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 Scheme approved in Australia | CA ANZ
• Sharing Knowledge Webinar
• The Scheme and Professional Indemnity insurance | CA ANZ
• Professional Standards Council and Professional Standards Authority | CA ANZ
• Current Scheme Documents | Professional Standards Councils
• Minimum Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance calculator | CA ANZ
• Your Professional Standards Scheme self checkup | CA ANZ
• Professional Standards Support | CA ANZ
• CA ANZ podcast page

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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 winners and losers – tune in to hear the team's analysis, straight from the Beehive Lock-up.

Resources referred to in the episode:

• CA ANZ’s 2025 NZ Budget Coverage

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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 for audit firms, especially smaller-sized practices, and highlights the new CA ANZ resource, Audit and technology playbook: A practitioner’s guide. Find out how to stay competitive in a tech-driven environment and gain valuable insights from our experts. 

Resources referred to in this episode: 

• Audit and technology playbook: A practitioner’s guide 
• Acuity article on the guide
• CA ANZ Cyber Security Playbook
• CA ANZ’s Certificate in AI Fluency
• CA ANZ’s micro courses 
• Exploring the IESBA Code - A Focus on Technology guide
• IESBA’s Technology-related Revisions to the Code
• IAASB ISA 220 (Revised), Quality Management for an Audit of Financial Statements
• IAASB ISA 315 (Revised), Identifying and Assessing Risks of Material Misstatements
• International Standard on Quality Management (ISQM) 1 

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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 discussion gives a useful update on the evolving landscape of tax administration and how the Tax Ombudsman can also assist with Tax Practitioner Board matters. 

Resources referred to in this episode: 

• Tax Ombudsman website 
• Tax Ombudsman’s work plan 
• Tax Ombudsman’s systemic review of the effectiveness of the ATO’s registered agent phone line 
• Poll on the ATO’s registered agent phone line 
• Tax Ombudsman’s review of ATO letters and written communications 
• Escalate complaints about the ATO with the Tax Ombudsman via its website or telephone on 1300 44 88 29 (1300 IGT TAX) 

*This episode was recorded on 2 April 2025.

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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 Federal Budget Coverage

• Visit the Smaller Practices Centre 

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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 explain what smaller firms should know about the value chain, the resources available to help accountants and the opportunities this journey toward sustainability assurance can present. 

Mark, who’s also the Executive Director of Regulatory Standards at the UK Financial Reporting Council, encouraged accountants to take up the opportunity to shape methodology and practice, in this important time of generational change. 

Resources referred to in the episode: 

• IESBA: 
  • Basis for conclusions - IESSA
  • Final Standard - IESSA
  • CA ANZ’s submission to the IESBA on the Proposed IESSA
  • IESBA Website
  • Contact IESBA
  • PODCAST: What’s next for ethics and the profession? 

• IAASB Website
• SME sustainability hub
• CA ANZ Sustainable Business page
• Sustainability Tools & Resources
• Sustainability Assurance playbook
• Submissions to the IAASB, AUASB and XRB on sustainability assurance
• Check out the Smaller Practices Centre
• Check out Small Firm, Big Impact on the CA ANZ website

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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's Regional Councils and Committees

• Explore the Make Epic Things Happen campaign 

• Download the High School Toolkit 

• Read more about the New CA Pathways 

• First letter from the 2025 CA ANZ President 

• Ten years on: marking the coming together of ICAA and NZICA 

• Check out the Smaller Practices Centre 

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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 President for 2025
• CA ANZ’s Smaller Practices Centre
• Update your communication preferences
• Download CA ANZ’s High School Toolkit
• The new CA Pathways
• Check out the episode with the IESBA Chair: What’s next for ethics and the profession?
• Small Firm, Big Impact page on the CA ANZ website

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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 Financial Abuse Service NSW join Gillian Bowen to explain financial abuse, how the tax system is abused by perpetrators and how tax professionals can start to recognise the signs.

Resources referred to in the episode:

• CA ANZ Article: ‘Financial abuse in the tax system – recognise the signs’
• Register for the Sharing Knowledge session ‘Recognising the signs of client financial abuse’
• CA ANZ submission to Australian parliamentary inquiry: Financial Services Regulatory Framework in Relation to Financial Abuse
• Contact the CA ANZ Professional Standards Team for practical guidance on the ethics and rules related to a professional issues such as financial abuse
• CA ANZ Smaller Practices Centre
• Contact the UNSW Tax and Business Advisory Clinic to get involved

For anyone personally experiencing financial abuse support is available:

In Australia refer to Yourtoolkit.com

In New Zealand refer to Good Shepherd

All CA ANZ members can access free EAP support

Financial counselling and pro bono tax services:  

• National Debt Helpline: 1800 007 007 
• Small Business Debt Helpline (national): 1800 413 828 
• National Tax Clinic Program (for tax clinics in each state) 

Financial abuse specialist legal and non-legal support:  

• Financial Abuse Service NSW at Redfern Legal Centre (New South Wales): 0481 730 344 

Family and domestic violence support services:  

• 1800 RESPECT (24-hour national helpline): 1800 737 732  
• Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491  
• Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114  
• Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277  

Additional workplace resources:

UN Women resource (AU): Domestic and Family Violence is a Workplace Issue - The Facts

UN Women resource (AU): Workplace Action on Domestic and Family Violence – Tools and Resources

UN Women resource (AU): A Framework for Workplace Action on Domestic and Family Violence

Employment NZ resource (NZ): Rights for Employees Affected by Domestic Violence

Employment NZ resource (NZ): Managing Family Violence Leave

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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 on Australia's AML/CTF regime 

• Contact the CA ANZ Business Reform team 

• AUSTRAC’s topic-based videos 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.