ‘close 'loophole' that lets OnlyFans stars get tax breaks’. But there is more to this story than the headlines led you to believe. Today on the show we speak to Rachel Harris, the accountant of this unnamed OnlyFans creator, and find out about some of the complications in dealing with this expense.Also on the podcast, the panel take a closer look the recent publication of both Sunak and Starmer's tax returns and ask "was there any real point?", and Tom gives us the lowdown on a new dating sim featuring a character who has a very keen interest in your finances...Podcast speakers- Rachel Harris- Richard Hattersley- Tom HerbertProducer- Will Cole
Join AccountingWEB's Richard Hattersley on a deep dive into the world of Accounting Excellence in the first episode of our brand new podcast series. This week, Richard is joined by editor at large John Stokdyk, as well as previous Accounting Excellence award winners Madison Dennis from Pink Pig Financials and Writer's Tax Jonathan Ford, to discuss one of the key pillars of accounting excellence - client service.Offering a peak behind the curtain of their own firms, our panel discuss the various ways your team can go above and beyond for your clients. And who knows, maybe you could be our next client service winner?
Mayday CEO David Tuck joins the podcast to discuss being an accountant at a tech startup, how his new firm is setting out to ‘mend month end’ for larger companies using SME accounting software, and what the accounting profession can do to make itself more attractive to potential new recruits.
As the dust settles on yet another Spring budget, Richard and Tom, alongside guests Beth Steer, Chris Campbell and Nimesh Shah digest the day's big announcements and discuss how the Chancellor's budget may affect clients in the future.
The No Accounting for Tech podcast was recorded live from QuickBooks Connect London 2023. Situated at the former fish market in Old Billingsgate and overlooking the River Thames, QuickBooks’ first UK conference in four years saw the provider announce a raft of new products and enhancements.In her first QuickBooks Connect as UK general manager, Jolawn Victor discussed her first year in the role and laid out her vision for the future of the Californian vendor’s ambitions on this side of the Atlantic.It was then over to UK product director Nick Williams to expand on the new services available to QuickBooks users, including new practice management, tax, accounts production and payroll bureau tools, and enhancements to its existing QuickBooks Advanced product.
On this week's No Accounting for Taste, the Aweb gang are joined by Director & Co-Founder of Juno Sports Tax Sophia Thomas, as she breaks down the various intricacies facing the sports accounting profession.Recently being added to the prestigious Football Black List, a celebration of black excellence across all aspects of the beautiful game, Thomas has become a knowledgeable and well-respected practitioner of this niche field. Explaining some of the unique hurdles her industry faces, Thomas gives us keen insights behind the curtain of sports accountancy. Also on the pod, our panel discuss the recent issues with HMRC's agent dedicated line and recent accusations of slow service, as well as the upcoming Quickbooks Connect event making a long-awaited comeback. Podcast guests:Richard HattersleyTom HerbertSophia Thomas
Accounting tech stalwart Sabby Gill joins the AccountingWEB podcast this week to outline his views on the government’s delay to MTD ITSA, the tricky line growing SaaS companies have to tread when it comes to pricing their services, and where he hopes to take the company over the coming years.
This week on No Accounting for Taste, Richard is joined by Aweb's Editor at Large John Stokdyk and Accounting Excellence alumni/judge Bhimal Hira to discuss the opening of this year's awards entries, as well as some exciting new changes to one of the accounting calendar's biggest events. Also on the podcast, the panel discuss the recent news that the number of pubs and restaurants calling last orders has reached its highets point in over a decade, and consider what can accountants do to help their hospitality clients through the storm?Podcast speakers:Richard HattersleyJohn StokdykBhimal HiraEditor:Will Cole
Cloud accounting royalty joined the podcast this week in the form of Xero’s first UK managing director Gary Turner. In 2021, Turner took the decision to step back from Xero after nearly 13 years at the helm. During his time with the Kiwi cloud company, Turner took them from three employees and a turnover of £56,000 to an annual income of £150m from around 850,000 customers. Since his decision to leave Xero, he has taken on a range of responsibilities including mentoring, investing and starting a newsletter about running a fast-growing business and the leadership lessons he learned along the way.Speaking to technology editor Tom Herbert at AccountingWEB HQ, Turner outlined his views on the current state of the software market, which he feels is in a state of flux as the pendulum swings from a range of interconnected best-of-breed solutions back to a more consolidated approach.“If you look at pretty much any market, product category and industry at any time, it’s likely to be in the process of either being bundled or unbundled,” he said. “The last ten to 15 years has been the pendulum swinging away from a bundled, suite approach in the world of software into a huge explosion of innovation, new products and services. “My sense is the pendulum might start to swing back towards bundling of the thousands of apps that are out there”.Turner also discussed how artificial intelligence could shake up the world of technology. “It’s a great tech demo at the moment,” he said. “But like any new technology there will be a lot of hype that will die down and then people will get to work building some really practical applications for it.” “And what does AI mean for the future of accounting advisory?” he added. “Will it ride shotgun on calls with clients telling them how to optimise their cashfllow?”To listen to the full interview click on the play button at the top of the page or search for ‘AccountingWEB’ on your podcast player of choice.Podcast written and hosted by Tom Herbert and produced by Will Cole.
SuiteConnect London 2023 was the cloud vendor’s first in-person UK conference since 2019, and the NetSuite team announced a series of product developments to bolster its efforts to win the hearts and minds of UK mid-market businesses, including planning and budgeting tools, a billing engine and enhanced analytics capabilities.With the launch of Netledger in 1998, Goldberg is credited by many as being the first to take desktop accounting software and put it on the cloud. In the podcast he reflects on cloud accounting’s journey to acceptance, and whether his idea has evolved in the way he expected.The discussion also touches on why mid to larger-size businesses are increasingly focussed on investing in cloud accounting tools, whether the UK government’s dream of establishing a ‘Silicon Valley’ this side of the pond is a realistic one, and what can be done to tackle the UK’s failure to help small businesses scale up.Goldberg also reflects on the new wave of generative AI tools sweeping through the accounting industry, and what they could mean for the profession and the wider business community.Background reading for the podcast:NetSuite tools up for mid-market cloud battlePodcast written and hosted by Tom Herbert and produced by Will Cole.
This week on No Accounting for Taste, the AWEB gang is joined by Louise Herrington, founder of Performance Accountancy, to discuss what has, once again, been a full on self-assessment season.Touching upon all of the SA pain-points, from late filing clients to HMRC delays, the panel ask themselves how this year's busy season has gone and whether the exceptional circumstances we're currently living in has piled even more pressure onto exasperated accountants.Podcast speakers:- Richard Hattersley- Tom Herbert- Louise HerringtonEditor:Will Cole
Since its release in November, ChatGPT has made headlines across the tech world, with millions of users instructing it to perform a dizzying array of different tasks – telling jokes, writing code, and, most pertinently for us, exploring its applications for accountancy.Jess Slack is a chartered accountant, part-time finance director and Excel trainer, and has been trialling the ChatGPT tool for a few months to see how it could potentially be used by accountants. She talks to pod host Tom Herbert about how the service and others like it could help the accounting industry become more efficient.Areas explored in the discussion include how ChatGPT copes with Excel queries, what it makes of charity VAT and what functions such AI-based tools could be used for in the future. Background reading for the podcast:How can ChatGPT help finance teams? - Jessica/Jess’s blog AI chatbot falls just short on accounting exam - AccountingWEBCan a chatbot give tax advice? - AccountingWEB Podcast written and hosted by Tom Herbert and the guest was Jess Slack. It was produced by Will Cole.
As we wave goodbye to 'Blue Monday' and the first half of busy season, Richard and Tom sit down with Boddice Accounting's Vicki Boddice to discuss how the week's biggest accounting stories.Touching upon the recent news that insolvencies were up 32% compared to the year before, the panel discuss how businesses are struggling through the economic storm facing the UK and what accountants can do to support their clients. Also on the pod, the team look at the state of the hybrid working experiment in the face of the recent story of a Canadian accountant being sued for "time-theft."And finally, we try to buck the trend of January blues and ask our the panel what should accountants should be looking forward to in 2023.Podcast Speakers:- Richard Hattersley- Tom Herbert- Vicki BoddiceProducer/editor- Will Cole
AccountingWEB tech editor Tom Herbert speaks to Darren Fell, CEO of Crunch and pioneer of a concept he calls ‘accounting as a platform’ which combines the company’s own accounting software with a digital network of micro-practice accountants.
On our first episode of 2023, Richard and Tom are joined by first-time guest Mitch Hahn, CEO of Nordens Accounting, as they look to make sense of what is already looking to be an interesting year for the profession.With the christmas decorations packed firmly back up in the attic, accountants are back from their break with the knowledge that 5.7m taxpayers are still to carry out their self-assessment duties, and you know what that means - Busy Season.As the 31st draws ever closer, our panel discuss how this tax year has differed from previous tax battles, and consider what tactics can be employed to keep the pulling out of hair to minimum.Also on this week's podcast, the team get a chance to analyse the MTD delay now that the dust has settled, as well as chatting about the ever-growing debate of artificial intelligence's role in accounting.
As the madness of 2022 draws to a close, Richard Hattersley and Tom Herbert sat down with tax experts Rebecca Cave and Paul Aplin OBE to take stock of what has been a year of drama and upheaval in the accounting world.Touching on everything from chaotic government u-turns to the recent MTD ITSA delay, our panel left no stone unturned in reviewing what has been a tumultuous year.Also, it wouldn't be an end of year special if we didn't chat about some of our favourite articles from this year, as well as looking forward to the year ahead, with our panel discussing their hopes and predictions for 2023.Merry Christmas from AccountingWEBPodcast speakers:Richard HattersleyTom HerbertPaul Aplin OBERebecca CaveEditor:Will Cole
On this episode of No Accounting for Taste the AWEB team were centre stage on the second day of the AccountingWEB Live Expo. Joining them were AWEB Live stalwarts Glenn Martin and Makbul Patel to discuss some of the major themes that had cropped up over the past two days. Touching on everything fromm the spectre of MTD rumours hanging over the event, to the increasing frustrations around the late payments crisis, our panellists are on hand to give you the lowdown on what accountants were resonating with at our whirlwind event.And of course, it wouldn't be an AWEB Live Expo without a check-in on our panellists' swag hauls!
Proposing a raft of tax increases and spending cuts. It seems as though rookie Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is drawing a line under the radical policies of his predecessor in favour of 'steadying the ship'.Yet, as the country dives headfirst into yet another recession and continues to reel from an ever-growing cost of living crisis, will Hunt's ship steadying be able to navigate the economic icebergs that lie ahead?Joining the AWEB team to discuss this year's Autumn Statement is friend of the pod Dan Heelan of Heelan Associates and Beth Steer head of Content at PracticeWeb.Podcast Panel- Richard Hattersley- Tom Herbert- John Stokdyk- Dan Heelan- Beth Steer
Looming over this week's episode of No Accounting for Taste was the news of the biggest hike in interest rates in 30 years, leaving the current figure at 3%. In light of this news, the AccountingWEB team discuss the ramifications of the BOE's decision.Also on the podcast this week, the team is joined by Jason Croke to dissect Uber's recent £615m VAT payout to HMRC and ask 'what happened to the rest'?Finally, Richard, Tom and John look on to the government's much-anticipated Autumn Statement and make their predictions as to what Sunak and Hunt have in store for the UK.Podcast panel:- Richard Hattersley- Tom Herbert- John Stokdyk- Jason CrokeProducer/editor- Will Cole
AccountingWEB's technology editor Tom Herbert spoke with Sage CTO Aaron Harris and Sage Intacct product VP Dan Miller to discuss announcements made at the company's annual Transform event and Sage's plans for the future.Prior to Intacct being bought by Sage in 2017, this conference was the cloud midmarket vendor's annual showpiece and is now used by Sage to highlight new features and innovations across its platform - but still with an emphasis on Intacct, as it’s a huge part of the company’s growth plans.There were plenty of announcements made at the show, including increased investment in the Intacct product, enhanced integration with Microsoft tools and news that Sage has acquired carbon accounting solution Spherics. To cover these and Sage’s plans for the future I spoke with two of the company’s senior executives, Sage chief technology officer Aaron Harris and Sage Intacct’s vice president of product management Dan Miller.To read the stories discussed in this podcast go to: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-tech-ep5-sage-transform-2022
In today's podcast, the AccountingWEB team discuss the abject chaos plaguing the tory party, as well as being joined by friend of the pod Nick Levine to discuss Deloitte's recent sale of their cloud bookkeeping unit Propel.In what has been a catastrophic tenure at the helm, with Truss' goverment has being forced into multiple U-turns, the AccountingWEB gang ask the question what happens from here? Also on the podcast this week, Nick Levine joins us to discuss Deloitte's recent sale of Propel to Jeffreys Henry Group and the difficulties Big Four firms are having in the sector.Finally, AccountingWEB's tech editor Tom Herbert gives the lowdown on Sage's MTD solution which included a a tie-up with property specialists Hammock to cater for landlords.
After a dramatic U-turn from the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, AccountingWEB's Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk discuss Kwarteng's chaotic tenure at number 11.Also on this week's episode, John reveals all after jetting to Sin City to get the scoop at Netsuite's Vegas conference SuiteWorld - it seems that what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas!Finally, we hear from AccountingWEB's tech editor Tom Herbert over in Ireland as he gets the lowdown from Bright Group CEO Kevin McCallum and BTC Software founder Rob Ellis on their recent merger.Podcast speakers: Richard Hattersley, John Stokdyk, Tom Herbert, Rob Ellis, Kevin McCallumPodcast Producer: Will Cole
After finally getting the chance to listen in on a Budget that was only "mini" in name, Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng has revealed a raft of tax-cutting measures in a radical bid to inject some much-needed growth into a flagging British economy. Yet, with investor confidence sliding and the pound plunging to historic lows, will the Chancellor's risky gamble pay off?Now that the dust has settled, Richard Hattersley and Tom Herbert are joined by AccountingWEB veteran Nigel Harris in taking a magnifying glass to the new Chancellor's bumper fiscal package and question what effect this drastic announcement has on the accounting community.- Podcast voices: Richard Hattersley, Tom Herbert & Nigel Harris- Podcast producer: Will Cole
In the wake of the sad news of Queen Elizabeth II's passing, the AccountingWEB team revisit the Accounting Excellence Awards, and recount the story told by this year's Outstanding Contribution winner Paul Aplin. Also this week, the team looks ahead to a potentially tumultuous period for the UK government as we anxiously await news of an emergency budget expected in the coming weeks.Tom Herbert and John Stokdyk also give us the lowdown on the recent Zoho Books conference and tell us how the new kid on the block stacks up against the competition
Alastair Barlow and Lucy Cohen joined the AccountingWEB podcast team to discuss the key trends and innovation coming out of the Accounting Excellence Awards.
As the Accounting Excellence finalists nervously await the big awards night on 8 September, on No Accounting for Taste this week we explored how the bleeding edge firms are striving for excellence in the profession and caught up with last year’s outstanding contribution winner.
So, where are the big areas of innovation in the profession? How is tech helping accountants be more efficient? And what are their secrets behind excellence in client service and strong growth?
First, Alastair Barlow, CEO of flinder, the winner of multiple Accounting Excellence awards, chewed over the emerging innovation in client service, people and technology.
Lucy Cohen, the co-founder of Mazuma, then beamed into the virtual pod studio to reflect on the importance of vulnerability, culture and, of course, being awarded the outstanding contribution prize at last year’s Accounting Excellence awards.
Join us on 8 September at London’s Tobacco Dock for the Accounting Excellence Awards, supported by our headline sponsor Intuit QuickBooks, to celebrate the most glamorous night of the year for accountants. Just go to https://www.accountingexcellence.co.uk/
Shetland-based sole practitioner Martin Tegonning beamed into the virtual AccountingWEB podcast booth to discuss the burning issues of the day including MTD ITSA guidance, the Bank of England's predictions of a recession and the recent Supreme Court ruling on holiday pay.
