Finance & Equity

Renewable electricity contracts, or power purchase agreements, are in high demand as companies and governments seek sustainable solutions, leading to growth in solar and wind energy purchases to meet net-zero carbon emission targets and reduce environmental impact. 

While many audit tools and methods have evolved over time, the practice of audit has been in existence for years. But how do we as auditors stay ahead of the curve of emerging technologies? As audit professionals we often find ourselves facing unique challenges ranging from misalignment with auditees to insufficient identification of changing risk areas with technology advances and keeping pace with emerging technologies while ensuring the integrity of financial information.

Open banking and open finance are buzzwords in the financial sector that have been sparking curiosity. They are frameworks that allow authorised third-party providers (companies or services that offer financial products/services to consumers) to access financial data from banks and other institutions via secure application programming interfaces (APIs).

As South Africa faces an intensifying water crisis, government is placing the spotlight on the water and sanitation sector by shifting from the "business as usual" approach to unlock innovative funding for increased water infrastructure development. On Tuesday, 27 August 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa approved the South African National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency SOC Limited Bill (the bill).

The last five years have seen an improvement in the audit profession when it comes to audit failures. Is this evidence that the entire financial ecosystem finally understands the importance of taking responsibility for the audit process or is it because of the increase in legislative mandate and high scrutiny that is currently imposed on the audit profession?

The pivotal role of digital accessibility for goods and services has become abundantly clear over the past few years. The global economy, now more than ever, relies on the seamless flow of transactions across borders. Whether it involves individuals, businesses, or financial institutions spanning different countries, the realm of cross-border payments has taken center stage in our interconnected world.

We are pleased to announce that the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has approved our amendments to the listings requirements dealing with market segmentation which come into effective on 23 September 2024.

Small and Medium Enterprises are the cornerstone of the global economy. The 2024 United Nations General Assembly designated June 27 as "Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day" to raise awareness of their contributions toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - specifically SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure).

New research shows that sustainability and technology are driving changes in the accounting and finance profession. A significant part of the work we do is about looking at trends within the profession and using them to discern what the future of accounting looks like, to best prepare our members to thrive within it.

Internal controls are an essential component of any financial management system. It helps your organisation retain financial integrity, meet regulatory requirements, and compile reports essential for improving the business. These processes are especially crucial in accounts payable (AP) departments to manage financial transactions and ensure that payments are authorised, accurate and properly documented.