Beyond Finance

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. 

Links

• Conference 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=Speakers
• Baroness Hazarika – political career - https://members.parliament.uk/member/5024/career
• ICAEW: 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-budget
• ICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord

Host
Philippa Lamb

Guests

• Baroness Ayesha Hazarika
• Jo Fairley, Co-Founder, Green & Black’s
• Tim Doubleday, CFO, Burger King UK
• Ololade Adesanya, Global Head of Audit – Insurance, Asset Management, Branding and Marketing, HSBC
• Glenn Wilkinson, CEO, Agger Labs
• Neil Cutting, ICAEW Vice President/Transformation Director, Oracle

Producer
Natalie Chisholm

Series Lead
Mark Rowland

Episode first published: 20 October
Podcast 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. 

Links

• ICAEW: 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-reporting
• ICAEW MCR resources - http://www.icaew.com/mcr
• Government Modernising Corporate Reporting page - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/modernising-corporate-reporting
• ICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord 

Host
Philippa Lamb

Guests

• Debbie Crawshawe, Head of the Accounting and Audit Centre of Expertise, BIST
• Sally Baker, Corporate Reporting & Governance Director, ICAEW

Producer
Natalie Chisholm

Series Lead
Mark Rowland

Episode first published: 14 October
Podcast 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.

Links

• ICAEW: Modernising Corporate Reporting survey - https://www.icaew.com/technical/corporate-reporting/improving-corporate-reporting/modernising-corporate-reporting/mcr-have-your-say
• ICAEW: 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-reporting
• ICAEW: Modernising Corporate Reporting hub - https://www.icaew.com/technical/corporate-reporting/improving-corporate-reporting/modernising-corporate-reporting
• ICAEW: Beyond finance podcast - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast
• ICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord 

Host
Alex Russell

Guests

• David 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 ICAEW

Producer
Natalie Chisholm

Series Lead
Mark Rowland

Episode first published: 6 October
Podcast 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? 

Links

• ICAEW: Cyber Security Awareness - https://www.icaew.com/technical/technology/cyber-security/cybercrime-awareness-month
• How 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-things
• ICAEW CPD record - https://www.icaew.com/membership/cpd/online-cpd-record

Host
Philippa Lamb

Guests

• Kay Daskalakis, Senior Solutions Architect, SpecterOps
• Oli Venn, Watchguard Technologies

Producer
Natalie Chisholm

Series Lead
Mark Rowland

Episode first published: 8 October
Podcast 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.

Transcript

You 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/transcript

Links

• John Healey’s speech - https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chancellor-john-healeys-growth-speech-2026
• The bond market shock and what it means for Andy Burnham - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/bond-markets-andy-burnham-budget-uk-b3043257.html
• Jump in energy bills drives UK inflation to highest rate for four months - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdrv7jr8n74o
• Stock up on food to prepare for extreme weather - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp931m8n3p5o
• ICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord

Host
Philippa Lamb

Guests

• Frances Haque, Chief Economist, Santander UK
• David Wooding, Political commentator and former Sunday Express Editor
• Suren Thiru, Chief Economist, ICAEW

Producer
Natalie Chisholm

Series Lead
Mark Rowland

Episode first published: 10 September
Podcast 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.

Links

• ICAEW: 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-tax
• ICAEW: 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-mtd
• ICAEW: Making Tax Digital Hub - http://icaew.com/MTD
• Report Fraud - https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/
• Fraud in the Digital Age - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fraud-in-the-digital-age
• ICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord

Host
Philippa Lamb

Guests

• Katy Worobec, Fraud Prevention Consultant, A Jolly Consulting
• Lindsey Wicks, Senior Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW

Producer
Natalie Chisholm

Series Lead
Mark Rowland

Episode first published: 27 August
Podcast 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. 

Links

• Charles 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-e3b02e2c
• Atlantic 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/cpdrecord

Host
Philippa Lamb

Guests

• Luke Blake, Founding Director, Business advisors Oakwood Risk Group
• Charles Hecker, Geopolitical Risk Expert, Author of Zero Sum: The Arc of International Business In Russia

Producer
Natalie Chisholm

Series Lead
Mark Rowland

Episode first published: 19 August
Podcast 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.

