In March, 2025 the new CA ANZ Professional Standards Scheme was approved by the Professional Standards Council. CA ANZ has provided a scheme for Australian members in practice since 1997. Kristen Wydell FCA , CA ANZ General Manager – Professional Standards, joins host Gillian Bowen to explain this latest development and what it means for CA ANZ members in public practice. Resources referred to in this episode: CA ANZ’s Professional Standards Scheme | CA ANZ New CA ANZ Professional Standards Sche...
Jun 05, 2025•17 min•Season 5Ep. 7
The New Zealand Government has unveiled Budget 2025, which includes an ‘Investment Boost' to accelerate depreciation, significant changes to KiwiSaver, and additional funding for Inland Revenue. Peter Vial FCA , CA ANZ New Zealand Country Head, and John Cuthbertson FCA , CA ANZ New Zealand Tax and Financial Services Leader join Daniel Webster, CA ANZ New Zealand Public Affairs Manager in this special episode of Small Firm, Big Impact to unpack the announcements. As with any budget, there are win...
May 22, 2025•19 min•Season 5Ep. 6
In this episode, host Gillian Bowen explores the cutting-edge advancements transforming the audit profession. Joined by Steven Watson FCA , Managing Director at National Audits Group and Masood Mehmood FCCA, CA , CA ANZ Senior Policy Advocate - Reporting and Assurance, the discussion looks at how Gen AI, automation, and other innovative tools are changing the audit process, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring higher quality outcomes. The discussion also addresses the opportunities and challenges ...
May 05, 2025•25 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Small Firm, Big Impact Host Gillian Bowen catches up* with Ruth Owen , the Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman , about crucial updates and insights that Chartered Accountants need to know. Hear about recent focus areas for the Tax Ombudsman, including ATO service standards and ATO letters. Ruth also shares valuable information on the role of the Tax Ombudsman, elimination of the backlog for the complaints line and how you can effectively address and escalate client issues. This ...
Apr 08, 2025•15 min•Season 5Ep. 4
The Treasurer handed down his fourth Federal Budget on March 25, 2025, and his last before the Australian election. CA ANZ experts were in the Budget lock-up to analyse the announcements, including tax cuts, a missed opportunity for small business and proposed sanctions for tax agents. Tax, Superannuation, and Financial Advice Leader Susan Franks CA joined Gillian Bowen to go through the announcements that impact Chartered Accountants. Resources referred to in the episode: Check out CA ANZ’s Fed...
Mar 28, 2025•19 min•Season 5Ep. 3
If you’re a smaller practice, you may be wondering about the implications of mandatory sustainability assurance on your firm and your clients, and what the practical application of the new International Ethics Standards for Sustainability Assurance (IESSA) will look like. To help explain – the Chair of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) Taskforce that developed them, Mark Babington FCA (ICAEW), sat down with host Gillian Bowen when he was in Sydney in February, to e...
Mar 16, 2025•19 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Grant Ellis FCA is the CA ANZ President for 2025 and he sat down with Small Firm, Big Impact host Gillian Bowen , to share insights into his storied career, how he became a CA, his journey with CA ANZ and the value of an engaged membership. Find out what’s ahead with the CA ANZ strategy and why he’s remaining focussed, like his predecessors, on the future of the profession and the talent pipeline. Resources referred to in this episode: Get in contact with the President Find out more about CA ANZ...
Feb 15, 2025•20 min•Season 5Ep. 1
At the end of his year as CA ANZ’s 2024 President, Tinashe Kamangira FCA returns to Small Firm, Big Impact to reflect on his conversations with members, the challenges and opportunities facing smaller firms he met with, and what’s on the horizon for the profession in 2025. Tinashe also shares his experience of going back to school – talking to high school students about making epic things happen with a career in accounting. Resources referred to in the episode: Grant Ellis FCA elected CA ANZ Pre...
Dec 16, 2024•18 min•Season 4Ep. 13
As a tax professional – do you know how to recognise the signs of the tax system being used for financial abuse? Experts in this area believe tax professionals are uniquely poised to recognise people experiencing intimate partner financial abuse, with the annual tax return providing a regular contact point. Associate Professor Ann Kayis-Kumar , the Founding Director of the UNSW Tax and Business Advisory Clinic, and Jasmine Opdam , Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer at Redfern Legal Centre’s Fina...
