As accountants, conflicts of interest can arise. Some say they are unavoidable.

But knowing how to manage them is crucial.

This episode explores how such conflicts arise – from client relationships to commercial pressures – and why managing them is critical to upholding trust in the profession.

You will learn:

• why conflicts of interest are increasing in today's business environment

• the most common conflict of interest scenarios facing accountants and advisers

• when disclosure is not enough and stronger action is needed

• how to distinguish between manageable and unacceptable conflicts

• practical frameworks to identify and assess conflicts in real time

• the role of professional judgement and organisational culture

Drawing on the current codes of ethics and the everyday ethics issues discussed in INTHEBLACK, this expert-led discussion focuses on practical decision-making in situations that are rarely clear cut.

This episode will help you respond with confidence and integrity.

Tune in now.

Host: Tahn Sharpe, Editor, CPA Australia

Guests: Dr Michelle Cull FCPA, Associate Professor and Head of Discipline, Accounting and Financial Planning at Western Sydney University, and Belinda Zohrab, Regulation and Professional Standards Lead, CPA Australia

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. Head to our podcast page CPA Australia - YouTube

And of course, click subscribe to the channel today.

We deliver regular content that will help boost your career skills and capabilities.

Additionally, INTHEBLACK online has stories on everyday ethics issues.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts

INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack

INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud

Excel Tips Excel Tips | CPA Australia

With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

AI is reshaping finance faster than most accounting and finance organisations are prepared for.

This episode explores what that means in practice and how professionals can stay relevant as roles evolve.

From automation and agentic AI to cybersecurity risks and sustainability pressures, this expert-led discussion highlights the shifts happening across finance, accounting and business in a volatile and rapidly changing world.

You will learn:

• The biggest forces changing the profession right now

• What AI fluency looks like in practice and why it matters now

• The emerging technologies or trends reshaping how finance teams work

• How finance roles are evolving towards judgement and decision making

• The impact of automation on career pathways and hiring patterns

• Practical steps to future-proof your career capability in a reshaped profession

Listen now.

Host: Patrick Viljoen, sustainability lead, CPA Australia

Guests: Amantha Imber an innovation specialist and Anders Sormann-Nilsson, a futurist and keynote speaker.

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. Head to our podcast page CPA Australia - YouTube

And of course, click subscribe to the channel today. We deliver regular content that will help boost your career skills and capabilities.

You can also head to INTHEBLACK online for 10 accounting trends reshaping the profession and other insightful articles celebrating 140 years of the designation in our special April edition.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts

INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack

INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud

Excel Tips Excel Tips | CPA Australia

With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

Accounting has evolved dramatically, but its core purpose stays unchanged - enabling trust and better decision-making.

In this episode, hosted by Australian comedian Lehmo, learn how the profession has moved from manual record keeping to a strategic role centred on judgement, governance and value creation.

Additionally, explore why AI is transforming tools rather than replacing expertise.

Key learnings from this episode:

• How accounting has evolved from bookkeeping to strategic decision support

• Why trust, integrity and governance sit at the centre of the profession

• How global crises have expanded the role of accountants over time

• The shift from financial data to broader enterprise data responsibilities

• Why AI enhances accounting rather than replacing it

• The growing importance of professional scepticism in an AI-driven world

• How accountants can contribute to AI governance and auditing

• Why communication and judgement remain critical skills

• What the next generation of accountants needs to succeed

Listen now for more.

Host: Anthony "Lehmo" Lehmann, popular Australian comedian

Guests:

Dr Jasvinder Sidhu, accounting academic and historian

Kaushika Jayalath CPA, principal solutions consultant, Oracle, and a CPA Australia board member

Head to Lehmo's site for more information on his services.

And learn more about this episode's guests Kaushika Jayalath CPA and Dr Jasvinder Sidhu at his staff profile.

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube.

And don't forget to click subscribe on the channel.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting:

With Interest

INTHEBLACK

INTHEBLACK Out Loud

Excel Tips

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

Gain a clear view of where the Australian and Asia-Pacific economies are heading and what it all means for finance leaders in 2026.

The headlines say volatility. The data tells a more nuanced story.

Inflation, interest rates, productivity and more are all explained in plain terms, translating macroeconomic signals into what matters for business leaders today.

Listen for an expert view of:

• The economic cycle that Australia and APAC are entering

• The likely direction of interest rates over the next 12 months

• Which indicators matter most when tracking inflation

• The key skill you need to help you prepare for the year ahead

These insights will help you understand where the Australian and APAC economies are heading, and how this may influence decision-making this year.

