An audit is not necessarily a guarantee that fraud will be detected. There is an inherent risk that fraud causing harm to third parties or the client itself may not be detected, regardless of the fact that the audit was conducted with due care and in compliance with auditing standards. This is so because fraud…
APB APPROVES TWO AC 500 INTERPRETATIONS AS STATEMENTS OF GAAP At its meeting held on 18 March 2009, the Accounting Practices Board (APB) approved the following South African Interpretations as Statements of Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP); AC 504 – IAS 19(AC 116) – The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and…
We all know the boiling frog story, which suggests that if you put a frog into boiling water it will struggle to get out, however, if you put a frog into cold water and heat it gradually the frog will remain there and eventually be boiled. This is probably a fallacy, but the story is…
SAICA was recently privileged to host Sir David Tweedie, chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), and two IASB members, Warren McGregor and Bob Garnett (a member of SAICA), along with representatives of the National Standard Setters (NSSs). Sir David has, of course, visited us previously; but this occasion was especially promising, given the…
Earlier this year, the SAICA Board and national structures identified key goals and focus areas for the next five to ten years. Our long-term vision is to develop leaders for business, government and communities; a vision underpinned by the three pillars built into the SAICA strategy – value, volume, and stakeholder management. Value means increased…
It was with great pride that we hosted the National Standard Setters’ meeting with Sir David Tweedie, the Chairman of the IASB, in April. One of the features of our deliberations was the recognition of the successes that South Africa has enjoyed in its early adoption of IFRSs for SMEs, and the resultant lessons for…
Enhanced Disclosures about Financial Instruments The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has issued amendments to IFRS 7(AC 144) – Financial Instruments: Disclosures, aimed at improving transparency in the disclosures about financial instruments. These amendments form part of the IASB’s response to the credit crisis and are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1…
For some years now, SAICA has enjoyed global reciprocity with six Chartered Accountancy bodies and one CPA body. And today, it is a founder member of the Chartered Accountants’ Group of Eight (CAGE), together with: • Australia (ICCA); • Canada (CICA); • England and Wales (ICAEW); • Hong Kong; • Ireland (ICAI); • New Zealand…
A thought leadership issue Governments across the world have reacted to the credit crisis by committing to large scale economic stimulus packages, which include bringing forward infrastructure projects, making tax cuts, providing liquidity to key industrial sectors, guaranteeing bank loans, purchasing assets, injecting capital and, in some cases, nationalising banks or insurance companies. Stimulus packages…
As an investor in the equity markets, it is natural to feel elation at rising share prices. We all feel wealthier – at least on paper. As fund managers, we understand that prices fluctuate far more widely than values. Rather than despairing over falling prices, we fund mangers see them as long-term buying opportunities. The…