Tregonning joined the AccountingWEB team this week to raise concern over the recent Supreme Court ruling that Harpur Trust's holiday pay calculations were unlawful and the impact it's going to have on his clients.
The sole practitioner is concerned that the decision has largely flown under the radar of small business clients, who see the verdict as just a typical court case. Tregonning's concern is that he's going to have to come up with a solution and explain a complex case to small businesses and their staff,
"[The case shows a] disconnect between the people who make the rules and the reality of running a small business," said Tregonning.
Elsewhere, the team rounds up all the latest news from the past seven days, including the looming recession, HMRC penalties and the long wait for MTD ITSA guidance.
For links to the items discussed in this podcast, head to: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep123-hmrc-penalties-recession-and-holiday-pay
Along with local temperatures, last week’s heatwave saw concerns about global warming shoot up.
Having campaigned to encourage accountants in the West of England to embed sustainability into their practices, Natalie Binstead-Wey came along to AccountingWEB’s Bristol podcast studio to explain what she’s been doing in this area.
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting is no longer the preserve of campaigners and pretentious corporates, interest is growing at every level of the profession. As one practitioner recently reported in Any Answers, they have been approached by clients asking them to undertake ESG-related work.
Elsewhere, civil servants have been clearing their shelves ahead of the summer recess. The recent MTD draft guidance was followed last week by draft finance bill clauses and a measure to expand eligibility for the Help to Grow scheme.
Both of these stories featured in the podcast discussion, along with the sad tale of a practitioner who was fined £5,000 for faling to meet their anti-money laundering obligations. After 40 years in practice, the accountant had failed to adapt because they were worried clients would feel “insulted” by their checks needed to comply with money laundering regulation.
The items that feature in this epiode include:
- Accountant fined over failure to adapt to AML
- Finance Bill at a glance: What you need to know
- Help to grow scheme: Digital scheme widens, but many firms still frozen out
- Any Answers: ESG reports and audits
Podcast voices: Richard Hattersley, Tom Herbert, Natalie Binstead-Wey
Podcast producer: Will Cole
AccountingWEB technology editor hits the road this week, covering Xerocon 2022. It’s been three years since the last event and a lot has changed for Xero and its users. The Kiwi cloud company have enjoyed massive growth and by and large, maintained a positive perception in the accounting profession for a strong core product. But it’s also come in for some criticism for a lack of development, outages and account management issues.
Tom spoke with Anna Curzon and Alex von Shirmeister, two of Xero top executives, and had a wander round the venue speaking to Xero accountants to find out their feelings about the show and some of the announcements made - in particular the new sole trader app Xero Go and the Go Cardless Instant Pay partnership.
With the Conservative Party leadership election hotting up, practice owner Carrie Stokes joins the podcast team to discuss whether the UK’s business community value candidates’ tax cut pledges or if stability and clarity win the day.
With leadership election fever in the air, there’s been lots of talk about cuts to NI, fuel duty, VAT, corporate tax and many others, fuelled by calls to be bold by business bodies and institutes.
To meet the successful candidate’s pledges, another emergency budget may be looming, so the podcast participants discuss whether tax cut plans resonate with businesses battered by the past two years, or whether they would prefer a period of calm.
Carrie Stokes, director of Spotlight Accounting in Shropshire, joins stand-in host Tom Herbert and AccountingWEB’s editor at large John Stokdyk to discuss this and plenty more besides.
Stokes recently spoke at a roundtable event organised by former home secretary Lord Blunkett to raise the lack of public awareness that the term ‘accountant’ is not a protected name - and offers her take on a much-debated issue in the profession.
The pod panel also tackle the generational divide in accountancy, look at why firms should be doing more than just dishing out tax returns, and assess the software vendors’ roll of the dice on technology to help landlords with the MTD ITSA transition.
Links to resources discussed in the show: Do businesses care about tax cuts? Generational divide Landlord technology Find out more about Spotlight Accounting
Podcast team: Tom Herbert, Carrie Stokes, John Stokdyk
Podcast producer: Will Cole
The co-founder of Future Cloud has reached new clients and even made strides towards solving the recruitment crisis through social media. Known for her ‘just post it’ style, Francesca records open and truthful videos about the highs and lows of running an accountancy practice.
As a relatively new firm, the videos have helped Future Cloud to differentiate itself, gain clients and establish its brand. The success of these videos support the trend that marketing is back in vogue that we’ve seen emerge from the Accounting Excellence Awards
Francesca and the AccountingWEB team also round up all the latest news from the past week in the world of accountancy, including a rare break from diplomacy from a group of tax bodies who publicly raised concerns about poor HMRC service levels, and we’ll also get the latest from AccountingWEB’s insight research - this week on Practice management software - and it wouldn’t be No Accounting for Taste if we didn’t also check in on the latest news and reaction on Making Tax Digital.
Show notes
Software insights: New practice software fashions Tax bodies raise concerns over HMRC service levels MTD ITSA: get the basics right Follow Francesca on Linkedin
Given the blizzard of other priorities faced by the profession in recent years, workflow hasn’t always been the most burning topic for accountants in practice. However, a host of factors are combining to push it up practice agendas, including (you guessed it) the UK government’s Making Tax Digital drive requiring multiple client checkpoints each year.
Other, more subtle, factors include the creeping commoditisation of lower-end compliance work, new rules around anti-money laundering and the increasing digitisation of accountants’ client base.
But how should practice owners and managers approach the task of re-engineering their practice workflow? And what tools are out there to help? To discuss the Christmas past, present and future of practice workflow, AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert was joined by Aaron Patrick, head of accounting at Boffix, and AccountingWEB editor at large John Stokdyk.
To listen to the full No Accounting for Tech podcast, click play or subscribe to the podcast on your player of choice by searching for AccountingWEB.
We’ll be back with a regular No Accounting for Taste episode next week. In the meantime, if you’re feeling generous you can help us reach more people by giving us a five-star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
This podcast was written and hosted by Tom Herbert and edited by Will Cole.
As an LGBT+ accountant, the managing director of Steele Financial has suffered discrimination throughout his career. So he created a firm where no one was judged for who they are. As his firm has grown so has his confidence.
But while the profession has made great strides, change across wider society is still slow and gradual. Ben talks about ways firms can be more inclusive and how focusing on your culture can help firms beat the recruitment crunch.
Also on the show this week we look back at a week in accountancy that saw HMRC announce the expansion of its MTD ITSA pilot. The team finds out whether Ben will be encouraging clients to join the pilot.
The team also discusses the week’s other top stories, including the accounting vendors battling for the dominant share of the market and accountants losing their mojo. Ben shares a few tips on how he deals with the feeling of overwhelm when running his practice.
Show notes - Feeling deflated? Here's how to get your mojo back
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Accounting platforms gear up for battle of the five armies
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HMRC takes the handbrake off MTD ITSA pilot
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Pride month articles on AccountingWEB
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Ben Steele: A never-ending struggle with self-disclosure
Follow Ben Steele on Linkedin
With mental health awareness month drawing to a close, the No Accounting for Taste team chat with wellbeing champion Shona Barker on the importance for firms to take mental health seriously.
With her background in offering superb mentorship and support to junior staff during her tenure in the industry, Barker offers listeners some keen insights into creating a welcoming and supportive environment throughout a practice.
Also on the docket are this week's top stories, with automation, windfall taxes and a rogue tax agent causing havoc for clients dominating the AccountingWEB headlines.
With recent hacks on high-profile accounting firms making headlines and the current geopolitical instability fuelling a rise in cybercrime, it’s perhaps inevitable that robust cybersecurity protection is creeping up firms’ agendas.
Any disruption to practice operations is hugely damaging to business – both reputationally and financially - so it’s vital for firms to take steps to protect themselves against the rising tide of cyberattacks.
Leading ethical hacker and head of cyber services for Falanx Cyber Rob Shapland works with SMEs and a number of accounting firms to bolster their cyber defences against the rising tide of cybercriminals targeting the accounting profession.
In the latest episode of the No Accounting for Tech podcast, Shapland tells AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert that he believes the accountancy sector has a major ‘cyber blind spot’ that is leaving it vulnerable to exponential losses. He also provides a few pointers for firms to bolster their defences, based on his experience conducting cyber break-ins on behalf of clients.
To listen to the full interview, click play or subscribe to the podcast on your player of choice by searching for AccountingWEB.
We’ll be back with a regular No Accounting for Taste episode next week. In the meantime, if you’re feeling generous you can help us reach more people by giving us a five-star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Resources mentioned on the show are:
The National Cyber Security Centre: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/ Falanx Cyber: https://falanxcyber.com/ This podcast was written and hosted by Tom Herbert and edited by Will Cole.
In this weeks episode, host Richard Hattersley is joined by fellow AccountingWEB editors Tom Herbert and John Stokdyk as they talk workflow success with efficiency guru, Sidgrove's David Sellick.
Talking us through his tactics, Sellick gives our panel the lowdown on how to increase efficiency and offers some helpful thoughts on eliminating workflow woes.
Our panel also discusses AccountingWEB's top three stories of the week and looks to pick apart the controversial situation KPMG finds themselves in as they face further fines due to their gross mishandling of their Carillion accounts.
Show notes: - Sage adds Futrli to growing cloud collection - KPMG to be fined £14m over falsifying Carillion documents - Cloud suites are here, just as the goalposts move
Accountants have not had to deal with inflation for a generation and most people did not increase pricing on lockdowns, but many now find themselves having to roll out increases.
In light of the recent record rise inflation, Martin, of Avery Martin Accountants, explains to the panel why his firm, as well as many others, are having to make hard decisions on the topic of increasing pricing.
Our panel also looks to dissect the week's top stories from AccountingWEB, including HMRC's breadcrumb approach to MTD, an accountant who impersonated their former employer to get a job and HMRC's offensive on overpaid SEISS grants.
To read all the stories discussed on this podcast visit AccountingWEB: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep116-mtd-seiss-and-fee-hikes
Former Fluidly founder Caroline Plumb joined technology editor Tom Herbert in the first of a new series of monthly podcasts from AccountingWEB - No Accounting for Tech.
In a wide-ranging interview Plumb, who recently joined ambitious mid-tier contender Jeffreys Henry as group CEO, discussed how technology is changing firms’ annual cash cycle perspective, the competitive threat tech poses to the accounting industry, and why, after a career spent following an entrepreneurial path, she decided to join an accountancy practice.
Plumb outlined how a wave of tech innovation and the current shortage of talent in accountancy is forcing practices, particularly in the mid-tier that have traditionally been partnerships, to break their one-year horizons and focus on building for the longer term.
She also argued that one of the biggest competitive threats in the accounting industry comes from technology - and practices need to stay on their toes to remain competitive. “People see competition as other firms,” said Plumb. “But the competitive threat is coming from technology starting to erode through automation some of the service lines or create price pressure or raise expectations about what you can get”.
To listen to the full interview, click play or subscribe to the podcast on your player of choice by searching for AccountingWEB.
We’ll be back with a regular No Accounting for Taste episode next week. In the meantime, if you’re feeling generous you can help us reach more people by giving us a five-star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Background reading for the podcast:
Jeffreys Henry takes tech-driven tilt at challenger firms with merger OakNorth Bank acquires Fluidly Women in fintech: Caroline Plumb – Fluidly
This podcast was written and hosted by Tom Herbert and edited by Will Cole.
Jeffreys Henry group CEO Caroline Plumb joins podcast host Tom Herbert to discuss how a wave of tech innovation has forced LLP firms traditionally focused on the annual cash cycle to broaden their horizons beyond the short term.
Della Hudson joins the No Accounting for Taste team this week to discuss the ICAEW’s plans to tighten up CPD requirements and all the latest news from the world of accountancy.
The accountancy coach and founder of Minerva Accountants delves into the new proposal from the ICAEW which would overhaul the current output based CPD model in response to the “increasingly complex world which our members operate in”.
AccountingWEB readers have raised concerns about the new requirements, arguing that the changes would lead to ICAEW members just trying to “hit their hours”.
Hudson and the AccountingWEB team also cover all the latest news from the world of accountancy including plans for the FRC to take control of audit registrations, golf days and the Companies House reform that will require small companies to file their profit and loss accounts.
Get all the links discussed on the podcast here: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep115-golf-days-audit-shake-ups-and-cpd
The founder of Soaring Falcon Accountancy has spent this spring searching for tools to manage the constant stream of emails and client communications.
As spring shopping season heats up, Falcon Huerta tells host Richard Hattersley and AccountingWEB’s tech editor Tom Herbert how her search is going. She then reveals what other software has caught her attention this spring.
The pod team also rounds up all the latest news from the world of accountancy this week, including the regulation of stablecoins. ongoing agent authorisation headaches and how AML non-compliance cost one firm a £17,000 penalty.
In this week's epidsode, our panelists look to separate the wheat from the chaff in the Chancellor's Spring Statement.
In the aftermath of this year's Spring Statement, host Richard Hattersley and tech editor Tom Herbert chat with resident tax expert Rebecca Cave on the policies looking to be implemented by the Chancellor this week.
With a host of new policies for our panelists to get their teeth into, from NIC tax threshold rises to the slashing of fuel duties, the question arises over whether these changes can truly tackle the current cost of living crisis.
Read the stories discussed in this episode on AccountingWEB.co.uk: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep113-post-spring-statement-2022-analysis
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘breaking the bias’. On the podcast this week we’ll explore what this means for the accountancy profession.
Mazuma Accountants’ Lucy Cohen takes over the No Accounting for Taste podcast this week to discuss with a panel of influential women working within the profession how they’ve experienced unconscious and conscious bias day-to-day.
Joining Lucy Cohen on the panel are:
Jeri Williams, the founder of Smooth Accounting. Eriona Barakurtaj, the managing director of Majors Accountants Heather Townsend, the owner of the Accountants Millionaire Club.
In a wide-ranging discussion, the panel give examples of how they’ve experienced unconscious and conscious bias in their careers, explore why there are so few £1m female led firms and discuss what more can be done to make the profession more inclusive.
You can find links to the stories discussed on this podcast at https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep112-breaking-the-bias-in-the-profession
Richard Murphy joins the AccountingWEB team this week to discuss the future of KPMG and scrutinise the current state of audit.
As KPMG faces a £1bn lawsuit and constant audit scrutiny, Murphy steps into the virtual pod booth to question just how long the Big Four firm can remain viable.
And with the government set to outline their plans to overhaul audit imminently, he also asks what can be done to clean up what has been described as a ‘scandal-ridden industry’.
The director of Tax Research UK also shared his thoughts on the big accountancy headlines from the past week, including new Making Tax Digital penalties for VAT periods beginning on and after 1 January 2023 and Adrian Chiles successful IR35 appeal against HMRC.
For all the links to the articles discussed on the podcast, go to: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep111-richard-murphy-on-kpmg-and-audit-scandals
It’s been a huge week here at AccountingWEB towers, with the unveiling of Software Awards winners.
The AccountingWEB editors give their expert insights into who picked up awards in bookkeeping, ERP, payroll, tax preparation and more and also delve into some of the trends in the market.
But first, the team rounds up the big headlines hitting the site this week, including a billion pound lawsuit against KPMG, an interest rate hike, and more on the self-employed grant.
For links to the article discussed on the show, go to: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep110-2021s-software-award-winners-revealed
Following the news that only nine people are taking part in the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax pilot, this week on the No Accounting for Taste we take a deep dive look at the project and explore why the numbers have plummeted.
Gary Jacobs, the CEO of Eazitax, joins the AccountingWEB editorial team in the virtual studio this week to give his thoughts on the MTD ITSA pilot. Gary has been involved in the pilot since its inception in 2016.
As reported on the site this week, the number of people taking part in the scheme has eroded to just nine due to the tightening of the criteria and the exclusion of those who had received Covid support grants.
