Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is set to change the way we do business, and accounting is no exception. There are already many firms starting to see the possibilities of how it can assist with day-to-day financial tasks, but caution is required. Listen to the full episode. Click to read the article INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia’s award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business,...

In serving the public interest, professional accountants are required to put aside their own, but conflicts may still arise. In this first instalment of our ethics column, Simon Longstaff FCPA from The Ethics Centre explains how to handle perceived conflicts of interest at work. Listen to the full episode. Click to read the article INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia’s award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of...

Cognitive bias is hardwired into our brains to help us navigate daily information overload. While it can be very useful, it can also result in inaccuracies not being identified until it is too late. For accounting, the consequences can be disastrous. Listen to the full episode. Click to read the article INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia’s award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business, career...

As Australia faces major economic challenges, carefully planned thoughtful tax reform could be an important part of the solution. Listen to the full episode. Click to read the article INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia’s award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business, career development and the economy, and offer key insights into strategic thought leadership and expert analysis. CPA...

Gross domestic product (GDP) and inflation are closely linked, but they don’t always reflect overall economic health. Various governments, countries and organisations have alternative GDP measures that can provide a more holistic view. Listen to the full episode. Click to read the article INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia’s award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business, career development...

Being asked to do or say something that misaligns with our core values can be both stressful and distressing. However, there are ways to navigate these situations with professionalism and integrity. Listen to the full episode. Click to read the article INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia’s award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business, career development and the economy, and offer key...

Generative artificial intelligence has the potential to transform business, but with so many ethical questions at play, accountants must balance professional scepticism with reaping the benefits of these game-changing tools. Listen to the full episode. Click to read the article INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia’s award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business, career development and the...

Continuing professional development and learning are vital for professionals who want to future-proof their careers. Sometimes, however, the competing needs to advance a professional skill set and balance professional and personal lives may prompt people to prioritise speed over quality. It is vital for professionals to recognise upskilling as a continuous endeavour, rather than a knee-jerk reaction to a knowledge gap. Listen to the full episode. Click to read the article INTHEBLACK Out...

The disruption of the past few years has driven multiple shifts in dynamic within the employment market. Recruiting the right candidate can be difficult in an employment landscape that faces both skills and talent shortages. While a wealth of employment opportunities exist, recruiters have struggled to match the available talent with the vacant roles. Listen to the full episode. Click to read the article INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA...

In the “post-truth” era, objective facts can be overshadowed by misinformation, manipulation and personal beliefs. More than ever, accountants need skills in three key areas – ethics, critical thinking and trust. Developing skills in each of these areas has long been fundamental to the accounting profession. However, new challenges are emerging alongside technological advancement, which indicate that they should be front-of-mind when acting as trusted advisers. Listen to the full episode. ...

Mid-career accounting and finance professionals are in a unique position – they have amassed considerable skills and experience, but still have many years left in the workforce before retirement. According to a 2022 OECD report, however, before retirement mid-career professionals are less likely than early career professionals to undertake training and upskilling. Listen to the full episode. Click to read the article INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles...

The role of the CFO has evolved significantly over the years. No longer is the CFO just a “numbers” person. Today, they are required to have a diverse set of skills to navigate the changing landscape for businesses. Listen to the full episode. Click to read the article INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia’s award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business, career development and the economy, and...

There will be occasions in people’s professional lives when they have the difficult task of delivering bad news. They may need to deliver it to clients, staff, colleagues and even their managers – in person or remotely, one-on-one or to teams. While it may be tempting to rush, the delivery may have a dramatic impact on the recipient. Effective communication skills are essential. What is said, how and where all need to be carefully planned. It is also well worth anticipating and preparing...

The perks of climbing the social ladder While the wholesale shift to hybrid work has had many benefits, it has also reduced everyday social interactions between colleagues. There are fewer opportunities for casual corridor chats, grabbing a coffee or a bite to eat, or attending after-work events. However, it is these small social acts, on top of career performance, that can be essential to career progress … Listen to the full episode. INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of...

Effective writing tips for accountants There is much more to accounting than numbers. Good storytelling is crucial and a highly prized skill in a field where making the connection between numbers and language is an art form.  The key is to make people care about your writing. While this may sound tricky in a world that appears to be more about spreadsheets than semicolons, money is a deeply personal topic.  This means there are many ways to engage an audience.  Listen to the full...

While learning a programming language was once the domain of IT specialists, today it starts in primary school. This is because programming unlocks the full power of computers to perform difficult tasks and answer complex queries. While accountants already take advantage of tools like Microsoft Excel, a simple programming language like Python helps to streamline workflows and improve data manipulation when deeper insight is needed. Listen to the full article. Click to read the article ...

In 2017, a tweet sent by actress Alyssa Milano gave the burgeoning #MeToo movement the boost it needed to “go viral”. About half a million people responded to Milano’s tweet within 24 hours. The #MeToo movement would ultimately expose the scale and extent of sexual harassment and assault that women still experience at work. Since then, the #MeToo movement has offered victims of sexual harassment a platform to speak out publicly. However, six years on, the cost of speaking out – from intense...

Employers traditionally seek top-down references during the recruitment process to  help determine whether a candidate has the right skills and credentials for a particular role. It also makes good business sense to speak with someone who has directly reported to the candidate when filling a management position, says Geoff Balmer, founding director of Richard  Lloyd Accounting Recruitment in Sydney. Listen to the full article. Click to read the article INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a...

INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia’s award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business, career development and the economy, and offer key insights into strategic thought leadership and expert analysis. INTHEBLACK Out Loud is presented by CPA Australia. CPA Australia also publishes three podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: With Interest,...

INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia’s award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business, career development and the economy, and offer key insights into strategic thought leadership and expert analysis. INTHEBLACK Out Loud is presented by CPA Australia. CPA Australia also publishes three podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: With Interest,...

INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia’s award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business, career development and the economy, and offer key insights into strategic thought leadership and expert analysis. INTHEBLACK Out Loud is presented by CPA Australia. CPA Australia also publishes three podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: With Interest,...

INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia’s award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business, career development and the economy, and offer key insights into strategic thought leadership and expert analysis. INTHEBLACK Out Loud is presented by CPA Australia. CPA Australia also publishes three podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: With Interest,...

INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia’s award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business, career development and the economy, and offer key insights into strategic thought leadership and expert analysis. INTHEBLACK Out Loud is presented by CPA Australia. CPA Australia also publishes three podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: With Interest,...

INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia’s award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business, career development and the economy, and offer key insights into strategic thought leadership and expert analysis. INTHEBLACK Out Loud is presented by CPA Australia. CPA Australia also publishes three podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: With Interest,...