UK Accounting · Tax · Technology
Accounting, tax and technology
Practical writing on UK tax, accounting and digital systems, including self-employment, record keeping, Making Tax Digital and the places where professional judgement still matters.
ACA · FMAAT
A professional perspective, not a sales pitch
This section is written from around sixteen years of experience across accounting, finance and tax in the UK, principally involving owner-managed and smaller businesses.
The emphasis is not on publishing a career history, but on examining useful subjects clearly: changes in tax, the practical behaviour of accounting software, productive integrations and the point at which a simple process becomes more complicated in real life.
Artificial intelligence is treated like any other tool: with enthusiasm for what it can unlock, attention to the rules governing its use and a healthy suspicion of confident output that has not been checked.
Curiosity is useful only when it is paired with verification, context and professional judgement.
What belongs here
Rules, systems and judgement in practice
Clear explanations shaped by how work actually happens.
Rules in practice
Tax and accounting changes considered in the context of real processes and imperfect information.
Systems and software
Xero, Sage, FreeAgent, Zoho Books, Dext, Spotlight, Excel and the connections between them.
Automation with judgement
What software can accelerate, what still needs review and where human context must lead.
Workspace artwork: original people-free illustration created for The Perry; it is not Peter’s actual workspace.
Subjects in view
Professional work meets practical technology
Important information
General commentary, not individual advice
The accounting, tax and technology material on The Perry is personal commentary and general information only. It is not accounting, tax, legal, investment or other professional advice; it does not take account of any reader’s circumstances; and it does not create an adviser–client relationship. Rules and guidance can change. Verify current information and obtain advice from an appropriately qualified professional before acting.
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Will AI Replace Accountants and Bookkeepers? The Skills That Matter Next
Routine processing will contract, but accountability, judgement, client communication and control design will become more valuable. The job changes; the professional obligation remains.
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Client Data, Confidentiality and AI: A Risk Checklist for Accountants
Before putting client information into an AI tool, accountants should know what leaves their systems, why it is processed, where it goes and who remains accountable.
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From Bookkeeping to Better Decisions: AI Forecasting and Advisory Work
AI can identify patterns and prepare faster forecasts, but a useful forecast still depends on clean data, transparent assumptions and an accountant who understands the business.
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AI Bookkeeping Automation: Saving Time Without Losing Control
AI can remove friction from invoice capture, transaction coding and reconciliation. The gain is real, but only when the business keeps clear approval, exception and review controls.
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AI in Accounting and Bookkeeping: A Practical Guide for UK Businesses
AI is already changing bookkeeping and accountancy, but the sensible question is not whether to use it. It is where it adds value, what must remain under human…
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Working from home when self-employed: simplified expenses or actual costs?
A practical comparison of HMRC simplified homeworking expenses and the actual-cost method for UK sole traders, with common mistakes to avoid.
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Making Tax Digital for Income Tax in 2026: a practical first-year checklist
Who entered Making Tax Digital for Income Tax in April 2026, what records must be kept, when quarterly updates are due, and what still happens at year end.
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