One of the biggest stories in September was the announcement that, eight years after parliament armed HMRC with corporate ‘failure to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion’ powers, the agency has finally pulled the trigger. Bennett Verby, a Stockport-based accountancy practice, has been charged under the Criminal Finances Act 2017 in connection with an alleged R&D tax credits repayment fraud. Read about how the first ever criminal prosecution of a business under this legislation focuses not on a shadowy offshore entity but a mainstream accountancy firm.
Staying on the subject of failures in governance, we look at the new stewardship code taking effect in January 2026. Its stated aim is to cut unnecessary reporting and improve the quality of investor engagement in corporate governance and strategy. We explore the five principal areas of change.
There are sustainability updates for accounting professionals in business and the public sector this month. For the former, we look at what SMEs should be doing now to prepare for sustainability reporting as well as the financial risks for larger entities with direct or indirect links to the ocean. For the latter, we look at the requirement for state-funded bodies to follow the same sustainability reporting rules as central government.
Our main interviewee this month is Rajiv Chandra FCCA, who, as director of finance analytics and value creation at Virgin Media O2, is keeping an eye on the business threat from big tech companies. With his team of data scientists and finance professionals, he is seeking ways to stay ahead of the telecoms and entertainment curve.
Speaking of top talent, we also look at how, while finance functions are still feeling the recruitment and retention crunch, there are signs that the crisis might be easing.
Finally, September saw the launch of ACCA’s annual virtual conference, Accounting for the Future. This year’s theme is ‘Trust and innovation in the new era of finance’. Register to attend live 25–27 November or on demand, and earn up to 21 free CPD units.
Further information
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