Nov 26, 2024•20 min•Season 4Ep. 12
A Bill has been introduced into the Australian parliament to reform the Australian anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regime. This episode explains to CA ANZ members what’s in the Bill, how it may impact you, your business and your clients and when to start getting ready to comply. CA ANZ Senior Policy Advocate for Business Reform, Jill Muir joins Gillian Bowen for this practical discussion. Resources referred to in the episode: Media statement on AML/CTF Bill CA ANZ Q&A o...
Oct 01, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 11
In this episode, hear directly from two employers on why they get their employees to do the CA Program over other offerings, and how it benefits your business. You’ll hear how graduates bring immediate value and have the skills for what businesses need in the future. Erinn Stanley CA , a manager at mid-tier accounting firm William Buck, and Justin Enright CA, a managing partner at Morse Group join Gillian Bowen to explain the CA Program difference. Resources referred to the in episode: CA Progra...
Aug 30, 2024•18 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) is the professional body for chartered accountants and one part of its role is to investigate complaints against members. This episode of Small Firm, Big Impact takes a closer look at the conduct process, how the disciplinary bodies within CA ANZ work and what members should do if a complaint is made against them. Australian Conduct Leader Kate Dixon and New Zealand Conduct Leader Rebecca Stickney join host Gillian Bowen to explain. Resour...
Aug 21, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 9
How do you make the big decision to go out on your own, to run an accounting business? To help members decide if it’s the right move for them, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and ACCA have developed new resources that highlight the pros and cons. Just like the discussion in this episode – the resources will definitely get your brain going. Two experienced members who contributed to ‘Look before you leap’ – Amanda Gascoigne FCA and Heather Smith FCA/FCCA join Gillian for this live...
Aug 16, 2024•24 min•Season 4Ep. 8
The Federal Budget has been handed down, so what’s the impact for Chartered Accountants? There is little in the way of substantive tax reform but there are announcements regarding ATO funding and powers, payday super and the instant asset write-off that members will need to be across for their clients. CA ANZ Senior Tax Advocate Susan Franks and CA ANZ Superannuation and Financial Services Leader Tony Negline were in the Budget lock-up in Canberra on Tuesday (14/05/2024) and have discussed some ...
May 17, 2024•16 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) has hosted a delegation from the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) for important discussions regarding ethical issues associated with rapidly evolving sustainability standards, firm culture and governance, and ethical considerations in tax planning and related services. The IESBA is the global standard setter for ethics in the accounting profession and sets the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (includi...
May 13, 2024•18 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Do any of your business clients owe money to the Australian Tax Office? There is more than $50B of collectable tax debt to collect. 65% relates to small business so the answer is likely YES. There’s a major change coming on interest deductibility which CA ANZ members need to know about. From July 1, 2025, the general interest charge and the shortfall interest charge will become non-deductible, increasing the cost of tax debt. It means businesses will have a strong incentive to obtain finance fro...
Apr 18, 2024•14 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Want to save 30 minutes a day, and your team too, right now using GenAI? The next 26 minutes is so action-packed with straightforward, real-world practical tips, you’ll be questioning why you haven’t been using artificial intelligence this way already to improve efficiency and productivity at work. Fellow Chartered Accountant, and GenAI expert, Kayur Patel CA returns for Part 2 of this two-part special on artificial intelligence and everyday accounting. He and host Gillian Bowen dive into GenAI ...
Apr 03, 2024•27 min•Season 4Ep. 4
It’s time to check-in on the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence (AI) and learn how it’s impacting workplaces in 2024. Kayur Patel is a Fellow Chartered Accountant, and lecturer at the University of Auckland, who specialises in Generative AI. He’s also a Director at PwC NZ. It’s his job to explain the state of play and to help educate accountants and their clients on how GenAI works, what it means for their businesses and why GenAI has a role in the future. This discussion takes place o...
Mar 21, 2024•22 min•Season 4Ep. 3
The results are in – and it’s CA ANZ’s ‘early-career’ members who are more likely to receive the highest percentage pay increase compared to their more experienced colleagues. They expect more too. So which members received higher bonuses and performance pay? What about additional benefits? And what’s the latest on the gender pay gap for chartered accountants? If you haven’t had time to go through the latest CA ANZ Remuneration Survey Report – this episode is for you. Charlotte Evett FCA, Genera...
Feb 20, 2024•20 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Tinashe Kamangira FCA, the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand President for 2024, is making small and medium sized practices one of his focuses for this year. He’s passionate about supporting SMPs in their fight to find talent and empowering Members to inspire the next generation. In this episode hear Tinashe explain his plan to connect directly with SMPs, where being a CA has taken him and why safeguarding the profession’s reputation after a particularly challenging year, is crucia...
