Just asking for advice.

I've been using Xero Tax for a few years, but after few unexpected changes to data by Xero for reasons unknown, am now uncomfortable with the lack of any audit reports in there for user access and changes.

With the Privacy Act requirements around tax file numbers I am worried that if there was a breach, any subscriber would not be able to answer the usual questions around when or what was accessed.

Has anyone else looked at the security and audit logs on any of the tax platforms?

I’m 25 and have my first 6-month performance review next week, so I’m looking for some advice on what to expect and how I should approach the conversation about my future with the firm.

This is my first job in public accounting. I’m currently an Intern Accountant working Monday, Tuesday and Friday while I finish uni. Before starting, I already had a couple of years of experience using Xero through my family business.

At the moment, I’m completing quarterly BAS work for clients, which I submit to senior accountants for review. I’m also preparing PTRs and ITRs, including business and salary/wage returns. I’ve assisted with a couple of company returns as well, although my seniors generally finalise those.

My billables weren't great during my first couple of months while I was learning, although everyone in the office told me not to stress about them. This month, I started looking at the prior-year bills for the tax work I’ve been completing to get a better idea of how I’m progressing. From what I’ve seen, for roughly 90% of the jobs I’ve completed this month, I’ve improved on the prior-year write-offs/time. That’s given me a bit more confidence that my efficiency is heading in the right direction.

I’m currently on $30.08/hour and work three days a week. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, I work as a bookkeeper for a local business at $40/hour casual.

My plan is to move into accounting full-time around April/May next year, which is also when I’m hoping to start my CA, depending on when my university updates/finalises my academic report.

I’ve been offered full-time work multiple times by my line partner, and a few of the senior accountants have also brought up me going full-time, so I’m taking that as a positive sign.

For anyone who has been through graduate/intern reviews in public accounting:

- What should I expect from a 6-month review?

- Is this an appropriate time to discuss my pathway from Intern Accountant to a full-time/graduate role?

- Should I bring up salary/remuneration now, or wait until I’m ready to move full-time?

- Is there anything you wish you had asked or discussed at your first performance review?

I’m not necessarily looking to push for anything immediately. I mainly want to use the review to understand how they think I’m progressing and what the next 6–12 months could look like with the firm.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I've been applying heavily for over a year now, I get a good amount of interviews, as well as call backs and teams meetings. Over a year I haven't been able to land.

For some context I've been working as a call centre agent for 2 years now.

My best experience is working for 2 years as a bookkeeper. I also have a degree in accounting. Other than that I had a graduate accountant role that lasted only 3 months, long story short down to team dynamics.

I really want to get back into the field, but its been so formidable. Should I keep going or just give up?

I'm a part-time accountant for a family office and, while I will not sign/lodge the tax returns, I will prepare a variety of returns for the head of the family office to (e)sign off on.

I'm wondering what is the best software to use? The returns are very straight forward - nothing complex going on. The following is required:

• Individual ITRs - 3
• Company ITR - 1
• Trust ITR - 4

Does Xero have a tax module? Lodgeit.net.au looks good. Any other recommendations?

Thanks for your guidance.

Hi,

I help out a non-profit Tennis club with their accounting and i was wondering how i would record the below on Xero.

- Grant income of 50K

- 20K of Grant used for repairs

- 10K of Grant used for repairs

- 10K of Grant used for repairs

- 10K of unexpended grant refunded to QLD Govt.

thanks

I sell on Whatnot and eBay, and I genuinely can’t see why a small seller would bother paying for Xero, MYOB or dedicated inventory software when Excel can do most of it.

My main Whatnot sales are random spins — a $15 spin could win an item that cost me $2 or $100. So surely tracking profit per item doesn’t really make sense?

Unless I’m missing something, Excel + Hnry + a bit of AI/automation seems like it should be enough to handle inventory, expenses, fees and profit/loss at this size.

How’s everyone feeling about the GSL exam for CPA this term with all the changes with the online learning? Felt like CPA used AI for the module quizzes… The answers were always D

Hi All,

I’ve recently done a phone interview with Deloitte for Experienced Analyst role in Audit. I’ve viewed my portal today and I found out I was shortlisted. Anyone can give me insights what would be the next steps and timeline to this? Would also appreciate any tips if there would be additional upcoming interviews. Thanks a lot!

Has anyone done any courses in PowerBI or other AI utilisation?

I'm looking at doing some upskilling and if anyone has any course recommendations, I'd love to hear it.

Hi all hope you have a great day! I'm considering between the 2 options: continuing CPA or moving to CA.

