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

The number of human-initiated cyber attacks declined during the Covid-19 pandemic, but there has been an increase in automated ‘bot ‘attacks targeting financial services organisations, according to research by LexisNexis

Hundreds of thousands of small businesses denied claims under business interruption (BI) insurance policies for losses arising from the pandemic are set to receive pay-outs, after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) won a test case against insurers in the High Court

To assist accountants, tax advisers and auditors in dealing with the coronavirus crisis, all our related covid-19 coverage will be available here as soon as new announcements are made, plus expert analysis

Chartered IIA study raises concerns for corporate governance during coronavirus crisis, and reveals the extent of disruption to internal audit teams, as 46% of internal audit teams have been affected by redeployment during coronavirus lockdown

With buyers and sellers arguing over every penny, M&A negotiations are likely to become more contentious, complex and expensive. Duff & Phelps’ Andrew Probert looks how accounting policies can lead to disputes as ‘coronavirus’ gets written into agreements

MPs have been told that possible tax reforms post Covid, coupled with increased digitalisation could save accountants from spending their lives ‘doing pointless repetitive tasks’ such as calculating tax returns

Research suggests worldwide economic recovery is now underway, but pre-pandemic trade issues and social distancing likely to affect bounceback, while UK businesses are growing increasingly concerned about Brexit

HMRC has written to all VAT-registered businesses in Great Britain trading with the EU and/or the rest of the world, highlighting what they need to do to prepare for the UK’s exit from the EU at the end of this year

The Chartered Insurance Institute has urged insurance professionals and government to act now to reduce the need for legal proceedings like the FCA’s business interruption test case in future

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

The government has tightened the rules on social gatherings amid concerns about a spike in coronavirus cases, and has limiting groups to a maximum of six people, although workplaces are exempt from the changes