The response of the International Accounting Standards Board If this question was asked to politicians and business leaders, the answer would be a resounding ‘YES’. The ‘grey men who sit in dimly lit rooms and dream up accounting standards’ are responsible for the current global financial crisis. The gluttony of criticism has been primarily focused…
The global financial crisis, which came to the fore in August 2007, has led to a worldwide recession, the consequences of which have been of an unprecedented magnitude and scale. This has included rapid decline in international trade volumes, increased risk aversion, reduced liquidity and heightened market uncertainty. In the main financial centres of the…
Addressing the shortage of CA(SA) skills in South Africa. One of the key strategic marketing objectives of SAICA for 2009 has been to increase the number of first year students presenting themselves at university to study BCom Accountancy with a view to becoming prospective CAs(SA). Communication Challenge The business challenge inherent in achieving this objective…
There has been a number of enquiries from members on how exactly the structures referred to in our August article operate. In this update, we focus on the various Governing Councils and SAICA member structures that exist within the Regions, their roles and responsibilities, and how they ensure implementation of the SAICA-wide strategy. In each…
First CPD cycle The first CPD cycle, which started on 1 January 2006 and ended on 31 December 2008, ended on a phenomenal note with 98.5% of SAICA’s members complying by the extended recording date of 31 May 2009. During the months leading up to the end of the period as well as the extension,…
Daar is min twyfel oor Suid-Afrikaanse sakevertroue. Hierdie is moeilike tye. Die RMB/BER sakevertroueindeks het gedurende die 2Q2009 ’n nuwe sikliese laagtepunt van 26 bereik. Net 26 uit 100 bestuurders spreek vertroue uit. In 2007 was dit nog na aan 90. ’n Groot meerderheid van besigheidsmense ervaar momenteel duidelik ’n gebrek aan sakevertroue. In sommige…
FROM THE PEN BEE all you can BEE I’m sure you know at least one person who has held the view that Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) or Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-bBEE) has not worked. Not from a framework perspective mind you, they are quick to add, but rather from an implementation perspective. A few…
As expected, because we operate in a global economy, South Africa has followed the footsteps of the rest of the world into recession. This has brought new meaning to the term ‘survival of the fittest’ for the businesses operating here. The consequence of recession is that many businesses find themselves suddenly in a tax loss…
During his address at the 2009 SAICA annual dinner, Trevor Manuel, Minister of the National Planning Commission in The Presidency, said: “The period of deregulation has come to an end. No longer can we rely on enlightened self-interest to regulate global markets. Just when we thought that auditors were dull, unnecessary, and simply a hindrance,…
In December 2009, Copenhagen will be the host city to one of the most important conferences in the history of the world. Representatives from 200 countries will gather to attend the United Nations Climate Convention meeting and deliberate on how humankind will be able to avert the global warming crisis. They will discuss a new…