Course outline:
Our one day Compliance Update Conference has been specially designed for accountants who require an update on current compliance issues. Speakers will look at recent and upcoming key changes together with other current issues, to enable those attending to give the best possible advice to their clients.
Who should attend the conference?
Mercia's Compliance Update Conference is a must-attend event for any accountancy firms who require an update on current compliance issues.
Through this one-day virtual conference, you will get practical advice about all the latest changes and challenges currently facing the accountancy sector.
Online Conference
The on-demand version of this conference is now available to purchase separately from the Mercia Live event. This allows you to stay up-to-date on technical updates at your convenience. If you've already registered for the live event, you'll now receive complimentary access to the recording.
Limited time special offer: Upskill your entire firm for the price of one person!
Book your place at our live Compliance Update Conference 2025 and ensure your whole team is fully equipped for the changes ahead.
Complete this form to secure your complimentary places. Please note the website pricing does not reflect this offer.
Full conference agenda
09:30am - Welcome and Introduction
Welcome and Introduction to the conference
09:35am - Who are you?
Julia Penny, JS Penny
This session will allow you to understand the changing requirements in relation to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) that affect how an accountant operates, including requirements relating to identity verification and accounts filing at Companies House.
The webinar will cover:
- Identity verification (IDV) requirements for Companies House
- The requirements for firms to register as Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs)
- The rules that ACSPs must follow to verify identity for Companies House
- The difference between the IDV and anti-money laundering (AML) identification requirements
- Pitfalls and opportunities in relation to the above.
10:35am - Refreshment Break
Refreshment Break
10:45am - Practice Assurance Findings
Gemma Archer, Mercia Group
This session will look at recent review findings from QAD and Mercia reviews related to practice assurance, client money and DPB areas to help firms self-assess those areas which may require attention before their next regulatory inspection.
11:45am - Refreshment Break
Refreshment Break.
11:50am - HMRC clearances demystified
Craig Simpson, Bates Weston Tax Advisory Limited
Craig takes us through the differing types of HMRC clearance applications available, when to use them, what they mean technically and in practice, and the common misconceptions. He will also talk through HMRC practice and the circumstances under which HMRC will and won’t grant a clearance. He will also provide some examples of recent clearance applications and their contents.
12:50pm - Lunch Break
Lunch Break
13:50pm - Essential Company, Business and Employment Law Update
Louise Dunford, LDC Training
This session will cover:
- Directors and shareholders – recent developments including transfer of shares, unfair prejudice etc
- Impact of the ECCTA 2023
- Companies House changes
- New corporate offences, including recent guidance
- Implementation dates
- New filing penalties
- Succession in small businesses – two key cases and general issues
- Employment status – new cases and developments in this area
- Payroll issues
- Holiday – recent cases, carry over and holiday pay for casuals
- Tips and Gratuities
- Minimum wage
- Employment Law Reform - summary of what we know and implications including family friendly rights, flexible working, harassment, unfair dismissal rights
- Redundancy procedure and pitfalls
- Any recent developments, including restrictive covenants, franchisees and good faith (Vodafone), and professional negligence.
15:20pm - Refreshment Break
Refreshment Break.
15:35pm - Getting the most out of your firm's compliance review
Gemma Archer, Mercia Group
This session will cover how to prepare for your compliance review, whether it is being performed internally or by an external reviewer such as Mercia. It will also look at regulator guidance on how to prepare for a regulatory inspection.
16:20pm - Close of Conference
Close of Conference
Conference speakers
Julia Penny
Julia Penny is a Chartered Accountant, specialising in writing about and training auditing and financial reporting. She has over 25 years' of training experience, covering a wide variety of course types, from quick updates to in-depth workshops, and she is renowned for her lively course delivery.
In recent years, Julia has become a social media enthusiast, so do follow her updates on Twitter.
Julia is very involved with ICAEW activities, being a Council and Board member and sitting on the Ethics Advisory Committee. She also sits on the Audit and Assurance Board of the AAT, their equivalent to an audit committee.
Gemma Archer
Gemma jointly leads the team responsible for Mercia’s file and compliance reviews, including performing reviews at client sites or remotely. She also lectures on Mercia’s Early Careers Programme and on specialist areas such as charities and academies, ESG and Mercia methodology, as well as advising clients on technical queries.
Gemma joined Mercia from audit practice in January 2021, where she had worked for 13 years, specialising in not-for-profit and charity clients for over a decade. Gemma has a keen interest in academies and sits on several ESFA working groups.
Louise Dunford
Louise has been continuously involved in training and consultancy since 1987, both for professional firms and for commercial organisations. She also worked as an associate senior lecturer at the University of Portsmouth. Louise specialises mainly in aspects of practical employment law, company law and on professional negligence, and has published widely in leading academic and professional journals.
She is an associate of Complete HR Ltd, providing practical and pro-active assistance with employment and HR issues for SMEs.
Craig Simpson
Craig Simpson is owner of Bates Weston Tax Advisory Limited and specialises in providing tax advice to privately owned business, family offices and practice support services to other firms of accountants. Craig is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Chartered Institute of Taxation. He is also a regular contributor to Taxation Magazine and is author of Tolley's Tax Planning Family Investment Companies.
Looking for On-Demand
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