Small Firm, Big Impact

In this episode of Small Firm, Big Impact, we unpack the key updates from the recent Australian Federal Budget 2026-27 and what they mean for accounting firms and their clients.  Treasurer Jim Chalmers has handed down one of the most significant budgets in recent times, with fundamental changes to taxation of capital and trusts.   Our host, Zoe Delamare...

In this episode of Small Firm, Big Impact, we unpack how the ATO manages remission of the General Interest Charge (GIC) and what it means for accounting firms and their clients.  With rising cost pressures and increased scrutiny, GIC is becoming a bigger issue in practice. But how remission decisions are made, and why outcomes can vary, is not always clear.  Our host, Lisa Lintern,&...

Join Tax Management New Zealand (TMNZ) Strategic Advisor Chris Cunniffe FCA, as he reveals the findings of the 2025 Inland Revenue Satisfaction Survey, a joint initiative between TMNZ and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. Chris provides insights into New Zealand’s rising tax debt, what agents think about IR’s increasing tax audit engagements, the rollout of the Governmen...

Join Lisa Lintern , Chartered Accountants ANZ (CA ANZ) Group Executive External Affairs as she interviews Naomi Walsh FCA , the new CA ANZ President, about her goals for the year ahead. Naomi shares her passion for supporting regional members, celebrates the diverse career paths Chartered Accountants can pursue, and highlights the importance of core skills and ethics in emerging fields like AI and...

Kristen Wydell , General Manager – Professional Standards, returns to Small Firm, Big Impact to demystify Certificates of Public Practice (CPP) for members based in Australia. Listen along for a clear, practical walkthrough of CPP’s for CA ANZ members. We unpack what a CPP is, who must hold one, key eligibility checklists, and application guidance. We also explain the benefits of holdi...

Ruth Owen , the Taxation Ombudsman is back on Small Firm, Big Impact to unpack the findings of the recent review into the ATO’s Registered Agent Phone Line. If you’ve ever faced long wait times, struggled to get the right advice, or wondered what’s being done to improve your experience as a registered agent, this conversation is for you.  Ruth shares what the review uncovere...

In March, 2025 the new CA ANZ Professional Standards Scheme was approved by the Professional Standards Council. CA ANZ has provided a scheme for Australian members in practice since 1997. Kristen Wydell FCA , CA ANZ General Manager – Professional Standards, joins host Gillian Bowen to explain this latest development and what it means for CA ANZ members in public practice. Resources referred...

The New Zealand Government has unveiled Budget 2025, which includes an ‘Investment Boost' to accelerate depreciation, significant changes to KiwiSaver, and additional funding for Inland Revenue. Peter Vial FCA , CA ANZ New Zealand Country Head, and John Cuthbertson FCA , CA ANZ New Zealand Tax and Financial Services Leader join Daniel Webster, CA ANZ New Zealand Public Affairs Manager in thi...

In this episode, host Gillian Bowen explores the cutting-edge advancements transforming the audit profession. Joined by Steven Watson FCA , Managing Director at National Audits Group and Masood Mehmood FCCA, CA , CA ANZ Senior Policy Advocate - Reporting and Assurance, the discussion looks at how Gen AI, automation, and other innovative tools are changing the audit process, enhancing efficiency, a...

Small Firm, Big Impact Host  Gillian Bowen catches up* with Ruth Owen , the Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman , about crucial updates and insights that Chartered Accountants need to know. Hear about recent focus areas for the Tax Ombudsman, including ATO service standards and ATO letters. Ruth also shares valuable information on the role of the Tax Ombudsman, elimination of...

The Treasurer handed down his fourth Federal Budget on March 25, 2025, and his last before the Australian election. CA ANZ experts were in the Budget lock-up to analyse the announcements, including tax cuts, a missed opportunity for small business and proposed sanctions for tax agents. Tax, Superannuation, and Financial Advice Leader Susan Franks CA joined Gillian Bowen to go through the announcem...

If you’re a smaller practice, you may be wondering about the implications of mandatory sustainability assurance on your firm and your clients, and what the practical application of the new International Ethics Standards for Sustainability Assurance (IESSA) will look like.  To help explain – the Chair of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) Taskforce tha...