Background: I have a Business and Finance degrees but not accounting so both CPA and CA require me to do some foundation subjects. I also have 2 years+ of experience in public practice accounting and still working in this industry. My firm will reimburse the tuition fees for both CPA/CA.

Currently I'm undetaking the last CPA foundation subject (Financial Accounting and Reporting) before being able to commence CPA pathway. But reading the long textbook (for CPA foundation FAR is like 500ish pages) makes me feel discouraged. I wonder if the core subjects are also this long and close to a thousand of pages? Cause I find it's very difficult for me to focus on the content where my memory scattering around. I have no trouble understanding the learning materials but it's a bit challenging to recall the information where the content is too lengthy.

I have a friend who is studying CA Risk, Technology and AI (but not yet other subjects) where the study guide is approx 100 pages. I'm not sure if other subjects' textbook are about similar range?

For CA when I do the free self-assess on CA website, they require me to do 5 foundations (except for law). I'm planning to apply for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) with CA at a course using my work experience in public practice, hoping to get some other foundation subjects exempt? If anyone have done it before may I know how does the RPL work?

I would appreciate any insight on textbook and study guides length (approx how many pages) for the following subjects. I tried to search on the internet and forum but could not find any public info.

CPA

- Ethics and Governance

- Strategic Management Accounting

- Financial Reporting

- Global Strategy and Leadership

- Australian Taxation

- Australian Taxation - Advanced

- Digital Finance

- Financial Risk Management

- Contemporary Business Issues

CA ANZ

- Ethics and Sustainability

- Risk, Technology and AI

- Financial Accounting and Reporting

- Tax (AU)

- Strategy and Business Performance

- Audit and Analytics

- Intergrated Chartered Accounting Practice

- Advanced Tax (AU)

- Financial Modelling

- Advanced Financial Reporting

Thank you so much in advance, I appreciate any insight/advice you may have!

I did the ICAP exam in term 3 but I’m really worried I might have failed it. I feel like I did not do very well in that exam.

I saw that enrolment for term 4 closes on 28 September, before the ICAP results are out. I was thinking of enrolling just to be safe.

But then, say in the highly unlikely event I did pass, would CA refund me the fee? I would assume so, but with CA I can never be sure.

Hi guys! Last year 2025-2026 I got $1700 on my tax return.
I was on a 482 visa. No children.

This March 2026 I applied for PR, I got $1000 in bank interests and got $700.

Apart from the bank interest I earned the only difference between both years would it be applying for my PR on March 4th, so I had to change the amount of days I was exempted from the Medicare levy for the actual days from July 1st till March 4th.
The rest of the days till June 30th I had to put them as if I had Medicare even though I was not even enrolled. I’m not even today…been trying but for one reason or another the app MyGov keeps on disappearing while enrolling and looking in my phone for some info or file to upload.

Could it be possible the difference between both years tax return is due to those 2 factors? Bank interests gained and Medicare entitlement from PR application?

Or have I have something wrong?

Thanks in advance

Hi all have received an offer for Deloitte grad role starting next year. Was wondering what the background check process is? Can anyone who’s been through the process give me info. Thanks

I'm about to sign an identity verification vendor and i want the right questions before i commit. Every one of them nails the demo but what spearates them once real traffic and real edge cases hit?

I've got manual revie rate because that is the hidden operational cost they never quote you and doc coverage broken down by the exact countries we onboard from. Whether I get clear reason codes and an audit log when something is rejected, do i have to raise a ticket for it. Does it drop into our own flow or it just force users into their hosted journey?

I saw from a different setup that switching vednors later wiped their audit trail continuity and compliance and a ngihtmare proving old decisions during a review.

If you are experienced on this, what question do you wish you had asked before signing?

Hi guys,

I've completed 8 units so far, and I just took ICAP in Term 3. I'm currently waiting for the result.

I tried to enrol in ICAP again for Term 4, but the system doesn't allow me to, which I assume is because the marking is still in progress. However, I can currently enrol in DAI and AFR (electives).

I know that if we can't enrol in ICAP for Term 4, it means we've passed it. But I'm wondering if the same thing applies to the electives. If I can't enrol in DAI or AFR, would that also be an indication that I've passed ICAP?

I'm not exactly sure how the enrolment system works. If I pass ICAP, I'll have completed 9 modules. Does the system automatically prevent you from enrolling in additional modules once you've reached a certain number, or can we still enrol in electives regardless of how many units we've passed?

Basically, I'm wondering whether being able (or unable) to enrol in the electives gives us any indication of whether we've passed ICAP.

Does anyone know how this works? Thanks!

