TOPIC
The new race to control accounting’s reporting layer
At a glance AI is accelerating the automation of routine accounting tasks. The focus is shifting from bookkeeping to reporting and forecasting. Conversational AI assistants are becoming the new user interface. The accountant's role could well shift to supervising...
Prepare for MTD now with the HMRC pilot
Image: "HMRC" by Steven Vacher licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. At a glance MTD ITSA begins in April 2026 for those with income over £50,000. HMRC...
The WH Smith Error: how revenue recognition may have humbled an icon
Image: "WH Smith" by Tiia Monto licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. At a glance WH Smith overstated earnings by £30m, causing its share price to fall...
Charge what you’re really worth: the experts’ advice on raising fees
At a glance Rising costs and compliance burdens can make fee increases crucial for firm sustainability. Calculate your costs and define your...
The UK has a regional inequality problem – levelling the playing field for entrepreneurs could help
Cities in north-east England such as Sunderland have fewer businesses per working-age population than cities in London and south-east England....
Why AI accountants can’t count. Yet.
LLM researchers have found that when asked to balance a set accounts, this generation of AI models slowly becomes less accurate over time. At a...
Recalc or die: the frenetic creation of Microsoft Excel
At a glance Electronic spreadsheets like VisiCalc and Lotus 1-2-3 automated centuries-old accounting methods. Microsoft created Excel to compete...
How AI may create a new accounting generation gap
At a glance AI may reduce jobs for young workers but increase them for experienced ones. This is because experience complements AI, which can...
A basic 5-point plan for better cybersecurity
At a glance Cybercriminals target accounting firms for their valuable client data and weak security. Breaches can lead to financial loss,...
How new tech may ease know-your-client compliance
At a glance KYC is a vital, mandatory risk management exercise for accounting firms. Technology is automating KYC processes, improving efficiency...
Britain’s tax gap: Why HMRC is focusing on small business in 2025-26
At a glance The small business tax gap is now the UK's largest - and it's growing. HMRC says 40% of small business corporation tax goes unpaid....
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