Weekender Digest
WEEKLY EDITION BY MARINA MOUKA
Welcome to your latest Accountancy Age’s Weekend Digest, your go-to source for the week’s top insights and updates tailored for accountants.
◼ Ten+1 essential MTD ITSA tools to help your firm stay compliant and avoid last-minute chaos.
◼ Big Four ethics scandal reveals a deeper cultural crisis regulators can’t fix alone.
◼ Ex-PwC partner Adam Waller to lead Cooper Parry’s national tax strategy amid rising demand.
TOP LONG WEEKEND READS
INSIGHTS
With the 2026 MTD ITSA deadline approaching, accountants face increasing pressure to choose the right digital tools. This guide reviews 10+1 HMRC-recognised software solutions—from household names like Sage and QuickBooks to budget-friendly picks like QuickFile and KashFlow. Each tool offers a mix of compliance, usability, and support, tailored to different firm sizes and client needs. From spreadsheet bridging to CRM integration, the article highlights essential features firms should prioritise now to avoid future disruption and ensure a smooth digital transition.
NEWS ANALYSIS
The $8.5 million PCAOB fines issued to Deloitte, PwC and EY Netherlands for ethics exam cheating expose deeper cultural failings within the Big Four. Despite claims that only a few individuals were involved, repeated incidents from 2018 to 2022 suggest systemic weakness and inadequate internal oversight. With senior figures implicated, the scandal raises concerns about pressures, accountability and ethical standards. Regulators may step in, but true reform requires cultural renewal—driven by leadership, reinforced daily, and rooted in values rather than box-ticking or crisis PR.
NEWS
Cooper Parry has appointed former PwC partner Adam Waller as its new Head of Tax Consulting to drive national expansion. Waller, who spent 14 years at PwC and brings 25+ years of tax experience, will lead strategic advisory services in business tax, private client work and transactions. His arrival signals Cooper Parry’s growing focus on scaling its national tax offering and competing with larger firms by combining technical excellence with a people-first culture. The move reflects a wider trend of Big Four talent moving to agile, mid-tier firms.
🗳️ WEEKLY POLL RESULTS
MORE THAN A NEWSLETTER
Editorial
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