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Insights

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

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Behind the numbers

The professional pitfalls of social media

  • Podcast
  • ICAEW Insights
In this episode of Behind the Numbers, we discuss how professionals should approach social media.
Listen now

Latest news

Finance transformation: how to measure and improve
  • Article
  • 14 May 2025
Creating an action plan based on a gap analysis provides the foundation of a good finance transformation project. But without a solid plan for measuring and evaluating performance, it won’t deliver.
How to grow: mitigating rising employment costs
  • Article
  • 14 May 2025
Recent rises in employers’ National Insurance contributions and the national minimum wage have left businesses with very little room to pursue growth and innovation plans.
FCA seeks views on regulation of crypto activities
  • Article
  • 14 May 2025
Watchdog asks for stakeholders’ thoughts on proposals to regulate key areas of the UK crypto market, following publication of the government’s draft text for statutory legislation.

Latest tax news

Tax news in brief 13 May 2025
  • Article
  • 13 May 2025
Highlights from the broader tax news for the week ending 13 May 2025, including: tips from HMRC for completing the 2024/25 self assessment tax return; and a HMRC one-to-many campaign relating to research and development (R&D) tax relief.
Proposed HMRC powers are not in the public interest, says ICAEW
  • Article
  • 13 May 2025
ICAEW has warned that the government’s plans to tackle tax advisers facilitating non-compliance are poorly targeted and could adversely affect the operation of the tax advice and compliance market in the UK.
Transfer pricing rules to be reformed
  • Article
  • 12 May 2025
The government has said it intends to make various changes to the UK’s international tax rules, which includes narrowing the scope of the UK-UK transfer pricing rules and replacing the diverted profits tax.

Insights specials

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

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

Accounting Intelligence

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

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

Videos

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

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

Podcast episodes

The professional pitfalls of social media
  • Podcast
  • 29 Apr 2025
In this episode of Behind the Numbers, we discuss how professionals should approach social media.
Adapting post-tariffs, MTD at 10, UK GAAP changes
  • Podcast
  • 09 Apr 2025
In this episode, we discuss how the Trump administration’s tariffs will hamper the government’s growth plans, the progress made towards Making Tax Digital on its tenth birthday, and how changes to FRS 102 and 105 will affect the nation’s small businesses.
Happy birthday, HMRC
  • Podcast
  • 18 Mar 2025
In this episode, we have a report by Mark Rowland from the ’20 Years of HMRC’ event held on 11 March at Chartered Accountants’ Hall.

Charts of the week

A chart illustrating how the increase in the net debt to GDP ratio reflected an increase in the numerator from borrowing of 184% of GDP, partially offset by 42% of GDP from the ‘inflating away’ effect of economic growth and inflation on the denominator.
Chart of the week: End of the first quarter (century)
  • Article
  • 09 May 2025
Our chart this week marks the end of the first fiscal quarter of the 21st century on 31 March 2025 by comparing it with the previous four quarters in the 20th century.
chart of the week thumbnail image for 2 may 2025
Chart of the week: Canada’s trade with the US
  • Article
  • 02 May 2025
Our chart this week takes a look at trade between the US and Canada, a major factor in Canada’s recent general election.
chart of the week thumbnail image 25 April 2025
Chart of the week: One trillion pounds (almost)
  • Article
  • 25 Apr 2025
Our chart this week takes a look at how UK public sector net debt has increased from £1,816bn to £2,814bn over the past five years – an increase just £2bn short of £1tn.

Insights by topic

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