Host: Tahn Sharpe, editor INTHEBLACK, CPA Australia

Guest: Paul Bloxham, chief economist, Australia, New Zealand and global commodities, HSBC

To read online articles by Paul Bloxham, head to his news page on the AFR.

For more economic insights visit INTHEBLACK https://intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au/economy

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube, where you can subscribe to the channel for regular content.

And don't forget to subscribe to INTHEBLACK and share this episode with your colleagues and friends in the business community.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting:

With Interest

INTHEBLACK

INTHEBLACK Out Loud

Excel Tips

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

What do you do when there is no playbook?

Many finance leaders have built their careers on accuracy, clarity and control. But today's operating climate is defined by uncertainty rather than stability.

Market turbulence, rapid advances in AI, organisational redesign and ongoing talent constraints are converging at the same time.

In this context, success depends on more than just IQ or EQ. It now also hinges on your adaptability quotient (AQ).

In this episode, explore how finance professionals can build the capability to work confidently through ambiguity while preserving the discipline and standards that underpin strong accounting practice.

You will learn:

• the difference between adaptability quotient (AQ) and adaptive leadership

• why change feels harder today and how complexity affects performance

• how to use the observation, interpretation and intervention model

• practical ways to avoid common thinking traps such as catastrophising and blame

• how to create psychological safety without lowering standards

• tools such as the balcony and dance floor perspective and the productive zone of disequilibrium.

If you want to strengthen resilience, improve decision-making and lead confidently through uncertainty, this episode offers practical steps you can apply immediately.

Host: Tahn Sharpe, Editor, CPA Australia.

Guests: Catherine Althaus, professor at UNSW Canberra, and Kathryn McEwen, organisational psychologist.

For more information, head to Kathryn McEwen's website.

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube.

And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting:

With Interest

INTHEBLACK

INTHEBLACK Out Loud

Excel Tips

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

Workplace romance happens more often than most people realise.

While at its heart (no pun intended) it's a personal matter, companies today have obligations under legislation that affect how these relationships are managed.

When colleagues become romantically involved, there are ways to handle it that respect personal freedom while managing organisational risk.

This episode examines that tricky balancing act of respecting privacy with the current legal and ethical responsibilities of companies.

Key points in this episode include:

• The view of office romances from today's organisational perspective

• The importance of having a strong understanding of the law around this specific area

• Policies or guidelines that should be in place to manage office romances responsibly

• Effective strategies for communicating these relationship policies to staff

• The potential for a conflict of interest and the duty to prevent sexual harassment

• Recognising ethical red flags in relationships with significant power imbalances

• Navigating the risks associated with alcohol and off-site corporate events

Love in the workplace isn't just a plotline in your favourite drama. It's a reality many professionals navigate. Tune in for guidance.

Host: Belinda Zohrab, Regulation and Professional Standards lead, CPA Australia

Guest: Jodie Fox, employment lawyer and director of Worklogic, a consultancy firm that works with employers. She is also an honorary senior fellow of the University of Melbourne's Law School.

For more information, head to Worklogic's website and its page on LinkedIn.

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube.

And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help support your career journey.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting:

With Interest

INTHEBLACK

INTHEBLACK Out Loud

Excel Tips

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

Cognitive bias. It quietly shapes many of the decisions made in accounting and finance – often without you realising it.

This unintended bias can become a risk if left unchecked – especially in professions built on precision, trust and ethical responsibility.

Drawing on real-world examples, this episode explores the diverse types of cognitive bias, and how they can impact accounting and finance professionals in our day-to-day work.

Key learnings include:

• Why cognitive bias exists and when it becomes a professional risk

• How common biases affect financial judgement

• The ethical consequences of bias in accounting and finance

• How organisational culture can reduce or reinforce biased thinking

• Practical steps individuals can take to challenge assumptions and improve decisions

• How the rise of AI and automation adds a new layer of complexity to decision-making

The discussion also shows how biases such as confirmation bias, anchoring and overconfidence quietly influence decisions, often without conscious awareness.

Host: Tahn Sharpe, Editor, CPA Australia

Guest: Dr Victor Goh Weng Yew, a PhD in applied psychology and Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology at HELP University in Malaysia, where he is also the acting dean.

For more, head to HELP University online and to its page on LinkedIn.