Links

• EY principles of responsible AI - https://www.ey.com/en_uk/insights/ai/principles-for-ethical-and-responsible-ai?channel=TxtV-B
• Prediction markets spark insider trading fears - https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/09/prediction-markets-spark-insider-trading-fears-how-firms-are-responding.html
• Microsoft bans prediction markets - https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-prediction-markets-employee-policy-2026-7
• Prediction 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/c052yv259jvo
• ICAEW CPD record - https://www.icaew.com/membership/cpd/online-cpd-record

 Host: Philippa Lamb

 Guests:  

• Richard Harrison, UK Digital Assurance Leader, EY
• Polly Tsang, ICAEW’s Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager

 Producer: Natalie Chisholm

 Series Lead:  Mark Rowland

 Episode first published: 4 August

 Podcast recorded: 27 July

The question of whether an ‘AI bubble’ is going to burst doesn’t seem to be going away. There’s a compelling case to be made on both sides of the argument, with the growing demand for AI tools, and the huge amount of money and resources needed to deliver on that demand. 

So what are the actual risks of an AI bubble, and what would that mean for the tools that businesses and firms are investing in right now? We interrogate the various indicators of whether there might be a bubble or not, and discuss the considerations and failsafes that businesses should consider when adopting AI software.

Links

Data centre planning policy - https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-10315/CBP-10315.pdf

Gas use in data centres - https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/dramatic-increase-in-data-centre-developers-wanting-gas-grid-connections-21-04-2026/

Water use for data centres - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/688cb407dc6688ed50878367/Water_use_in_data_centre_and_AI_report.pdf

AI company IPOs - https://www.blackrock.com/us/financial-professionals/insights/mega-ai-ipos-and-index-inclusion

Increasing demand for AI – Forbes - https://www.forbes.com/advisor/uk/business/software/uk-artificial-intelligence-ai-statistics/

AI boom leaves data centre demand beyond supply - https://datacentrenews.uk/story/ai-boom-to-leave-data-centre-demand-far-above-supply

ICAEW CPD record - https://my.icaew.com/cpdrecord

Host
Philippa Lamb

Guests
Tom Pugh, Chief Economist, RSM UK
Tasmin Lockwood, tech and environment journalist
Hothyfa Elbeera, Senior Software Engineer, Claimsgate, MoJ 

Producer
Natalie Chisholm

Series Lead
Mark Rowland 

Episode first published: 15 July
Podcast recorded: 08 June

We’ll have a new PM soon, while the war in the Middle East rages on. Does this mean more uncertainty for businesses in the second half of 2026? ICAEW’s Chief Economist tries to predict what might happen next. 

If that wasn’t enough, there’s a lot going on in tax at the moment, from MTD Income Tax to new agent registration rules and more tax changes than expected mid-year. Lindsey Wicks explains all the changes. 

Finally, we get an insight from Junaidy Ab-Mutalib about the profession in Malaysia. What are the unique opportunities and challenges for the profession in the region?

Links

• ICAEW: Suren Thiru on how US-Iran peace deal could influence UK’s economic outlook - https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2026/jun-2026/suren-thiru-on-how-us-iran-peace-deal-could-influence-uk-economy
• ICAEW: Significant changes announced at Tax Update 2026 - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jun-2026/significant-changes-announced-at-tax-update-2026
• ICAEW: HMRC sets timetable for agent multi factor authentication rollout - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jun-2026/hmrc-sets-timetable-for-agent-multi-factor-authentication-rollout
• ICAEW: HMRC publishes detailed guidance on mandatory tax adviser registration - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jun-2026/hmrc-publishes-detailed-guidance-on-mandatory-tax-adviser-registration
• ICAEW: MTD income tax and claims for averaging relief - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jun-2026/mtd-income-tax-and-claims-for-averaging-relief
• ICAEW: CPD record - https://www.icaew.com/membership/cpd/online-cpd-record 

Host
Philippa Lamb

Guests

• Suren Thiru, Chief Economist, ICAEW
• Lindsey Wicks, Senior Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW
• Junaidy Ab-Mutalib, Managing Partner, JM & Co

Producer
Natalie Chisholm

Series Lead
Mark Rowland

Episode first published: 1 July
Podcast recorded: 26 June