Singapore Is Global Third Happiest City
In an increasingly uncertain and volatile world, how happy its citizens are is a useful metric to inform a government in its policymaking. Given that what makes one happy will differ from person to person, the Happy City Index, by think tank Institute for Quality of Life, injects a degree of objectivity into a city’s […]
TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS
AUDITING AND ASSURANCE IAASB Announces Withdrawal Of ISAE 3410 For Assurance Engagements On Greenhouse Gas Statements The withdrawal of ISAE 3410 follows the issuance of International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements, which covers assurance requirements across all types of sustainability information. ISSA 5000 is effective for assurance engagements […]
Taskforce To Address Tariffs, Develop Longer-Term Strategies
The “Liberation Day” tariff announcements by the US presented a raft of tariffs of at least 10% across all countries, and higher rates for countries and trading blocs that have a trade deficit with the US. There have been talks and negotiations since, to obtain more favourable terms. Many countries are also relooking their policy […]
Transforming Accounting With AI
TAKEAWAYS Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving revolutionary change across industries. Over the years, technological advancements have been disrupting the accountancy profession, creating both opportunities and challenges. In particular, the current rapid rise of AI is poised to have a profound impact on the sector. How can the profession reap the upsides of AI – and […]
Strengthening Cybersecurity For Financial Professionals
TAKEAWAYS In today’s digital landscape, financial professionals are more than stewards of numbers, they are the custodians of sensitive data, frontline defenders against cyber threats, and ethical sentinels of trust in a hyperconnected world. The surge in cyberattacks targeting finance and audit functions underscores a crucial message: cybersecurity is no longer the exclusive domain of […]
Singapore Tax Cases 2024 (Part 1 Of 2)
TAKEAWAYS The passing of another year also marked the time for the Singapore Chartered Tax Professionals to organise its popular Singapore Tax Cases seminar. The event was facilitated by Accredited Tax Advisor (Income Tax) & Accredited Tax Practitioner (GST) Allen Tan, Principal; Jeremiah Soh, Local Principal; Shawn Joo, Senior Associate; and Clinston Chiok, Associate, from […]
Ethical Leadership In Accounting Firms
TAKEAWAYS In recent years, the accountancy profession has faced high-profile incidents linked to unethical behaviour in accounting firms. Recurring unethical behaviour in firms raises the broader issue of their culture and governance, and how these might impact ethical behaviour of professional accountants and their compliance with ethical standards. With this in mind, the International Ethics […]
Asia’s Growth Forecast Revised Amid Trade, Tariff Tensions
At the start of the year, the growth for 2025 was predicted to be stable but underwhelming, as reported in the World Economic Outlook (WEO), January 2025 by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Four months on, however, this forecast no longer holds true as the world has undergone a major shift, when the United States […]
Pudgy Penguins Versus Dogecoin
TAKEAWAYS When people think about non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrencies, they often wonder: What makes a digital asset valuable? While some projects focus on building a strong brand, others rely on community-driven hype. Two great examples of these different approaches are Pudgy Penguins and Dogecoin (DOGE). Pudgy Penguins is an NFT collection that has grown […]
Lost Your Job?
TAKEAWAYS Many Singaporeans are worried about being retrenched. The government recognises this, and has introduced a SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme to support the involuntarily unemployed. As artificial intelligence (AI) adoption accelerates, job displacements may increase as companies focus on business restructuring and automation. For retrenched individuals, the impact can be destabilising. When one is retrenched, […]