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On the first ever episode of The Audit Report – the podcast that looks at the factors shaping modern audit – we’re discussing the long-awaited consultation on Modernising Corporate Reporting.  The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade is consulting on what it should look like. What could it mean for auditors? Links ICAEW: Modernising Corporate Reporting survey - https://www.icaew.com/technical/corporate-reporting/improving-corporate-reporting/modernising-corporate-reporting/mcr-have-your-sayICAEW: Government consults on sweeping reforms to modernise corporate reporting - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/sep-2026/gov-consults-on-sweeping-reforms-to-modernise-corporate-reportingICAEW: Modernising Corporate Reporting hub - https://www.icaew.com/technical/corporate-reporting/improving-corporate-reporting/modernising-corporate-reportingICAEW: Beyond finance podcast - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcastICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord Host Alex Russell Guests David Smith, Director of Quality and Professional Standards at Kreston Global Matt Stroh, Audit Partner, Compliance and Ethics, for Azets Katharine Bagshaw, Senior Manager, Audit Standards at ICAEWProducer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 6 October Podcast recorded: 28 September

Cyber criminals spend much of their time working on identity theft. If you hold a responsible position in your organisation, they might very well be working on you. Or worse – they might be lurking in your smart coffee machine. Identity theft is now recognised as the best path to success for cyber criminals and with more and more information about ourselves and our organisations online, we make it easy for them.  So how can we identify the likely targets on our workplace teams and protect our businesses?  Links ICAEW: Cyber Security Awareness - https://www.icaew.com/technical/technology/cyber-security/cybercrime-awareness-monthHow identity fraud is changing in the age of AI - https://www.weforum.org/stories/artificial-intelligence/how-identity-fraud-is-increasing-in-the-age-of-ai/NCSC internet of things guidance - https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/advice-guidance/all-topics/internet-of-thingsICAEW CPD record - https://www.icaew.com/membership/cpd/online-cpd-recordHost Philippa Lamb Guests Kay Daskalakis, Senior Solutions Architect, SpecterOpsOli Venn, Watchguard Technologies Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 8 October Podcast recorded: 23 September

On 7 September, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey delivered a speech setting out his goals for the Budget, amid twitchiness in the bond markets. What did he hope to achieve, and what does it tell us about the Budget in October? We discuss the speech, the factors that are likely to shape the Budget, and what options the Chancellor has to encourage growth, balance tax and spend, and calm the markets. Transcript You can read the full transcript of this episode here -https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/behind-the-numbers/john-healeys-pre-budget-speech-what-does-it-tell-us/transcript Links John Healey’s speech - https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chancellor-john-healeys-growth-speech-2026The bond market shock and what it means for Andy Burnham - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/bond-markets-andy-burnham-budget-uk-b3043257.htmlJump in energy bills drives UK inflation to highest rate for four months - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdrv7jr8n74oStock up on food to prepare for extreme weather - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp931m8n3p5oICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecordHost Philippa Lamb Guests Frances Haque, Chief Economist, Santander UKDavid Wooding, Political commentator and former Sunday Express EditorSuren Thiru, Chief Economist, ICAEWProducer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 10 September Podcast recorded: 7 September

In this episode, we take a look at the government’s Fraud in the Digital Age report: what does it tell us about trends and what can businesses do to protect themselves? And with the first submissions deadline for Income Tax under the new Making Tax Digital system just passed - how did it go? We discuss the lessons learned for the next submission. Links ICAEW: HMRC to begin signing up taxpayers for MTD Income Tax - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/aug-2026/hmrc-to-begin-signing-up-taxpayers-for-mtd-income-taxICAEW: Tax Track Podcast: are you (and HMRC) ready for MTD? - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/the-tax-track/mtd-live-are-you-and-hmrc-ready-for-mtdICAEW: Making Tax Digital Hub - http://icaew.com/MTDReport Fraud - https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/Fraud in the Digital Age - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fraud-in-the-digital-ageICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecordHost Philippa Lamb Guests Katy Worobec, Fraud Prevention Consultant, A Jolly ConsultingLindsey Wicks, Senior Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 27 August Podcast recorded: 25 August

For Business, faraway wars feel way closer than they used to. In the current volatile geopolitical environment, businesses need to consider planning for these events. So in this episode, we run through such an exercise: what if Russia tests NATO resolve by firing on Poland and amassing troops near the region? We explore this hypothetical but increasingly plausible scenario in this episode.  Links Charles Hecker’s book - https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/zero-sum/US intel finds Putin could test NATO’s resolve with limited incursion - https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/u-s-intel-finds-putin-could-test-natos-resolve-with-limited-incursion-e3b02e2cAtlantic Council on likely Russian attack on NATO - https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/western-weakness-is-encouraging-putin-to-test-nato/Oakwood Risk Group - https://oakwoodriskgroup.com/ICAEW CPD record -  https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecordHost Philippa Lamb Guests Luke Blake, Founding Director, Business advisors Oakwood Risk GroupCharles Hecker, Geopolitical Risk Expert, Author of Zero Sum: The Arc of International Business In RussiaProducer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 19 August Podcast recorded: 28 July

