Virtual Conference | Insights, Talks and Learning for Accountants

One day. A brilliant line-up of experts. Plenty of ideas to take back to your practice.

Bright’s Virtual Conference returns on Thursday 22 October 2026, bringing accountants, bookkeepers and payroll professionals across the UK and Ireland together for a full day of expert-led sessions, practical advice and fresh thinking.

From the latest industry and legislative changes to smarter ways of working, growing your practice and getting more from technology, it’s all designed to help you stay informed, inspired and ready for what’s next.

And best of all? It’s completely free to attend!

A brighter day of learning is coming.

The world of accounting and payroll never stands still, and neither do we.

Join us for a day created around the challenges, opportunities and conversations shaping the profession right now.

Expect expert speakers, practical takeaways and sessions covering everything from tax and payroll legislation to practice growth, technology and the changing way we work.

Whether you join us for one session or spend the whole day with us, you can build an agenda that works for you.

Learn

Hear directly from leading experts and leave with practical ideas you can put into action.

Connect

Be part of a virtual event bringing together accounting, bookkeeping and payroll professionals from across the UK and Ireland.

Grow

Discover new ideas, approaches and tools to help you, your team and your practice thrive.

TESTIMONIALS

What attendees loved last year

Over 1,000 finance professionals joined us for last year’s conference, and the feedback was incredible.

Well done, a really good feel to the conference and even though it was virtual, it felt as good as if you were there (almost!)

Thought it was fantastic. If I’m honest I thought it would be a bit boring but it wasn’t, at all. I actually really enjoyed it.

It was great having someone from the DSP who was knowledgable about AE as everything has seemed very uncertain up until this conference.

A free day packed with ideas

Expert-led sessions: Hear from respected voices across accounting, tax, payroll and practice management.
Practical insights: Go beyond theory with advice, ideas and takeaways you can actually use.
The topics that matter now: Get up to speed on legislation, industry developments, technology and the changes affecting your profession.
Join from anywhere: Dip into the sessions most relevant to you or settle in for the full day. It’s entirely up to you.
Free for accounting professionals: Yes, your ticket is completely free!

AGENDA

Your 2026 Agenda

09:30 - 10:00 | Opening

Welcome and introduction

Jonathan Stobart, Bright & Joe Moore, Bright

Your conference compere opens the day. Discover what’s ahead and how to get the most from the sessions.

10:00 - 10:45 | Keynote

Bright: built around you, shaping what’s next

Ben Bishop, CEO, Bright

Discover where Bright is heading next, including the latest insights into our newest integrations and AI, and how it’s transforming workflows.

11:00 - 11:45 | MTD

The reality of MTD for income tax after quarter one

Paul Onions, VP of Accountancy Products, Bright

Key findings from Bright’s research into UK practices on MTD readiness and what the most successful firms are doing differently.

11:00 - 11:45 | PM

How I use practice management to customise the client experience

Rachel Harris, StriveX

Systemise the routine, so you can be brilliant where it actually counts — and build tailored client experiences that scale with your firm.

11:50 - 12:35 | Panel

AI-powered marketing: win more clients without becoming a marketing expert

Jonathan Stobart, Bright & expert panel

Practical ways to use AI for marketing, content creation, and building a stronger practice presence.

12:35 - 13:20 | MTD

Tax Update including MTD review with Rebecca Benneyworth

Rebecca Benneyworth MBE FCA

A timely update on Making Tax Digital and the latest developments affecting accountants, bookkeepers and their clients.

14:00 - 14:45 | Insight

From chaos to control: making change work for your practice

Alison Edgar MBE

Practical ways to embrace change, reduce stress and bring control to your practice with her “Big Balls” approach.

15:00 - 15:45 | Payroll

2027-28 UK payroll update: what you need to know

Lorna Dalglish, Payroll Specialist & Tutor, The Payroll Centre

Get up to speed with payroll changes on the horizon, including Student Loan Plan 1 and FWA developments.

15:50 - 16:35 | Insight

AML updates: what’s changed and what you need to know

Jonathan Stobart, Julia Penny & guests

Latest developments in anti-money laundering requirements, electronic ID verification, and what you need to do now.

16:35 - 17:00 | Closing

Wrap up and reflect

Jonathan Stobart, Bright & Joe Moore, Bright

Reflect on key themes, takeaways and what’s next for the profession, and pack a day of insight and ideas to a close.

Register For Virtual Conference 2026

Register just once and you’ll get access to the whole day of talks, giving you the freedom to customise your virtual conference experience to suit your needs.

FAQS

Questions and answers

What topics will be covered at Bright Virtual Conference 2026?

Expect a varied mix of sessions covering the topics that matter to accountants, bookkeepers and payroll professionals right now.

We’ll be bringing together expert voices from across the UK and Ireland to share practical advice, industry updates and fresh perspectives on areas including tax, MTD, payroll, legislation, practice growth, technology and the future of the profession.

The full agenda is still to come, with plenty more speakers and sessions to be announced.

How much does it cost to attend?

Nothing! Bright’s Virtual Conference is completely free to attend.

Your free registration gives you access to a full day of expert-led sessions, practical insights and learning, with the freedom to join the sessions that are most relevant to you.

Will I get a CPD certificate?

The sessions are not CPD UK accredited, so we won’t be providing a CPD certificate.

However, the conference is packed with expert insight, practical learning and industry updates that can support your ongoing professional development.

Who is the Virtual Conference for?

If you work in accounting, bookkeeping, tax, finance or payroll, there’ll be something here for you.

The conference is designed for professionals across the UK and Ireland who want to stay informed, discover new ideas and hear from experts about the issues and opportunities shaping the profession.

Whether you’re running a practice, part of a larger team or simply looking to build your knowledge, you’re very welcome to join us.

Will I get a ticket?

There’s no physical ticket to worry about. Once you’ve registered, your place is secured.

Closer to the conference, we’ll email you everything you need to join the virtual event, including your access details and joining instructions.

All you need to do for now is register, save 22 October 2026 in your calendar and we’ll take care of the rest.

Register to Attend Bright Virtual Conference 2026

Register now and join accountants, bookkeepers and payroll professionals from across the UK and Ireland for a free day of learning, fresh ideas and expert insight.

Thursday 22 October 2026
Online
Free to attend

Come for the sessions you need. Stay for the ideas you didn’t know you needed.