Understandably, professional bodies and commentators are calling for more information on how HMRC plans to scale up its testing process.
The AccountingWEB team also rounds up all the latest news and stories hitting the world of accountancy this past week, including a major cyber-attack, the Treasury writing off billions in Covid fraud and agents losing access to HMRC services without AML proof.
For links to the articles discussed on this episode, visit https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep109-spotlight-on-the-mtd-itsa-pilot
Two crypto-curious accountants join the podcast this week to explain how they’ve taken on more clients in this field and reveal what software has helped them.
Host Richard Hattersley is joined in the virtual pod booth by AccountingWEB’s John Stokdyk and a returning Tom Herbert to discuss the big headlines hitting the site over the past seven days.
The team looks back at a week where HMRC waived late filing penalties on tax returns until the end of February and the AccountingWEB readers debated recent research on unaffiliated agents.
And then later in the programme, Tom Herbert is joined by Northern Ireland based chartered accountant Adrian Markey and Chris Barnard, head of tax at Accounts & Legal, to discuss the rise and rise of cryptotax.
With a growing number of clients turning to accountants for help with cryptocurrency calculations and record-keeping, Tom asks the crypto-accountants how they took the plunge and finds out some of the opportunities (and challenges).
Click here to get the links to the articles discussed in the podcast: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep108-tales-of-the-crypto-accountant
On this special year in review episode of the podcast, the AccountingWEB team is joined by Lucy Cohen to look back at the big stories hitting the profession in 2021.
What a year it has been. The year started off with a series of compliance hurdles including the worst tax season ever, a tough lockdown, new Brexit VAT and custom rules, the VAT reverse charge and the IR35 reform was rolled out into the private sector.
Squeezed in between this was the first of two Budgets. The first of which was a leaky Budget in March which saw an extension to the furlough scheme and the introduction of the new three step BLT process (Budget, legislation and tax day) which replaced the crash-bang-wallop Budgets.
The second half of the year wasn’t much better. The furlough and SEISS schemes did wind down in the autumn, but accountants had skills shortages and a tough economic outlook to wrestle with instead.
And then there was the drama of Making Tax Digital. The digital rollercoaster took an unexpected sharp turn midway through the year when the government announced a delay until April 2023.
2021 was also a significant year for Lucy Cohen. Not only was it the 15th year anniversary of her firm Mazuma, but in October she picked up the coveted Outstanding Contribution Award at the glamorous Accounting Excellence award ceremony.
Grab the last chocolate in the celebration tub, pour yourself a glass of mulled wine and reflect back on all the highs and lows of 2021.
You can find all the links to the stories discussed on this podcast here: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep107-review-of-the-year-2021
As tax return season cranks up a gear, on No Accounting for Taste this week we’re asking: can accountants really relax and enjoy the festive period?
When the rest of the working world is winding down for the festive period, for many accountants the tax return season has only just begun.
The pressure of the season hit sole practitioner Sam Mitcham when a Christmas song came on the radio and she cried. She realised that she didn’t feel festive at all.
Mitcham joins the AccountingWEB editorial team to talk about juggling the demands of running a practice and Christmas.
Like Mitcham, many accountants spend the Christmas period mentally submitting tax returns while attending nativity plans, wrapping presents and preparing the Christmas meal.
Mitcham tells the team how she’s planning to tackle the pressures of tax return season, whether she plans on working Christmas day, and whether she’s been able to listen to THAT Christmas song since.
Also on the show, the team takes a look at the big headlines making a splash on the site over the past week, including the NAO report on the government’s ‘inadequate’ Bounce Back Loan counter-fraud measures, the rise of the Omicron variant and what this means for accountants’ Christmas parties and HMRC chief executive Jim Harra’s appearance at AccountingWEB Live Expo.
You can read all the stories discussed on the podcast on AccountingWEB: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep106-can-accountants-truly-enjoy-christmas
This week on the show, the AccountingWEB team reflects on the highlights and news coming out of last week's inaugural AccountingWEB Live Expo.
The editorial team returns to the virtual podcast studio after spending a couple of days last week attending the first ever AccountingWEB Live Expo in Coventry.
Joining hosts Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk to relive all the highlights, all the swag and all the big themes and news coming out of the event is Reza Hooda.
Reza was prolific over the two day event, where he hosted panels on the rise and rise of the virtual finance director, pricing in a post MTD world and engaged in a timesheet debate.
The team discusses the themes coming out of these sessions and the action from the tech and tax sessions. They also discuss the big product news coming out of the show, including new launches from iPlicit and TaxCalc, and share their personal highlights.
For the latest news from the world of accountancy, join us on accountingweb.co.uk
‘Socks up’ Simon Chaplin joins No Accounting for Taste this week to examine the practice bottlenecks keeping practitioners awake during the winter months.
As the author of Banish the Bottleneck, Simon Chaplin knows all too well the challenges that trip up accountancy firms. Now that the starting gun has been fired on self assessment season, we’re hearing early word that some practitioners are struggling with more bottlenecks as the post-Covid workload has intensified the busy season stress.
Simon draws on his experience as the owner of the accountancy firm Greenstones to share advice on how accountants can navigate the bottlenecks.
He also joins the AccountingWEB editorial team to look over the big headlines shaking up the profession this week.
Unsurprisingly, Making Tax Digital continues to dominate the column inches. In the third most read article of the week, the co-founder of the six figure bookkeeper and friend of No Accounting for Taste Jo Wood asks: Do bookkeepers hold the answer to Making Tax Digital?
And then, the team takes a look at Jennifer Adam’s client segmentation advice for practitioners who are getting ready for MTD ITSA.
And finally, the most read story this week was the news that Sky TV presenter Dave Clark lost his appeal against HMRC determinations totalling £281,084 for tax and NIC due from his company under the IR35 rules.
You can read all the stories discussed on the podcast here: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep104-practice-bottlenecks-intensify-tax-return-season
We will be recording the next episode of No Accounting for Taste at our live exhibition on 1-2 December. You can register for your FREE ticket: https://accountingwebliveexpo-2021.reg.buzz/aw-editorial
Matt Portt, the founder of Portt & Co, joins the AccountignWEB team to explain what his accountancy firm is doing to tackle the climate emergency. As world leaders gather in Glasgow this week for Cop26, the accounting profession is asking what role it has to play in the climate crisis.
Bigger accountancy firms have typically owned this space, while previously some smaller firms have been left wondering what impact they could possibly have.
But purpose-driven firms like Matt Portt’s are now stepping forward and are making environmental, social, and corporate governance matters part of their culture.
With Cop26 in full swing, we'll find out why Portt and Co embraced sustainability and what it means for their practice, employees and clients.
The AccountingWEB team also take a look back at last week’s Budget - was it a non-event for accountants or were there some rabbits hiding in the undergrowth of the Budget Red Book?
We will focus more on the accounting profession’s role in tackling climate change at AccountingWEB Live Expo at Coventry on 1-2 December. You can register now to book your free tickets for the exhibition: https://accountingwebliveexpo-2021.reg.buzz/aw-editorial
‘The QuickBooks chap’ Aaron Patrick joins No Accounting for Taste to discuss the latest news and a sneak peak at MTD ITSA software.
As the head of accounting at the online cloud accountancy firm Boffix, Patrick enjoys getting his hands on the latest accounting tech. Now wonder then that he was figuratively in the front row at the latest QuickBooks Connect event to learn more about their MTD ITSA offering.
Patrick joins No Accounting for Taste regulars Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk to explain more about his exploration into the great unknown of MTD ITSA software and his efforts to get into a beta.
This week on the show, the AccountingWEB editorial team reviews the latest Westminster rumours and place their bets on latest the riders and runners for next week’s Budget. Will we be having a green Budget? Is Sunak going to pull a rabbit out of the hat?
In the other big stories shaking up the profession, the team explores some of the reasons behind the profession’s talent gap and asks: are the big software developers on the same wavelength as their accountant partners?
No Accounting for Taste will be recording live at AccountingWEB Live Expo. Register to attend the event: https://accountingwebliveexpo-2021.reg.buzz/aw-editorial
Compliance isn’t going anywhere, but as Kirsty McGregor points out on the podcast this week, it will do in 10 - 20 years. So, is now the time for practices to embrace advisory services?
Advisory vs compliance - it’s the story as old as time.The AccountingWEB team reignites the debate on No Accounting for Taste this week and welcomes McGregor to the virtual pod booth to discuss why firms should take notice of advisory services.
“If a firm chooses not to offer this service line and wants to be a pure compliance firm, they have to be incredibly efficient if you’re going to offer this service only,” said McGregor.
The founder of the corporate finance network, also joins hosts Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week.
Shaking up the profession this week includes the costs and benefits of Making Tax Digital, the timesheets debate rages on, and it’s acquisition season in the accounting tech market with Sage acquiring GoProposal.
To read the articles discussed on the podcast, visit www.accountingweb.co.uk To register to attend AccountingWEB Live Expo on 1-2 December in Coventry, visit https://accountingwebliveexpo-2021.reg.buzz/aw-editorial
It’s episode 100 of the podcast. To celebrate, host Richard Hattersley has invited a couple of familiar voices back to the show to reminisce over some of the big news stories covered on No Accounting for Taste.
Days after the then Chancellor Philip Hammond his Budget in late November 2017, AccountingWEB launched its podcast, No Accounting for Taste. The editorial team crowded around the microphone and dissected what was an underwhelming Budget. At the time, we questioned whether the Budget was really the best way to launch the government’s fiscal policy.
With two different chancellor’s since Hammond and a lot of fiscal policy announcements, it’s safe to say a lot has changed since then. We’ve also had a global pandemic, grappled with SEISS and furlough and seen IR35 eventually roll out in the private sector. On the show this week we welcome back former editor Tom Herbert and former business editor Francois Badenhorst discuss all this and more.
Richard Hattersley is also joined by AccountingWEB’s tax editor Rebecca Cave to race through the big stories of the past seven days. Again, Making Tax Digital dominates the headlines. This week we heard that the gap between the amount of VAT paid and VAT expected to be paid has increased by £2.3bn during the first year of MTD for VAT.
Rebecca also summarises the issues emerging from the NIC health hike and the MTD for VAT software codes.
On this episode of No Accounting for Taste, we probe the government’s new health and social care levy, chew over the latest MTD ITSA developments and take a deep dive look at the ‘guilt free’ exit plan of employee ownership.
Chris Maslin, the founder of Maslins tax advisers, steps into the virtual pod booth this week to tell AccountingWEB’s Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk about his decision to transfer a controlling stake in his firm to an employee ownership trust.
The pod team also rounds up the big stories of the week, including the unveiling of the new health and social care levy. The PM’s plan is to increase national insurance by 1.25% from April 2022 to stem the post-Covid health and social care crisis. But the accountancy profession has already raised concerns over how this will be a further complication of the tax system.
And as Making Tax Digital for income tax continues to dominate the headlines, the team looks at the calls to delay the basis period reform and the reasons why some AccountingWEB readers are calling this the “final straw”
Links to the stories discussed on this podcast are available here: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep99-national-insurance-hike-mtd-itsa-and-employee-ownership
Dan Heelan, director at Heelan Associates, joins No Accounting for Taste to discuss his post-pandemic plans and the latest news from the week, including the calls to delay the mandation of MTD ITSA.
As firms contemplate downsizing office space to accommodate hybrid working, Heelan steps into the virtual pod booth to explain to hosts Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk why he’s upgraded his office.
Communication tools have made client contact easier throughout lockdowns and continues to ensure teams stay connected, but the need for face-to-face contact remains.
It’s not just for client experience but newer team members can easily learn through osmosis when working in a physical office with their colleagues.
Heelan’s office upgrade is also a result of growth. But this comes with other challenges such as recruitment and getting the right people.
Dan and the AccountingWEB editorial team also chew over the biggest stories of the week, including:
- The on-field and off-field management techniques accountants can learn from the summer of sport
- A £200,000 tax bill handed to a taxpayer that kept an extraordinary lack of records over 16 years
- Calls from leading tax and accountancy bodies to reconsider the timetable for the change in basis periods to the tax year basis, and the mandation of MTD ITSA
Read the stories on www.AccountingWEB.co.uk
In August 2021, Kirsty McGregor, founder of the Corporate Finance Network and informal “accountant in residence” at online finance platform Capitalise.com joined AccountingWEB editor in chief and accountant Keir Warwick from Bulley Davey to discuss the client need for finance and advice in the aftermath of the pandemic and the ins and outs of providing an effective capital advisory service.
For more information on this topic, visit: https://capitalise.com/capital-advisory#
On the podcast this week we’re discussing the latest Making Tax Digital news, a big fine for KPMG, an embarrassing IR35 error for government departments and later in the show we explore growth - more specifically, why it’s OK now and again to close the door on accepting new clients.
Beth Jackson, the co-founder of 2 Sisters Accounting and 2020 Accounting Excellence finalist, joins the AccountingWEB editorial team this week to discuss her decision to pull the shutters down on new clients.
Jackson paused the firm’s growth plans while her business partner took a couple months off on maternity leave. She realised that the only way the firm could continue to deliver a good level of service to its existing clients was to stop bringing on new ones.
Jackson is not alone in taking this measure; accountancy firms across the UK have grappled with the growth paradox since the lockdown restrictions kicked in and small businesses turned to accountants en masse for extra support. But firms have quickly realised that an expanded client base risks diluting service levels.
This decision was even more difficult for Jackson as talking to new clients is one of her favourite parts of the job. That's not to say there hasn’t been some upshots - the velvet rope approach to growth has only added to the growing waitlist.
She also joins the team to race through the biggest stories of the week, including:
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A £13m fine for KPMG after it fixed the pre-pack sale of mattress retailer Silentnight to a private equity business it was also advising and dumping pension scheme liabilities
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An accelerated MTD for income tax start date for some self-employed taxpayers following the news of a big bang mandation in April 2023
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An embarrassing IR35 error for the home office and the DWP after it came to light that the government departments owed millions in back taxes for inaccurate application of the rules.
Read the articles in full on AccountingWEB.co.uk.
Host Richard Hattersley welcomes AccountingWEB's John Stokdyk and Maddy Christopher to No Accounting for Taste pod booth to cover the latest news and trends from the profession.
On the show this week the team explores the virtual finance director (VFD) trend which is sweeping the profession and has become a core offering at Lime Advisory, the firm of this week's resident accountant Jamie William.
He has seen the take up of these services increase over the past 18 months as clients have leaned on his firm for cashflow forecasts and Covid loan assistance. Jamie also reveals key ingredients of his firm’s VFD techstack and how he thinks the trend will evolve.
The team also rounds up the big news from the past week. The big news was the abolition of basis periods in 2022. The news was met with exasperation on AccountingWEB. We discuss the effect this will have on accountants and the implementation of Making Tax Digital.
This past week also saw Xero’s Gary Turner announce his departure from operational duties at the cloud accounting software. AccountingWEB’s John Stokdyk reflects on Gary’s legacy and how these cloud titans have shaped the way accounting firms now operate.
Meanwhile, the team highlights the increasing number of firms having had a post-Covid client clear out. Clearing out clients is something accountants tend to do (or need to do) in the first weeks of February after the stress of January, but it feels as if these past 18 months have made that decision easier for some accountants. But is this always the right approach?
To read the articles discussed, visit www.accountingweb.co.uk
On this week’s show the AccountingWEB pod team finds out how veganism became the recipe for success for one accountant, in addition to reviewing the biggest stories of the week.
Keith Lesser, the managing director of Lesser and Co, joins the AccountingWEB regulars Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk to talk about his latest venture - Vegan Accountants. A vegan himself, Keith took his firm down the niche route after the IR35 reforms ate into his client base.
Keith explains why it’s important to see this niche as a mission, the biggest challenges for this client base and how he’s stitched the values of his niche into his firm’s infrastructure.
