Features, Accountancy

Six unmissable events for accountants in 2021

Modulr By Modulr on 27 January 2021   •   5 mins read
<span id="hs_cos_wrapper_name" class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_text" style="" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="text" >Six unmissable events for accountants in 2021</span>

With the full roll-out of Covid vaccines not due to take place for several months, the event calendar for accountants in 2021 is currently a mix of online and in-person events.

Attending events is an enormously useful exercise for accountants, allowing them to learn about technology developments related to their profession, complete Continuing Professional Development requirements (CPD) and network with their peers to build new contacts, compare notes or, as may happen once in a while, have a chance encounter that leads to commercial opportunity.

The increasing popularity of virtual content delivery gives accountants the flexibility to attend events even in their busiest periods, taking out just an hour or two from their working days.


At Modulr, the FinTech giving accountants back their time, we’ve compiled the following list to help you out.

QuickBooks Connect UK 2021

Last year's event was cancelled due to the pandemic's onset, so QuickBooks Connect’s 2021 event will be taking place online in March.

The event brings together accountants, entrepreneurs and SMEs to educate them about the latest product developments in QuickBooks and across their software partner ecosystem.

It will also feature keynote talks from inspiring business leaders and accountants with first-hand experience of digitising their practices.

Keynote speakers have not yet been announced but in previous years have included James Caan, Brian Cox and Jo Malone.

Date: 3 March 2021

The full programme will be revealed shortly on QuickBooks Connect’s microsite.

The Great British Business Show

The Great British Business Show is the largest business exhibition in the UK.

Over 25,000 businesses are set to attend the Excel centre event, alongside 400 exhibitors providing support services to the SME economy. It isn’t too late for accounting firms to enquire about exhibiting in their own right, but a more cost-effective option to meet new clients may be through the speed networking sessions, which allow attendees to pitch to other businesses.

Keynote speakers confirmed include Oliver Cookson (founder of MyProtein) and Sophie Baron (founder of Mamamade).

The 2021 exhibition will feature a Covid-19 Help Hub, providing workshops and masterclasses on how businesses can deal with the fall out of the pandemic.

Location: Excel London
Date: 9-10 June 2021
Registration details here 

Digital Accountancy Show

The inaugural Digital Accountancy Show takes place in June and is focussed on the latest technologies, apps, and processes to help UK accountants in practice be at the cutting edge of their profession.

The event features an App Village showcasing leading cloud-based apps, which integrate with core accountancy software, to optimise and streamline their workflows.

Over 50 speakers will appear at the event, representing both digital and accountant leaders who have expertise in building cloud-based practices. Highlights from the speaker list include Tim Wheelhouse (Head of Finance Technology, UK Government), Adrian Blair (CEO, Receipt Bank) and Caroline Plumb (Founder, Fluidly). Speaker themes will include digital transformation, app advisory and building a brand using digital platforms.

Location: Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, London
Date: 30 June 2021
Registration details here

ICAEW Virtually Live 2021

Following a successful pilot last year, with over 5,000 accountants in business and practice registering, ICAEW’s Virtually Live will be taking place again this June over three days.

It will incorporate the Institute’s flagship Practice and CFO Conferences, with the option for attendees to attend for one or multiple days.

Programme details have not yet been announced, but the content theme is likely to continue to explore how the accounting profession is being affected in uncertain times, alongside key technical accounting and tax updates.

Speakers from last year’s event included Paul Johnson (Director, IFS), Philip King (interim Small Business Commissioner) and Oliver Deacon (ICAEW Academy Trainer and ex FD at Microsoft)

Location: Online
Date: 15-17 June 2021
Registration details here

Accountex Summit North

Accountex London may have just been postponed for the second year running due to Covid-19 concerns but, as it stands, Accountex Summit North is still due to go ahead in September at Manchester Central.

Attendees can get up to speed with practical advice and tips from industry thought leaders at this free, one day conference.

Education sessions are CPD accredited, with participants acquiring eight CPD hours by attending. Themes covered will include cybersecurity and MTD.

Location:  Manchester Central 
Date: 21 September 2021 
Registration details: Accountex Summit North

AccountingWEB Live

AccountingWEB is the UK's leading website for accountants and finance professionals, having first launched 23 years ago.

After being rescheduled from last year, the first AccountingWeb Live will now be taking place at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry this coming December.

The conference draws heavily on the AccountingWEB community, with the Any Answers theatre taking centre stage, in a 100 seat Question Time style session to discuss the accounting profession's issues and challenges.

The AccountingWEB Academy strand is CPD accredited and will help accountants get to grips with notable software packages and technology developments relevant to their profession.

Location: Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Date: 1-2 December 2021
Registration details here

So, if you thought Covid-19 meant the end of conferences, events and chance encounters, then think again.

While we all wait for in-person gatherings to resume, there are a wealth of virtual events and professional development opportunities available online.

Since the start of the pandemic, conference and event organisers have had to think outside of the box about how they deliver their offering. The formats may now be shorter to avoid the dreaded Zoom fatigue, but they are also a lot smarter too and it seems likely that many of the pandemic-induced innovations we’ve seen will remain.


Accountants wanting to stay ahead of the technology that will shape the future of accountancy services should also join Modulr’s Pathfinders programme – the first network of its kind in the industry, dedicated to developing new innovations for accountants to deliver better services to their clients.

After all, helping your practice and your clients succeed means being the first to find new paths…even if the route taken is virtual rather than physical.

 
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