CPA Australia

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Channel • 4 Shows

Education

Education

Updated Mar 2
Business

Business

Updated Mar 3
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Business News

Updated Semimonthly
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Updated Monthly

MAR 2

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

Mar 2

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6 min
FEB 2

Build Better Excel Models

You may know The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People as a cornerstone of modern business thinking. But what happens when those same principles from this book are applied to one of the most widely used tools in finance: Excel? In this episode, we explore how the seven habits framework can be applied by accountants and finance professionals to design and build Excel models. The focus is practical and grounded in real work, with key learnings including: How asking better questions leads to stronger Excel models Why planning and prioritisation matter before building anything Designing reports first and working back to the data Building proactive features that reduce errors and improve usability Using automation and AI thoughtfully to support the process The episode also looks at where Excel fits alongside tools such as Power BI, and why judgement and planning still matter even as AI becomes more capable. 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. 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. Read more of Neale's Excel articles on INTHEBLACK. 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

Feb 2

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12 min
12/01/2025

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

12/01/2025

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16 min
JAN 1

Smarter, faster, easier: Here's what's new in Excel

Excel Tips Summer Season Encore presentation from October 2025 In this episode of Excel Tips, we explore the latest Excel updates that can help to boost productivity and simplify workflows for finance and accounting professionals. Listeners will learn: How to use TRIMRANGE for flexible range selection What's new with pivot table formatting and an exciting update on auto-refresh How the TRANSLATE function works for multilingual data The simplified syntax for BYROW and BYCOL functions How three new Regex (regular expressions) functions can use patterns to identify data. Packed with practical insights, this episode helps you explore Excel's latest upgrades to save time, improve analysis and elevate decision-making. 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. The companion video and Excel file will go into more detail to demonstrate these techniques. Read more of Neale's Excel articles on INTHEBLACK. You can find a CPA at our custom portal on the CPA Australia website. Would you like to listen to more Excel Tips 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 Excel Tips INTHEBLACK Out Loud Search for them in your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Jan 1

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14 min
FEB 24

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

Feb 24

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20 min
MAR 3

AQ for finance leaders

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 podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Mar 3

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21 min
02/06/2023

Excel tips: how to improve your formatting

Today's episode will help with your formatting in Microsoft Excel. Want to know how to make your files easier to read, understand and use? To explain 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.

02/06/2023

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9 min
11/03/2025

How to simplify complex calculations with custom functions

Did you know that you can transform the way you can build models, reports and schedules with custom functions? This episode guides you on how they make complex calculations cleaner and easier to maintain. You'll also learn practical ways to document, test and reuse these functions for consistent results. In this episode, an Excel expert will: Explain how to create custom functions using the LAMBDA function Outline how the LET function works Demonstrate creating a loan schedule "mega formula" Cover useful functions like HSTACK and VSTACK Perfect for accountants, analysts and finance professionals ready to take Excel mastery to the next level. 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. There is a useful companion video to go with this episode of Excel Tips. And you can read more of Neale's Excel articles on INTHEBLACK. You can find a CPA at our custom portal on the CPA Australia website. 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. 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

11/03/2025

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8 min
05/01/2025

Better share price reports with Excel's new tool

Need to turn stock market data into smart, professional reports? Discover how to use Excel's new and powerful Stock History function to quickly transform raw share price data into clear, insightful reports. Learn how to streamline reporting, visualise trends and make better-informed decisions with ease. In this episode, gain the skills to: Access daily, weekly or monthly data, including volume, opening/closing prices and highs/lows Set up stock codes, choose custom date ranges and define intervals with ease Use Power Query to import real-time stock exchange data directly into Excel Build interactive, professional-grade charts (including stock and combo charts) to visualise trends Whether you're preparing reports for clients, internal dashboards or just keeping a close eye on the stock market, this episode gives you the tools, steps and techniques you need to do it with confidence using Excel. For fast reference, use the episode timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction to Excel Tips podcast 0:18 – Overview of Stock History function 0:31 – Using Stock History for reporting share price information 1:00 – Internet access requirement for Stock History 1:11 – Disclaimer for information accuracy 1:35 – Options for reporting frequency (daily, weekly, monthly) 2:08 – Setting up share code and trading day considerations 2:47 – Defining start and end dates for reports 3:45 – Reporting intervals and their corresponding numbers 4:39 – Using MATCH function for human-friendly reporting 4:59 – Customising report headers 5:23 – Defining properties for the Stock History function 5:35 – How to add multiple properties to reports 6:30 – Importing stock exchange names and codes 6:40 – Using Power Query for stock data updates 7:20 – Overview of Excel stock chart features 7:30 – Understanding stock price movements in charts 8:25 – Overview of monthly vs weekly stock charts 9:44 – Creating combo charts for better comparisons 10:30 – Introduction to Sparkline charts 10:05 – Converting vertical to horizontal data for Sparklines 10:35 – Adjusting Sparkline chart vertical axes 11:03 – Updating Sparklines for spill ranges 11:18 – Function updates and internet speed considerations 11:32 – Conclusion on the usefulness of Stock History Listen now to level-up your stock market share price reporting skills in Excel. 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. You can find a CPA at our custom portal on the CPA Australia website. Would you like to listen to more Excel Tips 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

05/01/2025

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13 min
01/31/2023

Excel Tips: New text functions for Excel

In this episode, we look at three new text functions released in the latest (subscription) version of Microsoft Excel. The functions are: "Text Before", "Text After" and "Text Split" To explain this is CPA Australia's Excel expert Neale Blackwood CPA. Listen now. Host: Neale Blackwood CPA Excel Tips is for accounting, business and finance professionals looking to sharpen their spreadsheet skills and learn new hacks and tricks from Neale Blackwood CPA, a Microsoft Excel expert. Excel Tips helps spreadsheet users discover hidden features and shortcuts and understand how best to apply the newest features and functionality. The podcast is a companion to regular articles in INTHEBLACK, CPA Australia's award-winning business magazine. Neale Blackwood CPA has over 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. Excel Tips is presented by CPA Australia, one of the world's largest accounting bodies, with core services that include education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia publishes three podcasts providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting. With Interest INTHEBLACK (coming soon) Excel Tips Search for them in your podcast service. To find out more about our podcasts, visit our podcast page. Or search for the shows in your podcast service. To contact the podcast team, email podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

01/31/2023

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12 min

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

Website

CPA Australia

Top Shows

Master your messy data

Build Better Excel Models

Unlock 7 underused Excel features you still need today

Smarter, faster, easier: Here's what's new in Excel

ASIC on the future of auditing

AQ for finance leaders

Excel tips: how to improve your formatting

How to simplify complex calculations with custom functions

Better share price reports with Excel's new tool

Excel Tips: New text functions for Excel

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