AccountingWEB

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...

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 Fut...

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-mark...

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’...

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...

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 ta...

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...

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...

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...

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 sh...

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...

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 Hattersl...

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...

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...

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...

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 tal...

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 HM...

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.accountingw...

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...

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...

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 employe...

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 HMR...