Do you have an authority to trade with non-members? If you operate a practice via a partnership or incorporated entity structure you need to have authority to trade with a non-member if the partnership or incorporated entity has a principal or director who is not a certificate holder with CPA Australia or the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.
Independence guide A recently updated version of the Independence guide: interpretations in a co-regulatory environment has been released. This guide provides practical examples of independence issues encountered by accountants and auditors as well as articulating threats, safeguards and objective assessments.
APES 220 Taxation services: part two This is the second in a series of articles on Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board standards which become operational over 2008 / 2009.
APES 320 Quality control for firms APES 320 Quality control for firms took effect on 1 July 2006 and replaced APS 4 / 5 Statement of quality control standard and quality control policies and procedures.
New anti-money laundering FAQs Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has responded to a number of frequently asked questions (FAQs) raised during the CPA Australia / AUSTRAC anti-money laundering (AML) member forums held in 2008.
Mortgage broking licensing regime proposed The mortgage industry's regulations and practices have come under focus as a result of the US sub-prime crisis, UK financial institution liquidity issues, Australian interest rate pressure, predatory lending practices and increased bankruptcies.
Does your professional indemnity insurance cover fidelity? A fidelity clause will usually provide indemnity to the practice for misappropriation of money or negotiable instruments which belong to the practice, or for which the practice is legally liable.
Run-off cover fact sheet A run-off cover fact sheet which outlines the scope of run-off cover, a term used by the insurance industry to describe how a practice will reduce (or run-off) its liability to its clients after it has ceased operating, is now available.
Mediation video file The fourth segment in the series of video downloads on Professional indemnity: in and out of court discusses how mediation helps to overcome underlying issues in a dispute and promotes settlement.
Want to practice in Hong Kong? The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA), formerly the Hong Kong Society of Accountants, is the single statutory licensing body for accountants in the Hong Kong Special Administration Region.
CPAs can become HKICPA members if they fulfil the terms of the mutual recognition agreement between the two bodies.
Professional standards blog A Members' Handbook blog on the latest professional standards issues is now up and running, with members able to post comments and questions to CPA Australia professionals. The latest entry is about the first four exposure drafts of Australian auditing standards which have been released in clarity format.
Becoming a firm of the future
Developing a current business plan Business planning is an ongoing activity that will provide a tool to assist in monitoring whether the business is on course. A business plan should be regularly reviewed and revised.
Survey of human resource management Members are invited to complete a confidential questionnaire which will survey information on firm characteristics, financial performance, staff work behaviour and specific human resource management practices.
Export business case study The Commonwealth Government's Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) can assist export businesses in a number of ways, including through EFIC Headway, a financial guarantee from EFIC to a participating bank which will assist small- to medium-sized exporters in gaining access to working capital.
Build client relationships that deliver value As CPA Australia's Firm of the future report attests, accountants must continue to enhance their relationship with clients and meet the needs of clients as they grow.
Helping clients sell their business When owners decide to sell their business, they will often rely on the advice of their business advisors, particularly their CPA and their lawyer.
Your continuing education
Audit of SMSF workshop Discover how you can apply audit concepts and procedures to obtain sufficient evidence to determine trustee compliance during workshops being held around Australia during October and November.
Audit of real estate trust accounts workshop Learn how to prepare more effective audits of real estate trusts by having a thorough understanding of how legislative changes and changes to the real estate environment impact the industry by attending workshops in Sydney and Melbourne during November.
Public accounting fundamentals workshop Learn how to balance the sensitivities of your client with the need to convey all the information required to properly advise them in a workshop to be held in Brisbane on 28 November from 9.00 am to 12.30 pm.
Examine the mandatory skills for effective client engagement, how to become a trusted business adviser, handling difficult or reluctant clients and the best way to probe for key information.
Forthcoming events
CPA Congress 2008 CPA Congress 2008 is your opportunity to stimulate your fresh thinking and hear new perspectives from local and international experts.
Covering areas such as business planning, financial analysis, management accounting and financial accounting, CPA Congress will deliver insights and innovative solutions, and will strengthen your core skills enabling you to deliver success.