Keith also shares with the AccountingWEB team his thoughts and opinions on the big stories from the past week in the profession.
These stories include the pesky new turnover test which may trip up claimants of the fifth SEISS grant, more on the furlough scheme as it starts winding down, and whether the toll of the past 18months has forced him to reflect on the way he runs his firm.
Read all the stories discussed on AccountingWEB.co.uk
On this week’s show the AccountingWEB editorial team reviews the biggest stories from the world of accountancy, including a potential change to the tax year, and find out why firms should focus on culture.
Albert Goodman partner Sophie Parkhouse joins No Accounting for Taste regulars Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk to chew over the latest news on this week’s show.
Sophie is the technical and training partner at the South West based firm and has a particular interest in people and culture. Albert Goodman recently featured in the Best Companies 2021 list across the South West, which recognised the firm’s efforts in personal growth, wellbeing and teamwork.
As firms gear up for their post-pandemic back to work plans, Sophie explains why culture matters and shares the ingredients of her firm’s employee engagement strategy.
Also on this week’s show, the team mulls over this week's big stories. Grabbing the headlines include a potential change to the tax year end and the effect this may have on the processes within a firm, two IR35 cases which highlight the importance of control in the decision, and the Supreme Court ruling that Grant Thornton must pay £13.4m over negligent advice - a story that highlights the importance of risk management.
To read the stories discussed in this week’s show visit accountingweb.co.uk
On this episode of No Accounting for Taste we put the spotlight on Pride month and review the biggest stories this week in accountancy.
To mark Pride month, we’re welcoming Ben Steele back to the podcast to discuss his experience as an LGBT accountant navigating the profession.
It hasn’t been easy for Steele. Before starting his own practice, Steele Financial, he was subjected to homophobic abuse and mistreatment. The impact of this prejudice even lingered when he first started his firm, and he worried whether clients would be put off by his sexuality.
Steele shares his story on this episode and discusses whether the profession has changed since he entered the profession.
He also joins host Richard Hattersley and AccountingWEB’s John Stokdyk and Maddy Christopher to review all the latest news from the world of accountancy.
The big stories this week include news on mandatory professional indemnity insurance and concerns that it will increase premiums, the trial relaunch of HMRC’s agent dedicated helpline and more debate and discussion on Making Tax Digital.
To read the stories discussed in this week’s show visit accountingweb.co.uk
This week on No Accounting for Taste we find out why you should look beyond education in your recruitment process and review the stories making the headlines this week on AccountingWEB.
Sarah Wynne, the founder of Wynne & Co, visits the virtual pod booth this week to tell the AccountingWEB team about the qualities she looks for in new recruits.
A self proclaimed educational underachiever, Wynne argues that people who understand people make better accountants than those that have gone through the university route.
Wynne’s recruitment ethos echoes the findings from AccountingWEB’s recent talent survey which discovered that while firms recognise technical skills, interpersonal skills and attitude are more sought after.
In addition to putting the spotlight on recruitment, Sarah joins host Richard Hattersley and PracticeWeb’s Mike Crook to review all the latest news from the world of accountancy.
The big stories this week include HMRC coming under fire for its poor service and the latest chapter in the long running VAT saga of confectionery or cake as supermarket Morrisons loses a £1m VAT case on snack bars.
If you want to read more on the stories discussed in this episode, visit accountingweb.co.uk.
The impact of coronavirus and Brexit has been disastrous for musicians and the arts sector. This week on the show we find out what the knock on effect will be for accountants specialising in this sector, especially with MTD on the horizon.
The arts and culture industry has been profoundly affected by the Covid restrictions. Many musicians work a combination of self-employed and PAYE work and fell through the cracks of the Chancellor’s coronavirus support. In addition to this, the post-Brexit rules have also added further complications to those musicians travelling to the EU for work.
Accountants specialising in this sector have had to carry these stresses, as their clientbase face a future of uncertainty or leaving the industry for a more stable career.
Lousise Herrington knows the challenges that lay ahead for this sector all too well. Louise runs Performance Accountancy, a firm that specialises in the music and arts industry. On the podcast Louise summarises the impact Covid and Brexit has had over the past 12 months for the sector and her firm.
While Louise is relieved to see the arts sector gradually re-open, she has trepidation about the future and how her practice will cope with Making Tax Digital.
In addition to examining the struggles musicians have faced and the knock-on effect this has had on accountants, Louise joins PracticeWeb’s Ray Newman and host Richard Hattersley to review the three biggest accountancy stories from the past seven days.
This week’s big stories include the latest start up hoping to dethrone Excel, mini umbrella companies and KPMG embroiled in a £6m legal battle over alleged slipshod advice.
If you want to read more on the stories discussed in this episode, visit accountingweb.co.uk.
With the off payroll rules in the private sector in force for over a month, this week on No Accounting for Taste we’ll see what effect it’s having on contractors and freelancers.
Over two decades since IR35 was first dreamed up, the new off payroll rules were rolled out in the private sector on 6 April. Now a month in, we’re joined on the podcast by Chris Maslin to find out what effect the measures have had on the market.
The fear in the months leading up to this was that ‘contracting is over’ and many AWEB readers reported at the time that their contractor client base had fallen like flies. But has this doomsday scenario happened?
Chris is the founder of the contractor specialist firm Maslins Chartered Accountants, so he knows first hand the general mood of contractors and has good insight on what the future might hold for these clients.
AccountingWEB editors Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk also blast through the week’s top stories, which includes data breach at HMRC, snooping on your employees and the latest SEISS phishing scam.
If you want to read more on the stories discussed in this episode, visit www.accountingweb.co.uk
What does it mean to be an award-winning accountancy firm?
AccountingWEB's editor in chief John Stokdyk quizzes two Accounting Excellence giants to uncover the secret of an award-winning entry.
Entries are now open for the 2021 Accounting Excellence Awards. Firms across the country are crafting entries to impress the award judges.
To help firms submit an effective entry, John Stokdyk assembled a group of award-winners and judges to share what they think are the fundemental qualities of a practice that deserves to lift an Accounting Excellence gong.
The panellists include Chris Downing from Sage, whose Accounting Excellence history goes back to the origins of the awards, when he picked up the 2013 Technology Champion of the Year prize. Chris discusses his experience as an entrant with the multi-award winning team at Milstead Langdon and also from his perspective as a judge of the awards.
Also on the panel is Avery Martin's Glenn Martin. The AccountingWEB legend was pipped to the post in last year's Covid Hero award, but his story is one that everyone can learn from. His award entry told the story of how he worked around the clock to support his clients. Martin takes us behind the scenes of how he put together the entry and how reflecting on his past year has helped his firm grow.
And finally, AccountingWEB's editor Richard Hattersley shares some of the insights he's picked up from monitoring the Accounting Excellence trends over the past five years.
Now you've listened to the podcast and picked up some tips, don't forget to enter the Accounting Excellence awards: https://www.accountingexcellence.co.uk/
Specialist crypto-accountant Joe David joins No Accounting for Taste this week to give the lowdown on the recent changes to the taxation regime for crypto assets and how he ended up starting up his own crypto-accountancy firm.
Off the back of HMRC releasing a manual on cryptocurrency, David steps into the virtual pod booth with hosts Richard Hatterley and John Stokdyk to discuss the key changes and explains how big the market has become.
News of HMRC’s cryptocurrency manual demonstrates a spike of interest in the sector. David can attest for this, after opening the UK’s first dedicated blockchain and cryptocurrency advisory business.
David reveals how he launched his specialist firm and how he managed to successfully own his chosen niche.
As always, the AccountingWEB editors blast through the week’s most read articles, including SEISS, CIS and the new CJRS calculations.
AccountingWEB legend Glenn Martin joins the No Accounting for Taste team to discuss the easing of lockdown restrictions and to chew over the big headlines from the past week, including IR35, Xero’s latest acquisition and VAT.
This month sees the re-opening of significant parts of the indoor economy and outdoor settings on 12 April in England, as the country takes the next step in its exit from lockdown.
AccountingWEB member Glenn Martin (AKA Glennzy) returns to the podcast to explain what he’s doing to support his clients in hospitality, non-essential retail and other affected sectors as they’re finally able to re-open their doors.
Martin also describes how the pandemic has led to his clients innovation in his client base, with ecommerce adoption leading many to buffer the damage of the lockdown. He also reveals what effect the pandemic has had on his practice. Martin touches on how he’s found the right balance between growth and service.
As always, AccountingWEB’s Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk review the big stories of the past seven days. The headlines shaking up the profession this week include the introduction of IR35 in the private sector, Xero snapping up e-invoicing provider Tickstar, and the government ‘running scared’ from overhauling VAT.
On No Accounting for Taste this week we talk SEISS grants, face-to-face meetings, a year of lockdown, and put the spotlight on social media.
Accountant, coach and Amazon bestselling author Della Hudson joins the podcast to discuss the big headlines from the past week, and as a Twitter addict, she gives her thoughts on new platforms like Clubhouse.
Host Richard Hattersley is also joined by PracticeWeb’s MD Mike Crook. PracticeWeb has recently released a new guide on social media and shares some tips for accountants looking to engage prospective clients.
It is also one year since the first coronavirus lockdown. Della and Mike reflect on the last 12 months and consider how it has shaped accountants and the accounting profession.
As always, we review the most read stories on AccountingWEB. This week’s biggest headlines include a SEISS deadline. This story created a lot of discussion on the site due to agents not being copied in on the HMRC email, and taxpayers may have missed it or confused the email for spam.
Della and Mike also discuss another big story from the past week: will accountants ditch face-to-face meetings for video? All this and more on this week’s podcast.
01m05s: Anniversary of the first lockdown 04m00s: Will accountants ditch face-to-face for video meetings? 10m00s: Proposed points and penalty system is potentially problematic 14m36s: Three days to save your SEISS grant 19m30s: Spotlight on social media
Burton Sweet’s Nigel Harris joins the No Accounting for Taste team this week to reminisce about Budgets past and present.
A week after Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his 3 March Budget, AccountingWEB editors Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk unpick the key announcements and to interpret what the Budget will mean for accountants.
Nigel Harris, a partner at Burton Sweet and seasoned Budget commentator on AccountingWEB, is in the accountant's corner this week. Continuing a 20 year Budget tradition, Harris shares his thoughts on everything from corporation tax, the extension of furlough and much more.
There weren’t many big surprises at the Budget - mainly because most of the announcements had been leaked in advance. But amongst Sunak’s playing of his greatest hits, there were a few unexpected announcements such as the super-deduction on capital allowances.
On this special AccountingWEB podcast, we find out how firms are using automation to streamline their operations, and discover the issues accountants need to consider when automating their practices.
The impact of coronavirus and Making Tax Digital has forced accountants to review their automation journey. In particular, the intense pressure of the last 12 months has highlighted the need for real-time reporting and streamlined processes.
This podcast discovers what automation means for accountants, how technology has changed client conversation and how firms have got buy-in from their whole team and clients.
Host Richard Hattersley is joined by Michelle Coates, a partner at DPC chartered accountants; Shetlands-based sole practitioner Martin Tregonning; Sage’s Chris Downing; and John Stokdyk, AccountingWEB’s editor-in-chief.
Sage is on a mission to automate data entry and speed up admin for every accounting and bookkeeping practice in the UK. Start streamlining workflows and spend more time helping your clients succeed. https://www.sage.com/en-gb/accountants/
In a week where the prime minister unveiled his roadmap to exit lockdown, this week’s No Accounting for Taste looks ahead to next week’s Budget.
Budget fever has struck this week’s No Accounting for taste! AccountingWEB’s Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk are joined by PracticeWeb’s Ray Newman to review the latest Westminster rumours.
So what can we expect at next week’s fiscal announcement?
What additional support will Rishi Sunak provide these businesses as the economy "cautiously" re-opens? Will we see the furlough scheme extended again? What about business rates? We’ll discuss this and the latest Budget rumours swirling around Westminster.
Before they consider the contenders for this year’s Budget, the team also races through the big stories hitting the accountancy world this week. So along with the runners and riders of the Budget, old favourites Making Tax Digital and IR35 are back in the news.
00:01:45 MTD: Monthly reports may be needed 00:09:14 Income tax rates and thresholds 2021/22 00:11:20 HMRC confirms ‘soft landing’ in new IR35 guidance 00:19:24 Budget predictions
On this week’s episode we’re talking fantasy budgets, the 3m excluded self employed and February practice planning season - is it even possible in an unpredictable world?
Peter Jarman, the managing partner of PJCO chartered certified accountants, steps away from his February planning season to join the AccountingWEB team on the podcast this week.
Jarman reveals what his plans are for the next 12 months and how the pandemic has changed the way his firm operates. And we can’t talk about planning for the future without reflecting on the last 12 months and how PJCO coped with the Covid workload and self assessment season.
But before that, the pod team chews over the three biggest stories on AccountingWEB, including ways to simplify VAT, the domestic reverse charge and news that Rishi Sunak has dismissed claims that 3m self-employed workers have been excluded from government support.
For all your news from the world of accountancy, check out AccountingWEB.co.uk
On this episode of No Accounting for Taste, the AccountingWEB team chart the highs and lows of a week that saw HMRC bow to pressure and waive self assessment late filing penalties for one month.
There was only one story that gripped accountants this week and that’s the self assessment.
This week saw HMRC deliver a last minute reprieve for accountants overwhelmed with Covid support work, homeschooling and of course tax returns.
After months of standing firm against relaxing the SA deadline, HMRC recognised “the immense pressure that many people are facing in these unprecedented times” and realised that “it has become increasingly clear that some people will not be able to file their return by 31 January”.
HMRC’s 11th hour U-turn gives taxpayers “the breathing space they need to complete and file their returns, without worrying about receiving a penalty”, but has also left frustrated accountants to ask: why did they wait so long?
Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk are joined in accountants' corner this week by Jo Wood, who runs a virtual FD service, to chew over the implications of HMRC's late filing penalty climbdown.
For the latest news from the world of accountancy visit AccountingWEB.co.uk
Now the chaos of 2020 has drawn to a close, the AccountingWEB team gathers for the first No Accounting for Taste of 2021 to try and predict what the year ahead has in store for the accounting profession.
AccountingWEB’s Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk put on their prognosticator hats as they welcome the CFN’s Kirsty McGregor to the virtual pod booth and attempt to foretell the highs and lows of 2021.
What will the Chancellor have in store for the March Budget? Will the profession revert back to the old ways of working? Will the end of 2021 look brighter than the end of 2020?
But before the team looks into their crystal balls, they race through the headlines of a week which saw confusion and alarm from HMRC’s nudge letters, while accountants continue to scramble to make the looming tax return deadline.
And the big news coming from the world of accountancy over the past seven days has to be news of a national lockdown and new grants worth up to £9,000.
Podcast timings 00:01:05 MTD for VAT: Are you ready for bulk migration 00:05:25 Tax and NIC thresholds for 2021/22 00:07:14 Tax return deadline looms as 45% still need to file 00:13:36 Confusion and alarm from HMRC’s nudges 00:18:04 Sunak unveils lockdown grants worth up to £9,000 00:24:07 PREDICTIONS FOR 2021
For all the news and opinions from the world of accountancy, visit AccountingWEB.co.uk.
As we come to the end of the year, this week’s episode of the No Accounting for Taste podcast assembles a panel of accountants to reflect on the highs and lows of 2020.
AccountingWEB editors Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk are joined in accountants’ corner by Mazuma's Lucy Cohen and Accounting Excellence Covid Hero award winner Ria-Jaine Lincoln say goodbye to 2020.
In this episode, expect plenty of virus related discussions on the furlough scheme, help for the self employed, Zoom calls, mental health struggles, Rishi Sunak and much more.
2019 ended without a Budget but the government made up for that fallow year by seemingly having a mini-Budget every week (and a proper Budget in March). These announcements often came without any warning and key guidance released at 11am on a Friday evening. Yes, 2020 will be a year no accountant will forget.
