Practice Hot Topics - July 2026

Event information

As AI becomes embedded in everyday accounting work, it brings not just opportunity but a new layer of ethical, regulatory, and professional risk. This Practice Hot Topics session focuses on what ICAEW members in practice need to consider beyond the technology itself, covering governance, liability, confidentiality, and regulatory expectations. Attendees will leave with a clearer view of how to manage AI responsibly within existing professional frameworks.

Key benefits

• Understand the key ethical, compliance, and liability risks arising from AI use in practice and how they apply to your day-to-day work.
• Gain practical insight from the ICAEW QAD team on key risk areas to consider when using AI in practice.
• Learn how to strengthen engagement terms and client communication to manage AI-related risk.

About the speakers

	Cerys Freemantle, Senior Professional Consultant, ICAEW Cerys had a varied professional background before coming to accountancy giving her a wide range of commercial experience. She trained within a smaller firm before moving to a top 10 firm specialising in audit and quality. Cerys also has experience in industry as a financial accountant in a large entity before joining ICAEW.
	Ian Pay, Head of Data Analytics and Tech, ICAEW Prior to joining ICAEW in March 2022, Ian worked for over 10 years at PwC in Data Analytics, specialising in External Audit and Data Acquisition and developing robust and automated ETL processes to support the firm’s award-winning Halo suite of applications. Ian also played an active role in the development and delivery of training courses, with digital upskilling being an area he is particularly passionate about.
	Kat Hearn, Senior Technical Manager, Practice, ICAEW Kat Hearn is a Senior Technical Manager in ICAEW’s Practice team, where she provides technical guidance and support for members working in practice and member firms. She brings a strong foundation in audit and technical education, having worked across professional training, higher education, and senior finance roles. Her career spans Big 4 audit, ICAEW exam teaching, university lecturing, and strategic finance leadership in both SMEs and the education sector.

Series dates

CPD hours

ICAEW's Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Regulations require a minimum number of hours and an ethics requirement. Attending this event could contribute up to 1hr of verifiable CPD, providing you can demonstrate that the content is relevant to your role.

A copy of the event booking confirmation email is accepted as evidence of verifiable CPD. Click here to use ICAEW’s self-assessment tool to help you work out how much CPD you will need to fulfil each year.

Costs

There is no charge to attend this event. ICAEW members are welcome to join.

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