Latest / Chartered Accountants Global Update / Episode 13: Wellbeing, ethics and two new diplomas for your next step

Transcript

Episode 13: Wellbeing, ethics and two new diplomas for your next step · Chartered Accountants Global Update

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: Hello, I'm Antja Dirks from Chartered Accountants Worldwide.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: This podcast has been researched and drafted with the support of AI.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: It's then reviewed, shaped, and signed off by our human editorial team.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: Even though we use AI to create this podcast, every story you hear is real.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: Every person we profile is a real person doing remarkable things.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_00: Every statistic is checked, every event is verified, every episode is approved by us, the human editors, who care deeply about this profession.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: Technology we use with purpose, oversight, and professional judgment exactly how it should be used.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: So, without further ado, I'm going to hand you over to Olivia.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_01: Hello and welcome to Chartered Accountants Global Update, the audio newsletter from Chartered Accountants Worldwide.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_01: Wherever you are listening, thanks for joining us for episode 13.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_01: This week, we are looking at two conversations the profession does not always have out loud: women's health in midlife and the role accountants play in spotting and preventing financial abuse.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_01: Then we look ahead, with two new diplomas from Chartered Accountants Ireland, in data analytics and AI, and in corporate finance.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_01: Let's get into it.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_01: Perimenopause and menopause can have a real impact on women's health, confidence, and working lives, and they often arrive alongside other pressures: a step up into senior leadership, caring for children or aging parents, sometimes both at once.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_01: For a profession that wants to keep its experienced talent, that is not a side issue.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_01: It is a business issue.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_01: On Thursday, the 29th of October, a free online webinar, Women Accountants in Midlife and Well-Being, helping women chartered accountants thrive, brings this conversation into the open.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_01: The panel is a strong one.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_01: Mary Coustas, the Logie Award-winning actor, author, and creator of the midlife health platform Unpause, is joined by Associate Professor Carly Moulang, FCA, and Dr.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_01: Anne-Marie Conrath Hargreaves from Monash Business School.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_01: Their research, carried out with CAANZ and CPA Australia, looks at how midlife experiences affect well-being, performance, and career sustainability in accounting.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_01: Completing the panel is Robin Davies, CA, a leadership coach and HR consultant with more than 20 years' experience in inclusive workplaces and gender equity.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_01: They will explore the physical, emotional, and cognitive effects of midlife transitions, how awareness helps women advocate for their own health, and, importantly, what colleagues and leaders can do to build workplaces where women feel safe and supported.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_01: And this is worth stressing.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_01: The session is not only for women, it is for leaders, managers, policymakers, and anyone supporting a colleague or family member through this stage of life.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_01: The aim, in the panel's own words, is to help women thrive, not just survive, at work.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_01: It is complementary, and it counts for one hour of CPD.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_01: Our next topic is a serious one, and it sits right at the heart of what it means to be a trusted advisor.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_01: Financial abuse can affect anyone, regardless of background or circumstance.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_01: It might be an older client whose savings are being quietly drained by someone close to them.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_01: It might be a person in a controlling relationship who has lost access to their own money.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_01: Very often, the people best placed to notice the warning signs are the professionals who see the numbers.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_01: That includes chartered accountants.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_01: On Monday, the 26th of October, CAANZ is hosting an online webinar, Ethical Considerations in Identifying and Preventing Financial Abuse, as part of its Global Ethics Day program.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_01: An expert panel will help attendees recognize the warning signs and risk factors across different client groups.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_01: They will look at how accountants can help prevent abuse and, just as importantly, how we might unintentionally enable it.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_01: There is practical guidance on the systems, procedures, and controls that reduce risk, and a clear look at ethical and confidentiality duties under the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_01: That is often the hardest part.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_01: Knowing what you can and should do when you suspect something is not right.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_01: Attendees will also come away knowing where to find support services, tools and resources for responding to suspected abuse.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_01: The session counts towards your ethics CPD, and it is a timely reminder that protecting vulnerable clients is part of protecting the public interest.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_01: Finally, let's look ahead.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_01: If you have been thinking about your next step in professional development, Chartered Accountants Ireland has two diplomas starting very soon.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_01: Both run for six months, both are delivered online and accessible internationally, and both offer more than 60 hours of CPD.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_01: First up is the Diploma in Data Analytics and AI, which starts on the 28th of October.
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_01: Here is the reassuring part for many of us.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_01: No technical or programming background is required.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_01: It is designed for accountants, finance professionals, business leaders, and anyone in risk, governance or compliance who wants to understand how data and AI can add real value.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_01: Across six modules, you will cover everything from analytics fundamentals and forecasting to generative AI and process automation, with a strong focus on responsible AI, data ethics, and governance.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_01: There is also a module on storytelling and presenting insights, because the best analysis in the world counts for little if you cannot explain it in the boardroom.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_01: Tutors include Sean Gilbride, Director of Digital Transformation at Deloitte, and Neil Cardoso, ACA, a chartered accountant and data analyst.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_01: Second is the Diploma in Corporate Finance, which begins on Monday, the 2nd of November.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_01: This one is for professionals who work in or want to move into, corporate finance, investment and capital allocation, valuations, treasury, mergers and acquisitions, and restructuring.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_01: The modules take you from financial analysis and investment decisions through to valuation, corporate transactions and business restructuring, with an additional module on negotiation skills.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_01: It is taught by experienced practitioners, including Aula Fisher, Director of Deals Advisory at PWC.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_01: Both diplomas are built to fit alongside a full-time role, blending live online sessions with self-paced study.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_01: Fees start from€3,500 with alumni and group discounts and instalment options available.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_01: Places are limited, so if either one sounds right for you, it is worth getting your application in soon.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_01: That brings us to the end of this episode of Chartered Accountants Global Update.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_01: Thanks for listening.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_01: Until next time, take care.