CPA Australia

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Channel • 4 Shows

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Updated 1 Jun
Business

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Updated 2 Jun
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31 Mar

From ledgers to the new AI world

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 podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

31 Mar

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44 min
14 Apr

The future of accounting in an AI-driven world

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 podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

14 Apr

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25 min
6 days ago

Tax Time 2026: How ATO protects your financial data

Cyber fraud is not going to stop overnight. It will continue to become more sophisticated and pervasive as time goes on. Which means this third episode in the tax time 2026 series is even more relevant today as it focuses on fraud risks and how you can protect your financial data. With guest expertise from Jade Hawkins, assistant commissioner in the ATO's fraud and criminal behaviours business line, and hosted by CPA Australia's tax lead Jenny Wong, deep dive into the ATO's counter-fraud program, emerging scam trends and the practical tools now available to strengthen digital security across the tax system ahead of tax time 2026. Additionally, explore new features in the ATO app that give taxpayers more control over their accounts to the steps agents can take to protect their clients and their own practices from new threats. In this episode, you will also gain expert information on: why identity theft and frauds are becoming more sophisticated what tax agents can do to protect clients and their own practices the most common fraud and cyber-attack techniques targeting the sector why strong myID settings and multifactor authentication matter how phishing, malware and credential stuffing attacks are evolving what happens when a taxpayer's account is compromised. Tune in now. Host: Jenny Wong, tax lead, CPA Australia Guest: Jade Hawkins, assistant commissioner in the ATO's fraud and criminal behaviours business line For more, head to CPA Australia's tax time tools and resources page. Additionally, you can head to the ATO website or download the ATO app. The ATO also has online services and you can go on the ATO website to verify or report a scam or learn how to stay scam safe. And you can phone the ATO on 1800 008 540. Loving this episode? Listen to more With Interest episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts 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 https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest 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 https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au Chapters: 00:00 Fraud Prevention Urgency: ATO, Tax Agents and Evolving Scam Risks 00:22 Intro - Jenny Wong - Tax Time 2026 00:39 Jade Hawkins (ATO) on the Counter Fraud Program Overview 01:08 What Is the ATO Counter Fraud Program? $187M Investment Explained 01:17 Proactive Fraud Detection: Real-Time Data, Analytics and System Protections (ATO) 03:20 ATO App Security Updates: How Taxpayers Can Stay Safe with myID 03:30 Real-Time Alerts, Account Locking and Fraud Prevention via ATO App 04:01 Case Study: Stopping Tax Refund Fraud Using ATO App Notifications 05:49 ATO "Verify Call" Feature: Detecting Scam Calls and Social Engineering 06:14 ATO App Tools for Taxpayers: myDeductions, Pre-Fill Data, Refund Tracking 07:25 How Tax Agents Can Protect Clients: myID, ATO App and Fraud Awareness 08:21 Cybersecurity Best Practices: MFA, Strong Passphrases, Software Updates 10:23 ATO Resources and Training: Tax Fraud Hub and Cybersecurity Modules 11:03 Current Scam Trends: PII Data Breaches and Identity Theft Risks (ATO Insights) 11:40 Fraud Targeting Tax Agents: Phishing, Malware and Credential Stuffing 13:48 What Happens If a Taxpayer Is Compromised? ATO Safeguards Explained 15:54 Final Advice from Jade Hawkins: Vigilance, ATO App and Strong Access Controls 16:23 Conclusion: Tax Time 2026 Fraud Risks and Key Takeaways for Agents

6 days ago

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17 min
2 Mar

Master your messy data

Messy, unstructured data. It slows reporting, creates errors, and tests everyone's patience. Right? This episode breaks down how the new Regular Expressions (REGEX) work and how they help you find patterns in unstructured text, from email addresses to dates and hidden white space. You will learn: what REGEX is and why it matters for accountants and analysts how to use REGEXEXTRACT, REGEXTEST and REGEXREPLACE when to combine REGEXTEST with FILTER for smarter analysis how REGEX now works inside XLOOKUP and XMATCH ways to manage white space and non-standard characters why building a reusable pattern library will save time. Programmers have been using REGEX patterns for decades, but they've only just come to Excel. The good news is Excel's new REGEX functions give finance teams a practical way to take back control. Listen now to help improve your Excel skills. 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? Don't forget to subscribe to EXCEL TIPS and share this episode with your colleagues and friends in the business community. 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

2 Mar

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6 min
1 May

Template tips to boost workflows

Most finance professionals have made this mistake at least once. You open last month's file, update the numbers, hit save, and only then realise you should have saved it as this month's version of the file. This is where templates can help. In this episode, explore how Excel templates solve that problem while also improving consistency across your reporting. Main learnings: How Excel templates prevent accidental file overwrites The difference between workbook, sheet and task-based templates Where to find and manage built-in and personal templates How to create blank templates with pre-set formats and settings Using templates to embed headers, footers and branding Managing template storage, including system and shared folders How to apply templates across teams for consistency and control Tune in 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 video - https://youtu.be/RJdT6FF-w58 Read more of Neale's Excel articles on INTHEBLACK. Loving this content? Don't forget to subscribe to EXCEL TIPS and share this episode with your colleagues and friends in the business community. 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

