UK has reached a ‘perilous turning point’, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as he tightens up Covid restrictions for England for up to six months after his top scientific advisers warn urgent action was needed to combat the spike in infections

Companies are to be told to put plans for staff to return to work in offices on hold, as the government introduces stricter controls on social and work activity in a bid to contain any escalation in outbreaks of coronavirus

Large businesses and public bodies will be mandated to report regularly on the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery in their supply chains, as the government moves to tighten up legislation in this area

With six weeks to go until the coronavirus job retention scheme (CJRS) finishes, while HMRC figures show a steady decline in the number of workers on furlough, pressure is growing for the government to extend the support beyond the end of October

The government has announced a legal requirement on people to self-isolate when instructed by NHS Test and Trace, with fines for those who fail to do so and for any businesses which threaten self-isolating staff with redundancy

In this week’s accountancy career moves, partners appointed at RSM and McGuireWoods, president named at the Personal Finance Society, and CFO appointments at Paysafe Group, Energy Assets Group

During the pandemic, firms were forced to work remotely, but how do you run a people business without human contact? Smith & Williamson’s Giles Murphy predicts the death of the office could be exaggerated

Ex-PwC partner Pauline Wallace has been named as the first chair of the new UK Accounting Standards Endorsement Board (UKEB), the body tasked with endorsing and adopting international accounting standards once the UK leaves the EU

More than half of those furloughed since May returned to work by mid-August according to data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), but unemployment levels are increasing

With online CPD courses offering help and advice to tackle the latest government guidelines and adaptation of working practices, why are accountants not seizing the opportunities available? Susan Divall from the Institute of Financial Accountants considers the risks of not prioritising professional development

National Payroll Week this year is an opportunity to recognise the unique challenges faced by all payroll professionals in the form of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), explored by Joanne Harris, technical commercial manager at Parasol

In this week’s accountancy career moves, partner promotions at Mazars, BDO and Deloitte, and chair named at The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group