Wilds at Accountex 2025 – where AI meets sustainability

This week, Lyanne and Eleanor represented Wilds Chartered Accountants at Accountex Summit Manchester, a one-day event at Manchester Central that brings together thousands of accountancy and finance professionals. The summit offered a packed programme of seminars covering everything from AI and Making Tax Digital to compliance and sustainability, alongside more than 120 exhibitors showcasing the latest software and services shaping the future of the profession.

For Wilds, it was more than just an event – it was a window onto where the profession is headed, and a source of fresh ideas to bring home to our clients.

A day full of energy, connections, and ideas

Lyanne reflects on the event:

“I attended Accountex yesterday with Eleanor and the day was full of energy. It was great to meet up with some old friends and make some new connections.”

“From a practice point of view AI was featuring in many products and I came across a couple of products that I felt Wilds and our clients could benefit from.”

“Sustainability and the environment also have a growing following and we are looking at some training in this area as it becomes a topic that many of our clients are dealing with either directly or through their supply chain.”

By the end of the day, Lyanne was not just inspired; she had meetings booked in and a list of development and strategy ideas to look at. The best kind of day!

First impressions: Eleanor’s perspective

This was Eleanor’s first time attending Accountex, and she came away with a strong sense of both the scale of change and what lies ahead:

“Yesterday was my first time at Accountex – the stands were buzzing and there were conversations everywhere about where the profession is heading.”

“The big thing that stood out to me was Sage introduced the MTD AI Agent. Even as a newcomer I could tell that this was important.”

“What surprised me the most was how much AI was everywhere – not just in Sage’s announcement, but in the other stands showing off this as a new feature. It felt like AI is here and helping change how we work.”

“I also took a keen interest in the sustainability zone – they explained how to measure and report carbon footprints and gave advice on greener choices that are also cost effective. It showed me that sustainability will also play a big part in businesses in the years to come.”

Looking forward

Accountex 2025 delivered on its promise: a day of insight, connection, and forward momentum. It confirmed that we are at a pivotal moment in the profession, with AI moving from a “future opportunity” to a “present reality,” and sustainability is no longer optional for many businesses.

Stay tuned for updates as we roll out new tools, training, and services inspired by what we saw. If you’d like to discuss how any of these themes might affect your business – AI, MTD, or sustainability – just get in touch.