Although the panel relive the struggles of the furlough scheme and the mental strain of the lockdown, they also celebrate the innovation and tenacity the accountancy profession demonstrated in 2020.
On this week’s No Accounting for Taste we are joined by sole practitioner of the year Sarah Sallis to discuss the week’s big headlines and the secrets behind her Accounting Excellence Awards win.
Host Richard Hattersley invited the founder of the Accountancy Office Sarah Sallis to the pod booth this week to discuss her big win at the Accounting Excellence Awards ceremony.
Sallis picked up the sole practitioner of the year gong thanks to her impressive client service initiatives, including her drop-in sessions, business continuity planning and being agile as a small firm.
Sarah sticks around to discuss the big stories of the week with PracticeWeb’s head of content Ray Newman.
The pod team starts the headline rundown by looking at the uncertainty generated by Brexit and whether this will impact smaller practitioners. They then tackle a familiar topic on the podcast - the effect the coronavirus workload has had on self assessment season preparation and energy levels.
A seasoned remote worker, Sallis gives her thoughts on the other big story of the week involving the growing garden office trend. The team finishes the discussion by weighing up the latest employer dilemma of whether to furlough employees or risk adverse publicity as new measures to name recipients come into force.
To read the stories discussed on this podcast visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/practice/general-practice/no-accounting-for-taste-ep80-client-satisfaction-exhaustion-and-furlough
On this week’s No Accounting for Taste, the editorial team discusses eleventh hour guidance changes, contractors and self assessment stress.
Hosts Richard Hattesley and John Stokdyk are joined this week by PracticeWeb’s head of content and keen Budget watcher, Ray Newman. Without a November Budget the team are able to breathe a sigh of relief and take a casual approach to the spending review.
But this uncharacteristic calmness conflicts with the last minute panic that accountants have endured this year. This week’s big headlines, and the increase in stressed accountants, demonstrate the toll the eleventh hour guidance changes have had this year, such as the sudden return of the furlough scheme before the job support scheme had even launched.
It’s also seen with the news this week that HMRC has confirmed that virtual Christmas parties will be eligible for the annual function exemption.
Meanwhile, a first tier tax tribunal involving a contractor having his travel and accommodation expenses disallowed highlighted the plight of this particular client - and even led one AccountingWEB member to declare: “Glad I don’t have any contractor clients”.
The team rounds up the session by talking about the big news that self-employed traders had until last week to respond to HMRC’s email about their business status or they won’t be able to make a further claim for SEISS.
For links to the stories and the latest news visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep79-last-minute-guidance-contractors-and-stress
On this week’s exciting edition of AccountingWEB’s No Accounting for Taste, we’re discussing Zoom fatigue, the extended furlough scheme, Uber and Eat Out to Help Out penalties.
Hosts Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk are joined on the podcast by Matt Portt, the owner of Portt and Co. A lot has happened since Matt first appeared on the podcast all the way back at episode two.
Matt has been mainly grappling with the ongoing CJRS soap opera. His firm has a specialist payroll department and has lived and breathed the furlough scheme since March.
CJRS constributed to the profession's long working days and heightened stress levels, but there are other culprits. The pod team reflects on how remote working has also exacerbated the strain on the profession, and the role Zoom has played in draining accountants’ energy levels.
In addition to all of this, the team also discusses the other big headlines from the past seven days, including Uber and Eat Out to Help Out penalties.
For links to the articles discussed in this episode, visit AccountingWEB: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep78-workaholics-zoom-fatigue-and-cjrs
On this AccountingWEB podcast we'll find out how accountants have coped with the sudden change in client demand over the last several months.
Accountants have contended with the rush of government guidance already this year, and now with the prospect of self assessment looming again and the second lockdown, we’re seeing a gloomy outlook in the profession.
This podcast will discover how accountants have managed clients, the high level of demand and the associated pressures of Covid workload.
To do this, host Richard Hattersley is joined by Sage’s Chris Downing: an accountant at heart with almost 20 years of experience working at the accountancy firm Milsted Langdon; and in accountants' corner this week is Sam Mitcham, the founder of SJCM Accountancy.
Help your clients boss small business accounting with Sage. For more information, visit Sage's accountants and bookkeepers' hub. https://www.sage.com/en-gb/accountants/
On this week’s No Accounting for Taste, we’re talking the Job Support scheme, support for musicians and meditation.
The founder of the Accountancy Practice, John Froggett joins host Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk in accountants’ corner this week. Frogett has reason to celebrate as his firm recently made the small firm of the year finalist list at the Accounting Excellence awards.
The glitz and glamour of the Accounting Excellence awards contrasts with the firm’s humble beginnings. Froggett started 20 years ago with a cheque for £250 and an office set up in his garage
Froggett and the AccountingWEB team reflect back over the compliance-heavy headlines which were dominated by the coronavirus support schemes, including further tweaks to the self-employed income support scheme and the Job Support Scheme. A keen singer himself, Froggett is concerned about those falling through the net like musicians and venues.
This constant treadmill of guidance from the government has had a knock on effect on accountants and their wellbeing. With accountants contending with the prospect of self assessment and a second spike worsening their heavy workload, Froggett talks the team through his own meditation routine – and explains how this eases his work stress.
Read the stories discussed on AccountingWEB: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep77-jss-seiss-and-meditation
On this edition of No Accounting for Taste podcast, Alan Woods from Woods Squared reports on the expanded Job Support Scheme and what he’s doing to support clients through the local lockdown. This week, Liverpool became the first city to be put under tight local lockdown restrictions. Alan Woods is based in Merseyside, so knows too well what the tier three rules will mean for Liverpudlian businesses.
Alan joins AccountingWEB’s Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk to explain how he’s helping his clients’ content with the lockdown. Unsurprisingly then, Alan has a lot of interest in the expanded Job Support Scheme, announced by the Chancellor last week. But Alan calls for more certainty for his clients, as the Chancellor’s safety net for lockdown businesses doesn’t kick in until 1 November.
The team find out how Alan is contending with the new restrictions and how his support this time differs from the first lockdown. All this plus the latest headlines on AccountingWEB, including more on the Job Retention Bonus, the professional services grant and IR35.
You can find links to all the stories discussed on the podcast at AccountingWEB.co.uk: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep76-accountants-grapple-with-local-lockdown-restrictions
On this week’s episode, the AccountingWEB pod team unpicks the Chancellor’s Winter Economy Plan and discuss the effects the never-ending guidance is having on the profession.
Since we last recorded a podcast Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled the job support scheme, further self-employed grants and an extension to the coronavirus loans. To examine the news, host Richard Hattersley is joined by AccountingWEB’s editor-in-chief John Stokdyk and friend of the site and partner at Burton Sweet, Nigel Harris.
The team attempt to add meat to the bones of Sunak’s new job support scheme and judge the effectiveness of the tax deferment and coronavirus loan extensions. Aside from the winter rescue plan, tech enthusiast panel rate Xero’s vision for tax and practice software and advise an accountant ready to throw in the towel after failing their CIMA exams.
For links to the stories discussed on this podcast, head over to AccountingWEB: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep7-job-support-scheme-loans-and-stress
The AccountingWEB team is joined by Dan Heelan to discuss the high profile cases of furlough fraud and the dishonest use of the Bounce Back loans.
Joining host Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk to pore over the headlines on AccountingWEB this week is business owner turned accountant Dan Heelan from Heelan Associates.
The big story this week was the arrest of an accountant and a director for a suspected £70,000 furlough fraud. Meanwhile, Heelan flags the Bounce Back Loans as another support measure which may have been exploited.
Since the scheme launched we’ve seen discussions on AccountingWEB from readers concerned about clients applying for loans to use for non-business reasons such as ‘home improvements’, while another reader raised concern that a client has two bounce back loans with separate banks.
Heelan discusses the extent of Bounce Back Loan fraud and what can be done, if anything, to stamp it out.
This week's No Accounting for Taste chews over headlines including the regulation of tax advisers, what adversely affected really means, and we also discuss the challenges of female entrepreneurs and business owners.
Joining host Richard Hattersley to review the big stories of the week is PracticeWeb’s Ray Newman and beaming in from accountant’s corner is Rachel Martin, the founder of Accountant_she.
For links to all the stories discussed, go to AccountingWEB.co.uk: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep73-women-in-business-seiss-tax-regulation
With deferred taxes, loan repayments and the tough economic outlook hitting small businesses, this week’s No Accounting for Taste podcast explores the importance of cashflow forecasting.
AccountingWEB’s editor-in-chief John Stokdyk is joined this week by two cashflow enthusiasts. In her second outing on the pod is Kirsty McGregor, the founder and chairman of the corporate finance network, and making his pod debut is Paul Barnes, the managing director of MAP.
To start the show, the pod team races through the most read stories on AccountingWEB. Stories catching our eye this week include a new government grant which covers accountancy fees, the second SEISS grant, and confusion over Employer Allowance claims.
With the headlines out of the way, the team talk about the headline topic of the episode, cashflow and forecasting.
To view all of the stories discussed in today's episode, visit AccountingWEB.co.uk: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep72-are-businesses-being-left-behind
On this week’s No Accounting for Taste, we discuss clients left behind by the government’s business support measures, recruiting during the crisis and returning to the office.
AccountingWEB’s editorial team Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk are joined this week by Class of 2019 alumnus and Accounting Excellence finalist Andy Sullivan from Complete HQ to chew over the latest news in the accountancy and his firm’s response to the virus.
As a relatively new firm, Andy knows too well how tough it is starting out, finding clients and having a work-life balance. But if that wasn’t tough enough, throw in a global pandemic.
On top of all that, he had to recruit in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis. Andy had an influx of extra work because firms near him couldn’t cope, had furloughed staff or weren’t providing the service the businesses wanted. He talks the team through the process of hiring a new team member.
Links to the stories mentioned in this episode can be found here: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep71-recruiting-in-the-middle-of-a-pandemic
On this week’s No Accounting for Taste, we discuss the return of Making Tax Digital, the VAT cut for the hospitality sector and whether the Summer Statement measures will make any difference.
To tackle the news, host Richard Hattersley is joined this week by PracticeWeb’s Ray Newman and the managing director of Steele Financial, Ben Steele.
Get links to the stories discussed in this episode and more information: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep70-mtd-extended-vat-5-cut-and-eat-out-to-help-out
On this week’s No Accounting for Taste the editorial team is joined by practice owner Ria-Jaine Lincoln to assess an industry hit-hardest by the pandemic – the hair and beauty sector.
Over the last few episodes, we’ve heard from practitioners such as Glenn Martin and Zoe Whitman how tough the last few months have been for the clients they represent. A sector which has suffered a lot during this coronavirus crisis has been the beauty industry.
After months of uncertainty, the hair sector was finally able to open its doors once again on 4 July in England along with pubs, restaurants and much of the hospitality sector. But the beauty sector is still one of the remaining industries without a return date, leaving many of these businesses questioning their future.
Hosts Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk ask niche practice owner Ria-Jaine Lincoln how her beauty clients have coped over lockdown and find out how she's managed the excessive workload when her entire client base was unable to trade and needed her support.
For all the news and opinions from the world of accountancy, visit AccountingWEB.co.uk: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/
On this week’s episode of No Accounting for Taste, we explore how accountants have moved on from the Covid-19 crisis with stronger client relationships.
As lockdown gradually eases across the UK, many accountants are now seeing the fruit of their Covid-19 response and are being recognised with a renewed sense of loyalty from their clients.
In this episode, hosts Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk are joined by PracticeWeb’s Mike Crook and Insight 101’s Phillipa Haynes to find out how SMEs feel accountants have performed during the Covid-19 crisis.
What the Covid-19 crisis has highlighted is that SMEs want strong communication skills from their accountant. Using data from their new SME insight report, Mike and Phillipa emphasise the importance of communication and human connection as part of the accountant and client relationship.
Go to AccountingWEB.co.uk for all the links discussed in this episode: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep68-smes-rate-accountants-covid-19-performance
On this week’s edition of No Accounting for Taste, we discuss the death of the 9 to 5, July’s mini-Budget and the revised furlough scheme.
To examine the news this week, host Richard Hattersley is joined by PracticeWeb’s head of content Ray Newman, and Georgia Duffee, the director and accountant at Benedetto Accounts and Tax.
Georgia took the ultimate leap of faith at just 21 and started her own accountancy firm. We’ll discuss Georgia’s route into practice and whether being a young practice owner has enabled her to stand out from the crowd.
Georgia also reveals how she’s coped in her response to Covid-19. As an advocate of having a work-life balance, Georgia explains how effective time management has helped her keep on top of the workload without suffering the effects of the always-on culture.
Then the pod team reviews the latest news in accountancy, including how firms will adjust to the post-lockdown office life, what we can expect from the mini-Budget, the delay to the CIS reverse charge and the furlough scheme.
On this week’s podcast, we discuss the latest news including the government’s coronavirus schemes and consider how changing your thinking could help your practice thrive post-virus.
Host Richard Hattersley is joined by Sage’s director of product management and former accountant in practice Chris Downing, Sam Mitcham from SJCM Accountancy and Emily Smith from Finlayson & Co to find out how accountants are preparing their clients for the uncertain future.
On this week’s edition of No Accounting for Taste, we consider the ramifications of the intense coronavirus workload and question just how long can accountants keep going at this pace? When the country went into lockdown in March, accountants stepped up and worked around the clock, but as today’s guest says, it’s looking like a longer hail than first expected.
As exhaustion starts to settle in, accountants were back at the coalface with the launch of the government’s self-employed income support scheme.
To discuss how he’s managed to keep going throughout the pandemic, hosts Richard Hattersley John Stokdyk are joined by AccountingWEB legend, Glenn Martin (AKA Glennzy).
Glenn talks about motivation, how he’s planning to help his clients through what he expects to be an extremely tough Q3 and also the latest news from the week in accounting.
For all the links to the stories discussed in this episode, head to AccountingWEB.co.uk: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep65-how-long-can-accountants-keep-going
On this week’s episode of No Accounting for Taste, we look at HMRC’s furlough scheme and examine what effect the extra work has had on the personal wellbeing of accountants.
Since HMRC’s furlough portal opened last week, accountants have found the process mostly seamless, and the money is starting to arrive in their clients’ bank accounts.
However, there are still many kinks which have caused a great amount of consternation, from the laborious 14-screen sequence to the 15-minute time-out limit they are up against.
But the biggest complication though is the furloughing claim restrictions which mean businesses with fewer than 100 employees have to enter details individually.
Joining AccountingWEB editors Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk is Kirsty McGregor, the founder of the Corporate Finance Network.
She is the moving force behind a new campaign that is calling on HMRC to change this application process for CJRS grant claims. McGregor is urging HMRC to bring the process into line with the process for the larger employers, who can upload the information as a file.
For all links to the articles discussed, click on this link: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep64-furlough-portal-puts-pressure-on-accountants
On this week’s episode of No Accounting for Taste we investigate the impact the coronavirus has had on UK small and medium-sized businesses and find out what they really want from their accountant.
As the last few weeks have demonstrated, accountants have been in great demand to help support small businesses. Just take a look on AccountingWEB’s Any Answers forum and you’ll read stories of businesses pulled up from the brink of collapse as accountants have worked tirelessly around the clock to save their clients.
But the reality of the likely economic fallout of the virus was unveiled by the Chancellor this week who quoted OBR figures that warned of a 35% drop in GDP for the second quarter of 2020
So how are small businesses really coping? And what plans have their accountants put in place to guide them through the rocky months ahead? Joining host Richard Hattersley and AccountingWEB's editor-in-chief John Stokdyk to discuss the realities from the small business frontline is the MD of PracticeWeb, Mike Crook.
PracticeWeb recently took a temperature check on how British businesses are coping, and Mike drops by the pod booth to reveal the key findings from the research.
In this episode of No Accounting for Taste, AccountingWEB’s resident Agony Uncle joins the pod to discuss the mental anguish practitioners have endured since the coronavirus outbreak.
