With Christmas round the corner, we’ve put together a special best of episode of Behind the Numbers, featuring some of the most memorable conversations from throughout the year.

In this episode, we rate the Budget against ICAEW’s ten tenets for a better tax system, focusing on the government’s decision to freeze the personal allowance and tax thresholds for an additional three years, the new tax on electric vehicles and changes to the NIC treatment of salary sacrificed pension contributions.

This episode is all about the Budget. What was in it? What are the implications? Was there anything positive to glean from it?

The Chancellor included two measures designed to encourage more UK listings and investment in UK public markets.

The Chancellor delivered a raft of small tax changes, rather than any big tax increases. But despite no increases in business taxes, the Budget offered few reasons to be cheerful.

In this episode of the ICAEW Student Insights podcast, host Jag Dhaliwal talks to two experts about the way we learn and how we can all make the most of our time taking in and retaining information.

Even at a relatively nascent stage, agentic AI is showing that it has the capability to revolutionise how finance professionals manage a range of important tasks.

This episode focuses on the integration of AI in audit processes, emphasising the need for practical guidance from the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to build industry confidence, especially with smaller firms.

In this episode of the ICAEW Student Insights podcast, host Orkhan Freeman explores what it’s like to be an accountant working in industry. This episode covers: • The relevance of the ACA qualification to training or working in industry. • The transferable skills between practice and industry roles. • Building relationships with colleagues outside of finance teams. • How to make an informed career move. Orkhan is joined in the studio by Amy Battrick, Management Accountant at EG Group; and Bronwyn Fitzgerald, Finance Team Manager at Gerald Edelman.

From April 2026, an estimated 864,000 sole traders and landlords will need to comply with Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax.

In this episode, we’re exploring just how useful generative AI (genAI) is when it comes to spreadsheets; what needs to happen by 18 November when it comes to Companies House ID verification; and how the OBR comes to its conclusions.

Academic Simon Thorne has assessed the effectiveness of several generative AI models in how they work with spreadsheets. Of the major platforms, the worst-performing may surprise you.

A leading cyber security expert presents a spotters’ guide of attacker types that businesses must defend themselves against.

In this episode, we discuss how prepared organisations really are for cyber attacks, what to do if and when your business is affected, and how to manage the communications challenges.

We’re all navigating uncertainty right now. How can accountants manage it professionally and personally? Riaz Shah OBE, former EY Partner and Professor of Practice at Hult International Business School, breaks down the biggest factors affecting the profession at the moment, and how it might shape the role and future of accountants.

In this episode of The Tax Track, we look ahead to the 2024/25 tax return season, highlighting areas to watch out for, and explain our concerns with draft legislation for Finance Bill 2025/26 that promises to make significant changes to the tax system, particularly for agents.

Senior figures at accountancy practices must clearly define the business problem that they want AI to solve and take a people-centric approach towards adopting the technology.

Nisha Sanghani, Partner and Head of Risk Advisory in the Middle East at Ashurst Risk Advisory, outlines how organisations can really create an ethical culture and not slip into box-ticking or slogans.

In this episode of the ICAEW Student Insights podcast, host Orkhan Freeman discusses the different career opportunities available in practice.

Two experts provide their thoughts on key considerations business leaders must have in mind when using AI to drive business transformation projects.