In this episode, EY UK Digital Assurance Leader Richard Harrison joins us to talk about how the firm is using AI agents in audit. How do they divide tasks between people and tech?  And how are they understanding and mitigating risk? Then, Polly Tsang, ICAEW’s Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager tells us about Prediction Markets. While you may not have heard of them, they’re opening up a whole new market for Insider Traders. Polly explains how they work, where the risks lie and what needs to happen to minimise them. Links EY principles of responsible AI - https://www.ey.com/en_uk/insights/ai/principles-for-ethical-and-responsible-ai?channel=TxtV-BPrediction markets spark insider trading fears - https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/09/prediction-markets-spark-insider-trading-fears-how-firms-are-responding.htmlMicrosoft bans prediction markets - https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-prediction-markets-employee-policy-2026-7Prediction markets are minting a new type of insider trader - https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-polymarket-traders-who-knew-the-future/Google worker charged with using internal data to make $1.2m - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c052yv259jvoICAEW CPD record - https://www.icaew.com/membership/cpd/online-cpd-record Host: Philippa Lamb  Guests:   Richard Harrison, UK Digital Assurance Leader, EYPolly Tsang, ICAEW’s Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager Producer: Natalie Chisholm  Series Lead:  Mark Rowland  Episode first published: 4 August  Podcast recorded: 27 July

The question of whether an ‘AI bubble’ is going to burst doesn’t seem to be going away. There’s a compelling case to be made on both sides of the argument, with the growing demand for AI tools, and the huge amount of money and resources needed to deliver on that demand.  So what are the actual risks of an AI bubble, and what would that mean for the tools that businesses and firms are investing in right now? We interrogate the various indicators of whether there might be a bubble or not, and discuss the considerations and failsafes that businesses should consider when adopting AI software. Links Data centre planning policy - https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-10315/CBP-10315.pdf Gas use in data centres - https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/dramatic-increase-in-data-centre-developers-wanting-gas-grid-connections-21-04-2026/ Water use for data centres - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/688cb407dc6688ed50878367/Water_use_in_data_centre_and_AI_report.pdf AI company IPOs - https://www.blackrock.com/us/financial-professionals/insights/mega-ai-ipos-and-index-inclusion Increasing demand for AI – Forbes - https://www.forbes.com/advisor/uk/business/software/uk-artificial-intelligence-ai-statistics/ AI boom leaves data centre demand beyond supply - https://datacentrenews.uk/story/ai-boom-to-leave-data-centre-demand-far-above-supply ICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord Host Philippa Lamb Guests Tom Pugh, Chief Economist, RSM UK Tasmin Lockwood, tech and environment journalist Hothyfa Elbeera, Senior Software Engineer, Claimsgate, MoJ  Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland  Episode first published: 15 July Podcast recorded: 08 June

We’ll have a new PM soon, while the war in the Middle East rages on. Does this mean more uncertainty for businesses in the second half of 2026? ICAEW’s Chief Economist tries to predict what might happen next.  If that wasn’t enough, there’s a lot going on in tax at the moment, from MTD Income Tax to new agent registration rules and more tax changes than expected mid-year. Lindsey Wicks explains all the changes.  Finally, we get an insight from Junaidy Ab-Mutalib about the profession in Malaysia. What are the unique opportunities and challenges for the profession in the region? Links ICAEW: Suren Thiru on how US-Iran peace deal could influence UK’s economic outlook - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/jun-2026/suren-thiru-on-how-us-iran-peace-deal-could-influence-uk-economyICAEW: Significant changes announced at Tax Update 2026 - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jun-2026/significant-changes-announced-at-tax-update-2026ICAEW: HMRC sets timetable for agent multi factor authentication rollout - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jun-2026/hmrc-sets-timetable-for-agent-multi-factor-authentication-rolloutICAEW: HMRC publishes detailed guidance on mandatory tax adviser registration - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jun-2026/hmrc-publishes-detailed-guidance-on-mandatory-tax-adviser-registrationICAEW: MTD income tax and claims for averaging relief - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jun-2026/mtd-income-tax-and-claims-for-averaging-reliefICAEW: CPD record - https://www.icaew.com/membership/cpd/online-cpd-record Host Philippa Lamb Guests Suren Thiru, Chief Economist, ICAEWLindsey Wicks, Senior Tax Technical Manager, ICAEWJunaidy Ab-Mutalib, Managing Partner, JM & Co Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 1 July Podcast recorded: 26 June

