INTHEBLACK

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]

Workplace romance happens more often than most people realise. 

While at its heart (no pun intended) it's a personal matter, companies today have obligations under legislation that affect how these relationships are managed. 

When colleagues become romantically involved, there are ways to handle it that respect personal freedom while managing organisational risk. 

This episode examines that tricky balancing act of respecting privacy with the current legal and ethical responsibilities of companies. 

Key points in this episode include: 

The view of office romances from today's organisational perspective 


The importance of having a strong understanding of the law around this specific area 


Policies or guidelines that should be in place to manage office romances responsibly 


Effective strategies for communicating these relationship policies to staff 


The potential for a conflict of interest and the duty to prevent sexual harassment 


Recognising ethical red flags in relationships with significant power imbalances 


Navigating the risks associated with alcohol and off-site corporate events 


Love in the workplace isn't just a plotline in your favourite drama. It's a reality many professionals navigate. Tune in for guidance. 

Host: Belinda Zohrab, Regulation and Professional Standards lead, CPA Australia 

Guest: Jodie Fox, employment lawyer and director of Worklogic, a consultancy firm that works with employers. She is also an honorary senior fellow of the University of Melbourne's Law School. 


For more information, head to Worklogic's website and its page on LinkedIn. 

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 support your career journey. 

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]

Cognitive bias. It quietly shapes many of the decisions made in accounting and finance – often without you realising it. 

This unintended bias can become a risk if left unchecked – especially in professions built on precision, trust and ethical responsibility. 

Drawing on real-world examples, this episode explores the diverse types of cognitive bias, and how they can impact accounting and finance professionals in our day-to-day work. 

Key learnings include: 

Why cognitive bias exists and when it becomes a professional risk 


How common biases affect financial judgement 


The ethical consequences of bias in accounting and finance 


How organisational culture can reduce or reinforce biased thinking 


Practical steps individuals can take to challenge assumptions and improve decisions 


How the rise of AI and automation adds a new layer of complexity to decision-making 


The discussion also shows how biases such as confirmation bias, anchoring and overconfidence quietly influence decisions, often without conscious awareness. 

Host: Tahn Sharpe, Editor, CPA Australia 

Guest: Dr Victor Goh Weng Yew, a PhD in applied psychology and Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology at HELP University in Malaysia, where he is also the acting dean. 

For more, head to HELP University online and to its page on LinkedIn. 


And there is a CPA PD course on AI and Ethics in Malaysia featuring expert local speakers, case studies and examples. 

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]