Professional links
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
CPA
Australia
With 90 000 members, CPA (Certified Practising Accountants) Australia
constitutes the largest Australian professional organisation. CPA
advocates debate on accounting issues and business. It provides
outlets for training and research and provides member benefits in
order to achieve a central goal of enhancing members' status and
competitive advantages. Their website is a great resource featuring
information pertinent to their goals and the provision of the above-mentioned
services.
The
Institute of Chartered Accountants
The Institute of Chartered Accountants website profiles new
initiatives, policy development and reforms relevant to the accounting
profession. A key feature of the site is the directory of employers
that offer undergraduate and postgraduate positions to students
pursuing careers in chartered accountancy.
Group of 100
Inc
The Group of 100 represents and serves major business enterprises
in accounting and regulatory issues, particularly business regulations,
Accounting standards, Corporation Law and Stock Exchange rules.
International Federation
of Accountants
IFAC acts as an international advocate of quality technical,
professional and ethical guidance, agents of change in the profession
internationally and to facilitate the development of a harmonized
worldwide accounting profession. The website has 5 main sectors:
IFAC facts and figures, IFAC news, committee activities, publications
and guidance and council developments.
The Chartered Association of Certified Accountants
ACCA is the largest UK professional organisation with offices
worldwide (go to www.acca-australia.org for the Australian branch).
ACCA qualifications are uniform globally and internationally recognized.
The site also has links to ACCA branches in Asia.
The Hong
Kong Society of Accountants
HKSA is the only statutory licensing body of accountants in
Hong Kong responsible for regulation of the accounting profession.
The site has information relating to accreditation, professional
development, employment services and associated services for its
members. An ideal website to visit if you are considering working
in Hong Kong.
Australian Taxation
Office
The ATO online service is aimed at 3 different groups; individuals,
businesses, and tax and superannuation professionals. The ATO website
is an information rich and diverse site that is constantly updated
with new reforms, policy changes and exposure drafts.
National
Institute of Accountants
The National Institute of Accountants is a professional organisation
for accountants who are recognised for their practical, hands-on
skills and broad understanding of the total business environment.
Australian
Accounting Research Foundation (AARF)
The AARF contributes to the development of legislation and regulation
relating to commercial law, corporate governance, financial reporting
and auditing and assurance services in Australia. The website contains
up to date summaries on professional directives and critical evaluations
of Accounting standards.
Australian
Accounting Standards Board (AASB)
The AASB (which is overseen by the Financial Reporting Council and
both are outcomes of the Corporate Law Economic Reform Program est.
2000) is responsible for establishing Australian accounting standards
in both private and public sectors. Its website features new authoritative
pronouncements, updated materials, exposure drafts and news about
standard setting.
Australian
Business Limited
Australian Business Limited is an organisation which aims to improve
businesses via advice, networking, advocacy and support. Its website
is a useful resource which contains subsections such as "Managing
Your People", "Grow Your Business", and "Influence
Public Policy". This site provides current information and
suggestions on business-related issues, managing finances, employment
legalities, and economic trends.
Australian Financial
Markets Association (AMFA)
AFMA is Australia's industry body representing over-the-counter
(OTC) wholesale financial markets such as financial institutions,
bank clients, government departments, educational institutions and
the central bank. It is in place to monitor market practices and
the trading standards in OTC markets. The website provides information
on these standards and professional development advice as well as
articles pertaining to regulation and taxation.
Australasian Institute
of Banking & Finance (AIBF)
The AIBF is an organisation committed to improving the services
and professionalism of Australian and New Zealand financial and
banking industry members via education and professional development.
Its website provides "Hot News:" from the banking and
finance sectors and features a plethora of information regarding
training, networks, related products and great links.
Australian
Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)
APRA regulates banks, insurance companies and superannuation funds,
credit unions, building societies and friendly societies in Australia.
The website provides legislative and statistical information, discussion
papers, media releases, and access to Insight (APRA's quarterly
publication).
Australian
Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC)
ASIC is a government body that attempts to maintain equity and fairness
in business. It also aims to prevent corporate crime, protects investors
and helps Australia's international business reputation. The interests
of companies, creditors and investors are protected by ASIC via
their public provision of information about companies. Their website
is the source of this sort of information.
