Accountancy Insights

In the first episode of 2026, our usual team of soothsayers David Williamson, Frances Haque and Iain Wright review the events of the past 12 months, and look ahead to what we might expect in the coming year. Will 2026 be more of the same, or will there be some reasons to be cheerful? Could the AI bubble burst, or will it just deflate? And did our panel get anything right last year?TranscriptRead the full transcript of this episode - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/behind-the-numbers/a-world-cup-bump-an-ai-slump-2026-predictions/transcriptLinksICAEW: The 2025 predictions episode - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/accountancy-insights/trump-tariffs-and-eu-turmoil-2025-predictionsICAEW: UK Business Confidence Monitor - https://www.icaew.com/technical/economy/business-confidence-monitor‘The AI bubble will burst’ - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0m7h23sHostPhilippa LambGuestsIain Wright, Managing Director, Reputation and Influence, ICAEWDavid Williamson, Political Editor, Sunday ExpressFrances Haque, Chief Economist, Santander UKProducerNatalie ChisholmEpisode first published: 31 December 2025Podcast recorded: 15 December 2025

With Christmas round the corner, we’ve put together a special best of episode of Behind the Numbers, featuring some of the most memorable conversations from throughout the year. From discussions of Trump and tariffs on our 100th episode to one of our favourite conversations on the history of money, it’s an excellent way to remind yourself of what went on this year – or catch up on what you’ve missed. Links:ICAEW: Rebuilding trust in volatile times - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/behind-the-numbers/rebuilding-trust-in-volatile-timesICAEW: Appraising Starmer’s Labour - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/behind-the-numbers/appraising-starmers-labourICAEW: How to bounce back from a cyber attack - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/behind-the-numbers/how-to-bounce-back-from-a-cyber-attackICAEW: Dealing with uncertainty and mental health - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/behind-the-numbers/dealing-with-uncertainty-and-mental-healthICAEW: Can history teach us anything about digital money? - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/behind-the-numbers/can-history-teach-us-anything-about-digital-moneyHostPhilippa LambClips featuringIain Wright, Chief Policy & Communications Officer, ICAEWDavid Williamson, Chief Political Commentator, The Express Frances Haque, Santander Chief Economist Neil Hare-Brown, Founder, STORM GuidanceMichael Hoare, partner, Kekst CNCPaul Guess, Case Management Officer at CABARiaz Shah OBE, Professor of Practice, Hult International Business SchoolTony Moore, Lecturer in Finance, Henley Business SchoolPolly Tsang, Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager, ICAEWProducerNatalie ChisholmEpisode first published: 18 DecemberPodcast recorded: 7 November 2025

This episode is all about the Budget. What was in it? What are the implications? Was there anything positive to glean from it? Stepping in for Philippa Lamb on this episode, Guy Ruddle speaks to the usual economic dream team of Santander Chief Economist Frances Haque, David Williamson, who joins us from Portcullis House, and Iain Wright, ICAEW’s Chief Policy and Communications Officer. They share their views on the early publication of the OBR’s projections, the constant leaking ahead of the Budget, the economic implications of the measures included within it, and who it was actually for. Time codes01’53”: The OBR’s leaked report05’48”: The content of the Budget and its implications10’07”: The lack of growth measuresLinksICAEW: Budget 25: Do the tax changes meet the tenets? - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/the-tax-track/budget-25-do-the-tax-changes-meet-the-tenetsHostGuy RuddleGuestsFrances Haque, Chief Economist, SantanderDavid Williamson, Chief Political Commentator, The ExpressIain Wright, Chief Policy and Communications Officer, ICAEWProducerNatalie Chisholm Episode first published: 1 December 2025Podcast recorded: 27 November 2025