Last year CEO pay rose 20 times faster than workers’ pay, according to new research from Oxfam and the International Trade Union Confederation. At the most extreme end of that pay scale, investors approved an executive package for Elon Musk worth a potential $1tn. So when does CEO pay become too high?  What are the commercial, ethical and cultural implications for organisations if they’re perceived to be over-paying their CEOs?  And as businesses compete globally for the best executive talent what can Boards do to keep pay packages in check? Links Top CEO pay statistics from Oxfam - https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/top-ceo-pay-increased-20-times-faster-workers-pay-2025ICAEW: Remuneration Committee ebooks - https://www.icaew.com/technical/corporate-governance/committees/remuneration-committees/remuneration-committee-ebooksICAEW: Guidance on remuneration - https://www.icaew.com/technical/corporate-governance/committees/remuneration-committeesICAEW: How a CEOs pay package influences corporate culture - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2025/apr-2025/how-a-ceos-pay-package-influences-corporate-cultureICAEW CPD record - https://www.icaew.com/membership/cpd/online-cpd-recordHost Philippa Lamb Guests Shefaly Yogendra, independent Board director, board adviser and author Peter van Veen, Governance and Ethics Director, ICAEW Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 17 June Podcast recorded: 11 May

The government has plans to tokenise financial markets. What exactly is tokenisation? What might it look like in practice and what are the big questions about it that still need answering? Polly Tsang, ICAEW’s Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager, explains. After that, audit reports: ICAEW has created the Auditor Reporting Lab, alongside audit firms, to encourage modernisation in the market. KPMG Partner in Professional Practice, Accounting & Reporting, Pamela Taylor, has been thinking hard about how to make them more useful and more user-friendly. This podcast counts towards your annual CPD – click the link below to log your time. Links ICAEW: What is tokenisation, and what are the challenges for accountants? - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/may-2026/what-is-tokenisation-and-the-challenges-for-accountantsGovernment tokenisation announcement - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-fintech-backed-to-embrace-future-payments-technologyFCA call for input on the future of tokenisation - https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/calls-input/future-tokenisation-joint-vision-authorities-uk-wholesale-marketsICAEW: Digital Assets Conference - https://www.icaew.com/learning-and-development/events/digital-assets-conferenceICAEW: Auditor Reporting Lab - https://www.icaew.com/policy-and-research/thought-leadership/audit-and-assurance-thought-leadership/auditor-reporting-labICAEW: Rethinking the auditor’s report - https://www.icaew.com/policy-and-research/thought-leadership/audit-and-assurance-thought-leadership/auditor-reporting-lab/rethinking-the-auditors-reportICAEW: Audit and Assurance Conference - https://www.icaew.com/learning-and-development/events/audit-and-assurance-conferenceICAEW podcasts - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast Host Philippa Lamb Guests Polly Tsang, Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager Pamela Taylor, Partner in Professional Practice, Accounting & Reporting, KPMG Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 3 June 2026 Podcast recorded: 19 May 2026

Fraud is the largest reported crime in England and Wales, and the UK government wants to bring numbers down. With failure to prevent fraud now an offence, there is some onus on business to address the issue. But are enough businesses taking it seriously? In this episode, we take a look at the common types of fraud, what businesses should be vigilant of, and how can they protect themselves? Links UK government fraud strategy - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fraud-strategy-2026-to-2029UK fraud statistics - https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/natureoffraudandcomputermisuseinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2025ICAEW: Fraud helpsheets - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tas-helpsheets/fraudICAEW: What the government’s new fraud strategies mean for business - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/apr-2026/what-the-governments-new-fraud-strategies-mean-for-businessICAEW: podcasts - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast Host Guy Ruddle Guests Tristan Yelland, Partner, Forensic and Investigations, Grant ThorntonWill Christopher, Partner, Kinsgsley NapleyProducer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 20 May 2026 Podcast recorded: 20 April 2026