Feb 02, 2024•17 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Members regularly get in contact with the CA ANZ Tax Team for support on addressing issues with the Australian Tax office. Many are frustrated with declining service standards, especially how long it is taking the ATO to address issues and poor communication from the ATO. In this episode, Senior Tax Advocate Susan Franks CA explains how to get improved service, what CA ANZ is doing to advocate on behalf of members, the resources CA ANZ has available to help and what’s on the agenda for next year...
Dec 05, 2023•15 min•Season 3Ep. 21
Global Ethics Day is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the importance of ethics in the daily work of accountants and its role in maintaining public trust in the profession more broadly. This episode examines what behaving with integrity and ethical intent looks like – and how ethics underpins the Chartered Accountant designation. We explore the trusted relationship between CA and client, the benefits of trust, what damages trust, the professional fall out when it’s broken and how your membe...
Oct 17, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Note: A heads up for our listeners, the following episode discusses mental health. If this raises any issues for you, please reach out. The contact numbers for support services are listed in the episode description or CA ANZ members can also find support by searching for ‘CA Wellbeing’ on our website. CA ANZ past President Jane Stanton FCA is a thoughtful, compassionate champion for good mental health – and she’s on a stigma-busting mission. This episode of Small Firm, Big Impact explores Jane’s...
Sep 01, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Facing a complex ethical dilemma is a challenge and there’s no need to do it alone. The CA Advisory Group (CAAG) offers members free and confidential guidance to help them choose a course of action. In this episode, two senior members of the CA ANZ community explain what CAAG is, the sorts of challenging ethical situations it can help with and how to access it. Ross Jackson FCA , NZ CAAG Chair and Merran Brooks FCA , NSW CAAG Member join Gillian to discuss this important CA ANZ service. CA Advis...
Aug 08, 2023•16 min•Season 3Ep. 18
Climate-related disclosures, the impact on businesses and the role of accountants is front of mind right now. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has released its first two standards: IFRS S1 General Requirements for the Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information and IFRS S2 Climate-related disclosures. The standards establish a baseline of sustainability disclosures, enabling companies to provide decision-useful sustainability information to capital markets. ...
Jun 28, 2023•13 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Do you spend much time thinking about your potential or the potential of your business? What about how to REACH your full potential? Learn about the gap between your potential as a human and what we believe we can do – personally and professionally. This tailored discussion for SMPs and sole practitioners between Andy Fell, GiFT 631 Founder and Leadership/Business coach, and Gillian , promises to get the brain going. Among the topics: how to silence your inner critic, understanding if time manag...
Jun 13, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) has released the Professional Conduct Framework Review Final Report, an Independent Review of the recommendations, and the Committee’s Response to the Independent Review. This comes at a time when the spotlight is on the profession, and on the powers to hold those who breach the Code of Ethics to account. In this episode, CA ANZ CEO Ainslie van Onselen sits down with host Gillian Bowen to take Members through some of the Review’s key recom...
Jun 08, 2023•18 min•Season 3Ep. 15
The Public Practice Program (PPP) prepares practitioners for future success as a partner or sole practitioner. It’s designed to empower new practitioners with the practical business management skills, as well as a thorough grounding in the regulatory framework, required for managing a successful practice now and in the future. The PPP has been revamped - with practitioners in New Zealand and Australia recently getting a taste of the refreshed leading-edge program. This episode sits down with two...
Jun 01, 2023•19 min•Season 3Ep. 14
It’s been labelled a ‘No Frill’s budget’ by a ‘Bread and Butter’ Government – but what's actually in the 2023 New Zealand Budget? Hear from CA ANZ NZ Country Head Peter Vial FCA on the CA ANZ perspective on the 2023 NZ Budget, fresh out of the Beehive Budget lock-up. Did it strike the balance to address New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit and cost of living crisis, without increasing inflation? Were there any tax surprises? What did the business sector get? All this and more is answered in this...
May 19, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Now the dust has settled on the Federal Budget (AU) – this episode takes Australian members through the impacts on them and their clients. Senior Tax Advocate Susan Franks and Superannuation and Financial Services Leader Tony Negline CA have more detail than what was revealed on budget night. Hear about what the Australian Tax Office is planning to target this tax time, feedback from members on key changes, insights on non-arm’s length income and the realities of the payday super measure. Plus T...
May 19, 2023•20 min•Season 3Ep. 13
