Beyond Finance

A bonus episode recorded following Global Ethics Day, looking at ethics as the world changes around us at a ridiculous pace. Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world of work, but there are considerable ethical considerations that come along with it. How does the Code of Ethics for accountants address this?LinksFirm culture and governance exposure draft - https://www.ethicsboard.org/consultations-projects/firm-culture-and-governanceGlobal Ethics Day speech from Gabriela Figueiredo Dias - https://www.ethicsboard.org/news-events/2026-10/keynote-address-iesba-chair-gabriela-figueiredo-dias-icaew-global-ethics-day-2026-conference-londonICAEW: Three major questions about AI and ethics - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/oct-2026/three-major-questions-about-ai-and-ethicsICAEW CPD record - https://www.icaew.com/membership/cpd/online-cpd-recordHostPhilippa LambGuestsGabriela Figueiredo Dias, Chair of the International Ethics Standards Board For AccountantsLaura Hough, Independent Consultant on organisational integrityProducer Natalie ChisholmSeries LeadMark RowlandEpisode first published: 9 NovemberPodcast recorded: 23 October

UK Chancellor John Healey had a huge challenge with his first budget. It had been trailed as a ‘steady as she goes’ budget – was it successful? In our usual budget analysis episode, we break down the various measures outlined in the budget, the economic backdrop that informed the Chancellor’s decisions, the winners and losers, and what it all might mean for the coming year.LinksICAEW Budget pages - https://www.icaew.com/technical/economy/autumn-budget-2026?itm_source=Homepage&itm_medium=Hero&itm_campaign=HeroDefault1ICAEW: Chancellor delivers ‘safe hands’ budget - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/oct-2026/budget-analysis-chancellor-delivers-safe-hands-budgetICAEW: Budget: nine key VAT changes announced - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/oct-2026/budget-nine-key-vat-changes-announcedICAEW: Budget: measures affecting businesses - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/oct-2026/budget-measures-affecting-businessesICAEW: Budget: business rates relief and fiscal devolution - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/oct-2026/budget-business-rates-relief-and-fiscal-devolutionICAEW: Budget: MTD penalty soft landing and exclusions - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/oct-2026/budget-mtd-penalty-soft-landing-and-exclusionsICAEW: Budget: changes for employers and employees - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/oct-2026/budget-changes-for-employers-and-employeesICAEW CPD record - https://www.icaew.com/membership/cpd/online-cpd-recordHostPhilippa LambGuestsFrances Haque, Chief Economist, SantanderIain Wright, Chief Policy and Communications Officer, ICAEWDavid Maddox, Political Editor, The IndependentProducer Natalie ChisholmSeries LeadMark RowlandEpisode first published: 30 OctoberPodcast recorded: 29 October

In this episode, recorded from ICAEW’s Annual Conference, we speak to the biggest speakers from across the day about the challenges facing businesses in a variety of sectors, and what can be done about them. From the economy to cybercrime and growing in unpredictable environments, we cover a lot of ground.You may also note the change of name: as the podcast has grown, it has attracted a broader audience. Our new name – Beyond Finance – reflects that broader remit, while still anchoring us to its finance and accountancy origins. LinksConference page - https://annualconference.icaew.com/event/c82cf3f3-7895-4ff6-83d4-02bbfd01faa0/summary?RefId=Speakershttps://annualconference.icaew.com/event/c82cf3f3-7895-4ff6-83d4-02bbfd01faa0/summary?RefId=SpeakersBaroness Hazarika – political career - https://members.parliament.uk/member/5024/careerICAEW: The Economic backdrop to the Budget - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/sep-2026/suren-thiru-on-the-economic-backdrop-to-the-budgetICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecordHostPhilippa LambGuestsBaroness Ayesha HazarikaJo Fairley, Co-Founder, Green & Black’sTim Doubleday, CFO, Burger King UKOlolade Adesanya, Global Head of Audit – Insurance, Asset Management, Branding and Marketing, HSBCGlenn Wilkinson, CEO, Agger LabsNeil Cutting, ICAEW Vice President/Transformation Director, OracleProducer Natalie ChisholmSeries LeadMark RowlandEpisode first published: 20 OctoberPodcast recorded: 16 October

In this special bonus episode, we hear exclusively from the Department for Business, Innovation Science and Trade (BIST) on the government’s plans for corporate reporting, the Modernising Corporate Reporting (MCR) agenda. It’s a potentially huge change and the government wants to implement it quickly, so now is the time to address its implications.In this episode, we run through the major changes and address some of the concerns expressed by preparers. LinksICAEW: Introduction to Moderinising Corporate Reporting - https://www.icaew.com/technical/corporate-reporting/corporate-reporting-resources/by-all-accounts/articles/2026/introducing-the-modernisation-of-corporate-reportingICAEW MCR resources - http://www.icaew.com/mcrGovernment Modernising Corporate Reporting page - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/modernising-corporate-reportingICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord HostPhilippa LambGuestsDebbie Crawshawe, Head of the Accounting and Audit Centre of Expertise, BISTSally Baker, Corporate Reporting & Governance Director, ICAEWProducer Natalie ChisholmSeries LeadMark RowlandEpisode first published: 14 OctoberPodcast recorded: 9 October

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?This, and all future episodes of The Audit Report, can be found under The Audit Report podcast, search "Audit Report" on your podcast provider.LinksICAEW: 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 HostAlex RussellGuestsDavid 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 ChisholmSeries LeadMark RowlandEpisode first published: 6 OctoberPodcast 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? LinksICAEW: 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-recordHostPhilippa LambGuestsKay Daskalakis, Senior Solutions Architect, SpecterOpsOli Venn, Watchguard TechnologiesProducer Natalie ChisholmSeries LeadMark RowlandEpisode first published: 8 OctoberPodcast 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.TranscriptYou 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/transcriptLinksJohn 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/cpdrecordHostPhilippa LambGuestsFrances Haque, Chief Economist, Santander UKDavid Wooding, Political commentator and former Sunday Express EditorSuren Thiru, Chief Economist, ICAEWProducer Natalie ChisholmSeries LeadMark RowlandEpisode first published: 10 SeptemberPodcast 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.LinksICAEW: 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/cpdrecordHostPhilippa LambGuestsKaty Worobec, Fraud Prevention Consultant, A Jolly ConsultingLindsey Wicks, Senior Tax Technical Manager, ICAEWProducer Natalie ChisholmSeries LeadMark RowlandEpisode first published: 27 AugustPodcast 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. LinksCharles 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/cpdrecordHostPhilippa LambGuestsLuke Blake, Founding Director, Business advisors Oakwood Risk GroupCharles Hecker, Geopolitical Risk Expert, Author of Zero Sum: The Arc of International Business In RussiaProducer Natalie ChisholmSeries LeadMark RowlandEpisode first published: 19 AugustPodcast 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.LinksEY 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