DEAR SARS: WHO CAN INSPECT MY RECORDS

Can persons other than SARS officials inspect the financial records of the business? Over the past few years, a number of persons would appear to have been appointed as commission agents under the Unemployment Insurance Act, and persons appointed by the Sector Education Training Authorities (SETAs). The question that arises is whether these persons are…

NEW GEN: INVESTING IN A NEW INTELLIGENCE

Last month we introduced the “NEW GEN” column that is specifically for all our young generation CAs(SA) in the workplace. This month we talk about an area that has been a hot topic in businesses over the last few years – Emotional Intelligence. Why all the fuss? Human beings have always believed that cognitive intelligence…

SPECIAL REPORT: CA CHARTER 1 – 3

CA CHARTER: ACCOUNTANCY PROFFESSION UNVEILS EMPOWERMENT CHARTER CA Charter insists chartered accountants have a duty to support broad based empowerment The Chartered Accountancy [CA(SA)] profession’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Charter was signed in Johannesburg towards the end of 2007. The CA Charter, some four years in the making, promises to play a pivotal role…

WHO IS CHOOSING YOUR PENSION FUND AUDITOR

The appointment of fund auditors is one of the key governance tasks that a board of trustees will need to undertake. In many instances (in fact, most) this process is handed over to the fund’s administrator or consultant to manage, who tend to favour certain firms and the reasons for this are not always clear.…

IT GOVERNANCE: A NEW ERA

In the past 10 years, interest in Corporate Governance has grown tremendously. Corporate scandals, environmental concerns and globalisation have played their part (Adbo & Fischer 2007). These explicit or noticeable events have focused attention on Corporate Governance. Business is changing, methods of conducting business are changing, businesses are increasingly relying on information technology (IT) and…

EFFECTIVE NETWORKING FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

During the past decade, accounting and auditing firms have experienced a significant change. During better times, business was easier to acquire and maintain as clients deemed accountants and auditors to be authorities that dare not be questioned. Client fee sensitivity, competition, increased legislation, specialisation, and poor public image have made the practice of accounting and…