Australian
Shareholder's Association (ASA)
The ASA aims to protect and improve the interests of investors.
On its website, it claims to be partly responsible for the betterment
of the corporate direction of Australian companies and deals with
issues regarding "related party transactions, the disclosure
of remuneration and executive option scheme performance hurdles".
Phew! All this information, as well as investing tips, advice on
the performance of companies and their shares and features articles.
Australian Stock Exchange (ASX)
The website for the Australian Stock Exchange is designed to provide
investors with detailed information regarding the numerous investments
the ASX has available for trading. Sections on the website include:
"Market Statistics, Company Information & Research, ASX
Markets, ASX Shareholder Information, Floats", as well as "Investor
Courses and Services".
Commonwealth
Department of Finance & Administration
The Department of Finance & Administration contributes to three
key outcomes:
maintainable Government finances; better Government operations;
and an efficiently run Parliament. This department's website is
divided into three main sections, Government Finances (concentrating
on budget management, reporting and advice), Government Operations
(featuring services management and government information) and Parliamentary
Services (support for senators, members of parliament and their
staff). The site also features the latest political news, media
releases and speeches, recruitment information and government publications.
Commonwealth
Department of the Treasury
The website for this government department contains a wealth of
information on economic data, business taxation, foreign investment,
careers & job opportunities within the department, publications,
compliance reports, as well as containing a profile of treasury
ministers and a descriptive organisational chart.
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
Aiming to produce and revise standards pertaining to financial accounting,
and to guide and keep the public informed of such issues, the Financial
Accounting Standards Board provides an informative website loaded
with many great features. These include descriptive articles relating
to the FASB's various projects, late breaking news, educational
sub-sections and access to many accounting-related publications.
International
Accounting Standards Board (IASB)
With a commitment to creating a single set of enforceable, quality
accounting standards worldwide, the IASB is based in the UK and
provides a plethora of information on its website. With current
IAS news, IASB project summaries and an online IAS bookshop, the
website should be the first port of call for those researching or
simply interested in issues relating to the drafting of international
accounting standards.
International
Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO)
The IOSCO regulates domestic markets and oversees strict implementation
of market standards. Its website provides some useful international
links, regularly updated market news, information relating to the
IOSCO's annual conference, and IOSCO document library and a member's
area.
National
Tax & Accountants Association Ltd (NTAA)
The primary objective of the NTAA is to assist business people,
tax-advisors and accountants, among others, solve their tax, business
and legal problems. It is funded by its membership and its website
provides much information about becoming a member and the member's
role. There are also sections devoted to tax seminars (when they
run and what they address), trouble-shooting services including
software and publications, and NTAA Press Releases and news articles.
Reserve Bank of
Australia (RBA)
The Reserve Bank devises and maintains monetary policy. Its website
reflects this main function, with sections committed to this, financial
system stability, the Bank's payments system and financial services,
and matters relating to currency. There is plenty of information
resources, including media releases, a huge catalogue of speeches,
a publications and research section and a section containing statistical
data and projections.
Securities
Institute
The Institute is an educational facility committed to improving
the standards in financial and securities services by means of education,
the cultivation of ethical, efficient markets and the promotion
of professionalism. Their website provides an insight into their
numerous services, including courses, employee training, careers,
and seminars and information is arranged in market-specific sections
including one for students, and another for personal investors.
Taxation
Institute of Australia (TIA)
According to their website, the TIA is Australia's premier independent
taxation organisation. The site provides information relating to
the functions and services of the Institute, including their Continuing
Professional Development workshops and seminars, access to the weekly
newsletter TaxVine and journal Taxation in Australia, and online
videos.
US
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
SEC aims to protect investors and maintain the integrity of the
securities markets. It enforces securities laws and makes crucial
investment and company information available to the public. Their
website is a vehicle for delivering this information, with a huge,
cost-free, publicly accessible database (EDGAR) which comprises
of the registration statements and periodic reports of all public
companies; as well as sections focusing on litigation reports, trading
suspension files and a feature which allows members of the public
to assess the financial services of any broker or advisor. A very
informative, user-friendly site with market-specific up-to-date
data.
NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES
Australian
Financial Review
AFR's website provides a daily assessment of developments in the
Australian Banking, Finance and Information Technology sectors.
It provides up-to-date business news and also focuses on political
issues.
The
Age
The Age is a metropolitan Melbourne newspaper reporting on local,
national and international current affairs and news reports.
The
Australian
The Australian is a national Australian newspaper reporting on political,
economical, social and international affairs.
Business
Review Weekly
BRW is an Australian weekly magazine. It focuses current business,
finance, technology and government issues here in Australia. Ideal
for gaining an overview on the current Australian business scene.
The
New York Times
The New York Times is one of the USA's premier newspapers. It reports
on international and national current affairs and has an emphasis
on economics, politics and finance. It also provides excellent coverage
of cultural events and is famous for its prolific, in-depth interviews
and influential reviews.
Nikkei
Net Interactive
Nikkie Net Interactive is an internet conglomeration of Japan's
top financial newspapers, including the Nikkei Weekly, The Nihon
Keizai Shimbun, The Nikkei Industrial Daily and The Nikkei Financial
Daily. It provides news and market information daily, and includes
features such as "Investors' Watch", "Tokyo Market
Roundup", "Economic Almanac" and "Nikkei 24
Hour News".
The
Business Times
The Business Times is Singapore's metropolitan newspaper reporting
on local and international current affairs, economics and finance,
with a distinct 'executive lifestyle' slant.
The
Hindu
The Hindu is India's National Newspaper which features bi-hourly
news updates. It includes a large business section ("Business
Online") which includes articles related to finance, banking,
and investments.
The
London Financial Times
The London Financial Times is a daily financial newspaper with UK
and US online editions (the news on each site is local news specific).
Both sites feature world news, market news, industry issues, and
an insight, commentary and analysis section which focuses on pertinent
business issues.
The
Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is a daily produced by Dow Jones with various
incarnations including the Asian Wall Street Journal and the Wall
Street Journal Europe. It focuses on financial issues, specifically
the stock market.
The
Australian Accounting Review
The Australian Accounting Review is written by leading academics
and accountants and offers detailed commentary and evaluation of
accounting issues. Informed debate is encouraged and many different
views are covered.
(please click on publications under information)
FIRMS AND CONSULTANTS
Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu Australia
Deloitte is an international firm specialising in providing advisory
and professional services in the areas of management consulting,
assurance services, and taxation. The Australian website provides
information on the GST, the Telecommunication Index, as well as
providing discussion on industry hot topics, latest publications,
recent business surveys and career opportunities.
Ernst
& Young
Easy to navigate and comprehend, the Ernst & Young website overviews
a large range of professional services. Ernst & Young specialise
in providing advisory services in the following areas; assurance
services, consulting, corporate finance, electronic commerce and
taxation.
KPMG
KPMG is one of the world's largest accounting advisory organisations.
The site presents current updates and advice on GST, legal developments
in the communication and technology sector, financial information
taken from surveys of Australian capital markets, environmental
reporting and current issues affecting the industry. The site also
provides information on the employment opportunities that KPMG have
to offer graduates.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers provides services such as business processes
outsourcing, assurance and business advisory services, tax and legal
services, corporate finance and recovery, and management consultancy.
The company supports over 22 industries in Australia with these
services, and all are represented on this website. The site also
features commentary on current news and industry issues, and has
an extensive back-catalogue of the company's publications.
CORPORATE
Coles
Myer Ltd
ColesMyer is Australia's leading retailer and controls more than
8 major outlets in the food, retail and services markets. The website
provides an insight into the corporate environment of ColesMyer,
including a wealth of information on investing with the company,
the company's relationship with its suppliers, recruitment issues
and standards of customer service.
MYOB
Australia
The MYOB Group develops and publishes business management software
on an international level. It's website provides information about
obtaining MYOB product support for "Systems for Businesses"
and "Systems for Accountants" respectively. It features
a product test-drive, BAS changes and much information relating
to investing within the company, recruitment and MYOB's community
interests and contributions.
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