Karen McDonald, Accountancy Insurance   Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly finding its way into accounting practices. From drafting emails to automating repetitive tasks, many firms are experimenting with AI tools to improve efficiency. A newer development is the rise of “vibe coding” where users build small applications or agents using…

Recent data shows a sharp increase in job vacancies, reaching their highest level in over a year. This means employers are actively searching for workers across many industries. This could work in your favour if you are currently job hunting or considering a career change. However, the situation is not…

When the Australian share market recently lost more than $50 billion in a day, it wasn’t just investors who felt the impact. It also flowed to superannuation balances, job security, and the rising cost of living. While markets naturally fluctuate, sudden losses can be unsettling, particularly for those nearing retirement.…

Over the past year, spending on services has climbed sharply, up 5.9 per cent, while goods rose 3.5 per cent. On paper, that might suggest confidence. In reality, much of that increase reflects higher prices rather than fuller shopping trolleys. Annual inflation sat at 3.8 per cent in January, meaning…

Most accounting and bookkeeping professionals do not think of themselves as “targets”. They see their work as routine, trusted and structured. Tax returns, payroll, BAS lodgements, reconciliations. Important work, but familiar work. For many firms, cybercrime still feels like something that happens to banks, retailers or large corporations with dedicated…

After a busy stretch of earnings announcements, the S&P/ASX 200 edged slightly lower in the final session but still managed to secure a modest weekly gain. The index slipped just 0.05 per cent on Friday to close at 9081.4, yet ended the week up 0.4 per cent overall. Market performance…

Over the year to December, annual living costs rose for every household type, increasing between 2.3 per cent and 4.2 per cent. While the overall pace of growth has moderated, the distribution of these increases reveals clear economic winners and losers. Households whose primary income comes from government payments experienced…

On one hand, strong employment growth suggests more people are finding work and getting extra hours. On the other hand, it has sharply increased the chance that interest rates could rise again as early as next month, adding further pressure to already stretched household budgets. New data from the Australian…

Recent data from Domain indicates the market is beginning to rebalance after years of rapid rent increases, with growth becoming more uneven and selective depending on location and property type. Over the December quarter, house rental asking prices either fell or remained unchanged in cities including Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and…

Karen McDonald, Accountancy Insurance Cybercrime is now one of the fastest-growing threats facing Australian accounting firms of every size. Small and mid-sized firms are being targeted because they hold valuable financial data, process large volumes of payments, and rely heavily on email, cloud platforms, and third-party software. Criminals know that…