In the last week, businesses and the self-employed have received a much-needed lifeline from the government.
News of these schemes has caused accountants to work around the clock to help rescue their clients' businesses. But the extra hours and the emotional turmoil of seeing clients businesses crumble has caused many accountants to feel burned out and exhausted.
AccountingWEB contributor Jennifer Adams was one of many AccountingWEB readers to express their emotional exhaustion in recent days.
She wrote in a blog how she’s “Exhausted from holding back the tears when speaking to clients who you can see will not make it to that glorious day when they might get some financial help as per the Chancellors enthusiastic announcements.”
So how do you keep on top of your mental health when the world around you is so uncertain? To help us understand this topic, the editorial team are joined by mental health coach Nick Elston.
On this week’s No Accounting for Taste, the AccountingWEB editorial team explores the effects of the coronavirus on the accountancy profession and businesses.
Since the Budget, the catastrophic effect of the coronavirus has forced firms to shut their doors and roll out remote working, put businesses on their knees, and prompted the government to postpone IR35 for 12 months.
To discuss the week where COVID-19 has locked down the country and the profession, host Richard Hattersley is joined, as always, by AccountingWEB’s editor in chief John Stokdyk, who is beaming in from his Brighton-based self-isolation.
And to give us a 'from the trenches' viewpoint, we have But the Books owner Zoe Whitman, who is calling in from her Bristol HQ.
Just one week ago the government delivered its Budget, but since then the government has unveiled a £330bn "Whatever it takes" response to the economic impact of coronavirus. The response includes a 12 month delay to April’s roll out of the off-payroll reforms in the private sector.
The pod team starts by discussing the huge news from the past week before delving into how else the virus is unsettling the profession, including:
Talking to crisis-hit clients (what advice are they looking for and how to advise them through potential cashflow problems) Dealing with the effects of the virus and the remedial measures it’s had on you and your businesses Having client conversations during these self-isolation times? Remaining productive and make sure nothing falls through the cracks now you’ve become a remote worker Tips for coping with the challenges that lie ahead And much, much more.
For more information on this week's show, visit AccountingWEB: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep61-ir35-postponed-as-covid-19-disrupts-profession
In this special Budget edition of No Accounting for Taste, the AccountingWEB editorial team analyses the highs and lows from a Budget dominated by the coronavirus pandemic. Host Richard Hattersley is joined by seasoned Budget watcher John Stokdyk, who beams in from his Brighton HQ, and a sleep-deprived Ray Newman from PracticeWeb, who was up until 2am in the morning examining the finer Budget details.
The pod team first considers how Sunak’s performance at the dispatch box compares to his predecessors. Then they turn their attention to the Budget 15 months in the making.
The emergence of the coronavirus forced Sunak to rip up his Budget script and improvise, but there were plenty of tax policies for the team to dissect.
The biggest surprise was that entrepreneurs’ relief survived what was thought to be certain death – albeit with a significant cap. The team also compare their Budget notes and talk about the kite flying policies that didn’t make Sunak’s speech.
For more information, go to this link on AccountingWEB: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep60-budget-2020-special
On this special Accounting Excellence podcast, we’re joined by Alastair Barlow, the co-founder of triple award winner practice flinder.
Last year, flinder swept the board at the Accounting Excellence Awards, picking up the new firm of the year, fast-track firm of the year and innovative firm of the year.
In this podcast, host Richard Hattersley and PracticeWeb’s Zoe Sweet discover the secret behind flinder’s Accounting Excellence success.
In addition to learning flinder’s secret sauce, you’ll also learn the benefits of becoming an award-winning firm and some tips for crafting your award entry.
This year the Accounting Excellence Awards has three new categories, including bookkeeper of the year, sole practitioner of the year and digital firm of the year. You have until 31 March to enter these categories along with the returning categories such as small firm of the year, medium firm of the year and large firm of the year.
To find out more information on the awards categories and how to nominate your firm, head to the Accounting Excellence website: https://www.accountingexcellence.co.uk/enter-the-awards/
On this week’s No Accounting for Taste, AccountingWEB’s editorial team is joined by the co-founder of flinder Alastair Barlow to discuss the role of a CFO, M&S, the coronavirus and the Budget.
Who would have thought we’d be talking about a new Chancellor on this week’s No Accounting for Taste podcast? As well as Rishi Sunak's first week in Number 11, we'll discuss the latest off-payroll reforms, disciplinary news and the art of rebranding your firm.
It’s all about name changes on this week’s podcast. Up first we have accountant Tessa Hebditch from Balanced Finance who has recently rebranded her firm. She discusses the process she underwent in renaming her firm and the reasons why.
PracticeWeb’s Ray Newman also stops by the pod booth to offer his expertise for those thinking of adding a fresh coat of paint to their practice’s brand. But Hebditch is not the only one to have undergone a name change, the Chancellor has too.
On the last episode, the editorial team swapped Budget rumours, but no one could have predicted that we’d be starting the show this week by talking about a new Chancellor and almost another delay to the Budget.
Our keen Budget watchers look back over the shocking news from this past week and predict what this could mean for the Budget. But whether the off payroll reforms in the private sector make an appearance in Rishi Sunak’s Budget is uncertain. Then, the pod team discuss the recent House of Lords subcommittee's IR35 evidence hearing and wonder whether businesses will be ready for the reforms come April.
The AccountingWEB editorial team has Budget fever on this week’s edition of No Accounting for Taste.
It’s fair to say there is only one story that is dominating accountancy offices up and down the country. It is, of course, self assessment season.
It is little over a week before the 31 January deadline day and whilst AccountingWEB readers seem as if they are coping gallantly under the pressure, there have been a few hiccups along the way.
AccountingWEB’s head of insight John Stokdyk reviews a somewhat eventful season on the tech side of things, especially for those unable to file returns on the last day of the quarter.
PracticeWeb’s editor Ray Newman also stops by the pod booth, bringing with him the latest insights from small businesses. What’s clear from the report is that accountants have a role to play in helping them manage their day-to-day worries, stresses and experiences.
The first No Accounting for Taste podcast of 2020 attempts to find the positive from tax return season, along with the usual news from the world of accountancy.
Here on the No Accounting for Taste podcast, we don’t want to dwell on the negativity of tax return season. Oh no! Surely you, dear listener, don’t need us to remind you of the stress that January brings a number of you. Instead, we’re going to focus on the positives.
Appropriately then, our guest on the podcast is someone who has endured eight self assessment seasons during her time in practice and has survived to tell her tale. Friend of the podcast and former practice owner Della Hudson stops by the pod booth and finds the positives to spin out of every accountant’s annual headache.
For full details on this week's podcast visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep55-why-self-assessment-season-isnt-that-bad
Recorded on the day of the Conservative Party’s landslide general election victory, the AccountingWEB team spend the final No Accounting for Taste of 2019 discussing what the result will mean for accountants and their clients.
While political commentators are still talking about the scale of victory, here at AccountingWEB we want to know what the Conservative Party’s handsome majority means for the accountancy profession.
Host Richard Hattersley is joined by two seasoned Westminster watchers in AccountingWEB’s editor Tom Herbert and PracticeWeb’s head of content Ray Newman to flick through the Conservative manifesto and see what tax policy changes may be in store.
For full details on this week's podcast visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep54-the-implications-of-the-election-for-accountants
As we move into tax season, the second part of this podcast series on client collaboration examines how accountants can work more efficiently with their clients in the run-up to the 31 January deadline.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s an accountant. Grab your cape because on this week’s show we debate how, or if, accountants can truly save the world.
Joining host Richard Hattersley to debate how the profession can bring about change are tax titan Rebecca Cave, the site's very own head of insight John Stokdyk, and AccountingWEB's editor Tom Herbert.
For full details on this week's podcast visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep53-how-accounting-can-change-the-world
This week's No Accounting for Taste comes from Xerocon, where the big news included the rollout of Xero's corporation tax and accounts production tool in March 2020 and a raft of product announcements tooled around cashflow and data management.
Joining AccountingWEB editor Tom Herbert to review the news are director of Avery Martin Glenn Martin and the site's very own head of insight John Stokdyk.
To read the best news and reaction from Xerocon 2019 visit AccountingWEB's dedicated page: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/xerocon-2019
This week’s No Accounting for Taste sees the team examine the fallout from the latest IR35 upper tribunal decision, ponder the ethics of the profession and talk Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden.
Host Richard Hattersley and editor Tom Herbert welcome two guests to the AccountingWEB podbooth.
Up first is Tessa Hebditch. Tessa has carved a niche under the moniker of ‘the Ethical Accountant’. We’re also joined by Richard Hepburn, who is the operations manager at Gorilla.
Recorded live from the HQ of triple Accounting Excellence award winners flinder, this week’s No Accounting for Taste podcast discusses the importance of having a growth mindset when growing a firm and the usual news from the world of accounting.
To celebrate the 50th edition of No Accounting for Taste, the AccountingWEB podteam – Richard Hattersley and Tom Herbert – left the comforts of their Bristol podbooth and travelled to flinder HQ, which sits in the shadow of London’s Shard.
Flinder’s head honcho Alastair Barlow welcomed the team into his office and of course showed off his three Accounting Excellence awards. Ah yes, the awards. Many have questioned what it takes to win just one accounting award. So in this podcast, Barlow reveals the secret sauce behind his firm’s hat trick at last month’s awards bash. Also stopping by the office was Eriona Bakrakurtaj, the managing director of Majors Accounts. Both Alastair and Eriona are proponents of having a growth mindset and attribute this in part to their firm’s success.
Aside from the Carol Dweck name dropping, the pod quartet also discusses the week’s accounting news which covers everything from wellbeing and anxiety to the troubles at debt-riddled Pizza Express before finishing with some IR35 chat.
In the first of a two-part podcast series on client collaboration, AccountingWEB and Thomson Reuters examine the accountant-client relationship, including how it’s changed in recent years and the part that technology has played in this process.
On this week’s No Accounting for Taste, we find out how new firms are navigating the pressures and responsibilities of running their own practice, as AccountingWEB launches the Class of 2019.
Ten years have passed since AccountingWEB last surveyed the new firm landscape. Back then The Class of 2009 came out of the ashes of the financial crisis. Accountancy firms had scaled back their recruitment and training programmes. But new technology empowered these accountants to go it alone.
At that point the profession was just beginning to explore the cloud. Since then, online accounting has gone mainstream. So what big trend is just around the corner that is inspiring 2019’s new firms?
To discuss these game-changing trends such as fintech and social media, host Richard Hattersley is joined by a new generation of start-up practices. Let us introduce you to the Class of 2019
The tumultuous times we're experiencing present a particular dilemma for accountants: if they see that a client's business may be affected by Brexit do they advise them accordingly and risk alienating and potentially losing them, or keep their head down and avoid potential confrontation?
Tackling this noodle-scratcher with AccountingWEB editor Tom Herbert this week are Nigel Harris, partner at south west firm Burton Sweet and Della Hudson, author of best-selling business book 'The Numbers Business' and former practice owner.
For full details and links to all stories discussed in the podcast visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/practice/practice-strategy/no-accounting-for-taste-ep48-should-you-ever-talk-politics-with-clients
On this edition of No Accounting for Taste, a full-powered editorial team review the latest Making Tax Digital hijinks following the first submission and we also summon some the confidence to talk networking.
We’re good neighbours here on the No Accounting for Taste podcast. So when we heard PKF Francis Clark opened a new Bristol office, we did the neighbourly thing and invited its managing partner Mike Lea into the pod booth to talk all things accountancy.
Lea joined host Richard Hattersley and pod regulars Francois Badenhorst and Tom Herbert to discuss the last seven days in accountancy, including Making Tax Digital and penalties, SportsDirect and the quality of audits.
For links to all the stories featured and full show notes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/business/finance-strategy/no-accounting-for-taste-ep46-how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-audit
In the third and final episode of our ‘forward-looking finance leader’ podcast series, we take a close look at cybersecurity and the finance function’s role in keeping the business safe.
What can finance leaders do to insulate themselves, their team and the business at large from the threat of cybercriminals? We assembled three excellent guests on this podcast to find out:
- David Hawes, the finance director of Devon Air Ambulance
- Adam Harling, the founder and managing director of Netitude, a provider of cybersecurity and managed IT services
- Natalie Gwilt, the senior director of account management at SAP Concur
The podcast panel discussed the difference between whaling and phishing, the importance of people and training, the best IT policies for cybersecurity and the importance of culture in creating a secure business.
For full show notes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/business/finance-strategy/a-confluence-of-culture-and-tech-the-best-approach-to-cybersecurity
Data is the bedrock for modern accountancy and the firms that manage data best will prosper in the rapidly evolving digital marketplace.
Watch the webcast on-demand here: https://www.accountingexcellence.co.uk/july-2019-talks-sign-up-page/
This week’s No Accounting for Taste podcast finds out what SMEs really want from accountants, plus the usual news from the world of accounting including Brexit and the importance of delegation.
Host Richard Hattersley and business editor Francois Badenhorst welcome PracticeWeb's editor Ray Newman into the pod booth to look back at the last seven days in the world of accounting.
Ray is here to give us a sneak peek at PracticeWeb's new research. It reveals some fascinating insights into what SMEs want from accountants. You know what you were told about clients wanting a closer relationship with their accountant? Well, you might want to think again about that…
Also, Francois takes us through the latest guidance in the never-ending political soap opera known as Brexit. This week, HMRC releases a five-step guide in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
And just as the Brexit conundrum is being delegated from department to department and from prime minister to prime minister, the topic of delegation is also covered on the pod.
Tax specialist Rhys Jones joins the AccountingWEB team to talk the week in tax, the most productive time of day for accountants and whether flips flops are ever appropriate in the office.
For links to all stories mentioned in the pod and full show notes click here: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/practice/general-practice/no-accounting-for-taste-ep44-when-are-accountants-most-productive
This week’s podcast welcomes Ben Steele from 100% cloud firm Steele Financial into the pod studio to talk about increased client expectations in the digital age.
Following the June edition of the Accounting Excellence Talks, Nail your niche and fast-track your success - our panel answers the remaining questions that they didn't have time to cover during the broadcast in this podcast.
You can also watch the webcast on-demand here: https://www.accountingexcellence.co.uk/june-2019-talks-sign-up-page/
Can a machine really take care of your expenses? In the second episode of a three-part podcast series on the modern finance leader, a trio of tech-savvy professionals outline how the finance function stands to benefit from automation.
In association with SAP Concur, AccountingWEB business editor Francois Badenhorst is joined by three guests to discuss a practical, everyday vision for automation in the world of the finance professional.
For a list of guests and the full show notes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/business/finance-strategy/a-machine-did-my-expenses-how-automations-benefits-filter-throughout-the
Host Richard Hattersley is joined by AccountingWEB’s editorial team to discuss the top stories over the last seven days, including the news that accountancy’s professional bodies have branded unregulated agents “extraordinarily unfair” who are “probably not as concerned with PCRT rules”.
How does career progression happen? In the first episode of a three-part podcast series on the modern finance leader, an experienced panel of financial professionals look back at their own career paths and what they’ve learned along the way.
In association with SAP Concur, AccountingWEB business editor Francois Badenhorst is joined by three guests to discuss their own career trajectories, how demands change, what they’ve learned in the process and what they wish they knew while making the long march up the job ladder.
For the full show notes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/business/finance-strategy/from-accountant-to-cfo-and-beyond-practical-advice-on-climbing-the-career
On the No Accounting for Taste podcast this week, we find out why forecasts are always wrong, take a look at GDPR (was that really one year ago?) and analyse the cloud accounting marketplace as Intuit, Sage and Xero battle for dominance.
Host Richard Hattersley is joined by Business editor Francois Badenhorst and AccountingWEB’s editor Tom Herbert. AccountingWEB’s head of insight John Stokdyk stops by the pod studio to crunch the numbers released by the cloud software giants to determine who truly dominants the market.
