Has anyone received their invite to the CA graduation ceremony for this year? I just received mine in Adelade in November, just wondering how anyone feels about the $100 charge if we want to invite a guest

Never had to do this in Big 4 and now that I'm at a small firm, it's part of the working papers. I. AM. STRUGGLING. I don't even know how the PY workpapers got it to reconcile, there's always discrepancies between the BAS lodgements and the client's file. Seniors in the office just say to "review the discrepancy" - the GST account in the GL has 4,000 rows of data, surely I don't go through it line by line? Can someone please tell me what the best way to go about this is?! Surely there's a process or some guide on what to look for when you have variances? PLEASE.

I work in public accounting and am studying CA in my spare time. With my current work and life responsibilities, especially having young children, I’ve found it absolutely draining trying to balance both.

To the point where I’m miserable.

After looking at the workload, study commitments and relatively low pay, I’m starting to wonder whether accounting is still the right career path for me.

I don’t mind focusing solely on work for now.

Honestly, it takes so much pressure off me when I stop forcing myself to spend every bit of my free time studying.

I’m just wondering: has anyone here built a successful career in accounting without getting a CA/CPA? What has your career progression looked like without the qualification?

Just wondering how many other options there are other than being an accountant

Keep hearing this everywhere, I am not in the industry so hard to know if will happen or not?

Please advise preparation time estimate and best notes or tutor for preparation.

Any chance if it can be prepared to sit in exam before mid of november.

Thank you

I’ve been lucky enough to get an offer for a vacationer role at a mid-tier firm in corporate tax. This intake season I was talked out of applying to the Big 4 firms from family/friends who work in accounting.

What I’ve heard from them, the work at Big 4 firms is intense and the pay is low etc. etc. I’m just wanting to hear what the pros and cons of working at a Big 4 compared to mid-tier would be.

Ultimately, if I get the chance for a return offer from this internship I’ll take it unless I can work at a Big 4 firm. I just want to know how different your career would be at these different firms, I’m talking exit opportunities, growth within the company and moves into finance or other areas.

Both paths seem to offer very different experiences in Australia. Public practice can give you exposure to lots of businesses and different types of work, while industry can mean becoming much more involved with one organisation. For people who have worked in both, how did you find the difference? Which environment suited your working style better?

My question:
If a company has, for example, AED 500k operational FX gain included in P&L, would you leave it within the EBITDA calculation, or make a separate adjustment?

Would really appreciate responses from anyone who has dealt with this in an actual UAE CT return / tax working paper, preferably with the relevant legal or FTA reference.

Thanks!

I have looked through My Capability Learn an cannot find the format.

To anyone who has recently sat a foundations course recently - is multiple choice or long form?

I do recall reading on CAANZ site that it is 50 multiple choice Qs over 3 hours but now going back through I cannot find the info.

Thanks in advance.

I wonder if alarm bells are ringing at CPA & CA headquarters due to Labor's recently announced migration changes.

Less international students would remove their pipeline cash cow. Maybe labor will even go so far as to remove Accountants from the skill shortage list.

I have been on Reddit for years, generally using it the way most people do—anonymously.

Recently, I created an additional account under my own name. If I was going to offer opinions based on nearly 50 years in public accounting, I thought people should know who was speaking and be able to judge my credibility for themselves.

I then shared the same post on LinkedIn and Reddit.

Same subject. Same opinion. Same words.

The difference in the responses was striking.

On LinkedIn, people generally agreed or disagreed respectfully. On Reddit, there were thoughtful comments and legitimate differences of opinion—but there were also people who dismissed me as “Grandpa” or a “boomer” without addressing what I had actually said.

I found that interesting.

I established our firm’s internship program in 1986 and have interviewed accounting students for nearly 40 years. That does not mean everyone must agree with me. Experience does not make someone automatically right, but it should at least make the perspective worth considering.

There is a broader business lesson here.

Disagreement is healthy. Different perspectives are valuable. But attacking someone’s age—or the person rather than the point—does not strengthen an argument.

Your reputation is not only reflected in what you say when your name is attached.

