In the May 2017 issue of ASA, I wrote an article on the power of compounding, the inspiration for this being my recent exposure to retirement modelling. As mentioned, those models are wrought with assumptions, and one of those assumptions is inflation. The importance in understanding inflation and its debilitating effects should encourage us to…
In my May article I suggested that one of the biggest challenges to innovation and business progress is simply finding the time to think, research, experiment and develop new ideas. The notion of carving out 20% time, à la Google, is a pipe dream for most. So I thought it would be interesting to figure…
We all love awards. We love the pomp and ceremony. We love the recognition by our peers. We love being able to provide our clients with that independent and expert assessment of our excellence in investments. But should we rely on them? Many of us will have heard of our local awards through the media…
Stephanie Davis says international experience has changed her whole approach to tackling her many tasks. Being based in Berlin, Stephanie Davis works with a number of regions. In the process, she has learned there are many ways to achieve the same goal. One just needs to be open to experimenting and embracing new ideas and…
Shaah Bootha stepped right out of high school at 15 to pursue a BCom degree at North-West University. Going beyond just qualifying as the youngest CA(SA) in South Africa, Shaah proudly ranked in the Top 10 Honours Roll too. And no – he is anything but a nerd! Shaah’s Bootha’s two older sisters, Saffiyah and…
Finally, Facebook for Accountants! No, not really, although one would think that some IT people might think it would have been a good idea … For obvious reasons, one being that accountants are often depicted as little spectacled men in grey suits, not capable of maintaining a conversation about issues outside their field…
Increased audit exemption thresholds internationally have prompted stakeholders to look for alternative services to an audit. This article explores the growing use of agreed-upon procedure (AUP) engagements as a means of filling the gap As financial reporting and other forms of external reporting have evolved, there has been recognition that users’ needs for enhanced credibility…
A parable is a story often employed in biblical texts and is used to illustrate a moral lesson. One that struck me recently is about three talents, which I have adapted into a scenario below. Imagine a business owner who calls in three managers, all of whom are all at different levels. He presents the…
PwC South Africa has released its integrated report for 2016. It has been clear for some time that neither financial reporting nor sustainability reporting is sufficient on their own to describe the value created by an organisation. For these reasons, King IV advocates the concept of integrated thinking, of which an integrated report is the…
The South African tax system is based on a progressive system when taxing individuals. The Finance Minister announced a new tax bracket in the 2017 budget for taxing individuals that earn in excess of R1 500 000 per annum taxable income, taking the maximum marginal rate of tax up to 45%. This new tax bracket…