Accountingweb

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

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

Dan Neidle joins the AccountingWEB team on the podcast this week to discuss his recent investigation into Property118, the Autumn Statement and tax complexity. Dan is the founder of Tax Policy Associates, a not-for-profit company, that aims to improve tax and legal policy and public understanding of tax. Before his work with Tax Policy Associates, Dan spent almost 25 years as a tax lawyer. He joins the AccountingWEB airwaves to discuss his investigation into Property118, which he called at one point “the worst tax avoidance scheme ever”. And with the Autumn Statement around the corner, Dan gives his thoughts on some of the runners and riders rumoured for the big fiscal event. He also imagines if he was Chancellor for the day and reveals what he would announce if he was given the keys to Number 11. Discussion inevitably turns to tax complications and whether it is a case that the complications are inevitable (tax is complicated!) or that some of the complications are just unnecessary? Hosted by Rich

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

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

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 Hattersley Tom Herbert Richard Wil

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 pod Nicola Mason: Managing director at Point Accounting & Contractor Unlimited John 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-accountants Podcast 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 Hattersley Tom Herbert Lucy Cohen Rachel Harris Editor/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

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 yo

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 com

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 Hattersley Tom Herbert Jason Croke Producer/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-Da

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

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.