1 May

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8 min
9 Jun

Tax Time 2026: Small business guide to ATO compliance

Tax time can add to the stress of small business. So, to help reduce that worry, this episode is devoted entirely to small business issues for tax time 2026. With high-level expertise from the ATO's Angela Allen, assistant commissioner responsible for small business experience, in the studio with CPA Australia's tax lead Jenny Wong, explore the most common tax issues affecting small business, and how you can stay compliant. In this episode, you'll gain valuable information on: The most common tax time mistakes made by small businesses Why accurate record keeping is still critical for compliance The ATO's key focus areas for small business audits and reviews How data matching is changing tax reporting and enforcement What businesses need to know about Payday Super changes How the instant asset write-off applies this financial year Why cashflow management is essential for meeting obligations The support tools and learning resources available for business owners How the ATO is addressing shadow economy activity and tax evasion Why early engagement with advisers and the ATO can prevent bigger problems Tune in now. Host: Jenny Wong, tax lead, CPA Australia Guest: Angela Allen, assistant commissioner at the ATO, responsible for small business experience For more, head to CPA Australia's tax time tools and resources page. And of course, you can head to the ATO website or you can download the ATO app. The ATO also has online services and you can go to the ATO website and search verify or report a scam or how to stay scam safe for more information. And you can phone the ATO on 1800 008 540. Loving this episode? Listen to more With Interest episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts 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 https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest 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 https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au Chapters: 00:00 Cash Flow Pressure for Small Businesses and When to Contact the ATO 00:16 Tax Time 2026 Overview with Angela Allen, Australian Taxation Office 01:00 Common Small Business Tax Time Mistakes and Record‑Keeping Errors 02:06 ATO Record‑Keeping Tools: Recordkeeping Evaluation and myDeductions App 02:38 ATO Small Business Compliance Focus Areas for 2026 02:58 ATO Small Business Compliance Risks: Income Reporting, Employer Super Obligations, and Cash‑in‑Hand Payments 04:08 ATO Small Business Tax Time Toolkit and Online Learning Resources 05:27 Managing Cash Flow Stress and Early Engagement with the ATO 05:51 Tax Time 2026 Changes: TPAR Reporting and Pre‑Fill Data 06:37 Instant Asset Write‑Off Rules for Small Businesses 06:56 Payday Super Starting 1 July and Employer Readiness 07:18 Staying Compliant Year‑Round Using Digital Tax Tools 08:15 GST, PAYG Withholding, Superannuation, and Cash Flow Planning 09:05 ATO Priorities on the Shadow Economy and Cash‑in‑Hand Payments 10:26 Episode Wrap‑Up and CPA Australia Resources #taxtime #smallbusiness #smallbusinesstax #compliance #ATO

9 Jun

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11 min
9 Jun

Crime By Numbers: AML reforms and the gatekeepers preventing money laundering

This publication provides general information only and is not legal or professional advice. CPA Australia gives no warranties as to its accuracy, completeness or suitability and disclaims all liability for reliance on it. Listeners should seek their own independent advice for their circumstances. What does Australia's biggest AML (anti-money laundering) reform in years mean for accountants, lawyers, advisers and business owners? This episode breaks down the tranche 2 anti-money laundering reforms, the growing role of AUSTRAC, and why professional service firms are becoming critical gatekeepers in the fight against financial crime. The discussion explores how money laundering really works, why criminals target trusted advisers, and the practical steps businesses need to take to prepare for new compliance obligations. Main learnings: Why Australia is expanding AML reporting obligations How accountants and lawyers help identify suspicious activity What suspicious matter reporting involves in practice Why knowing your customer is central to AML compliance The role of AUSTRAC as regulator and intelligence agency Common red flags linked to financial crime and tax evasion How smaller businesses can approach AML compliance practically This episode offers practical guidance for accounting, finance and advisory professionals navigating Australia's evolving AML landscape. Listen now. Host: Jacqueline Blondell, editor, CPA Australia Experts: Brendan Thomas, AUSTRAC CEO Geoff Peck, a former fraud squad detective with Victoria Police's major Fraud Group, and managing director Forensic & Integrity Solutions Amanda Wood, managing director, Kroll's Investigations, Diligence and Compliance Practice For more, head to the Australian Institute of Criminology website. Need help with your AML/CTF obligations? AUSTRAC and CPA Australia have a host of resources. AUSTRAC's guidance for small business is another useful resource. And head to the Crime By Numbers homepage to catch up on earlier eps in this second series as well as series 1. Loving this episode? Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts 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 https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest 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 https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au Chapters: 00:00 Disclaimer 00:21 The social purpose of anti-money laundering 00:45 Introduction to Crime By Numbers Episode 3 01:28 AUSTRAC's role in Australia's AML/CTF regime 02:44 History of money laundering laws and Tranche 2 reforms 03:22 Why Australia is catching up with global AML standards 04:20 Why accountants and lawyers see risks banks can't 05:23 Core obligations for new AML gatekeepers: KYC and reporting 07:05 Comparing Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 compliance challenges 08:15 Embedding AML compliance into professional practices 09:37 Knowing your customer and hidden criminal risk 11:03 Business benefits of stronger AML processes 11:37 Common misconceptions about money laundering and cash 12:39 AUSTRAC guidance, starter kits, and industry support 14:29 Enforcement approach, penalties, and expectations 15:13 The real victims behind money laundering crimes 16:32 Resources for new gatekeepers and closing remarks

