Plenty for public sector professionals at CPA Congress in ACT

Matt Hailes, General Manager of CPA Australia's ACT Division

The line up of speakers and topics to be presented at CPA Congress in Canberra next month will provide great learning opportunities for finance professionals in the public sector.

David Tune PSM, has around 30 years experience in the Australian Public Sector. Prior to becoming Secretary for the Department of Finance and Deregulation he worked with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. As there is an ever increasing spotlight on governments to be accountable for their spending and their performance it will be fascinating to hear Mr Tune share his views on accountability and performance at CPA Congress.

How to manage risk is a topic for discussion in all sectors. Dr Christine Jubb CPA is a Research Fellow at the Australian National Centre for Audit and Assurance Research at ANU. Dr Jubb will deliver the annual research lecture at CPA Congress this year. She will explore issues around risk, particularly in light of the recent economic downturn and with an emphasis on the public sector.

Certainly many of the issues affecting finance professionals in the public sector are relevant to all sectors. However CPA Congress has specific sessions for this sector including information on financial reporting developments, fraud, GST issues and the Gershon Review.

With important technical sessions and updates; a performance from Explosive minds; and speakers who are leaders in their field among the activity at this years CPA Congress in ACT, it is certainly a must attend event.

The Virtual World at Congress

I’m thrilled to be writing my very first blog entry – and for none other than CPA Congress 2009!

Having worked in the South Australian Division of CPA Australia since 1980, I have witnessed the creation of Congress, its growth, and it’s evolution to what it is today: South Australia’s largest annual conference, and one of the biggest regular finance and accounting events in the southern hemisphere.  

I’m sure many of you could enlighten me with stories of how the accounting profession has changed over the years, and I’d guess that one of the things many of you would point out is the ubiquity of technology and how it has changed the nature of accounting work, as well as how we work, learn and receive information.

Like many of you, I still find some of aspects of technology to be both daunting and really exciting at the same time. Last year we trialled a session at Congress in the virtual world ‘Second Life.’ Its success is such that it’s likely to be a fixture at Congress from now on. You can experience a session in this new frontier again this year with  Beyond the Downturn – getting ahead in small business, from the convenience of your computer by signing up to attend in Second Life.

For those who think this is not their cup of tea, all the more reason to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. You’ll soon be thinking of the potential for yourselves of such technology. And don’t forget that while some of us who are a little older may find this daunting at first, it’s just the sort of media your younger staff members  (and probably your kids and, for those even older, grandkids) are using as a matter of course.   

As a newcomer to the blogging virtual world, I’d love to hear your comments and questions about the use of technology in our professional and personal lives. Has it improved your quality of life? How has it changed the way you work? Has it opened your eyes to things you may not otherwise have ever thought about?

 

 

Watch recorded sessions from CPA Congress

Roger Simnett presenting at CPA Congress

 

This year at CPA Congress we’ve been recording a number of sessions to give regional and international members a flavour of the topics and discussions that take place throughout the CPA Congress period.

In this first series of videos we’ve had the chance to see a great range of presentations from managing your personal finances to developing global assurance standards, improving professional communication and gaining invaluable career advice.

The first five recorded sessions are now online, choose the session you wish to watch below:

• Communication and relationship building – the impact on the bottom line Sharon Ferrier discusses why in a rapidly changing business environment, the need to focus on the ’story behind the number’ is paramount.

• Where’s my Money? Watch Jason Cunningham, a young and dynamic business owner and accountant, share his experience and insights about the world of finance and investment.

• Seizing opportunity – rising to the challenge when your work needs you to advance your career. Michelle Pascoe’s presentation at CPA Congress took the audience through the challenges of managing your workload and getting noticed at work. Watch to find some great take-away tips.
  

  Michelle Pascoe presenting at CPA Congress

• Neil Walker memorial lecture: Leadership and the public interest. Watch a transformative presentation by Penny Armytage speaking about her experience leading internal change at the Department of Justice, building a whole-of-government culture, responding to government priorities, and supporting emerging and future leaders.

• Improving credibility of Carbon Emission Disclosures – the development of an International Assurance Standard. In this annual Bill Birkett memorial lecture Professor Roger Simnett FCPA, Head of the School of Accounting at the University of NSW examines how the international auditing and assurance standard setting process is addressing the issues brought about by global warming and environmental sustainability.

Stay tuned for more videos, we’ll be recording a number of sessions from CPA Congress in Perth and Adelaide in November. These sessions will be available on the CPA Congress blog.

Improving credibility of Carbon Emission Disclosures – the development of an International Assurance Standard

In this annual Bill Birkett memorial lecture Professor Roger Simnett FCPA, Head of the School of Accounting at the University of NSW examined how the international auditing and assurance standard setting process is addressing the issues brought about by global warming and environmental sustainability.

Roger Simnett presenting at CPA Congress

Recorded on Wednesday 14 October 2009 at CPA Congress Sydney, NSW

Watch video.