This Accounting Excellence podcast explores what practitioners can do to embrace digitisation and automation and support their firm’s compliance, marketing and client experience.
To watch the webcast that is referred to on the show visit: https://www.accountingexcellence.co.uk/may-2019-talks-sign-up-page/
In this week’s No Accounting for Taste podcast we ask: when is a van actually a company car? What’s happening at Uber? And how do you cope with people? Plus the usual headlines and news, which this week includes a naughty celebrity accountant.
Host Richard Hattersley is joined in the AccountingWEB pod studio this week by John Stokdyk, Rebecca Cave and Francois Badenhorst.
For full show notes and links to all the stories featured visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tax/hmrc-policy/no-accounting-for-taste-ep40-why-are-company-cars-so-fiddly
*This is an updated version of the podcast, as an old version was uploaded in error. Our apologies.
This week the podcast was recorded live on stage at Accountex, where a panel of accounting superstars ran through their Accountex highlights and answered readers’ burning questions.
Joining host Tom Herbert at the docklands shindig were award-winning practice owners Kylie Fieldhouse and Sharon Pocock, accounting tech aficionado John Stokdyk and AccountingWEB legend and forensic accountant David Winch.
The format was similar to the regular shows, but with an Accountex twist! After running through the panellists’ Accountex 2019 headlines, and then for the second half the pod squad flung open the doors and answered readers’ questions on a variety of topics.
The full show notes for this week's podcast can be found here: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/practice/skills/no-accounting-for-taste-ep39-any-answers-answered-live-at-accountex
The No Accounting for Taste team attempt to find out what’s behind the tightening up of the AML rules and whether the government’s new naming and shaming initiative actually works.
This month we’ve seen the accountancy bodies slammed for their AML inaction, news of a hike in HMRC AML supervisor fees and HMRC taking a robust approach to MLR compliance.
Other big news this week comes from the high street health food chain Holland and Barretts who have been named and shamed by the government’s small business commissioner for its payment practices.
To examine these big stories, AccountingWEB’s editor and podcast host Tom Herbert is joined as usual by practice editor Richard Hattersley and business editor Francois Badenhorst.
This week they also welcome Rhys Jones, the tax director at the Gordon Dadds Group, to discuss the twin towers of tax and technology interact, and will this only increase in the future.
Later in the podcast, Tom catches up with Coconut founder Sam O’Connor to talk tech and the entrepreneurial accountant.
Don’t forget, we’ll be recording the pod live at Accountex on the 1st of May – our onstage debut! As well as the usual ramble through the world of accountancy, we’ll have some special guests. If you’re heading to the Excel then please come and find us – we’re on at the How to theatre at 3pm on day one.
As part of our occasional 'AccountingWEB meets' series of podcasts, we sat down with Robert Maas, the tax person's tax person.
Maas is one of the UK's leading experts on employment taxation, and he was awarded the lifetime achievement award at the Taxation Awards 2013.
His distinguished career has seen many changes, including the introduction of self assessment, where to draw media attention to the change he famously set alight a bonfire of paper tax returns outside Chartered Accountants’ Hall.
Speaking to AccountingWEB editor Tom Herbert back in 2018 at the offices of CBW Tax, where he now works as a consultant, Maas discussed his 50 years in tax, updating the penalties regime, HMRC's relationship with tax agents and, of course, Making Tax Digital.
Even accountancy is not safe from the complete chaos over in Westminster. The Loan Charge, MTD and Big Four audits have all felt the wrath of MPs this week.
On this week’s pod the AccountingWEB team will be asking: is the curtain coming down on HMRC’s loan charge, or will the pantomime continue for another season? Also, after a group of MPs recommended a Big Four audit break-up, is anything actually going to happen?
Joining pod host Tom Herbert at AWeb towers are John Stokdyk and Richard Hattersley, and the team also dial up Rebecca Cave in Milton Keynes and Francois Badenhorst in Las Vegas.
For details of all stories featured in the podcast click here for the full shownotes: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tax/hmrc-policy/no-accounting-for-taste-ep37-political-chaos-spreads-to-accountancy
The government’s flagship digital taxation policy is just days away from going live, but there are still many questions left unanswered. These range from the technical to the technological, and cover issues as diverse as workflows, digital records and unwilling clients.
On 26 March, AccountingWEB and Sage assembled a panel of experts to answer audience questions on the Making Tax Digital for VAT regime as part of a webcast and podcast.
Hosted by editor of the site Tom Herbert, the panel also featured Verna Gellvear from HMRC, Alison Parsons from Albert Goodman and Chris Downing from Sage.
The panel answered a selection of questions from the Any Answers forum before moving on to tackle live audience questions. These included queries on the best routes for clients looking to file themselves, reporting daily sales, dealing with Amazon and eBay clients and MTD, reference formats, and how partial VAT should be accounted for.
To listen to the podcast click play in the box above or below. To register to view the one-hour webcast click here to register: https://www.accountingexcellence.co.uk/talks/march-session/
On this week’s pod, the AccountingWEB team talk Lorraine Kelly and IR35, getting to your first £100,000, and making accountants digital.
Joining pod host Tom Herbert this week are Richard Hattersley, Francois Badenhorst and Rebecca Cave.
Details of all stories featured in today's pod can be found here: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/tech-pulse/no-accounting-for-taste-ep36-should-firms-microchip-their-staff
Following on from the first Accounting Excellence Talks session of 2019, Everything you need for Making Tax Digital in 2019 AccountingWEB’s head of insight John Stokdyk sat down with the panellists to discuss the unanswered questions from the webcast.
On this week’s No Accounting for Taste: the world’s largest weed business makes a dopey spreadsheet error, MTD bridging software, and tax-evading dogs.
Joining the podcast this week are tax titan Rebecca Cave, John Stokdyk, Richard Hattersley, Francois Badenhorst, and back in the host chair is editor Tom Herbert.
The AccountingWEB editorial team and a stellar line-up of accountants go beyond the QuickBooks Connect headlines and analyse the key themes from the event.
Joining AccountingWEB's Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk to ruminate over the event are Emma Chesson, head of online at Kreston Reeves, Fiona Frasier from Frasier +, Peter Jarman, the managing partner of PJCO, and Will Farnell from Farnell Clark.
You can find more information on the stories discussed here:
The advisory-compliance divide is much discussed in accountancy, but from where did it originate? And can you really separate the two in 2019?
The pod team welcomes Joe Gallard, former FD of Carwow and Gousto, for a look at an FD’s role in managing risk, especially as Brexit uncertainty clouds the economy.
For more on this week's episode and for all the links to the stories discussed, visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/business/finance-strategy/no-accounting-for-taste-ep33-how-to-risk-manage-brexit
This week the pod analyses KPMG's decision to close its small business accounting unit, asks if 'total flexibility' can solve accountancy's always-on crisis, and our software trendspotter brings you his spring buying tips.
Joining host Tom Herbert are podcast regulars Francois Badenhorst and Richard Hattersley, and in a rare guest appearance at AccountingWEB towers John Stokdyk joins the fray.
For links to all stories mentioned in the show visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/practice/practice-strategy/no-accounting-for-taste-e32-kpmg-exits-small-business-market
In this week's jam-packed episode the pod picks over accountants' self assessment nightmares, asks why rescuing Patisserie Valerie was no piece of cake and explores the world of rubbish robots.
Joining host Tom Herbert are pod regulars Richard Hattersley and Francois Badenhorst, and returning for a second visit is But the Books owner Zoe Whitman.
Zoe's practice has expanded rapidly since her last appearance, and she tells the team how she has managed this growth, systemised her practice and taken on new staff. She also discusses the benefits of being an award-winning firm, off the back of winning small firm of the year at the ICB's annual conference.
For full show notes visit https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/practice/practice-strategy/no-accounting-for-taste-e31-self-assessment-nightmares
The No Accounting for Taste team returns to discuss a bumper crop of stories from the past week including timesheets, whether you should submit a SARs, and digital till tampering.
Joining AccountingWEB editor and NAFT host Tom Herbert is editorial pod regulars Francois Badenhorst and Richard Hattersley.
For the full shownotes to the podcast click here: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/practice/general-practice/no-accounting-for-taste-ep30-have-accountants-called-time-on-timesheets
With the curtain about to fall on another eventful year in accountancy, the podcast team bring 2018's biggest headlines (and a few of their lesser-known favourites) to the end-of-year party.
For this round-up of the year in accountancy, podcast host Tom Herbert was joined by Francois Badenhorst, Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk, and the show was edited and produced by Valme Claro.
If you'd like more information on any of the stories discussed here is a link to the full show notes: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/tech-pulse/no-accounting-for-taste-ep29-the-accounting-year-in-review-2018
In this special edition of the Accounting Excellence podcast Tom Herbert and John Stokdyk discuss the trends and winners from this year's Awards, in the company of Della Hudson of Hudson Business Advice and Glen Collins from the ACCA.
The AccountingWEB team reviews this month’s disciplinary orders and asks a larger question about how accountants can manage their online reputation.
Plus, the team unpicks the Lord’s report on HMRC’s “pernicious” 2019 loan charge and asks when does a sales invoice become a valid legal document?
Joining Tom Herbert this week are practice correspondent Richard Hattersley and Sift portfolio finance director Mike Copping. Thanks also to Valme Clare for her podcast production expertise.
The answer to Neil Warren's VAT teaser is c) when the invoice is given to the customer :-)
For the full shownotes visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/practice/general-practice/podcast-naughty-accountants-special
In a packed episode the AccountingWEB podcast team tackle the compliance-advisory debate, find out what happens when tax and Brexit collide, and John Stokdyk rounds up a busy conference season.
In recent years compliance for accounting firms has taken a bit of a beating. Routinely pronounced dead at conferences, in social media posts, or any gathering where an accountant is in earshot. The message that accountants should develop advisory services or suffer a similar fate tends to follow close behind.
However, with Making Tax Digital on the horizon and the big accounting software players massing in the compliance market, the pod squad discuss whether we’re now seeing a compliance comeback, and what this means for advisory in the accountancy world.
Joining pod host Tom Herbert this week is tax writer Rebecca Cave, accounting tech titan John Stokdyk, and AccountingWEB’s very own practice correspondent Richard Hattersley.
Enjoy the podcast and if you'd like more information on the topics discussed here is the link to the shownnotes:
https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/tech-pulse/no-accounting-for-taste-ep27-compliance-rides-again
AccountingWEB's editor Tom Herbert is joined by Mark Purdue from Thomson Reuters and Nigel Burton from Burton Sweet to discuss what this year's budget means for accountants.
In a week saturated by wall-to-wall Budget analysis, the pod decided to wash its hands of Hammond's fiscal fiddling and look at what else has been happening in the accounting world.
Topics up for discussion included whether accountants should wade into the murky waters of app advisory, confusing accountancy institute fines, Open Banking, and an introduction to the world of the portfolio finance director.
The No Accounting for Taste team welcomes not one but two guests to the pod this week. Returning to the panel is seasoned pod veteran and Burton Sweet partner Nigel Harris, and the team also welcomed debutant Mike Copping. Mike is part-time finance director at Sift, AccountingWEB's parent company, and holds several other FD positions in the role of 'portfolio finance director'.
Enjoy the podcast and if you'd like more information on the topics discussed click here: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/tech-pulse/no-accounting-for-taste-ep26-should-accountants-be-app-advisers
After months of waiting, the Making Tax Digital for VAT pilot has finally opened to half a million business. In the podcast we'll be looking at the latest developments and deferments, and asking what it means in practice for accountants.
The No Accounting for Taste team was not short of topics after Making Tax Digital, Brexit, and of course, the Budget dominated the news this week.
Pod regular Della Hudson joins the No Accounting for Taste podcast team to discuss mental health in the profession, the cashless economy and her new book.
For the shownotes and links to all the stories mentioned visit https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/tech-pulse/no-accounting-for-taste-ep24-mental-health-in-accountancy
New practice director Katie Bladen joins the No Accounting for Taste podcast to discuss making partner and the latest news, including the Labour Party conference and the Accounting Excellence awards.
Are you really AML compliant? In this podcast, esteemed AccountingWEB member David Winch and AML expert Richard Simms review the recent AML changes and explain how you can strengthen your compliance.
On this week’s No Accounting for Taste, Jen Gerrard from charity-focused firm Gerrard Financial stops by the pod to discuss why she went down the charity niche, the thorny issue of pricing and whether the four day week really is possible.
We are just five months away from the Making Tax Digital for VAT deadline so it's not surprising that the latest Accounting Excellence webcast saw lots of questions on this subject. Foremost in most viewers minds were calls for information on spreadsheets and bridging software as well as confirmation of exactly what HMRC require as part of the digital submission and queries about the MTD pilot.
SHOW NOTES Sage has compiled an MTD toolkit covering everything from email templates and information guides to excel toolkits to help to segment information to help you navigate the massive legislation change. Get your toolkit here: https://my.sage.co.uk/public/help.aspx#/accountant/support/mtd/category/mtd
Sign up to see the full webcast on demand: www.accountingweb.co.uk/resources/on-demand-webcast-how-to-solve-a-problem-like-mtd
Click here for more about MTD: www.accountingweb.co.uk/tags/making-tax-digital
As the end of the 9 - 5 working day means longer hours for many, the No Accounting for Taste team discusses the impact burnout culture and stress has had on accountants, alongside the latest headlines.
Confronted with an abundance of compliance deadlines such as GDPR and MTD, it is essential for accountants in practice to have formulated a risk management strategy to comply with these legislations.
With the shadow of GDPR still looming large, and not least the unknown commodity known as Brexit, Lucy Cohen and Olly Evans discuss how they went about understanding their strengths and weaknesses and how the actions they learned from this will feed into their risk management plans.
This week a packed pod tackles the ever-present threat of accountant burnout, examines the GDPR implications of HMRC’s Voice ID scheme and offers a sneak preview of the Autumn Budget.
In the company of tax writer Rebecca Cave, AccountingWEB’s head of insight John Stokdyk and practice correspondent Richard Hattersley, pod host Tom Herbert runs through the stories making the headlines in accountancy this week.
Practice owner Zoe Whitman joins the AccountingWEB podcast to talk about finding her first clients, starting a practice, networking, and the latest headlines.
Later in the podcast, AccountingWEB's global editor John Stokdyk beams in from his Brighton HQ to give the lowdown on Xero's $70m acquisition of HubDoc.
In the latest Accounting Excellence Talks podcast host Richard Hattersley takes us through questions from the Accounting Excellence webcast, first aired on July 18. He's joined by Receipt Bank Account Manager Mike Phillips as well as accountants Simon Kallu and Nikki Adam whose firms have numerous awards and nominations in the name of client service under their belts.
You can view on demand webcast now by going to https://www.accountingexcellence.co.uk/july-session/
This week the AccountingWEB pod squad looked at the government's Making Tax Digital for VAT notice, robot taxes, holidays during peak season and meaty expense claims, along with a quick run through this week’s headlines in accountancy.
For the show notes and links to all the stories mentioned in the podcast, visit the podcast page on the site: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/tech-pulse/no-accounting-for-taste-ep18-mtd-robots-and-holidays
This week's podcast covers a broad sweep of stories from across the world of accounting, including disciplinaries, spreadsheet best practice, blockchain, landlines and whether it's acceptable to wear shorts in the office.
For the show notes and links to all the stories mentioned in the podcast, visit the podcast page on the site: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/tech-pulse/no-accounting-for-taste-ep17-trends-landlines-and-shorts
In the latest On Compliance podcast Tom Herbert talks to David Smith, Director of Assurance and Financial Reporting Content from Mercia Group and Briony Kempton, Product Manager, Thomson Reuters Digita, Accounts Production Advanced from Thomson Reuters about updates to FRS 105 legislation.
