A while ago, we asked our authors a couple of questions – what trends and challenges accountants should be watching in 2026, and what kind of advice would they give our readers. Our authors, in turn, provided us with a novella.

So, we split the newsletter in two, and we’re offering you the second half today. The exact question we asked was: If you could give accountants one piece of advice for the year ahead, what would it be?

Here's their advise:

Director at LWA, Steve Collings, said:

Really understand the technical changes in accounting and auditing standards because there's a lot of change coming through in 2026 on top of other areas such as tax so it's important that accountants plan accordingly.

Michael Harris, financial crime risk consultant, said:

Treat AML as a core business risk that evolves over time, not a compliance task completed at onboarding. Regularly reassess clients, challenge explanations where necessary, and be prepared to act when risk changes.

Finally, with the review of AML supervisors by OPBAS expected during 2026, accountants should assume greater scrutiny of how AML obligations are applied in practice, not just how policies are written.

Mo Kanjilal, diversity expert, responded:

Look around and make sure you are taking inputs, advice and information from a wide variety of perspectives. With changes in the economy and people involved in work, it will be those who can look wider and make bolder decisions about their people strategy who will thrive.

Alistair Corrie, expert in business agility, said:

Think big, start small, act now. Whatever improvement you're contemplating for your work or for those you serve, don't wait for perfect conditions or complete plans. Identify the smallest meaningful experiment you could run this week, learn from it, then build on what works. The firms and finance teams making real progress aren't necessarily smarter, they're just better at learning through action rather than waiting for certainty.

Executive coach Helen Tuddenham told us:

Consider how you communicate financials and reports. To influence decision-making, the numbers need to tell a clear story. Think about how you translate the numbers into insights that help move your organisation forward.

Former lecturer John Taylor responded:

Stay alert. The business world is becoming increasing volatile and uncertain so all aspects of the organisation have to be safeguarded. Watch for trends, spot political uncertainties which might affect the supply chain or sales if the business is an exporter.

Closer links with the EU might provide some security but the ever-present unreliability of President Trump is dominating world trade at the moment – so the price of a peaceful professional life is eternal vigilance.

Mark Crowter, CEO of Galloways Partners, said:

You will survive Making Tax Digital – but only if you're ready! For those who are old enough, we've seen much more significant changes in the industry and always come through. While there's lots more work to, and no client is going to thank you for the extra deadlines (or fees!), I know that we have strong relationships with the folks we support, so we will get through.

Lean expert Ross Maynard told us:

My advice is linked to my thoughts on the advancing use of AI in accountancy. By now we all know that the AI is not infallible and can sometimes "invent" advice or commentary. My own experience is that the AI can overstate a point or conclusion when the evidence does really support such a strong verdict.

My advice, therefore, is to develop skills in "AI oversight". Learn how to review and audit the results and conclusions that AI produces to see how valid they are. Learn not to rely solely on the results of the AI but to use your own intuition and analytical skills to parse the important stuff from the gloss. Learn also the communication skills to explain the results of complicated analysis to concerned business clients.

Host of our monthly webinar, Lisa Weaver, echoed Ross’ sentiment, saying:

My advice would be to get on board with AI, if you haven't already. AI can no longer be ignored! But it is not about just using more technology, it's about using it smarter.

As a profession, we need to embrace the benefits like delegation of routine tasks to AI. This frees up our time for more value-added work, more time to provide advice to our business partners or clients, less time on boring and repetitive tasks. In this way, the profession will continue to evolve in line with business practice. We can't get left behind.

Tax expert Andy Rainford responded:

Expect serious challenges for your hospitality clients. The business rate revaluation exercise is likely to mean higher bills and yet more of a cash squeeze, even if the (United Kingdom) government does extend the associated relief. Cashflow will be key, so look at things that help spread big outgoings – such as agreeing time to pay arrangements for tax and VAT to buy breathing space.

And keep your ear to the ground for announcements that might help clients – local taxation isn't traditionally within the accountants' remit, but look at small business rate relief that your clients might not have considered and share information with them.

ICAEW past president Julia Penny explained:

Open your mind to the opportunities out there, even if they are also challenges, like Gen AI. Whilst change can seem hard, not changing can be disastrous for businesses and careers.

Take some time to invest in learning about all the new things that are relevant to your role. Make sure you consider the ethical challenges of anything new as well as the practical challenges and break overwhelming tasks down into bitesize pieces. And breathe!

Wayne Bartlett, IFRS guru, told us:

In terms of what accountants need, for me, the key word is adaptability. After years marked by global issues such as COVID, and the Ukraine war, there was perhaps a hope we might see a little more normality. Some hope! Expect the unexpected and adapt to it as adeptly as you can.

Our expert on Australian tax, Lucy Webb, explained:

My one piece of advice would be to embrace technology! Increasingly, clients are expecting advisers who are as technically competent as they are tech savvy. For any accountants who have been meaning to brush up on their AI prompting skills, or have been thinking about embracing automation, 2026 is definitely the year to get started.

Economist Jim Power told us:

In an environment of such uncertainty, managing costs carefully will be essential. The vulnerability posed by uncertain supply chains will also have to be manged very carefully. Despite the dissipation of the Greenland tariff threat, managing risk, uncertainty and volatility will keep business managers busy for the foreseeable future.

Consultant and trainer Gerry Egan says:

Develop, plan and stress test multiple scenarios for your business – especially if you export or import products and services to and from USA. We’ve all seen how whimsical the Trump administration is and the practice of imposing and changing tariffs seems irrational at best. However, it cannot be ignored, and it behoves all affected businesses to consider various what-if scenarios and build resilience to deal with them.

🧠 Final thoughts

So, the general advice here is to exercise adaptability, commit to careful judgement, and pursue clarity of thinking. Whether it’s AI, regulation, economic uncertainty, or client pressure, the message is consistent – pay attention!

Accountants who communicate better and apply professional scepticism will be more valuable than ever. 2026 is hard to predict, but it offers plenty of opportunity for those willing to step forward and define the year!