Presenter: Professor Roger Simnett FCPA, Head, School of Accounting, Australian School of Business, The University of New South Wales

Professor Simnett considers the progress and specific problems being encountered in establishing an assurance standard that enhances corporate compliance and higher quality disclosure around these issues. In doing so, Professor Simnett drew on the work currently being undertaken both by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board’s (IAASB) and the International Task Force Setting Assurance Standard on Global Carbon Emissions and its Sustainability Experts Advisory Panel.

This annual memorial lecture is presented in honour of Professor Bill Birkett FCPA. Professor Birkett was a thought leader in accounting education was recognised as an international expert in his field of management accounting.

Where’s my money?

Watch Jason Cunningham, a young and dynamic business owner and accountant, share his experience and insights about the world of finance and investment.

Jason Cunningham presenting at CPA Congress

Recorded on Monday 12 October 2009 at CPA Congress, Melbourne, Victoria

Watch video.

Presenter: Jason Cunningham, Director, The Practice

Jason talks straight and calls it as he sees it. During his presentation he discusses how to earn more money – and keep more of it:

Grow your money by investing it in property and shares

Master your mortgage and own two properties outright before you retire

Use a business to fast-track your financial goals

Protect your assets and reduce your tax commitments

Neil Walker memorial lecture: Leadership and the public interest

Watch a transformative presentation by Penny Armytage speaking about her experience leading internal change at the Department of Justice, building a whole-of-government culture, responding to government priorities, and supporting emerging and future leaders.

Penny Armytage presenting at CPA Congress

Recorded on Wednesday 14 October 2009 at CPA Congress, Melbourne, Victoria

Watch video.

Presenter: Penny Armytage, Secretary, Department of Justice

The annual Neil Walker memorial lecture was established in honour of Neil Walker FCPA. Neil was both a National President and Victorian President of CPA Australia, a tireless worker and volunteer for his profession.

In this annual memorial lecture, which was established to honour Neil Walker FCPA, Penny Armytage focused on leadership and the public sector.

Penny has been the Secretary of the Victorian Department of Justice since 2003.

The Justice portfolio is diverse and incorporates six ministerial portfolios – Attorney-General; Police & Emergency Services; Corrections; Consumer Affairs; Racing; and Gaming – concerned with the administration, reform and enforcement of the law, as well as with social regulation in areas such as problem gambling and liquor.

The Department has a budget of $3.58 billion, including Victoria Police, and more than 5000 staff.

Before becoming Secretary, Ms Armytage worked as Executive Director, Operations at the Department of Human Services and prior to that as the Commissioner for the Office of Correctional Services with responsibility for Victoria’s corrections system.

Ms Armytage holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the Preston Institute of Technology and is a National Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia. She is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Seizing opportunity – rising to the challenge when your work needs you to advance your career

Michelle Pascoe’s presentation at CPA Congress took the audience through the challenges of managing your workload and getting noticed at work. Watch the recording to find some great take-away tips.

Michelle Pascoe presenting at CPA Congress

Recorded on Wednesday 14 October 2009 at CPA Congress in Sydney, NSW

Watch video.

Presenter: Michelle Pascoe, Managing Director, Optimum Operating Procedures and Services (OOPS)

During this presentation Michelle took the audience through these key areeas:
+ Taking advantage of extra workload for career progression
+ Managing the workload into small tasks and maintaining a positive outlook
+ The ways to get noticed by your senior management
+ Ensuring your quality of work is not affected

Communication and relationship building – the impact on the bottom line

Watch a recording of Sharon Ferrier discuss why in a rapidly changing business environment, the need to focus on the ’story behind the number’ is paramount.

Sharon Ferrier presenting at CPA Congress

Recorded on Thursday 8 October, 2009 at CPA Congress in Brisbane, Queensland

Watch video.

Presenter: Sharon Ferrier, Trainer, Persuasive Presentations

The need to recognise and better understand both internal staff and external customers will give rise to an improved bottom line. In this session, Sharon Ferrier focuses on techniques and principles that can be adopted in helping to enhance communication and relationship building which are vital to achieving this outcome.

Vox pops from CPA Congress Sydney, New South Wales

Last week, Sydney hosted a warm and sunny CPA Congress in Darling Habour at the Sydney Convention Exhibition Centre.

Our keen team were out and about chatting with delegates about their Congress experience and finding out what sessions resonated most with them.

View the lastest vox pops on CPA Australia’s YouTube channel.

Watch the CEO of CPA Australia’s interview with Evo TV at CPA Congress

CPA Australia’s CEO Alex Malley FCPA, Commsec’s Chief Economist Craig James and delegates at CPA Congress in Sydney were interviewed by Evo TV this week.

Malley discusses what he hopes to achieve as the new CEO of one of the world’s largest accounting bodies. James gives his view on Australia’s reaction to the industrialisation of China and members share what they enjoyed at CPA Congress.

See the footage by clicking the picture below. Note: You must be registered (free registration) to view the content on evoTV.