Business Analytics Versus Data Analytics
TAKEAWAYS In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, data is the cornerstone of innovation and competitive prowess. As organisations strive to harness the immense power of data, the ability to translate complex datasets into actionable insights has become indispensable. While the terms “business analytics” and “data analytics” are frequently used interchangeably, they encapsulate distinct facets of […]
Get Steady With Personal Tax
TAKEAWAYS Have you ever wondered if the gains from your hobby or the occasional sales of your cryptocurrency investments are taxable? Let’s take a look at Alan, a full-time real estate agent. Alan enjoys collecting rare trading cards as a hobby. Occasionally, he sells these cards on online platforms, earning up to $800 per card. […]
Navigating Integrity Challenges In Southeast Asia
TAKEAWAYS As Southeast Asian economies grow rapidly, ethical risks continue to pose a threat to business stability. While the overall integrity climate has improved globally, significant headwinds remain in Southeast Asia – from leadership integrity gaps and corporate misconduct through to ineffective whistleblower protections. The EY Global Integrity Report 2024 sheds light on these pressing […]
Asia: Global Innovation Hub
Asia has been making a name for itself as a global hub for startup innovation, driven by an emerging tech-savvy middle class, strong government support, and a growing venture capital (VC) base. Recent VC fundings in Asia, and globally, mostly concentrated on startups centring around artificial intelligence and large language models. In the first nine […]
Auditing Crypto Assets
TAKEAWAYS As of 11 February 2025, the number of financial institutions licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to provide Digital Payment Token services has surpassed 30, and it continues to grow. With Bitcoin reaching an all-time high, there is increasing demand to verify the existence and ownership of cryptocurrencies (crypto) in financial audits […]
No Ring, No Problem
TAKEAWAYS In decades past, the traditional role of women was in the home – as a full-time wife, mother and homemaker. This role has been evolving and in recent years, the trajectory has been to graduate from school, secure a stable job, get married, and start a family. But today, that narrative has shifted again. […]
Thank You For The Money
TAKEAWAYS Singapore’s Budget 2025 kept up with the expectations of many, allocating significant funding for social initiatives. This includes a S$250-million SG Gives matching grant to provide dollar-for-dollar matching for donations made through the Community Chest, President’s Challenge and the Collective for a Stronger Society. There is also a S$270-million top-up to the Tote Board’s […]
TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS
FINANCIAL REPORTING ISCA Issues FRG 5 Accounting For Refundable Investment Credit (RIC) To address the potential impact of BEPS 2.0, the RIC scheme was introduced in 2024 to encourage companies to make significant new or expanded investments in substantive economic activities in Singapore in key economic sectors and new growth areas. To aid entities in […]
Fraud Risk Management In The Public Sector
TAKEAWAYS Fraud is a persistent challenge in the public sector, draining valuable resources and undermining public trust. While fraud risk management is well understood in theory, effective detection and prevention remain complex in practice. Accountants, auditors, and financial professionals play a pivotal role in strengthening fraud risk controls, leveraging technology, and fostering a culture of […]
What’s The Deal With JS-SEZ?
TAKEAWAYS A landmark initiative designed to strengthen cross-border cooperation with the establishment of a one-stop centre to facilitate investments and businesses, the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) aims to create 20,000 skilled jobs and facilitate the expansion of 50 projects in the first five years, and 100 projects within the first decade. Spanning over 3,500 […]