
LATEST ARTICLES
ARTICLES FROM COVID-19 HUB
Coronavirus in SA: How to donate to the Solidarity Fund
In an effort to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus and the 21-day lockdown which President Cyril Ramaphosa announced earlier this week, government has set up an independent relief fund called the Solidarity Response Fund. The aim of the fund is to offer assistance to South Africans affected by the outbreak. Please read the…
Public Sector Information for COVID-19
SAICA has a dedicated public sector division to support members in the public sector. This page contains all information relating to COVID-19 that impacts the work of members working in or doing business with the public sector. For all other public sector related support, please refer to the Public Sector webpage – Compliance documents…
COVID-19 crash: What South Africa can learn from previous market crashes
The JSE ALSI recovered more quickly than the major US and UK indices during the last two crashes. The global economy was already on a fragile footing when a Black Swan appeared in January 2020 in the form of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The impact of the disease and the fallout from countermeasures has…
Coronavirus, Contracts and Force Majeure
The Coronavirus is having a significant impact on the global economy as it increasingly disrupts production, supply chains and travel. With that in mind, organisations should consider any potential legal risks and how to protect themselves against them. In January, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that the outbreak of the coronavirus was a public…
How the coronavirus has impacted 2020’s investment outlook
Fears around the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has spilled into financial markets 9 March 2020: The coronavirus outbreak has rapidly approached global pandemic levels, and given the knock-on effects of the virus on economic growth, the fireworks in markets were inevitable. From sitting at record highs, global markets sold off aggressively during the last week of…
ARTICLES FROM ACCOUNTANCY SA
Focus: How is your mental health?
It’s been called ‘the silent pandemic’: the growing prevalence of mental ill-health, which has been following an upward trajectory since the remote working and social distancing policies that were implemented to keep COVID-19 at bay heightened our sense of anxiety and isolation. Difficult as it was to adapt to these unfamiliar circumstances, the move to…
Recommend: Why SMEs should consider integrated reporting
In a country like South Africa, the term ‘employee benefits’ means so much more than the cost-to-company incurred during that period − it embodies not only today’s food for breadwinners’ families but also the promise of a better tomorrow through the education of our youth, who hold the nation’s dreams and aspirations. It seems that…
Cover Story – South African hockey captain: What changed my game!
To become an international sportsperson and a chartered accountant is beyond the scope of most people’s dreams. Yet that is exactly what Phumelela Mbande CA(SA), goalkeeper and captain of the South African women’s hockey team, has achieved despite countless challenges. Her team competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where Phumelela had the honour of being…
Focus: The impact of technology on the audit practice
The advent of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies has presented both clients and auditors with massive opportunities and challenges which, if fully embraced, can completely change the face of the audit experience for both client and auditor. Much has been said about the 4IR and its disruptive impact on many industries, including the accountancy sector.…
Focus: Auditing SMEs The costs involved
In the current economic environment, there are various reasons why small and medium enterprises (SMEs) would require an audit of their annual financial statements. An audit could be required by law in terms of the Companies Act of South Africa, the company’s memorandum of incorporation, the bank during an application for funding, potential investors, or…
Focus: To split or not to split, that is the question
The idea of splitting the auditing and non-auditing (consulting/advisory) businesses of firms was mentioned in a report by a United Kingdom Parliamentary Committee following the collapse of Carillion in January 2020. The UK regulator (the Financial Reporting Council, FRC) later asked the largest UK firms to operationally split up their auditing and non-auditing businesses by…
Focus: Defining the future of auditing through intelligent automation and real-time opinions
Does the current model of the traditional regulatory and statutory audit still make sense in the changing business context? These audits performed by independent and external auditors in line with relevant laws and regulations, require the auditee to submit a set of reporting information, and the auditor to produce their report annually in line with…
Focus: ISQM 1 An essential pillar for sustainability
Running your own business is not easy, and certainly not for the faint of heart − especially when it is necessary to implement new requirements. Will there ever be an ideal time? For any business to be successful, it must be managed properly. No matter what goods or services you provide, they must be of…
Focus: The evolving role of the audit profession
The voices calling for sustainable business practices across all industries are growing ever louder and the journey towards ‘Net Zero’ will require everyone across the globe to play their part if we are to successfully combat the risks associated with climate change. The world in which the accountancy profession is operating in has significant challenges…
Focus: Are you ready for change?
The accounting profession is at one of those key points in time where change is inevitable. With the new International Standards on Quality Management (ISQM) coming into effect on 15 December 2022, we are less than four months away from its effective date. The question is: ‘Are you ready’? The only constant in life is…