Following on from this months' Accounting Excellence Talks webcast, You've done cloud, now what?, Tom Herbert sat down with the panellists to discuss the unanswered questions from the interactive Q&A section. The panel also delve a little deeper into their own experiences with acclimatising clients to the cloud as well as how they've created opportunities for better client relationships and capitalised on the efficiencies cloud software offers.
View the whole webcast at www.accountingexcellence.co.uk/talks/june-session
It's episode 16! And as Tom points out in this week's show, the podcast is now old enough to buy a pack of smokes, get a railcard or drive a moped.
But burgeoning adolescence aside, this week's episode focuses on the notoriously tricky terrain of startups and scale-ups.
Our special guest is Stuart Budd, the commercial director of FD Works, a Bristol-based accounting firm that specialises in helping entrepreneurial businesses.
Enjoy the podcast, and if you’d like more information on the topics discussed jump over to AccountingWEB.co.uk for the latest: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/business/finance-strategy/no-accounting-for-taste-ep16-viability-scale-ups-and-toys
In part two of this GDPR special editor Tom Herbert speaks to Ian Cooper, Product Manager at Thomson Reuters to get a flavour of the post-GDPR deadline accountancy space.
After last episode's Accountex field trip, No Accounting for Taste returns to the comforting warmth of AccountingWEB's Bristol HQ.
And this week's episode has it all: video marketing, the future of cash, and some nerdy metric chat.
Following a busy May Accounting Excellence Talks webcast, John Stokdyk sat down with the panel to take a deeper look at the questions from the webcast around MTD
GDPR data rules are now enforceable, but how prepared are accountants and what should they do to remain compliant?
Listen to the podcast and find out what accounting firms have done to prepare for the regulation, and measures they can take to ensure compliance in the future.
Recorded at Accountex 2018, this podcast features employment law expert Annabel Kaye and practice owner Matt Portte.
Thanks to Thomson Reuters for supporting this podcast.
The No Accounting for Taste team hit the road again, this time to broadcast live from Accountex 2018 in London’s docklands.
This week the pod squad discussed the government’s IR35 consultation for the private sector, assessed IRIS’s acquisition of Taxfiler, caught up with Dominic Allon from QuickBooks to find out what the big brands get from events such as Accountex, and held a lens to the issue of equality in accountancy.
Joining the pod team this week was Elaine Clark, MD director of cheap accounting and founder of women in accountancy and Bobby Chadha, senior manager at Propel by Deloitte, along with pod regulars Richard Hattersley and Tom Herbert.
What will become of George Osborne’s digital dream? A statement from HMRC confirmed last week that the tax authority has had to shuffle the pack and prioritise key Brexit projects at the expense of its digital taxation transformation programme.
To discuss the details and what this could mean for accountants was a full cast of AccountingWEB editors, including global editor John Stokdyk and tax editor Rebecca Cave.
With two weeks before the great and the good of accountancy descend on London’s docklands for Accountex, the team also discussed the merits (or otherwise) of trade shows.
Finally, the pod looked at how to tackle the scourge of unproductive meetings, following Tesla founder Elon Musk’s pronouncement that employees should just get up and walk out if they’re not getting value from office gatherings.
Have spreadsheets had their day? Xero’s Gary Turner joins the AccountingWEB editorial team to discuss this as well as public speaking and the age-old battle: Windows vs Mac.
AccountingWEB's Practice correspondent Richard Hattersley is joined by a panel of leading tech-first accountants to discuss the inner workings of their firms.
The panel: Alex Falcon, CEO and founder, Soaring Falcon Accountancy Mike Hutchinson, Founder, The Peloton Olly Evans, Director, Evans & Partners
This podcast is a follow up to the Accounting Excellence Talks: Secrets of tech-firm firms session on Thursday 19th April and covers questions posted by the audience.
Click here to watch the full broadcast on-demand: https://www.accountingexcellence.co.uk/april-session/
Many have predicted that Open Banking will have a profound effect on the way accountants do their jobs, but what form will this take?
Our expert panellists discuss some of the fundamental questions around this shift, including how Open Banking will affect the way firms are run, client risk profiles and whether the banking space risks turning into a tech wild west.
This week accountant and business coach Carl Reader joins the podcast to chew over the FRC's crackdown on ‘seriously poor’ audit practices from the Big Four, how small practitioners are reacting to the government’s Making Tax Digital scheme and what the ubiquitous term ‘advisory services’ means for accounting practices.
This week the No Accounting for Taste team look at the latest IR35 tax case, an argument over what constitutes ‘advice’, the government’s big fintech conference and whether accountants should aspire to emulate Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial mindset.
Joining AccountingWEB editor Tom Herbert to tackle the week’s news in accounting were Richard Hattersley and Francois Badenhorst.
AccountingWEB's Business editor Francois Badenhorst is joined by VAT expert Neil Warren, SAP Concur's Senior director Tim Page and Senior development manager Brendin Cohen to answer your VAT reclaim questions.
Welcome to the ‘On Compliance’ podcast from AccountingWEB, where we discuss the various compliance challenges facing accountants in 2018.
This month the podcast panel of experts look at the tax implications of Chancellor Philip Hammond's Spring Statement.
Joining AccountingWEB editor Tom Herbert this month is Chas Roy-Chowdhury, head of taxation at ACCA global, Mark Purdue, product manager - tax products at Thomson Reuters, and Alan Soady from the Federation of Small Businesses.
This week the pod tackles ethics in the profession, the thorny issue of EBITDA, Ken Dodd’s inheritance tax and the Chancellor’s Spring Statement.
A stellar panel of accountants joined the AccountingWEB podcast team at QuickBooks Connect to discuss the biggest stories in accountancy this week.
Up for discussion this time around were whether directors with no income need to file tax returns, which flavours of Nesquik attracted a zero VAT rating, and what had caught the accountants' eye at the event.
Welcome to the new ‘On Compliance’ podcast from AccountingWEB, where we discuss the various compliance challenges facing accountants in 2018.
We’re kicking off the series with a GDPR special, where we ask how prepared accountants are for the new regulation, what firms can do to make a start and how they can turn its introduction into an opportunity.
Joining AccountingWEB editor Tom Herbert this month is Matt Portt, accountant and owner of Portt and Co, Ian Cooper, product manager - non-tax products at Thomson Reuters, and Jez John, managing director from Webstars.
Small businesses have plenty to think about in today's current economic climate, and while changes such as the government's Making Tax Digital scheme, IR35 and dividend allowance reductions play a part in this, tax is often not at the forefront of owners' minds.
This first Accounting Excellence podcast aims to help accountants tackle these tricky tax issues and stay ahead of legislative changes,
To do this, AccountingWEB editor Tom Herbert is joined by Fiona Fraser, Nick Williams and John Stokdyk. To watch the webcast that is referred to on the show visit: https://www.accountingexcellence.co.uk/february-session/?utm_source=accountingweb&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=podcast_february
This week Della Hudson joins the pod to discuss the sale of her practice, as well as a host of other topics, including Oxfam, audits and sweary accountants…
Joining the No Accounting for Taste team this week is Nigel Harris, a partner from Burton Sweet. For someone who has just completed the annual busy season sprint finish, Nigel was a game guest. He needed to be, as our show this week veered wildly between accounting's diversity problems, Apple's taxes, self-assessment season, cryptocurrency and, for the first time, feedback corner.
Apologies also for the gull noises in the background. We were in a hot office in Bristol with the window open, not at the seaside!
The fallout from Carillion's collapse headlines this week's podcast but there are plenty of other stories for the editorial team to chew over, including Brexit and client chasing during the busy self assessment season.
Joining Tom Herbert on this week's pod are Francois Badenhorst and Richard Hattersley.
Happy New Year! In the first No accounting for taste podcast of 2018, the AccountingWEB editors are joined by Alice Neal from PracticeWEB to delve into the latest news.
Making the headlines this week, business editor Francois Badenhorst discusses the latest Open Banking news, practice correspondent Richard Hattersley reviews how accountants are coping with the January rush and PracticeWEB’s Alice Neal looks at what the profession can expect from the year ahead.
And making her podcast debut, Valme Claro takes a spin through the Industry Insight page.
Today, 21 December that is, might be the darkest day of the year, but it's brightened somewhat by the release of the latest episode of 'No accounting for taste'.
This week, the usual cast of characters are joined by AccountingWEB's paterfamilias John Stokdyk. We cast an eye over the year's top accounting stories.
If you like what you hear and you'd like more news and analysis from the AccountingWEB team, then swing on by: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/
As we move into December and all thoughts turn to Christmas, or self assessment season, depending on your disposition, here at AccountingWEB we thought we’d use this last MTD podcast of the year to round up the last 12 months in the world of Making Tax Digital and look ahead to 2018 and a crucial, some might say pivotal year for the project.
Joining AccountingWEB editor Tom Herbert this month are Paul Aplin, tax partner at AC Mole and Son and deputy president of the ICAEW, Mark Purdue, product manager, tax at Thomson Reuters, and Brian Palmer, tax policy expert at the AAT.
The podcast for accountants is back! This week the pod gets to grips with bitcoin regulation, tax tables, skills shortages and termination payments.
AccountingWEB's Tom Herbert and Francois Badenhorst are joined by Matt Portt, owner of Portt & Co accountants, and Alice Neal, editor at PracticeWEB.
Budget chat, VAT and Doc Brown references: our new, fortnightly editorial podcast has it all!
We take a whistle-stop tour through all the measures that matter from Philip Hammond's second Budget as Chancellor, and discuss whether there should actually be a Budget at all...
In this episode, AccountingWEB editor Tom Herbert is joined by business editor Francois Badenhorst and practice correspondent Richard Hattersley.
This month the AccountingWEB Making Tax Digital podcast discussed progress on the MTD legislation, spreadsheets, HMRC webinars and progress on the pilot scheme.
Joining AccountingWEB editor Tom Herbert on the podcast were ACCA’s Jason Piper, Thomson Reuters’ Mark Purdue and Gary Jacobs from Eazitax.
The government has finally released draft regulations which provide the operational machinery of Making Tax Digital for income tax and for VAT.
While they have provided welcome detail for business and accountants left in legislation limbo by the events of the past few months, they have also raised plenty of questions.
Joining AccountingWEB editor Tom Herbert to discuss the regulations are AccountingWEB’s consulting tax editor Rebecca Cave and Mark Purdue, Product Manager – Tax at Thomson Reuters.
Joining the pod this month to discuss Making Tax Digital's new-found emphasis on VAT are Margaret Curran, Technical Officer from the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Gary Jacobs, director of accountancy practice Eazitax, and Thomson Reuters’ Product Manager – Tax, Mark Purdue.
The rise of Fintech and alternative sources of lending presents an opportunity. Anil Stocker and Bobby Lane discuss how accountants can capitalise and what the future holds for this trend.
After a long period of uncertainty, last week saw the government confirm a revised roadmap for its Making Tax Digital project, with the requirements for digital quarterly reporting being stripped back to cover only VAT.
Joining AccountingWEB editor Tom Herbert to react to the news are Andrew Hubbard from taxation magazine, the ACCA's Jason Piper, Rebecca Cave and Thomson Reuters’ Mark Purdue.
California-based accountant Geni Whitehouse shares her unique world view with AccountingWEB's John Stokdyk at the Accelerate 2017 conference in Las Vegas
The policy holiday surrounding taxation has been extended by the general election result on 8 June. This month's MTD podcast presents a progress check and considers the implications of all this uncertainty for HMRC's digital tax project.
The latest Making Tax Digital podcast tackles rumours and myths surrounding the government’s digital taxation project. Joining AccountingWEB’s business editor Tom Herbert for this episode are the site’s global editor John Stokdyk and Mark Purdue from Thomson Reuters.
Joining the AccountingWEB podcast to tackle the launch of the pilot scheme and the impact of the snap election are Rebecca Cave, Mark Purdue and Gary Turner.
AccountingWEB dusts off its occasional 'in conversation with' series to speak with former BBC economics editor Stephanie Flanders, now chief market strategist at JP Morgan Chase. Flanders discusses the Budget, corporation tax and national insurance.
The Spring Budget saw Chancellor Philip Hammond announce a one year deferral of Making Tax Digital (MTD) obligations for smaller unincorporated businesses and landlords until April 2019.
While the move was broadly welcomed by businesses, accountants and representative bodies, what do the government's concessions actually mean, and how much of a relief are they actually going to be?
Joining the AccountingWEB podcast to get to grips with the announcements are Paul Aplin, tax partner at AC Mole and Son, AccountingWEB global editor John Stokdyk and Mark Purdue, Product Manager - Tax Products at Thomson Reuters.
We are also joined by Matt Flanagan, managing director at cloud transformation firm BlueHub, who will be outling what firms are (and should be) doing to prepare for MTD.
Join AccountingWEB's panel of experts to dissect the Chancellor's first (and last) Spring Budget, with measures including a delay to MTD, a rise in Class 4 NICs and a cut in the dividend allowance.
With the latest consultation responses for HMRC's digital taxation plans released, AccountingWEB is joined by Paul Aplin, tax partner at AC Mole and Son, AWEB’s own global editor John Stokdyk, and Mark Purdue, Product Manager - Tax Products at Thomson Reuters to ask what they mean, what questions remain, and what happens next.
Ahead of a Lords committee hearing on 6 February 2017, tax campaigner and City University professor Richard Murphy briefs AccountingWEB on his analysis of HMRC's cost figures for the Making Tax Digital project.
Looking to move on your accounting career in 2017? AccountingWEB talks to recruitment specialist Simon Gray to find out how.
AccountingWEB's business editor Tom Herbert is joined by Hazel Moore, chair and co-founder of international investment bank First Capital to discuss the future of banking.
In the latest podcast AccountingWEB's business editor Tom Herbert is joined by a panel of tax experts to discuss how tax can be used to heal the divisions in the UK.
AccountingWEB’s managing editor Robert Lovell speaks with Construction Industry Scheme expert Howard Royse about CIS, recent changes to the scheme and how the government’s digital plans may affect it.
AccountingWEB's business editor Tom Herbert turns the focus on how technology is changing the business of accountancy.
John Stokdyk, Mark Wickersham and Ron Baker join AccountingWEB's business editor Tom Herbert to take on the perennial hot potato that is pricing.
In the first of a new series of podcasts Tom Herbert speaks to HMRC’s Oliver Fisher, Rebecca Benneyworth and the AccountingWEB team to discuss and analyse the government’s digital tax plans. This podcast is supported by Sage.
Versage Institute founder and value pricing evangelist Ron Baker shares his thoughts following a panel discussion on 'The Future of Professions' at the Sage Summit in Chicago, 25 August 2016.
AccountingWEB’s business editor Tom Herbert speaks to Karen Briggs, KPMG’s new head of Brexit, about forecasting in uncertain times, what the firm is advising their clients and what a head of Brexit actually does...
Ahead of the EU referendum next month, AccountingWEB's business editor Tom Herbert chats to John Longworth, the business head of Vote Leave, about the myths and facts of Brexit.
After the Chancellor's Ides of March Budget, the AccountingWEB team and their merry band of experts analyse the fallout.
After some great success at Xerocon 2015 award ceremony, John Stokdyk catches up with Nick Houldsworth to find out more about them.
AccountingWEB members give their views on the Scottish independence debate, including the Flying Scotsman and Stuart Pringle. Do you agree?
The Tolley's director shares a few thoughts about the skills that practitioners will need to navigate their firms through 2015.
An overview of what the Practice Excellence Programme is and a preview of what the MD of conference sponsor Xero will be discussing.
AccountingWEB's latest fortnightly podcast. Discussed this week is HMRC's direct recovery powers, the future of working together groups and our business planning series, complete with tips.
Aweb deputy editor Rob, community editor Rach and Anne Fairpo present the first ever Awebcast. On the agenda today: Icebreaker tax avoidance case, real time information reconciliations and an auto enrolment update, with some information about a mysterious phishing email targeting accountants from 'Julia'.