INTHEBLACK

As accountants, conflicts of interest can arise. Some say they are unavoidable. 

But knowing how to manage them is crucial. 

This episode explores how such conflicts arise – from client relationships to commercial pressures – and why managing them is critical to upholding trust in the profession. 

You will learn: 

why conflicts of interest are increasing in today's business environment 


the most common conflict of interest scenarios facing accountants and advisers 


when disclosure is not enough and stronger action is needed 


how to distinguish between manageable and unacceptable conflicts 


practical frameworks to identify and assess conflicts in real time 


the role of professional judgement and organisational culture 


Drawing on the current codes of ethics and the everyday ethics issues discussed in INTHEBLACK, this expert-led discussion focuses on practical decision-making in situations that are rarely clear cut. 

This episode will help you respond with confidence and integrity. 

 Tune in now. 

Host: Tahn Sharpe, Editor, CPA Australia 

Guests: Dr Michelle Cull FCPA, Associate Professor and Head of Discipline, Accounting and Financial Planning at Western Sydney University, and Belinda Zohrab, Regulation and Professional Standards Lead, CPA Australia 

Loving this episode? 


Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. Head to our podcast page CPA Australia - YouTube 

And of course, click subscribe to the channel today. 

We deliver regular content that will help boost your career skills and capabilities. 

Additionally, INTHEBLACK online has stories on everyday ethics issues. 

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts 

INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack 

INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud 

Excel Tips Excel Tips | CPA Australia 

With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest 

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

AI is reshaping finance faster than most accounting and finance organisations are prepared for. 

This episode explores what that means in practice and how professionals can stay relevant as roles evolve. 

From automation and agentic AI to cybersecurity risks and sustainability pressures, this expert-led discussion highlights the shifts happening across finance, accounting and business in a volatile and rapidly changing world. 

You will learn: 

The biggest forces changing the profession right now 


What AI fluency looks like in practice and why it matters now 


The emerging technologies or trends reshaping how finance teams work 


How finance roles are evolving towards judgement and decision making 


The impact of automation on career pathways and hiring patterns 


Practical steps to future-proof your career capability in a reshaped profession 


Listen now. 

Host: Patrick Viljoen, sustainability lead, CPA Australia 

Guests: Amantha Imber an innovation specialist and Anders Sormann-Nilsson, a futurist and keynote speaker. 

Loving this episode? 


Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. Head to our podcast page CPA Australia - YouTube 

And of course, click subscribe to the channel today. We deliver regular content that will help boost your career skills and capabilities. 

You can also head to INTHEBLACK online for 10 accounting trends reshaping the profession and other insightful articles celebrating 140 years of the designation in our special April edition. 

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts 

INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack 

INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud 

Excel Tips Excel Tips | CPA Australia 

With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest 

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

Accounting has evolved dramatically, but its core purpose stays unchanged - enabling trust and better decision-making. 

In this episode, hosted by Australian comedian Lehmo, learn how the profession has moved from manual record keeping to a strategic role centred on judgement, governance and value creation. 

Additionally, explore why AI is transforming tools rather than replacing expertise. 

Key learnings from this episode: 

How accounting has evolved from bookkeeping to strategic decision support 


Why trust, integrity and governance sit at the centre of the profession 


How global crises have expanded the role of accountants over time 


The shift from financial data to broader enterprise data responsibilities 


Why AI enhances accounting rather than replacing it 


The growing importance of professional scepticism in an AI-driven world 


How accountants can contribute to AI governance and auditing 


Why communication and judgement remain critical skills 


What the next generation of accountants needs to succeed 


Listen now for more. 

Host: Anthony "Lehmo" Lehmann, popular Australian comedian 

Guests: 

Dr Jasvinder Sidhu, accounting academic and historian 

Kaushika Jayalath CPA, principal solutions consultant, Oracle, and a CPA Australia board member 


Head to Lehmo's site for more information on his services. 

And learn more about this episode's guests Kaushika Jayalath CPA and Dr Jasvinder Sidhu at his staff profile. 

Loving this episode? 

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. 

And don't forget to click subscribe on the channel. 

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: 

With Interest 

INTHEBLACK 

INTHEBLACK Out Loud 

Excel Tips 

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

Gain a clear view of where the Australian and Asia-Pacific economies are heading and what it all means for finance leaders in 2026. 

The headlines say volatility. The data tells a more nuanced story. 

Inflation, interest rates, productivity and more are all explained in plain terms, translating macroeconomic signals into what matters for business leaders today. 

Listen for an expert view of: 

The economic cycle that Australia and APAC are entering 


The likely direction of interest rates over the next 12 months 


Which indicators matter most when tracking inflation 


The key skill you need to help you prepare for the year ahead 


These insights will help you understand where the Australian and APAC economies are heading, and how this may influence decision-making this year. 

Host: Tahn Sharpe, editor INTHEBLACK, CPA Australia 

Guest: Paul Bloxham,  chief economist, Australia, New Zealand and global commodities, HSBC 

To read online articles by Paul Bloxham, head to his news page on the AFR. 

For more economic insights visit INTHEBLACK https://intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au/economy 

Loving this episode? 


Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube, where you can subscribe to the channel for regular content. 

And don't forget to subscribe to INTHEBLACK and share this episode with your colleagues and friends in the business community. 

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: 

With Interest 

INTHEBLACK 

INTHEBLACK Out Loud 

Excel Tips 

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

What do you do when there is no playbook? 

Many finance leaders have built their careers on accuracy, clarity and control. But today's operating climate is defined by uncertainty rather than stability. 

Market turbulence, rapid advances in AI, organisational redesign and ongoing talent constraints are converging at the same time. 

In this context, success depends on more than just IQ or EQ. It now also hinges on your adaptability quotient (AQ). 

In this episode, explore how finance professionals can build the capability to work confidently through ambiguity while preserving the discipline and standards that underpin strong accounting practice. 

You will learn: 

the difference between adaptability quotient (AQ) and adaptive leadership 


why change feels harder today and how complexity affects performance 


how to use the observation, interpretation and intervention model 


practical ways to avoid common thinking traps such as catastrophising and blame 


how to create psychological safety without lowering standards 


tools such as the balcony and dance floor perspective and the productive zone of disequilibrium. 


If you want to strengthen resilience, improve decision-making and lead confidently through uncertainty, this episode offers practical steps you can apply immediately. 

Host: Tahn Sharpe, Editor, CPA Australia. 

Guests: Catherine Althaus, professor at UNSW Canberra, and Kathryn McEwen, organisational psychologist. 

For more information, head to Kathryn McEwen's website. 


Loving this episode? 

Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. 

And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career. 

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting: 

 With Interest 

INTHEBLACK 

INTHEBLACK Out Loud 

Excel Tips 

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]