We are delighted to open the AIT 2026 agenda with a Directors’ social networking lunch at Humble Grape, a magnificent double‑aspect vaulted wine bar set within the historic old crypt of St Bride’s Church on Fleet Street. We look forward to welcoming our member firms and suppliers for good conversation and a warm, enjoyable start to the year’s programme.

The 2026 AIT Conference focuses on the strategic role IT directors play in driving growth across the UK’s leading accounting Firms. In a profession where reliability, innovation and long-term resilience define competitive advantage, trust has become the most valuable currency. As technology becomes ever more central to firm performance, growth increasingly depends on one critical factor: trust – trust in systems, trust in data, trust in leadership and trust in the teams delivering change.

This year’s theme explores how IT leaders create the conditions for sustainable growth, enabling firms to innovate confidently, adopt new technologies and scale with resilience. As firms shift from digital transformation to being digital, the focus is on the ongoing state of the organisation – how it thinks, behaves and operates every day. In a tech-centric world, trust is the core enabler of this shift, allowing firms to embed digital capability into the fabric of their operations.

Through keynotes, a panel discussion, roundtables and collaborative supplier sessions, delegates will explore how trust, growth and effective execution strengthen one another and accelerate firm-wide progress.

We will cover:

  • Strategic Technology Leadership – cultivating confidence in vision, delivery and digital direction
  • Data trust and Digital Integrity – ensuring reliability, transparency and responsible use of data
  • Growth through being digital – resilient, efficient, future ready technology enabling sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving market
  • High trust teams and culture – creating environments where teams feel empowered, psychologically safe and aligned with the Firm’s strategic ambitions
  • Leading change with clarity – practical approaches for IT leaders to inspire belief, manage risk and drive transformation with integrity
InnovAIT 2025 Picture Gallery

InnovAIT 2025: The Future of the Accountancy Marketplace

The AIT UK Conference brought together IT directors and senior leaders from many of the UK’s top accountancy firms. It offered members a valuable opportunity to connect with firms and suppliers through a dynamic mix of informative presentations, roundtable discussions, and engaging social activities. In its fifteenth year, the AIT Conference had earned a reputation as the go-to event for IT professionals in the accounting sector and their key suppliers.

Last year, we focused on The Future of the Accountancy Marketplace, examining the significant transformation underway in the industry. IT Directors and Heads of IT Operations face both strategic and operational challenges as firms adapt to evolving technologies, regulatory shifts, and market dynamics.Through panel discussions and roundtable sessions, we explored the implications of these changes for technology and the ways in which suppliers are supporting firms in navigating this new landscape.

Key areas of discussion included:

  • Cybersecurity – safeguarding firms in an increasingly digital world
  • Artificial Intelligence – its growing role in accountancy and automation
  • Data Management – leveraging insights for strategic advantage
  • Private Equity & M&A – understanding investment trends and consolidation
  • Sustainability – integrating ESG considerations into business operations
  • Workforce Management – engagement, retention & operational efficiency
  • Tax & Compliance – including Making Tax Digital (MTD)

InnovAIT 2025 was an invaluable opportunity to engage with industry leaders, gain fresh perspectives, and shape the technological direction of the sector.

InnovAIT 2025 Sponsors

We valued our 2025 Sponsors for their technical input, financial support and experience in this important vertical marketplace.

InnovAIT 2025 Picture Gallery Photographs taken at InnovAIT 2024
Martin Lee is EMEA lead within Talos, Cisco’s threat intelligence and research organisation, and author of the textbook “Cyber Threat Intelligence.” As a researcher he seeks to improve the resilience of the Internet and awareness of current threats through researching system vulnerabilities and changes in the threat landscape.

Martin will be presenting 'Anticipating the Threat Landscape of 2030' which will cover the current threat landscape and will then go onto discuss what IT Directors need to be planning for in the medium term future in order to be prepared for and to mitigate risk in 5 years time.
Matthew Fage is UK & I Manager of Cyber Risks at Beazley who are a significant player in the Lloyds of London market, known for their expertise in areas such as cyber insurance and speciality risks.
Mandeep Gosal is VP of Professional Services at Beazley Security.

Matthew and Mandeep will present 'From Threat to Resolution : The Lifecycle of a Cyber Breach'. They will discuss what happens during a cyber breach and the role that insurers play in that scenario. They will give a case study to illustrate the stages of an attack through to resolution, how insurance companies can help before, during and after and advice and lessons learned from the world of cyber risk insurance.Details to be confirmed.
A very enjoyable lunch, delicious food, cocktails and lively conversation.