Or a Tongaat, an African Bank, an Eskom, an SAA − the list goes on. It is a question that should be top of mind of those who are employed and are seeking employment, those who have invested hard-earned money in banks and large corporations, and those who are saving for the future, as well…
Worldwide financial markets have been rocked in the past few years by corporate scandals and the very first question is: ‘Where was the auditor?’ However, the question should rather be: ‘Where were the guardians of governance?’ In performing an audit, the auditor is heavily reliant on the internal controls and governance implemented by the organisation.…
Starting to invest as early as possible, and as much as possible, is one of the best decisions you can make to optimise your wealth creation. This month five experts – all women, of course – will cover topics right from starting with a simple, sound investment approach to tapping into a multi-billion-dollar investment industry.…
SAICA’s Gugu Makhanya admits that the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to wreak havoc on South Africa’s attempts to achieve quality education; an ideal encapsulated by UN Sustainable Development Goal 4. This is especially true for students at HDIs, which serve South Africa’s poorer areas. While universities did their utmost to ensure equitable access to…
Recruiting newly qualified chartered accountants is an important and challenging process. More than merely looking for skills, you also have to assess candidates’ potential for development and cultural fit in your organisation When recruiting new CAs(SA), you have to get to know each individual’s personality, likes and dislikes, talents and skills. It’s an important decision…
Understanding the dynamics of training offices is important to ensure the spread of incorrect information regarding training opportunities are addressed and to ensure prospective trainees are informed about the industry they are about to enter. I often hear prospective trainees saying, ‘I just want a training contract’, and yes, I was there too. Knowing what…
What is this ‘learning environment’ everybody is talking about? This can be quite confusing: in most cases you walk into a training office as a young, impressionable trainee who is excited to be earning your first salary. You know you are about to embark on a journey to become a CA(SA), but you don’t really…
One of the most powerful quotes by Nelson Mandela, former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, is: ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’ These words are equally relevant today. Education remains the proven way of empowering the underprivileged, breaking the poverty cycle, and bridging the…
I was recently involved in a discussion regarding ethical culture in training offices, and specifically some of the feedback we have received from trainees. One of the examples raised was of a trainee who had questioned the ethical behaviour of a client and the manager had responded with ‘don’t open that can of worms’. That…
Over the past few years, we have witnessed an explosion of new technology that borders on what we may once have deemed science fiction. From driverless cars to wireless microneedles that can deliver a precise drug dose in personalised medicine, the world is changing at a rapid rate. And the field of accountancy is no…