If your close still drags into a second week, you’re not alone—and it’s rarely down to effort. Financial controllers, finance managers and FDs at UK businesses with 20 to 1,000 employees often work flat out, including evenings and weekends, yet the calendar barely moves. The real issue is usually how disconnected the underlying systems and … [Read more…]
If you’re VAT registered, you usually need to charge VAT on your taxable supplies at the correct rate. Getting VAT wrong on an invoice can lead to HMRC queries, penalties, and awkward client conversations. Once the correct VAT treatment has been identified, the calculation itself is usually straightforward: add VAT at the applicable rate to … [Read more…]
Key takeaways The seven PCRT bodies published topical guidance on the ethical use of AI tools on 19 January 2026, alongside an updated PCRT effective from 1 January 2026. The guidance introduces no new rules. It reads the five existing fundamental principles through an AI lens. You remain responsible for any work your practice produces, … [Read more…]
Key takeaways A lack of skilled personnel is the second biggest AI implementation challenge in the profession, cited by 48% of accountants. Around 38% describe their practice as having limited readiness or no readiness at all, and fewer than a third feel well or highly prepared. Roughly one in five accountants name a people concern … [Read more…]
Rental income might seem straightforward at first. The rent comes in, you pay your mortgage, and whatever’s left is yours. But when HMRC gets involved, things start to look a bit different. Most landlords will either overpay by missing legitimate deductions, or underpay without realising it. Either way, the gap usually comes down to a few numbers you never … [Read more…]
Employment Hero extends its partnership with Leeds United for the 2026/27 season, including a branded take over of the Legends Club at Elland Road Employment Hero and the Leeds United Foundation will work together to create employment opportunities for people facing barriers to work across Yorkshire The partnership builds on Employment Hero’s commitment to supporting … [Read more…]
Managing 13 branches, 49 staff, and hundreds of services a month is a good challenge to have, as R Banks and Son Funerals Ltd seeks to expand. This article discusses how the business gives its community an unparalleled and highly personal level of service, thanks to financial confidence and a trusted reputation. Here’s what we … [Read more…]
Most workforce plans are out of date before the ink even dries. If your planning process still relies on last year’s headcount data, a manager meeting and an educated guess about what’s coming, you’ll end up lagging in the past. That gap’s exactly what AI workforce planning is built to close. For UK businesses navigating … [Read more…]
Key takeaways A financial close checklist standardises reconciliations, reviews and sign-off into one repeatable sequence. It matters most when teams change, systems change, or transaction volume grows. Good checklists separate pre-close prep, in-close tasks, and post-close review. Month-end and year-end checklists share a core structure, but year-end adds extra review steps. Financial management software turns … [Read more…]
Key takeaways Every acquisition changes finance immediately—close, consolidation and reporting all get harder with each new entity. Day-one data migration and system alignment set the tone for how smoothly an entity integrates. Standardising processes before the next deal saves far more time than fixing them after. Sector-specific requirements—regulatory, asset-heavy, or otherwise—add extra layers to group … [Read more…]