In this episode, Jacco Moison from the FMA talks with Claire Grayston FCPA about how well audit firms managed under the restrictions of COVID-19, the uptake of technology, how firms have responded to the key findings and examples of best practice.

David Hardidge, Technical Director at Queensland Audit Office, says there’s an intention to make IFRS Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) agenda decisions mandatory.

In this podcast episode, Hardidge provides an overview of IFRIC agenda decisions, discusses what may happen if they are mandated, and how to know if you’re affected by these decisions. He also gives examples in relation to AASB 15 or IFRS 15, AASB 16 or IFRS 16 among others. Hardidge is in conversation with Ram Subramanian, Policy Adviser – Reporting at CPA Australia.

Hear a discussion with representatives from The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) on auditing and assurance standard setting.

Kellie Grant, Director at the ATO, explains what the ATO has found in its reviews of Self-managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) auditors in the 2019 compliance program and why many of those SMSF auditors were referred to ASIC. The ATO’s 2019 program focussed on the top 100 auditors and high-risk auditors. Kellie explains what the ATO’s focus is for the 2020 program, along with other audit quality initiatives and targeted compliance programs they are running. This is essential listening not only for SMSF auditors, but also for SMSF trustees, their tax agents and accountants.

Guest: Kellie Grant, Director of the SMSF Approved Auditors’ Portfolio, ATO

Host: Claire Grayston, Policy Adviser - Audit and Assurance, CPA Australia

This week’s episode of the CPA Australia Podcast is a discussion of the preliminary findings from the CPA Australia funded research conducted by University of Melbourne into market-readiness in implementing the new accounting standard AASB 16/IFRS 16 Leases. Listeners may obtain a better understanding of how well the market is adapting to the new accounting standard on leases, some of the challenges associated with its implementation and how these challenges may be overcome. Guest: Professor Michael Davern of the University of Melbourne and Host: Ram Subramanian, Policy Advisor – Reporting at CPA Australia.

Listen to Part 1 on how data analytics, artificial intelligence and automation are being integrated into external audit. Featuring guest Professor Miklos Vasarhelyi and Policy Adviser of Audit and Assurance Claire Grayston at CPA Australia.

Join Ram Subramanian, Policy Advisor for Reporting at CPA Australia with Melville Yates, Director of Reporting, Red Tape Reduction and ACNC Corporate Services who will discuss about updates for charities and not for profits.There are several current developments and other forthcoming changes that will have an impact on the operations of many charities around Australia in the near future, and it probably will have an impact on other not-for-profits as well who may or may not also be registered charities.  Melville will signpost some of these changes and discuss their implications and provide some insight into what the ACNC is doing in providing assistance to charities to comply with these new requirements.

Doug Niven, Senior Executive Leader at ASIC provides insights into ASIC’s focus areas for companies with December 2018 period-ends, and also discusses some findings from ASIC’s most recent financial reporting surveillance program.

In this month’s Excel topic podcast episode, Neale Blackwood CPA will discuss Power Query and why accountants should be using it. Neale will cover topics that all Excel users should know relating to Power Query such as mapping tables, unpivot, merging, appending and budgeting.

Claire Grayston, Policy Adviser for Audit and Assurance at CPA Australia, and Doug Niven, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Senior Executive Leader, discuss the ASIC Audit Inspection Program Findings for 2017-2018 that were released on 24th January 2019.

ASIC has reported improvements in the audits inspected for the 18 months to 20 June 2018, however the shortcomings observed in audits still fall into similar areas to previous periods. Therefore it is invaluable for firms, even if they have not been subject to an ASIC inspection, to learn from the areas identified for improvement by ASIC. ASIC highlights their key findings, successful audit quality initiatives firm’s have implemented, themes arising from the findings and focus areas for future inspections.  

Following the release of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) New Zealand 2018 Audit Quality Monitoring Report, this podcast episode explores the key findings in the report for 2018 and the focus areas for 2019 quality reviews. Jacco Moison, Manager of Auditor Oversight at the FMA, discusses the trends the FMA is seeing in relation to audit quality and highlights that auditors need to address both the FMA’s findings and their own internal reviews through root cause analysis and action plans. The FMA’s findings raise matters which all auditors can consider in their own practice, including how they use management’s experts and audit accounting estimates. Jacco is in conversation with Claire Grayston, CPA Australia’s Policy Adviser on Audit and Assurance.

The Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) is proposing to eliminate the ability to prepare special purpose financial statements (SPFS) for publicly lodged financial statements where compliance with Australian Accounting Standards is claimed.  In this podcast episode, you’ll hear from David Hardidge, Technical Director at the Queensland Audit Office, as he explores the ramifications of these proposals, and explores some options for the way forward. David is in conversation with Ram Subramanian, Policy Advisor in Reporting at CPA Australia.

In this podcast, we hear from Prof. Michael Davern, one of the academics who was part of the team that undertook this important study. Prof. Davern talks about the story behind the study, the key findings and what it means for the future of financial reporting.

A discussion with Siva about the AASB Interpretation published last year that could have an impact on tax accounting for some corporates.  The discussion will focus on the accounting and disclosures for certain tax treatments that may arise from applying AASB Interpretation 23, and what entities will have to do in preparation to comply with these requirements.  The discussion will also consider some wider implications including how these requirements might impact on the regulatory approach of taxation authorities including the Australian Taxation Office.

The UnderstandingSuper team has been developing different ways to improve financial literacy in the field of superannuation. They’ve created a series of simple to understand videos and interactive activities, housed within a free app and website, that aims to help people better understand super. Meet the team behind the UnderstandingSuper app, hear about their passion to make super more accessible and why CPA Australia is proud to support them.

In this podcast, Steve Hui CPA, Founder and Chief Executive of iFLYflat discusses his transition from a corporate accounting career to entrepreneurship. Steve (aka the points whisperer) explains how he developed an industry first travel solution, helping companies to collect more reward points and save up to $250,000 on their business travel.

Thea and Adrian discuss current corporate insolvency surveillance priorities and outline the implications of recent and foreshadowed insolvency law reform. Adrian reflects on his tenure as Senior Executive Team Leader, and both he and Thea provide valuable insight into the economic and market significance of effective insolvency law administration. 

Guests: Thea Eszenyi (Senior Executive ASIC Insolvency Practitioner Team) and Adrian Brown (Senior Executive ASIC Phoenix Taskforce)

Excel is a valuable tool in the professional world and a must-have for accountants. Learning your way around Excel keyboard shortcuts is a great way to master the platform and a neat way to improve productivity. We chat to Excel Expert Neale Blackwood CPA, who has more than 20 years’ experience using and writing about Excel for accountants

This episode examines a series of ARC Linkage Grant funded projects which investigated the early evolution of integrated report including its relationship with changing expectations of corporate behaviour and reporting, along with exploring challenges and opportunities posed for audit and assurance.

A discussion with Douglas Niven, Senior Executive Leader at ASIC about the recently released financial reporting focus areas.  The discussion will also cover ASIC’s findings from its financial report surveillance program.

The Financial Markets Authority’s Audit Quality Monitoring Report for 2016-2017 identifies areas for improvement in audits by NZ’s licenced auditors. Jacco Moison, Manager of Auditor Oversight at the FMA, discusses the key findings with Claire Grayston at CPA Australia and identifies actions auditors can take to improve audit quality. Jacco also explains what others, including directors and audit committees, can do to support audit quality.

Social enterprises will be explained with guest David Shires, Director, Capacity International. Also discussed will be how accountants skills to can assist them to progress and develop.  Importantly the discussion will cover how working with Social Enterprises can offer significant benefits to members such as obtaining new clients, to give back for social good and to engage with social entrepreneurs in the latter stages of a career.

A discussion with Jason Cassas and Peter Kidd (Grant Thornton Australia) about the legislation and recently issued guidance by the ATO that requires certain taxpaying entities to lodge General Purpose Financial Statements with the ATO.  The discussion will focus on the legislative requirements, the underlying reasons for the legislation and how the ATO sees the legislation being applied in practice, as set out in the ATO guidance. 

A discussion with Melville Yates, the director or reporting and red tape reduction at the ACNC about the recently issued 2017 Annual Information Statement.  The podcast provides an overview of the information that is requested through the revised AIS, what the changes are and what the ACNC’s expectations are when charities complete and submit the AIS.

With the occurrence of financial abuse only increasing, it is vital to ensure that your practice is not only aware of potential instances of abuse but also is prepared to deal with them. This podcast will highlight the importance of increasing your understanding of this issue and offer some simple tips on how to implement policies within your practice.

Host: Richard Blakeman FCPA, Retired, Victorian Divisional Councillor - CPA Australia

Guest: Stephen Jones FCPA, Partner, ATM Consultants Pty Ltd

Guest: Anna Tantau CPA, Senior Manager, SEIVA Business