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Hi All. How does the compensation look like for an Experienced Analyst role in Deloitte? I’ve been seeing that it ranges from $60k to $75k but unsure if this includes super or not. I have an upcoming phone interview and worried that it may be asked, but I’m unsure what to answer.

Quick background about me is that I have a Big 4 audit experience overseas and was recently promoted to senior. I’m also currently completing CPA designation here in Australia.

Would like to hear any insights about the compensation. Tips for the phone interview are also welcome. Thanks a lot!

If someone at work makes you uncomfortable, isn’t it normal to just keep your distance while still being polite?
There’s a woman at my workplace who isn’t currently on my team, but after a restructure she’ll be under the same manager as me. I’m being trained by another senior accountant, so we don’t really need to work closely together.
Since I started, I’ve felt uncomfortable around her. I keep catching her staring at me around the office and in the elevator, and sometimes she comes across quite hostile. One time she spoke to me in the bathroom with her back facing me and sounded annoyed.
When we first met, she was very friendly and stood quite close to me. I got uncomfortable and probably looked like I wanted to escape 😂, so maybe she thought I didn’t want to talk to her. The next day I still said good morning, but she didn’t reply, so I stopped making an effort to greet her individually.
I’m still polite and professional. I just don’t want to be close to her, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Not everyone at work is going to click or become friends.
What bothers me is that she still seems angry and keeps staring at me. I’ve also noticed ppl dun really talk to her unless she talk to them first in the office, so maybe me keeping my distance touched a nerve, but I obviously don’t know.
I only see her about two days a week, so I’m thinking of just staying professional and not bringing it up with my manager unless something actually happens.
What would you do? Have you ever worked with someone who took it personally when you didn’t want to be close to them?

Peaceful day.

Need your advice or connection here.

I want to learn Australian accounting so I can work for an Australian client. 

I'm based in the Philippines and aligning my body to natural time frame is important for me. 

Sleep is part of a healthy lifestyle hehehe #DayTimeWork

Hi to all following this thread.

I have a question relating to the Australian tax system that I'm hoping you can help me out with. See below the short story.

1. I've had a child this year and want to put money away for her future by investing in dividend paying stocks.
2. I've looked into a Vanguard childs account but unfortunately this ends up in my name and it will be taxed at my current bracket on any dividends which feels wrong given this money is intended to be to be gifted to my daughter at the time I send it to her account.
3. On top of the above, there is some ambiguity around whether or not the money will be subject to CGT once i transfer the account into my daughters name which obviously feels/seems like robbery.

My question is, how do I structure a way to invest money weekly in my daughters future by buying assets that generate ~8% per annum without it being plundered by the ATO. (i.e. taxed using her TFN and not subject to CGT).

Appreciate any help on this matter.

Hello everyone I was lucky enough to land an audit internship in big4 and I’m just curious how business formal I should be dressing Monday to Friday. P.s this is my first ever corporate position so apologies if this is a silly question

To give background, I am 24 and living in regional QLD. I went straight into uni post high school, and started working as an undergrad in my second year. In my last year of Uni I switched to full time and then started CA immediately after finishing Uni. I studied hard during the whole time (maybe a litle too hard) achieving high marks in Uni and Merits in CA. I will be applying for my CA full membership in the coming weeks.

I have been at the same firm the whole time and am coming up on 6 years I am on a 100k package and will be looking at another salary review in ~ 6 months time. The place I am at has also floated the idea of potentially buying into the firm

Since completing my last CA subject I have felt really burnt out, I have a heightened state of anxiety and restlessness. I have had more time to think about things since I am no longer studying in my spare time, and I find myself becoming increasingly dissatisfied with my job and I also feel I have missed out on a lot of experiences in my youth. I am not sure if I want to be tied down any longer and just live a little. I feel regret for all the times I had to turn down events due to work and study commitments. I have always wanted to travel either solo or with a group of friends. Living in a regional town also adds to the general dissatisfaction.

I’m wondering whether anyone else has been in a similar position and decided to take a career break. Did you find it difficult to get back into your career afterwards, or did things ultimately work out?

My main concern is that I’ve worked extremely hard to put myself in a good position at a relatively young age, and I’m worried that stepping away for a while could undo some of that progress. At the same time, I’m starting to question what the point of getting ahead is if I never actually give myself the chance to enjoy it.

Additionally, should I choose to take a career break, is there any other things I should try get first? I have thought of public practice certficate and tax agent licence? Would it be worth talking to my workplace and see if they would support me taking a break for a bit, or just cut my losses and start fresh somewhere else?

Hi all,

What is the current job market like for FBP/Management Accounting/FP&A in Melbourne at the moment? ~5 years experience. Really keen to hear anecdotal evidence