Two accounting tech specialists join AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert this week to discuss the themes running through the recent software conference season, with the biggest undoubtedly being the explosion in artificial intelligence tools available for accountants.

On this week's podcast, the AccountingWEB editorial team discusses ICAEW's letter to HMRC urging the tax authority to consider "fresh thinking" over the much-maligned MTD ITSA, and they round up the latest updates and announcements from the accounting tech vendors.

Due to a delay from HMRC earlier this year in introducing MTD ITSA, many believed that the widely criticised policy would remain absent from the news cycle until its introduction in 2026. However, some are viewing this delay as an opportunity to encourage HMRC to change course.

In a letter to the tax authority, the ICAEW has called on HMRC to consider "fresh thinking" leading up to the implementation of MTD ITSA, with the accountancy body proposing that eliminating quarterly reporting could significantly alter the narrative of MTD ITSA.

In this week's podcast episode, Richard Hattersley and Tom Herbert examine ICAEW's unexpected intervention in the MTD discussion and question whether HMRC could potentially make further concessions before MTD-Day.

Also featured on the podcast this week, Tom shares his experiences from this year's Accountex in light of numerous announcements from tech vendors, and engages in conversations with some of the prominent figures in the fintech sector about the power of AI.

Podcast speakers:

Richard Hattersley

Tom Herbert

Podcast producer:

Will Cole

Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk discuss the growing emphasis accountancy firms are putting on recruitment, employee engagement and training and development.

After looking at client service and process, the AccountingWEB team explores the Accounting Excellence pillar that ensures the practice runs smoothly - people. 

In many ways, this is the most important pillar, because if your people are not happy, you will not be able to serve clients in the way you would like or have high productivity levels. 

With the war on talent and the skills gap, this has become one of the most invested areas in accountancy firms. 

Accounting Excellence award winners Kim Slater from FD Works and Anna Averis from Bishop Fleming also join the podcast to reveal how they’ve put people at their heart of their firm by continually improving their employee engagement and training and development to overcome accountancy’s recruitment challenges.  

If you’re inspired by the conversation in this episode, why not enter the Accounting Excellence awards. You have until 15 May to get your entry over the line - so don’t delay: https://www.accountingexcellence.co.uk/

The number of e-commerce businesses launching in the UK continues to rise dramatically, meaning that demand for e-commerce accounting services is also at an all-time high.

However, many accounting firms are struggling to tackle the unique challenges posed by the sector, citing messy data, knotty compliance issues such as VAT and Brexit, and a plethora of ever-changing platforms to keep up with.

Joining AccountingWEB technology editor Tom Herbert on the podcast are two accountants who founded their own e-commerce firms, Joe Cox, founder and managing partner at Ecommerce Accountants and Ben Sztejka, managing director of Your Ecommerce Accountant.

The panel discussed the pros and cons for accounting firms when working with e-commerce clients, the current e-commerce accounting landscape, typical challenges and opportunities for accounting firms when taking on e-commerce clients, and the best tech and tools to help with e-commerce accounting.

On this week's episode, the AccountingWEB team discusses the growing burden of anti-money laundering regulations, GoSimpleTax's acquisition of Coconut and are later joined by Will Farnell to discuss the philosophy of the human-led firm.

With regulators ratcheting up fines and accountants struggling to keep up, tightening AML regulations continue to cause headaches for practitioners. And, with the recent news that one "overwhelmed" practitioner has been slapped with a total financial sanction of close to £25,000 for AML breaches, Richard Hattersley and Tom Herbert discuss how this essential, yet burdensome measure is affecting the profession.

Also on the pod, Tom talks us through the winding story of GoSimpleTax's aquisition of accounting app Coconunt after the vendor was doomed to failure thanks to the delay of MTD ITSA earlier this year.

And finally, Will Farnell, the founder of Farnell Clarke and digital pioneer, beams into the pod studio to discuss the release of his new book 'The Human Firm' and looks to champion a different, more personal type of accounting.

For more information on the stories discussed in this episode visit: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-taste-ep-138-aml-coconut-and-the-human-firm

This special episode of the podcast explores the latest trends in accounting software, and how for many firms thoughts have now turned to how to streamline practice processes, chase late clients more efficiently or boost firm revenues. For full details visit the show page here: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/content/no-accounting-for-tech-ep14-whats-on-accounting-firms-software-shopping-lists

Just before the Easterweekend, it was reported that HMRC have decided to restrict the Agent Dedicated Line from April 17.The controversial move by HMRC highlights yet another example by the tax authority to transition towards its 'digital by default' vision of nudging agents towards online services.

Yet, what does this mean for tax agents still relying on more traditional means of communication, and are HMRC going about realising their vision in the right way?

To discuss this growing issue, Richard and Tom are once again joined by friend of the pod and tax expert Paul Aplin OBE as he takes time away from his new border collie puppy to chat about HMRC's desire for digital, while looking at ways for everyone to enjoy the fruits of the digital revolution.

Podcast Speakers:

Richard Hattersley

Tom Herbert

Paul Aplin OBE

Producer:

Will Cole

Richard Hattersley and John Stokdyk are back once again with a brand new episode of Secrets of Accounting Excellence.

This week's episode shines the spotlight on process and efficiency, an area filled with opportunity for the ambitious firm. Whether it's implementing tools to boost efficiency, or striving for continuous improvement amongst their team, accountants can transform the operations by ensuring this essential pillar of accounting excellence is met.

Joined by BluSky's Client Relationships Director Nathan Embleton, the panel will be giving you a peak behind the curtain of what it takes for a firm to take their processes and worflows to that next, award-winning level.

On this week’s podcast FreeAgent CEO Roan Lavery tells AccountingWEB tech editor Tom Herbert about his part in the company’s growth from a side project into a major player in the cloud accounting industry and where he believes the vendor’s future direction lies.

News of an unnamed OnlyFans creator who claimed cosmetic dental work and breast implants as a business expense created a media storm last week. One newspaper raged, ‘close 'loophole' that lets OnlyFans stars get tax breaks’. But there is more to this story than the headlines led you to believe.

Today on the show we speak to Rachel Harris, the accountant of this unnamed OnlyFans creator, and find out about some of the complications in dealing with this expense.

Also on the podcast, the panel take a closer look the recent publication of both Sunak and Starmer's tax returns and ask "was there any real point?", and Tom gives us the lowdown on a new dating sim featuring a character who has a very keen interest in your finances...

Podcast speakers

- Rachel Harris

- Richard Hattersley

- Tom Herbert

Producer

- Will Cole