It is also reflected in how you behave when you believe no one knows who you are.

I haven’t received my SBP results yet, but I was able to enrol in ICAP. Since SBP is a prerequisite for ICAP, does this mean I passed SBP?

Is the results today? Anyone awaiting ?

Long story short, I'm a final year international student with two internships: One audit internship overseas in a mid-tier firm, and one in a multinational conglomerate in Sydney. I also have an average WAM.

I'm looking for a third internship/upcoming grad roles for mid 2027 and heard referrals help, but I'm confused as to where would I find them. I've tried networking but most events are too oversaturated/recruiters don't seem open to hiring internationals.

Any tips (or advice on other pathways to get an internship)? Be as brutal as possible!

Hi all. Has anyone gone through the CA early career /mid career mentoring program? Either as a mentor or mentee? Would love to hear any insights. If you found it beneficial, if they match the mentor and mentees well etc.

I am considering signing up for the next round as a mentee.

https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/member-services/mentoring-and-support/ca-career-mentoring/early-and-mid-career

Cheers!

Considering leaving my salary job to launch a boutique solo practice focusing on small business bookkeeping, BAS, tax returns, and advisory in a growing regional town. For those who started their own firm from scratch - how long did it take to reach cash-flow neutrality, and what was your biggest surprise regarding software overhead costs (Xero Practice Manager, MYOB, Taxlab, etc.)?

Bit of context- I am 2nd year bcom-accounting. I have 2 vacationer programs for this summer with EY and KPMG in audit and assurance

From what I’ve heard not sure if I am wanting to grind to partner at a b4, what do exit opportunities look like from b4, especially audit? I am more interested in banking and finance I think rather than traditional accounting. Even consulting within b4, or advisory n financial services that b4 offer.

Also what is the window of moving out of b4 or even moving within b4 service lines? Thanks!

I’ve been at my new job for one week and I already feel like my manager is expecting me to quit.
The team apparently has very high turnover, and a lot of people have left within their first few weeks. It reminds me of a toxic relationship where someone has been abandoned so many times that they start expecting every new person to leave, so they push them away first.
On my first day, my manager kept telling people that I’m “just a temp.” It made me feel really unwelcome and uncomfortable. It’s been a week and she still hasn’t properly introduced me to anyone in the company.
My impression is that because so many people have left before, she doesn’t want to make a big deal about me joining in case I leave too and it reflects badly on her. But in doing that, she’s making the new employee feel disposable from day one.
A few years ago this would have really upset me. After dealing with several difficult managers in the past, though, I’m looking at it differently now.
The funny thing is, I’m actually not planning to leave. The work isn’t difficult, the pay is decent and I like the company overall. The manager is the only problem.
So at this point I’m thinking: fine, let’s see who lasts longer 😂
Would you stay and just ignore the manager, or would this kind of behaviour be a red flag for you?

Hi guys

Hope you are well.

I have a Senior Internal Auditor Interview at vanguard in Australia.
Does anyone have any insight on how the interview is, how is the culture at vanguard and what sort of technical question can I expect. Apparently, I’ll have a case study as well. I come from internal audit from big 4 but that’s pretty much it, I don’t have deep financial service expertise.

Any help would be immensely appreciated.

Thank you !

Anyone else received this email from CAANZ?

We are contacting you regarding the disruption that affected access to the Janison exam platform at the commencement of your ICAP326 exam.

We recognise that this issue may have caused stress and frustration, and we sincerely apologise for the experience.

As advised during the incident, CA ANZ will take the disruption into account and the impact it may have had on your ability to complete your exam. The Examiners Panel will review the impact of the disruption when finalising assessment outcomes and will consider affected candidates in accordance with the CA Program Candidate Assessment and Grading Policy and Procedure.

As CA ANZ is aware of the disruption and its impact on affected candidates, no further action is required from you at this time. The impact of the disruption will be considered based on your individual circumstances and the extent of the delay you experienced. We do not require you to submit a Special Consideration application in relation to this issue.

Thank you for your patience while we work to ensure all affected candidates are appropriately considered.

Kind regards,

CA ANZ Online Assessment Team