While you can’t always predict what’s coming next or how you’ll respond, your employer or clients will expect you to. Our ability to adapt and respond with resilience, is what makes the difference. Or at least that’s what I’ll be telling my kids if it rains throughout the bank holiday weekend while we’re camping in Sussex. Fingers-crossed, we’ll all get to enjoy at least a little bit of sunshine!
April began for me at the Digital Accountancy Show (DAS) – imagine Accountex in a nightclub – the event always feels fresh and buzzing and this year it didn’t disappoint. I was joined on stage by ICB member Helen Rogers MICB PM.Dip, who is now also one of our newest members of the Advisory Council. Together with Kreston Reeves’ Dayle Rodriguez, we discussed how to assess and adopt new technology and get buy-in from your team. I also had the pleasure of listening to a session hosted by another new ICB Advisory Council member, Elspeth Cordray MICB PM.Dip, who is quickly getting a name for herself as a great e-commerce speaker and leader.
It's a highlight of my job to catch up with ICB members both on and off stage at events like DAS, and the Festival of Accounting and Bookkeeping (FAB) last month. I’m always all ears to hear about your challenges and successes, and to find out how you’re feeling about your career. It’s clear that bookkeepers are showing up, speaking up, and being recognised for the vital role you play in keeping the economy ticking. Whether you attend events to learn, network, or just to enjoy being in a room full of like-minded professionals, you’ll always gain a real sense of momentum.
And with HMRC’s official launch of multi-agent authorisation, a year ahead of mandation, the ICB team has been gaining its own momentum working alongside industry partners to prepare for the next phase of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. We joined Sage on their nationwide roadshows and took part in HMRC-led events, ensuring that the voice of the professional bookkeeper continues to be heard loud and clear. Our MTD webinars, packed with guidance and clarity, have proven to be the most popular we've run in recent years. If you missed them, they’re still available to watch on catch up (please note you will need to be an ICB member and logged into the website to view)
And speaking of looking forward, we were absolutely delighted to welcome the new members of the ICB Advisory Council to our offices this month. With representatives from across the UK, and a wide range of specialisms and perspectives, this group will be central to shaping ICB’s strategy and championing the profession. You can read more about the first gathering of the Advisory Council here.
There’s never been a more exciting time to be a bookkeeper, and it’s a privilege to guide and support a community that is so committed, so skilled, and so full of purpose. No matter what the weather forecast says, there’s both sunshine and showers up ahead for all of us. By getting prepared — equipping ourselves with the right tools, skills, and mindset (and in my case perhaps a cagoule) — we’ll be ready for whatever challenges lie ahead.
