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Updated Feb 17
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Updated Feb 2

5D AGO

ASIC on the future of auditing

In 2026, auditors are working in an environment defined by AI technologies, heightened scrutiny, regulatory oversight and ethics demands. Which is why it's vital that professionals in audit understand this evolving landscape. Additionally, how the regulator ASIC views key issues and what it is focusing on in 2026. ASIC commissioner Kate O'Rourke is this episode's special guest and she discusses the evolution of audit and financial oversight at a pivotal time. This episode explores: The biggest forces currently reshaping the audit and assurance landscape in Australia The key areas where ASIC expect firms to lift their performance The role of digital tools, automation and AI in enhancing audit quality, risk detection, and regulatory oversight The safeguards, ethical standards, and governance structure ASIC expects firms to put in place when integrating advanced analytics or AI into audit processes Emerging major international trends How stronger global alignment could shape the future of Australia's audit framework Capabilities that the next generation of auditors need How regulators, firms, and professional bodies like CPA Australia can work together to build that future-ready workforce pipeline. Listen now for expert-led insights from ASIC. Host: Tiffany Tan, audit and assurance lead, CPA Australia. Guest: Kate O'Rourke, ASIC commissioner. She previously held senior leadership roles at Treasury and has held executive roles at ASIC overseeing corporate transactions and governance. Kate O'Rourke began her five-year term as an ASIC commissioner in September 2023. ASIC is Australia's integrated corporate, markets, financial services, and consumer credit regulator. It is an independent Australian government body. Head to ASIC online for more information on its senior leadership. Loving this episode? Listen to more With Interest 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 podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

5d ago

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20 min
FEB 17

Office romance: How to manage the risks

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 podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Feb 17

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15 min
2025-12-01

Unlock 7 underused Excel features you still need today

Handy new Excel features are added regularly – but some "older" functions are still particularly useful to your workflows. Smart power users know these older functions and their value – which is why this episode highlights some of the overlooked Excel features that are still valuable to your spreadsheet work today. Tips include: How multiple windows make it easier to copy and compare How the grouping feature works well with rows and columns How auto outline and subtotals automate structure and hierarchy in datasets Techniques for selecting visible cells to avoid errors during copying How custom lists save time and support non-alphabetic sorting This is a practical guide for anyone looking to sharpen their Excel capability, streamline reporting and improve their workflow efficiency. Listen now. Host: Neale Blackwood CPA. He has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator and is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants. For more, check out the accompanying YouTube video of this episode. Read more of Neale's Excel articles on INTHEBLACK. Loving this content? Would you like to listen to more Excel Tips and other CPA Australia podcasts like INTHEBLACK and With Interest? Head to CPA Australia's YouTube channel. And don't forget to subscribe to the channel. You can find a CPA at our custom portal on the CPA Australia website. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: With Interest INTHEBLACK Excel Tips INTHEBLACK Out Loud Search for them in your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

2025-12-01

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16 min
2025-12-16

Australia, India and new global trade opportunities

How do you maintain your strategic focus in such a volatile global market? Sanjeev Gandhi, Orica's managing director and CEO, shares his insightful views on this and much more. Gandhi and CPA Australia CEO Chris Freeland chatted on stage at the recent ECTA (Economic Trade and Agreement) Unleashed event – a one-day conference held in Sydney between CPA Australia and the Australian (Sydney) chapter of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The event connected CPA Australia members, community leaders, business, and government agencies to deliver practical insights and technical information on both the Australian and Indian markets. This episode is a recording of that insightful conversation. Gandhi outlines the realities of operating in more than 130 jurisdictions and explains why the last five years have marked the most unpredictable period of his career. This conversation also covers issues such as: Navigating global volatility Opportunities created by geopolitical shifts The Australia-India partnership Productivity and policy challenges in Australia Shifts from globalisation to localisation Listen in now. Host: Chris Freeland AM, CEO, CPA Australia Guest: Sanjeev Gandhi, Managing Director and CEO, Orica Head to Orica's website and LinkedIn for more information. And you can learn about this event at its CPA Australia page. Loving this episode? 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 podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

2025-12-16

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33 min
FEB 10

INTHEBLACK: Do you want to be happier at work? New research shows how

We all want to be happy at work. Or at least happier, don't we? Across this conversation, listeners will learn about a foundational concept: Success often follows happiness rather than causes it. Drawing on research in positive psychology, the episode outlines how mindset, habits and self-awareness account for a large share of overall wellbeing, far outweighing external circumstances. It also explains how small, consistent practices such as learning to be grateful can recalibrate the brain's natural bias toward the negative. Listeners will learn: The relationship between happiness and leadership Positive psychology as a field of research Research data on happiness and how it's a 'skill' The key components of developing workplace happiness and contentment How to recognise 'green-light moments' Ways to shift out of work-related ruts, regain perspective and avoid catastrophising This Career Hacks episode is a must-listen for anyone looking for that elusive happiness factor at work. Host: Jacqueline Blondell, Editor, CPA Australia Guest: Declan Edwards, happiness researcher, speaker, coach and consultant. He is founder of the BU Happiness College, which has a vision of making the skills and science of happiness more accessible to individuals, organisations and the world. For more information, head to the BU Happiness College on LinkedIn. Loving this episode? Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. Click subscribe on the channel to stay updated on the latest episodes. 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 podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Feb 10

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21 min
FEB 2

Can boredom boost productivity?

