Insights from the 2020 Annual Conference in Birmingham

Yesterday, members of the Wilds team attended the 2020 Annual Conference in Birmingham, hosted by 2020 Innovation. The day brought together leading voices from across the accountancy sector to explore new developments, technologies, and ways of working that will shape the future of the profession.

Our team came away inspired and full of ideas — here are a few of their highlights and key takeaways:

Jacky

“Had a fantastic day at the 2020 annual conference catching up on what’s new in the accountancy industry. One takeaway that’s useful to accountants and businesses in general is that when looking at AI, work out what you want the AI to do for you – and then pay for it appropriately.”

Eleanor

“Yesterday was a great day. We had discussions around MTD, client service, digital transformation and smarter ways of working. It showed me that it’s not just about technology – it’s about mindset, embracing future changes, and keeping people at the heart of everything we do. That’s what will shape the future of our profession.”

Zohaib

“Yesterday was an eye-opener regarding MTD and how easy it will be from a client perspective to submit quarterly updates to us. We explored tools we can use to help clients before submissions go to HMRC. We’ll be contacting clients over the next few weeks to explain how these changes will affect them moving forward.”

James

“At 2020 I enjoyed learning about ‘Achieving the AI Edge’ with Thomas Akintan and Dan Boyles. They explained the ethics around using AI in business and the importance of GDPR compliance, while showing how AI can support repetitive tasks without replacing people. We still have a lot to learn about the future of AI – and how it can help us while keeping data protection front of mind.”

Mohsin

“The theme ‘Big Enough to Cope, Small Enough to Care’ really resonated with me. The sessions covered industry updates, future planning, and the importance of cybersecurity within practice. Ian Fletcher and Gordon Gilchrist also spoke about valuing and caring for clients. In a world full of numbers, our proactive approach – rather than reactive – helps us maintain client satisfaction and ensures we always put customer needs first.”

The 2020 Conference offered valuable insights into how the accountancy profession continues to evolve – not just through technology, but through mindset, ethics, and a people-first approach.

At Wilds, we’re committed to embracing these changes while staying true to what matters most: supporting our clients with clarity, care, and forward-thinking advice.