ICAEW’s revised CPD framework has seen high levels of member engagement during its first year. Julia Penny, ICAEW Council member and past President, and Sophie Wales, Director of Regulatory Policy at ICAEW, review progress so far, and reflect on the value of CPD in maintaining standards and strengthening trust in the profession.

CPD changes prompt renewed focus on lifelong learning

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.

The best and worst GenAIs for spreadsheets

In this episode, we’re exploring just how useful generative AI (genAI) is 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.

LLMs and spreadsheets, Companies House IDV, and the OBR’s role

From April 2026, an estimated 864,000 sole traders and landlords will need to comply with Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax. 

The latest on MTD income tax

In this episode of the ICAEW Student Insights podcast, host Orkhan Freeman explores what it’s like to be an accountant working in industry.

This episode covers:
•	The relevance of the ACA qualification to training or working in industry.
•	The transferable skills between practice and industry roles.
•	Building relationships with colleagues outside of finance teams.
•	How to make an informed career move.

Orkhan is joined in the studio by Amy Battrick, Management Accountant at EG Group; and Bronwyn Fitzgerald, Finance Team Manager at Gerald Edelman.



Building a career in industry

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.

How should audit firms use AI?

Even at a relatively nascent stage, agentic AI is showing that it has the capability to revolutionise how finance professionals manage a range of important tasks.

AI agents: four use cases for accountants

In this episode of the ICAEW Student Insights podcast, host Jag Dhaliwal talks to two experts about the way we learn and how we can all make the most of our time taking in and retaining information.

Why we should learn more about how we learn

The Chancellor delivered a raft of small tax changes, rather than any big tax increases. But despite no increases in business taxes, the Budget offered few reasons to be cheerful.

Budget 2025: businesses dodge tax bullet, but costs will still bite

The Chancellor included two measures designed to encourage more UK listings and investment in UK public markets.

Budget: are capital markets-boosting measures effective?

This episode is all about the Budget. What was in it? What are the implications? Was there anything positive to glean from it? 

Budget 25: where’s the growth?

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