This bonus episode of our Learn Better Podcast features Kaplan’s very own, Zoë Lister.  Zoë has worked at Kaplan for 17 years and worked her way up throughout her career to become the curriculum manager for our ICAEW courses. As part of her role, she focuses on the skills and behaviours our learners can gain throughout their studies.  However, since hitting a ‘bump in the road,’ and finding out she has breast cancer, Zoë has used her personal experiences to provide techniques and advice on how to recover from your own hurdles - no matter what they are.

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host and Head of Learning at Kaplan, Stuart Pedley Smith, talks all about Making Tax Digital.  Our guest is the director of Making Tax Digital for HMRC, Craig Ogilvie. His experience and passion for this initiative puts Craig in a perfect position to explain what Making Tax Digital is, and why it’s so important.   

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host and Head of Learning at Kaplan, Stuart Pedley Smith, talks about managing a diverse workforce. Our guest is Rob Brown, who is the co-founder of Accounting Influencers Roundtable, and the host of Accounting Influencers Podcast. Because of this experience, he is extremely knowledgeable about the accounting industry as a whole, as well as talent management, diversity, different generations, and remote working.

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host and Head of Learning at Kaplan, Stuart Pedley Smith, talks all about outsourcing and offshoring accountancy services. Our guest is Arun Mehra, the founder and CEO of Samera - a Surrey-based accountancy practice. Arun started his practice 25 years ago with just one client, and now talks about why offshoring is something to consider.

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host and Head of Learning at Kaplan, Stuart Pedley Smith, talks all about using social media to advance you business.  Our guest is Samantha Mitcham, who built her own accountancy practice from nothing, with a very intentional social media strategy. She now has around 19,000 LinkedIn connections - significantly more than the average.

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, takes a peak into the hidden world of money laundering and financial crime. Our guest is Joe Fisher, who at the time of the recording worked as the Head of Compliance and Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) at Raisin UK.    

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, explores the benefits of learning and teaching online. Our guest is Dr. Cristi Ford: The Vice President of Academic Affairs at D2L - a Canadian education company that developed the Brightspace Learning Management System. 

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, discovers the importance of data and valuable information within the field of accounting. Our guest is Ian Pay, who is the Head of Data and Technology at ICAEW. He explains the evolving role of data and technology in the accounting and finance sectors, as well as how the innovation of technology practices is shaping the relationship between data and accounting.   

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, looks into the world of banking. Our guest for this episode is Tanya Retter. Tanya has worked within the banking industry for over 25 years and is now the Chartered Banking Institute's Executive Director of Education.

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, speaks to guest Ben Wildavsky about his book on how to pave a successful career. Our impressive guest, Ben Wildavsky, is a scholar, veteran higher education writer, strategist, speaker, host of the podcast Higher Ed Spotlight, and author of The Great Brain Race and The Career Arts.

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, looks at artificial intelligence and the impact that this is going to make. Our guest is Dan Sodergren: a founder, writer, trainer, and an accomplished speaker with over 20 years of experience in telling stories on the impact of technology on life and work.  Dan is an expert on the future of work. But not only this - he also managed to put his type 2 diabetes into remission through changes in his lifestyle and diet.

In this very special bonus episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, is joined by Kaplan UK CEO, Kathy Walton. Kathy and Stuart discuss all things apprenticeships, professional qualifications and university while drawing comparisons between all options to help you reach your career aspirations.

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, looks at how the people you are surrounded by, your values and your morals can help you to access opportunities. Fatima Hassan is our guest for this episode. She heads up the Finance Strategy & Development team and delivers people initiatives for the finance community at Network Rail. Fatima is also a Trustee Director of the Railways Pension Scheme, and in the past was responsible for the finance graduates. But these are only job titles, Fatima shows how her job titles only tell part of her story, and her values and beliefs are what have helped shape her career so far.

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, looks at accountancy all around the world. Our guest for this episode is Dominic Horne, Senior Manager at Robert Walters - one of the world’s leading specialists in professional recruitment. Robert Walters has over 4000 employees worldwide, operating in over 30 different countries.  While a gap year intrigued a lot of us, everyone has a different experience. Some may find this to be the trip of a lifetime that provides clarity in terms of their future career, and others might consider it just an expensive holiday! But if you work in finance, you may find that you can get the best experience all while working abroad.  Dominic and Stuart discuss everything about accountancy around the world.

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, discusses the importance of the climate change issue and how this links to the finance sector.  Zach Stein is our guest on this episode. He is a Co-Founder of The Carbon Collective, an organisation based in California that makes it simple for people to invest in companies that offer climate solutions and divest from companies reliant on fossil fuels. This episode explains the simple message: to quote Zach, “Climate change is the most important issue facing the world. We still have time to avoid the worst-case scenarios, but only if we invest capital in climate change solutions that can be adopted and implemented quickly,”. 

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, looks at the relationship between technology and the accountancy and finance marketplace.  Neil Bertram is our guest today, Consultant, Board Director and a Chief Financial Officer for SMEs. Neil has a significant amount of experience in the finance sector that he has put to good use to build a portfolio career.    After COVID-19, many people questioned their futures and what they wanted to do with their life. One option is to take control over how and when you work. People are starting to think in terms of multiple streams of income rather than one, and become open to the idea of a mix of full or part-time employment, freelancing or consulting, and do what Neil has done: have a portfolio career.   COVID-19 was the catalyst for many people to take a long hard look at their future. 

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, looks at personal and professional failures, and how this has a significant factor on success. Our guest in this episode is Asif Muhammad, CEO of a company called Main Course Associates with offices in London, Italy, Spain and the USA. The company specialises in providing financial, accounting and management support to those in the hospitality industry. But alongside this, Asif is also an investor, turnaround specialist, serial entrepreneur, writer and philanthropist and much more… 

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, looks at Charlotte Lewis’ career in finance paired with her life in sports. Our guest for this episode is Kaplan’s very own, Charlotte Lewis. She has managed to combine a very successful career as a tax lecturer with her love for sport and competition and will be representing Great Britain in the World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Spain in April 2023

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, discusses how to cope with stress and reach out for help when needed. Our guest is Gareth Winters, Relationship Development Officer for CABA - the independent occupational charity for the ICAEW community. In his role, Gareth gets to talk to a whole variety of different people, at different stages in their lives and careers, but what makes his observations interesting is that they all work in the world of finance and are seeking help in some way to get them and their lives back on track. 

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast host, Stuart Pedley Smith, Head of Learning at Kaplan, looks at crypto and digital assets in the world of tax. Our guest is Chris Smith, Personal Tax Director at BKL - an accountancy, advisory and tax support firm in Finchley, North London. This episode is all about crypto and digital assets in the tax world, as Chris goes well beyond what most people would consider the traditional tax route. He has developed expertise in advising on the tax implications of crypto-currencies.