Advertise on podcast: ICAEW Insights Aloud

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. Published: 24 October 2025. Read the full article. AI transparency statement: This audio file was produced by AI and is based on the Insights article on GenAI and spreadsheets.

A leading cyber security expert presents a spotters’ guide of attacker types that businesses must defend themselves against. Alex Bomberg, Group Chairman of cyber risk specialists International Intelligence, sets out the highest-priority attacker types that organisations need to keep at bay. Published: 23 October 2025. Read the full article. AI transparency statement: This audio file was produced by AI and is based on the Insights article on identifying cyber attackers.

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. At ICAEW's 2025 Annual Conference, Riaz Shah, Professor of Practice at Hult International Business School, said that one of the most common mistakes was focusing on the technology itself rather than the problems it could potentially solve.  Published: 22 October 2025. Read the full article. AI transparency statement: This audio file was produced by AI and is based on the Insights article on transforming a practice with AI.

Two experts provide their thoughts on key considerations business leaders must have in mind when using AI to drive business transformation projects. Nina Barakzai, AI ethics and data privacy expert, and qualified accountant, and Peter Beard ACA, Director of GenFinance.AI, describe their experiences at ICAEW's 2025 Annual Conference. Published: 22 October 2025. Read the full article. AI transparency statement: This audio file was produced by AI and is based on the Insights article on transforming a business with AI.

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. Published: 22 October 2025. Read the full article. AI transparency statement: This audio file was produced by AI and is based on the Insights article on three common ethical failures.

Speaking at Chartered Accountants Hall, Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition, told ICAEW’s CEO her vision for a less risk averse, lower tax and regulation environment for UK businesses. Published: 11 September 2025. Read the full article. AI transparency statement: This audio file was produced by AI and is based on the Insights article on Kemi Badenoch's speech at the ICAEW.

HMRC has published guidance setting out what it expects of taxpayers who are considering applying novel or improbable interpretations of the law, or are uncertain how the law applies when submitting a tax return or similar document. Published: 11 September 2025. Read the full article. AI transparency statement: This audio file was produced by AI and is based on the Insights article on HMRC's expectations of taxpayers.

With so many new technological solutions, it is easy to be overwhelmed on where to start to upgrade the skills gap in your workforce, but starting small and avoiding the hype is still a start. Published: 3 July 2025. Read the full article. AI transparency statement: This audio file was produced by AI and is based on the Insights article on digitally upskilling your workforce.

The vast number of companies affected by ransomware attacks highlights the urgent need to ramp up educational work on cybercrime, according to a Fraud Advisory Panel trustee. The business community needs to be educated extensively on how to tackle cyber threats, said Lee Fitzgerald, Barclays International Fraud Risk Strategy Director. Published: 26 June 2025. Read the full article. AI transparency statement: This audio file was produced by AI and is based on the Insights article on cyber threats to businesses.

Prompt engineering creates succinct commands to direct and guide artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Here, we explore how to develop your prompt engineering skills to get optimal output from AI models. Published: 19 February 2025. Read the full article. AI transparency statement: This audio file was produced by AI and is based on the Insights article on prompt engineering.

More and more accountancy and audit firms are considering PE investment, but they need to understand the impact on their audit status under ICAEW regulations and FRC rules. Published: 13 Feb 2025. Read the full article. AI transparency statement: This audio file was produced by AI and is based on the Insights article on private equity investment.

Practice owner Peter Hollis decided on an Employee Share Ownership Trust when thinking about succession planning for his practice. He explains the process and the lessons he’s learned. Published: 10 February 2025 Read the full article. AI transparency statement: This audio file was produced by AI and is based on the Insights article on succession planning.