This episode focuses on the integration of AI in audit processes, emphasising the need for practical guidance from the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to build industry confidence, especially with smaller firms. The conversation highlighted the importance of human oversight, the role of third-party technology providers, the challenges of explainability and data security, and the need for clear communication with clients.Philippa Lamb is joined by Ramana McConnon, Head of Assurance Technology at the FRC, Jon Morris, Director of Audit and Professional Standards for Grant Thornton, and Martin Brown, Gen AI lead in Deloitte’s Audit technical team. Time codes04’50”: Discovering the AI use cases and benefits of the new technology for smaller firms13’49”: Understanding explainability and the need for human oversight with AI solutions18’25”: Are off-the-shelf solutions enough and will firms need to make big investments?LinksICAEW: FRC publishes landmark guidance on the uses of AI in audit - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2025/jul-2025/frc-publishes-landmark-guidance-on-the-uses-of-ai-for-auditFRC guidance on audit and AI - https://media.frc.org.uk/documents/AI_in_Audit.pdfICAEW: AI in audit: opportunities and challenges - https://www.icaew.com/technical/audit-and-assurance/faculty-resources/webcasts/ai-in-auditHostPhilippa LambGuestsRamana McConnon, Head of Assurance Technology at the FRCJon Morris, Director of Audit and Professional Standards for Grant ThorntonMartin Brown, Gen AI lead in Deloitte’s Audit technical teamProducerNatalie ChisholmEpisode first published: 11 November 2025Podcast recorded: 7 November 2025

In this episode, we’re exploring just how useful Large Language Models (LLMs) are when it comes to spreadsheets; what needs to happen by 18 November when it comes to Companies House ID verification; and how the OBR comes to its conclusions.Host Philippa Lamb is joined by Simon Thorne, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science, Cardiff Metropolitan University, to talk about his research into LLMs' effectiveness when it comes to spotting errors in spreadsheets, with some clear winners and losers from the process.Next, Mike Miller, ICAEW’s Economic Crime Manager, gives an update on Companies House ID verification and what Directors and accounting firms have to do to prepare. Finally, Martin Wheatcroft, Advisor on public finances for ICAEW, explains the role and methodology of the OBR.Time codes:Spreadsheets and AI – 01’06”Companies House ID Verification – 13’28”How the OBR works – 23’14”TranscriptYou can read a full transcript of the episode here: https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2025/oct-2025/the-best-and-worst-genais-for-spreadsheetsLinks:ICAEW: The best and worst gen AIs for spreadsheets - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2025/oct-2025/the-best-and-worst-genais-for-spreadsheetsSimon Thorne’s study on LLMs and spreadsheets - https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.17330ICAEW: Authorised corporate service providers (ACSP) and ID verification - https://www.icaew.com/regulation/aml-supervision/aml-resources/acsp-and-id-verificationICAEW: ID verification is coming – everything directors need to know - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2025/oct-2025/co-house-id-changes-what-directors-need-to-knowICAEW: ID verification is coming – everything accounting firms need to know - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2025/oct-2025/co-house-id-changes-what-accountants-need-to-knowICAEW: Companies House: who needs to be an ACSP and when should they register? - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2025/aug-2025/companies-house-who-needs-to-be-an-acsp-and-when-should-they-registerUK productivity downgraded - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0rpve82jxvoRachel Reeves v the OBR: chancellor aims to loosen the watchdog’s grip - https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/oct/11/rachel-reeves-v-the-obr-chancellor-aims-to-loosen-the-watchdogs-gripLabour fury at OBR is understandable but misplaced - https://www.ft.com/content/f1b53cb4-ba83-4b0a-a8f3-65ffab93b299New Economics Foundation – A democratic fiscal framework - https://neweconomics.org/2025/08/a-democratic-fiscal-frameworkHostPhilippa LambGuestsSimon Thorne, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science, Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityMike Miller, Economic Crime Manager, ICAEWMartin Wheatcroft, Advisor on public finances, ICAEWProducerNatalie ChisholmEpisode first published: 28 October 2025Podcast recorded: 22nd October 2025All views expressed on this podcast are those of the contributors and don’t necessarily reflect those of ICAEW or its members.