Tech, Trust, and Transformation
What SME Accountancy Firms can learn from CCH Connections 2025
By Liz Smith, Business Development Director at Lugo | NCSC Cyber Advisor
Why This Event Matters for SME Firms
With just 129 working days until the April 2026 MTD deadline, and AI transforming workflows across the profession, firms must act now to modernise operations, protect client data, and deliver value beyond compliance.
Keynote: “Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?”
Harriet Beveridge opened the day with a keynote that challenged us to focus on what truly drives performance. Her message – drawn from Olympic rowing – was clear: align everyday actions with long-term goals.
As an NCSC Cyber Advisor, I see this mindset as essential in cyber security. Whether reviewing internal processes or client-facing services, ask: “Will this make our firm faster, smarter, and more secure?”
CCH iFirm Product Strategy and MTD for Income Tax
Mohammed Sidat and Dorcas Mbwiti unveiled the latest updates to the CCH iFirm Cloud roadmap, including:
- A live demo of the Final Declaration feature for MTD
- AI-powered forecasting and onboarding tools
- Seamless API-led integrations with CRMs and ERPs
- Flexible migration paths from legacy systems
This session reinforced the importance of digital resilience – ensuring your systems are agile, compliant, and secure.
MTD Final Declaration: What Firms Need to Know
In a technical breakout, Dorcas Mbwiti and Leslie McQuigg walked us through the end-of-year adjustment and final declaration process. The platform’s ability to handle multiple income sources, automate calculations, and support client approval workflows is a game-changer for firms preparing for MTD.
For Lugo clients, this is a clear opportunity to streamline compliance while maintaining control and visibility – especially important in a cyber-aware environment.
AI in Accountancy: Adoption with Integrity
Across two sessions, Charlie Richards, Rachel Armstrong, Steve Wade, and Alex Bond-Burnett explored how firms are adopting AI safely and strategically.
Key takeaways:
- Treat AI like an intern – helpful, but needs supervision
- Mandatory training and clear usage policies
- Empowering junior professionals to experiment within guardrails
- Real-world risks of AI misinterpretation and data leakage
AI is powerful – but without proper controls, it can introduce vulnerabilities. Governance, education, and ethical use are non-negotiable.
Preparing for MTD: What Leading Firms Are Doing
Jennifer Staves from HMRC and Stephen Leonard from Winders shared practical strategies for preparing both clients and internal teams for MTD.
Highlights:
- Real-time data enables better forecasting and advisory services
- Firms must shift from awareness to action – now
- MTD principles can benefit all self-assessment clients, not just those mandated
This session underscored the importance of data integrity and readiness – both critical pillars of cyber resilience.
CCH iFirm API Strategy: Building Secure, Scalable Integrations
Steve Mann presented Wolters Kluwer’s API strategy, built on Microsoft Azure. The centralised API gateway offers:
- Secure, scalable access to key data
- Built-in monitoring and lifecycle management
- Faster, safer integrations with third-party tools
For firms looking to future-proof their operations, this is a vital step toward intelligent connectivity – enabling automation without compromising security.
Final Thoughts: Tech, Trust, and Transformation
CCH Connections 2025 made one thing clear: digital transformation must be secure, strategic, and human-centred.
Whether it’s adopting AI, preparing for MTD, or integrating new platforms, the firms that succeed will be those who align technology with trust – and performance with purpose.
