With Matthew Ord and Tom Herbert having some well-earned holiday, Richard Hattersley called in some back up for this week’s episode of No Accounting for Taste. He is joined by Wes Rashid, co-founder and CEO of Accountancy Cloud, Nikki Adams, joint managing director at Ad Valorem and Alex Falcon Huerta, CEO and founder of Soaring Falcon.

The panel kicks off with the profession’s big debate: private equity (PE) vs independence. Hattersley recalls his chat with Simon Massey, the managing partner of Menzies, which has recently merged with Beever and Struthers and remains committed to staying independent. With consolidation on the rise, the guests debate whether smaller firms can compete with PE-backed rivals, discussing the pros and cons of each route.

Closely linked to the topic of PE is tech adoption. While firms are now experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI), the panel questions how it’s really being used and whether the profession is falling behind in other areas. They explore the gap between progressive firms pushing for more innovation and smaller practices still catching up with cloud adoption. The risk, they warn, is that some practices could fall so far behind that succession planning becomes much harder

They wrap up by looking at how firms can respond to these pressures. With so much upheaval, collaboration and community are becoming essential. The panel stresses the power of knowledge sharing and peer support, noting how in-person events help practitioners create stronger trust and better client relationships.

Lisa Miles-Heal, CEO of Silverfin, joins AccountingWEB's technology editor Tom Herbert to unpack research showing senior accountants are embracing AI faster than their younger peers. They explore the surprising trend, from access and trust issues to the different roles each generation plays in accounting firms.

After seven years of waiting, audit reform faces yet another delay. Matthew Ord reports that business minister Justin Madders has confirmed the draft Audit Reform and Governance Bill won’t move forward for pre-legislative scrutiny. He shares reactions from Julia Penny, Bruce Cartwright and Iain Wright, as the team wonders when reform will finally happen.

Tom Herbert then rewinds 30 years to look back on how we have used accounting software. What started as a menu-based, point-and-click system is shifting toward AI-driven free text boxes, but is this really the future? Herbert questions how effective this will be and whether firms are ready to embrace it.

Looking ahead, Richard Hattersley turns to growing Budget speculation. With the National Institute for Economic and Social Research warning of a £41.2bn gap, he discusses the potential fallout for businesses, the likelihood of broken manifesto promises and what moves the government might make.

On the latest episode of The Progressive Firm Podcast, James Gosling of AJ Chambers and Tim Halford of Xeinadin discuss adopting an M&A approach to growth, the ongoing influence of private equity and the importance of developing a gut feeling.

After enjoying a week in Tenby, Richard Hattersley returns to the podcast to discuss Companies House reforms. While Companies House confirmed small companies will be required to file their profit and loss (P&L) accounts, doubts quickly followed. Hattersley unpacks where the reforms stand, the debate around P&L filing and why the situation has become so unclear.

Back from Norway, Tom Herbert takes a look at the audit market and shares his growing concerns about the role of auditors. He draws on David Graeber’s “Bullshit Jobs” concept, where people feel their work lacks real purpose, and wonders if audit is heading in that direction. Once seen as a pillar of financial integrity, audit may be losing its meaning. Herbert reflects on what this could mean for attracting new talent, the growing skills gap and the deeper identity crisis facing the profession.

Matthew Ord shares a new ICAEW report on the evolution of mid-tier accountancy firms, highlighting that many still aren’t convinced by private equity. He runs through some of the findings, as the team explores why some independent firms remain cautious, whether we’ll ever agree on whether PE is good or bad and how the ongoing skills gap continues to shape the conversation.

Marc Jeschonneck of EY joins AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert to discuss the importance of addressing AI concerns, ensuring buy-in from auditors and accountants who aren’t up to speed with the latest developments, and the ongoing role of regulators in the space.

AccountingWEB’s MTD Accountability Club is in full swing. In association with Sage, it follows accountants and bookkeepers preparing for the first mandation date. Richard Hattersley goes through the early results from our recent survey (which is still open), on how the profession is coping, exploring what the answers reveal about MTD readiness.

Tom Herbert shares the news that Xero has acquired the bill payments platform Melio for $2.5bn. Herbert explains who Melio are and what it signals about Xero’s global strategy, especially as UK users already have an end-to-end accounts payable workflow and recent price hikes are causing concerns.

Finally, Matthew Ord turns to audit reform as the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy confirms plans to update the corporate reporting framework. The team discusses what’s coming and shares their thoughts on key topics also on the agenda, including talent, AI, sustainability reporting, and money laundering regulations.

On the latest episode of The Progressive Firm Podcast, Leanne Wilkins of MHA and Jorgia Hatton of JS discuss the importance of recruitment in a growing firm, why communication is key and bridging the skills gap.

Tom Herbert returns from the Sage Future user conference in Atlanta and spills all. He shares Sage’s artificial intelligence insights, classified into waves, and explores what each means. While discussing tech adoption, he argues that it’s not all about the technology, explaining other ways to get the attention of customers.

Richard Hattersley reflects on the government's spending review. While no tax changes were announced, he talks about the document confirming a £500m investment in HMRC’s digital services. Alongside this, another document was released: Tax Policy Making Principles. Hattersley explains the concept of this document, its principles and whether they’ll remain unbroken.

Matthew Ord closes the podcast with a look at private equity’s presence in audit. He recalls his chat with CEO Bruce Cartwright on why audit quality must stand apart from private equity’s influence. The team discusses the fine balance that the profession needs to get right seeing as both private equity and audit have come under scrutiny.

When Steve Hare first qualified as an accountant, he never imagined presenting to 4,000 people as chief executive of the UK's largest technology firm, steering it into the age of AI. However, he believes his accounting background will prove pivotal in managing one of the most transformational technologies seen in a generation. Hare joined AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert at the Sage Future user conference in Atlanta last week, where he spelt out his vision for how artificial intelligence will be implemented across Sage’s product lines, helping the vendor leapfrog competitors and position Sage at the forefront of AI accounting – but also outlined why he believes there will always be a need for accountants.