Research suggests that boredom, when managed well, can be a powerful signal for change and even a catalyst for greater productivity. By Nicola Heath INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia's award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business, career development and the economy, and offer key insights into strategic thought leadership and expert analysis. 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 app. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Feb 2

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5 min
2025-12-01

Decision making... like a boss

Smart decisions don't happen by chance. Leaders use tools, intuition and a clear process to cut through complexity. Here is how to sharpen decision-making skills at any career stage. By Sonakshi Babbar INTHEBLACK Out Loud brings you a curated selection of audio articles from CPA Australia's award-winning magazine, INTHEBLACK. Stories span a wide range of topics, including business, career development and the economy, and offer key insights into strategic thought leadership and expert analysis. 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 app. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

2025-12-01

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8 min
2025-07-15

How Hobart Airport leads on climate and sustainability

Climate change isn't a side issue for Hobart Airport. It's an integral part of its operations. In this episode, discover how the Tasmanian capital's airport integrates sustainability, including: How Hobart Airport identifies and mitigates climate-related risks Why sustainability is embedded across procurement, design and construction The role of circular economy practices in infrastructure projects How EV infrastructure is shaping the passenger experience The value of finance-led scenario planning in managing climate impact Dealing with external partners Future challenges for airports. Explore how the finance and commercial teams are central to planning and decision-making, using their strategic and analytical skills to manage risk and guide sustainable investment. Plus, find out how they know when it's time to bring in external expertise to manage complex risks. This episode is essential listening for those in finance, infrastructure and strategic planning who want to understand how sustainability can be effectively integrated into operational decision-making. Host: Patrick Viljoen, Sustainability Lead, Policy and Advocacy, CPA Australia Guest: Kate Gillies CPA, CFO at Hobart Airport Learn more about the executive leadership team running Hobart Airport, and its climate change adaptation plan. INTHEBLACK produces articles across a wide range of areas, including this story on climate risk and tourism. You can find a CPA at our custom portal on the CPA Australia website. Would you like to listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes? Head to CPA Australia's YouTube 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 podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

2025-07-15

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17 min
2023-09-01

Boost your skills with tips for Excel function updates

Excel is constantly evolving and improving, and it's crucial to stay up to date with all the latest changes. This companion podcast is here to help you sort quickly through the most relevant function updates. Are you ready to take your Excel skills to the next level? Tune in now. For fast access, use these timestamps: 0:29 Dynamic arrays 2:29 XLOOKUP 3:19 LET function 3:49 LAMBDA 4:56 TEXTAFTER, TEXTBEFORE and TEXTSPLIT 6:15 BYROW and BYCOL 7:00 the IMAGE function 7:45 VSTACK and HSTACK 8:31 TAKE and DROP functions 10:03 CHOOSEROWS and CHOOSECOLUMNS 10:34 DAX functions Host: Neale Blackwood CPA has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator. He is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants. CPA Australia publishes three 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. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

2023-09-01

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13 min
2025-09-23

Excel at 40: The spreadsheet that changed everything

For four decades, Microsoft Excel has been a cornerstone of accounting and finance. From basic calculations to complex modelling, it has transformed how professionals analyse data, solve problems and make decisions. To mark Excel's 40th birthday, Neale Blackwood CPA reflects on Excel's legacy and its impact on the profession. He shares his personal journey with Excel, explores its evolution from the early Mac days to the rise of AI and Python, and offers insights into why Excel remains essential in a tech-driven world. Listen now to learn: How Excel revolutionised accounting and finance workflows Key milestones in Excel's 40-year journey, including the rise of VBA, PivotTables and Power BI What Excel's future looks like in the age of AI, automation and cloud collaboration Why Excel is still a must-have skill for finance professionals Whether you're building financial models, exploring automation or simply aiming to sharpen your Excel skills, this episode offers insights into the past, present and future of the world's most important app for accounting and finance professionals. Host: Tahn Sharpe, editor, INTHEBLACK, CPA Australia Guest: Neale Blackwood CPA, accountant, author and Excel traine Listen to our Excel Tips podcast here https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips You can read Neale Blackwood's Excel Tips column on the INTHEBLACK website here https://intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au/technical-skills You can find a CPA at our custom portal on the CPA Australia website. Would you like to listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes? Head to CPA Australia's YouTube 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 podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

2025-09-23

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22 min

CPA Australia podcasts provide commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting.

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CPA Australia

Top Shows

ASIC on the future of auditing

Office romance: How to manage the risks

Unlock 7 underused Excel features you still need today

Australia, India and new global trade opportunities

INTHEBLACK: Do you want to be happier at work? New research shows how

Can boredom boost productivity?

Decision making... like a boss

How Hobart Airport leads on climate and sustainability

Boost your skills with tips for Excel function updates

Excel at 40: The spreadsheet that changed everything

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