9 Jun

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17 min
1 Apr

Increment dates easily in Excel

What if you could simplify Excel date calculations with one powerful custom function? Well, this episode explains how. You'll learn: How to handle different date increments including days, weeks and months in one function Using the SWITCH function to create a lookup table How the LAMBDA function can be deployed Best practice tips for this custom function Listen now to improve your Excel skills. 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 video for this episode. Read more of Neale's Excel articles on INTHEBLACK. Loving this content? Don't forget to subscribe to EXCEL TIPS and share this episode with your colleagues and friends in the business community. 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

1 Apr

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7 min
12 May · Video

Layne Beachley's mindset strategies (including her 7% rule)

Layne Beachley AO has done it all in the sporting arena – she's a seven-time world surfing champion, after all. And through her incredible journey, she's learned powerful mindset strategies that could help you today. And it's not what you might think. Drawing on her experience as a sporting great, Layne connects elite sport principles to the realities of accounting and finance, offering practical ways to manage stress, sustain energy and make clearer decisions in demanding roles. And you can apply these habits to your own work life in finance and accounting to improve your performance, focus and resilience – in other words, to help bring out the best version of you. In this special episode, Layne also shares how her 7% rule helps professionals reset, refocus and perform under pressure. Other key learnings include: Practical ways to reset your nervous system during the workday The importance of mental health and how to switch off What success actually looks like How to deal with pressure when you're busy at home and at work How leaders can embed resilience into team culture The one thing accountants and CFOs can take away from this episode Layne brings a unique perspective from elite sport, translating high-performance habits into practical actions you can apply immediately. Tune in now for elite insights into how you can make improvements to your daily work habits. Host: Tahn Sharpe, Editor, CPA Australia Guests: Layne Beachley, a seven-time world surfing champion, widely regarded as one of the greatest surfers of all time. She's also a high-performance mindset coach, helping professionals translate elite sporting principles into everyday success. Layne Beachley will be speaking at CPA Week 2026 in June. And head online for more about Layne Beachley's Awake Academy. Loving this episode? Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. Go 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 favourite podcast platform. Email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

12 May · Video

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24 min
13 May · Video

Federal Budget 2026-27: CPA Australia's expert analysis

In this special Federal Budget 2026–27 episode, hear expert analysis of the measures announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers in last night's budget. CPA Australia's business and tax policy experts break down what Budget 2026–27 means for the issues that matter most to businesses and Australians. Analysis and commentary include: Overall reaction: Did the budget deliver? Who were the winners and losers? The tax measures examined, including CGT and negative gearing Building wealth and investor confidence analysed What the budget means for entrepreneurs The impact on businesses, trusts and intergenerational equity Revenues and WATO (Working Australians Tax Offset) explained Productivity and regulation initiatives assessed Tune in for a practical, expert-led breakdown of the budget measures announced in Canberra last night and what they could mean for you and the future of business in Australia. Host: Elinor Kasapidis, chief of policy, Standards and External Affairs Policy, CPA Australia Guests: Gavan Ord, business investment and international lead, Policy and Advocacy, CPA Australia, and Jenny Wong, tax lead, Policy and Advocacy, CPA Australia. For more, head to the Federal Budget 2026-27 page on the CPA Australia website, which has comprehensive coverage of last night's announcement, including CPA Australia's pre-budget submission. And on YouTube later today (May 13), tune into the webinar with CPA Australia's policy experts, who discuss and distil the key announcements from the 2026-27 Australian Federal Budget. This event will have a 1 CPD-hour learning outcome. Loving this episode? Listen to more With Interest episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts And don't forget to 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 https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest 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 https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips Search for them in your favourite podcast platform. Email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

13 May · Video

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20 min

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

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CPA Australia

Top Shows

From ledgers to the new AI world

The future of accounting in an AI-driven world

Tax Time 2026: How ATO protects your financial data

Master your messy data

Template tips to boost workflows

Tax Time 2026: Small business guide to ATO compliance

Crime By Numbers: AML reforms and the gatekeepers preventing money laundering

Increment dates easily in Excel

Layne Beachley's mindset strategies (including her 7% rule)

Federal Budget 2026-27: CPA Australia's expert analysis

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CPA Australia

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