Everyone’s talking about energy costs at the moment. Greenfields Energy Group’s co-founder LIAM CONWAY walks us through the energy impacts of the Iran War and outlines the best ways for businesses to protect themselves from global energy shocks.    Elsewhere on the episode, we discuss new guidance from the Financial Reporting Council on managing the risks for auditors when it comes to AI adoption; and a quick update on UKGAAP: the challenges that the changes pose for smaller entities Links How higher oil prices will change Britain -https://www.thetimes.com/article/f754197a-859b-460b-8ad0-1e36fc878ff1FRC – AI in Audit: Generative and Agentic AI guidance -https://www.frc.org.uk/library/standards-codes-policy/audit-assurance-and-ethics/guidance/ai-in-audit/ICAEW UK GAAP hub - https://www.icaew.com/technical/corporate-reporting/uk-gaap/changes-to-uk-gaapICAEW: Changes to UK GAAP Conference - https://www.icaew.com/learning-and-development/events/corporate-reporting-conferenceICAEW podcasts - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast Host Philippa Lamb Guests Liam Conway, Co-Founder, Greenfield Energy GroupIan Pay, Head of Data Analytics, ICAEWFahad Asgar, Technical Manager, Corporate Reporting, ICAEW  Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 6 May Podcast recorded: 29 April

AI is already having an impact on the make-up of audit teams and there’s some evidence it’s already reducing the number of junior roles. But it’s all still new, and developing all of the time. What about the medium and longer term effects? How might it change training and career paths and will it ultimately boost or diminish the appeal of a career in accountancy? We’re joined by a young accountant, an ex-accountant turned HR advisor, and the MD of a leading hiring firm in the audit and accounting sector, about how roles, skills and hiring practices are evolving, and what that means for the profession. Links ICAEW: Why we still need junior accountants in the age of AI - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/apr-2026/why-we-still-need-junior-accountants-and-how-their-role-might-change Is There a Brain Drain in Auditing? - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/402277496_Modeling_the_Consequences_of_the_Auditors'_Leaving_the_Public_Accounting_Profession_Is_There_a_Brain_Drain_in_Auditing ICAEW: How to stop accountancy's brain drain - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/behind-the-numbers/how-to-stop-accountancys-brain-drain/transcript ICAEW: How is AI transforming roles in industry? - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/apr-2026/how-is-ai-transforming-roles-in-industry ICAEW podcasts - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast Host Philippa Lamb Guests Lola Abitogun, Fractional HR DirectorGeorge Oliver, Audit Associate, KPMGChris Lawton, Group MD, Executive Search, Robert Half Producer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 15 April Podcast recorded: 11 March

We’ve already seen immediate spikes and fluctuations in the oil price and the wider financial and commodity markets.  But how will the UK economy be affected in the months to come and how heavy a price will British Business pay? RSM Chief Economist Tom Pugh shares his thoughts.  Liz Barclay is Co-founder of Business 111, Special Adviser on Small Business & Entrepreneurship at the Institute of Directors and campaigner for tighter rules on late payments. She gives her views on the Government’s recently announced plans. Finally, with demand growing for AI assurance, what does good actually look like?  Expert and Senior Programme Manager in Digital Ethics & AI at TechUK, Tess Buckley, fills us in. Links ICAEW: Iran conflict sends economic shockwave across the Gulf -https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/mar-2026/iran-conflict-sends-economic-shockwave-through-the-gulf Oil prices to stay elevated across Iran War scenarios - https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-prices-stay-elevated-across-iran-war-scenarios-2026-03-27/ Late payments consultation response - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/late-payments-tackling-poor-payment-practices/outcome/late-payment-consultation-time-to-pay-up-government-response-web-version Government AI assurance roadmap - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trusted-third-party-ai-assurance-roadmap/trusted-third-party-ai-assurance-roadmap Ensuring responsible AI development - https://www.techuk.org/resource/ensuring-responsible-ai-development-let-s-talk-about-ai-assurance.html Host Philippa Lamb Guests Liz Barclay, Co-founder of Business 111, Special Adviser on Small Business & Entrepreneurship at the Institute of DirectorsTess Buckley, Expert and Senior Programme Manager in Digital Ethics & AI at TechUKTom Pugh, RSM Chief EconomistProducer Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 1 April Podcast recorded: 27 March

UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) are bringing sustainability reporting in line with international standards. So who will be mandated to use them and how will they apply in practice? The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is consulting on this at the moment. One of the people behind the international standards joins us and ICAEW’s Sustainability Reporting and Assurance Director to discuss the implications of this. Links UK Sustainability Reporting Standards - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-sustainability-reporting-standards FCA Consultation - https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/consultation-papers/cp26-5-sustainability-disclosures IFRS Sustainability Disclosures navigator - https://www.ifrs.org/issued-standards/ifrs-sustainability-standards-navigator/ ICAEW Government publishes UK SRS - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/feb-2026/government-publishes-uk-sustainability-reporting-standards Host Philippa Lamb Guests Ravi Abeywardana, ICAEW's Director of Sustainability Reporting and AssuranceRichard Barker, a member of the International Sustainability Standards BoardProducer  Natalie Chisholm Series Lead Mark Rowland Episode first published: 10 March Podcast recorded: 9 February