Grant Ellis FCA is the CA ANZ President for 2025 and he sat down with Small Firm, Big Impact host Gillian Bowen , to share insights into his storied career, how he became a CA, his journey with CA ANZ and the value of an engaged membership.  Find out what’s ahead with the CA ANZ strategy and why he’s remaining focussed, like his predecessors, on the future of the profession and th...

At the end of his year as CA ANZ’s 2024 President, Tinashe Kamangira FCA returns to Small Firm, Big Impact to reflect on his conversations with members, the challenges and opportunities facing smaller firms he met with, and what’s on the horizon for the profession in 2025. Tinashe also shares his experience of going back to school – talking to high school students about making ep...

As a tax professional – do you know how to recognise the signs of the tax system being used for financial abuse? Experts in this area believe tax professionals are uniquely poised to recognise people experiencing intimate partner financial abuse, with the annual tax return providing a regular contact point. Associate Professor Ann Kayis-Kumar , the Founding Director of the UNSW Tax and Business Ad...

A Bill has been introduced into the Australian parliament to reform the Australian anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regime. This episode explains to CA ANZ members what’s in the Bill, how it may impact you, your business and your clients and when to start getting ready to comply. CA ANZ Senior Policy Advocate for Business Reform, Jill Muir joins Gillian Bowen for this practica...

In this episode, hear directly from two employers on why they get their employees to do the CA Program over other offerings, and how it benefits your business. You’ll hear how graduates bring immediate value and have the skills for what businesses need in the future. Erinn Stanley CA , a manager at mid-tier accounting firm William Buck, and Justin Enright CA, a managing partner at Morse Group join...

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) is the professional body for chartered accountants and one part of its role is to investigate complaints against members. This episode of Small Firm, Big Impact takes a closer look at the conduct process, how the disciplinary bodies within CA ANZ work and what members should do if a complaint is made against them. Australian Conduct Leader K...

How do you make the big decision to go out on your own, to run an accounting business? To help members decide if it’s the right move for them, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and ACCA have developed new resources that highlight the pros and cons. Just like the discussion in this episode – the resources will definitely get your brain going. Two experienced members who contributed to...

The Federal Budget has been handed down, so what’s the impact for Chartered Accountants? There is little in the way of substantive tax reform but there are announcements regarding ATO funding and powers, payday super and the instant asset write-off that members will need to be across for their clients. CA ANZ Senior Tax Advocate Susan Franks and CA ANZ Superannuation and Financial Services Leader...

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) has hosted a delegation from the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) for important discussions regarding ethical issues associated with rapidly evolving sustainability standards, firm culture and governance, and ethical considerations in tax planning and related services. The IESBA is the global standard setter for e...

Do any of your business clients owe money to the Australian Tax Office? There is more than $50B of collectable tax debt to collect. 65% relates to small business so the answer is likely YES. There’s a major change coming on interest deductibility which CA ANZ members need to know about. From July 1, 2025, the general interest charge and the shortfall interest charge will become non-deductible, inc...

Want to save 30 minutes a day, and your team too, right now using GenAI? The next 26 minutes is so action-packed with straightforward, real-world practical tips, you’ll be questioning why you haven’t been using artificial intelligence this way already to improve efficiency and productivity at work. Fellow Chartered Accountant, and GenAI expert,  Kayur Patel CA returns for Part 2 o...

It’s time to check-in on the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence (AI) and learn how it’s impacting workplaces in 2024. Kayur Patel is a Fellow Chartered Accountant, and lecturer at the University of Auckland, who specialises in Generative AI. He’s also a Director at PwC NZ. It’s his job to explain the state of play and to help educate accountants and their cli...

The results are in – and it’s CA ANZ’s ‘early-career’ members who are more likely to receive the highest percentage pay increase compared to their more experienced colleagues. They expect more too. So which members received higher bonuses and performance pay? What about additional benefits? And what’s the latest on the gender pay gap for chartered accountants? If you haven’t had time to go through...