Clarification on Ethical values and attitudes

The SAICA CPD policy states that all SAICA members and associates are required to: Paragraph 2.2: Undertake relevant continuing professional development (CPD) activities on an annual basis Paragraph 2.1.1(b): Follow an output-based measurement approach to CPD by demonstrating the maintenance and development of relevant competence by generating an annual CPD reflective plan Paragraph 2.1.1(f): Undertake…

Disclosure – The pathway to corporate reporting reform

In the 1980s, there were essentially three elements to corporate reporting: an income statement, which focused on profitability, a balance sheet that focused on solvency, and a cash flow statement that concentrated on movements in cash and essentially working capital. The associated disclosure, too, was relatively narrow. Notes to the balance sheet provided reconciliations to…

Why are accountants and auditors so hesitant to embrace new technologies?

We explore some of the reasons for the lack of adoption of emerging technologies in the assurance space. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and its associated technologies are creating a vast number of opportunities and millions of new jobs. Yet, accountants and auditors (collectively, assurance professionals) are not embracing these technologies at the same pace…

The government predicament

In my previous article, I posed the following scenario. An individual finds himself in a body of water with no means to stay afloat and unable to swim ashore. Flanking the shore are several individuals, each positioned at a vantage point that offers a clear view of the person slowly sinking. However, rather than aiding…

How to differentiate from the competition

Looking at how this year has started off, with the second wave of COVID-19 combined with restrictions imposed by government, small businesses will continue to suffer. It will thus come as no surprise if this upward trend in new business registration continues to rise in 2021. Parallel to this, here is another important statistic −…

Strategy in practice

In a series of interviews, I explore the approaches of different business leaders (all chartered accountants) to strategy. This month I was in conversation with RACHEL NKGODI, deputy group chief financial officer at Alexander Forbes During our conversation, Rachel Nkgodi highlighted various important and practical aspects relating to strategy. The practical aspects of strategy Strategy…

The art of DELEGATION

‘We don’t accomplish anything in this world alone; whatever happens is a result of the whole tapestry of one’s life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something’ − Sandra Day O’Connor   Over the past few years, I have seen quite a few of my ideas come to…