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Channel • 4 Shows

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Updated Jun 9
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02/13/2023

Excel tips: how to use Goal Seek

Today's episode looks at a handy tool in Microsoft Excel called Goal Seek. It can be used to create a loan schedule with an interest-free period using formulas. To explain how you do this is CPA Australia's Excel expert, Neale Blackwood. 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. CPA Australia publishes three podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: With Interest INTHEBLACK Excel Tips Search for them in your podcast service. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au And you can read more of Neale's Excel articles online, including the accompanying article to this podcast.

02/13/2023

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10 min
5d ago

How to create accounting reports with DAX

From trial balances to profit and loss statements, reporting sits at the centre of modern finance. This episode explores how finance professionals can use DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) formulas and Power Pivot to build more powerful accounting reports in Excel. Learn how to create scalable, maintainable reporting models using Excel's data model, while applying techniques that can also be used in Power BI. Some of the key learnings: Understand the relationship between Power Pivot and DAX Build accounting reports using multiple related tables Overcome financial year limitations in pivot tables Correct debit and credit sign issues in trial balances Test and validate DAX measures using pivot tables Use AI to write, explain and review DAX formulas 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 YouTube video of this episode. Read more of Neale's Excel articles on INTHEBLACK, including this story that explains DAX in further detail. 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

5d ago

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9 min
04/06/2023

Learn Excel's built-in artificial intelligence feature

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come to Microsoft Excel, and it will make your life easier when working with data. The AI function can easily create PivotTables and PivotCharts, which is useful for analysis and audit work. You can also generate reports at the click of a button. Listen here to learn more. 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. You can also read the accompanying online article and video tutorial of this podcast. BOILERPLATE COPY (REPEATS EVERY EPISODE) CPA Australia publishes three podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting: With Interest INTHEBLACK Excel Tips Search for them on your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

04/06/2023

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11 min
Jun 23 · Video

Tax Time 2026: Property investor tips

If you're a property investor or managing investment assets, this episode features expert ATO guidance to help guide you through tax time in 2026. Want an example? Rental property tax can be straightforward until ownership structures, short-term rentals, loan redraws and capital gains tax enter the picture. This episode explores the tax issues investors most commonly get wrong and the practical steps that can help avoid costly mistakes. You'll learn: Common mistakes involving interest deductibility and loan redraws The difference between repairs, maintenance and capital improvements Understanding the rules around apportionment Why record keeping matters throughout the life of an investment Overlooked capital gains tax triggers that investors should understand How data matching helps identify discrepancies in tax returns Practical steps to stay compliant and avoid unnecessary errors Tune in now. Host: Jenny Wong, Tax Lead, CPA Australia Guest: Anita Challen, Assistant Commissioner, ATO 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 on 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. You can revisit the first three episodes of the tax time 2026 series at our website, with episodes on the ATO's main focus areas, SME guidance and the ATO's counter-fraud program. 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

Jun 23 · Video

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15 min
Jun 1

Why Excel macros still matter in 2026

Excel macros are far from obsolete. And here's why. This episode explores why VBAs (Visual Basic for Applications) still play an important role in workflow efficiency for accountants and finance professionals. Key learnings: Why macros still matter in modern Excel workflows How VBA compares with Power Query The limits of Power Query for in-situ data fixes How AI can help write and debug VBA code How to automate data cleansing tasks in Excel Why VBA is a useful entry point into programming How to store macros in the personal macro workbook Ways to run macros from the quick access toolbar Listen now to help level up your Excel skills with macros. 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

Jun 1

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10 min
Apr 14

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

Apr 14

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25 min
Jun 16

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

Jun 16

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17 min
May 12 · 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

May 12 · Video

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24 min
Feb 3

Cognitive bias in decision-making

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 podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Feb 3

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21 min
Apr 30

How to handle a conflict of interest

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 podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Apr 30

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23 min

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

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CPA Australia

Top Shows

Excel tips: how to use Goal Seek

How to create accounting reports with DAX

Learn Excel's built-in artificial intelligence feature

Tax Time 2026: Property investor tips

Why Excel macros still matter in 2026

The future of accounting in an AI-driven world

Tax Time 2026: How ATO protects your financial data

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

Cognitive bias in decision-making

How to handle a conflict of interest

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CPA Australia

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