And there is a CPA PD course on AI and Ethics in Malaysia featuring expert local speakers, case studies and examples.

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube.

And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting:

With Interest

INTHEBLACK

INTHEBLACK Out Loud

Excel Tips

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

Did you know that one of Australia's biggest superannuation reforms in decades is starting in July 2026? Are you prepared for the change?

In short, with legislation moving through Parliament, Australia will move from quarterly to payday-based superannuation payments – a significant shift with implications across business.

This expert-led episode, featuring three guests, explores the systems issues and regulatory implications as well as why Payday Super is happening and the benefits of this change to employees.

Key takeaways include:

• How cash flow, payroll systems and compliance will be affected by this change

• The closure of the Small Business Super Clearinghouse (SBSCH)

• How the seven-day payment rule will work for missing payments

• Practical steps accountants can take to help prepare clients early

Listen now for expert advice to help you prepare for the changes coming soon to superannuation in Australia.

Host: Tahn Sharpe, Editor, INTHEBLACK

Guests:

Kristen Yarbrough, Product Manager at CloudPayroll

Gavan Ord, Business Investment and International Lead, Policy and Advocacy, CPA Australia

Richard Webb, Superannuation Lead, Policy, Standards and External Affairs, CPA Australia

Learn more about CloudPayroll at its website and its LinkedIn account.

And you can read an article about Payday Super on INTHEBLACK.

Loving this episode? Tune in to more With Interest episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. And don't forget to subscribe.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting:

With Interest

INTHEBLACK

INTHEBLACK Out Loud

Excel Tips

Search for them in your podcast platform.

Email the podcast team at [email protected]

Australia remains one of the few advanced economies still using PDFs for financial reporting – a format most global markets have already left behind.

In this episode, you'll gain expert-led insights on why adopting digital financial reporting in Australia is critical to supporting trust, transparency and competitiveness in global markets.

Explore how structured data allows regulators, investors and businesses to analyse and compare information more efficiently, driving better decision-making and reducing capital costs.

Listeners will learn:

• How structured data improves accountability and investor confidence

• Why global markets already mandate digital reporting standards

• The link between digital disclosure and lower capital costs

• How AI will enhance – not replace – digital reporting workflows

• What Australian policymakers can learn from global peers

Learn why CPA Australia is recommending a mandate for digital reporting by listed entities in this expert-led discussion.

Listen now.

Host: Ram Subramanian, External Reporting Lead, Policy, Standards and External Affairs, CPA Australia

Guest: John Turner ,CEO of XBRL International, a global, non-profit standards body dedicated to improving business performance through enhanced transparency and accountability in reporting. With a background in law, IT, and government, he has led innovation in business model design, systems development and data standards for over two decades.

For more, INTHEBLACK has an article on why digital reporting should be mandatory in Australia.

Additionally, this interim report from 2025 by the Productivity Commission provides broader context to digital reporting.

And you can find out John Turner's organisation XBRL at its website.

Loving this episode?

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube.

And don't forget to click subscribe on the channel.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting:

With Interest

INTHEBLACK

INTHEBLACK Out Loud

Excel Tips

Search for them in your podcast platform.

Email the podcast team at [email protected]

How can we attract more accountants and future-proof the profession?

In this episode we take a deep dive with IFAC into this pressing question. You'll learn about accounting's talent pipeline – its challenges and possible solutions.

Key takeaways include:

• What's really driving the talent shortage and how firms, educators and policymakers can respond.

• Simple ways to position accounting as a dynamic, valued career choice.

• Why reaching future accountants in primary school – and harnessing gamification – sparks lifelong curiosity.

• How AI is reshaping (not replacing) accounting jobs, and what skillsets are essential for today's graduates.

• Real-world strategies to build an engaged and future-proofed accounting team.

If you're in business or accounting leadership, don't miss these actionable insights to help understand and elevate the profession's future.

Host: Elinor Kasapidis, Chief of Policy, Standards and External affairs, CPA Australia

Guest: Bruce Vivian, Head of Accountancy Education, IFAC

You can learn more about Bruce Vivian's career and his role with IFAC.

And read IFAC's story on possible incentives for attracting accounting talent.

Also, check out IFAC's website for its attractiveness of the profession hub which includes resources on preparing a future-ready profession and roles for the next decade.

You can listen to more With Interest episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube.

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting:

With Interest

INTHEBLACK

INTHEBLACK Out Loud

Excel Tips

Search for them in your podcast platform.

Email the podcast team at [email protected]