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Learning resources to sharpen your skillset this summer

Our selection of books, podcasts and training materials will get you up to speed on everything from sustainability to entrepreneurship

A woman reads a book next to a pondCovering everything from sustainability and tax to technology and leadership, our reading list will get you up to speed (Getty Images/Prasit photo)

Summer is the perfect time for CPAs to tune into trending subjects that will help them stay ahead come fall.

With these picks, you’re sure to gain some insights that will inspire you all through the season—and beyond.

SUSTAINABILITY

ISSB standards and webinar: Momentum is clearly building on the sustainability standards front, with the international Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) recently publishing two exposure drafts for comment. IFRS S1 sets out the overall requirements for disclosing sustainability-related financial information, while IFRS S2 focuses on proposed requirements to identify, measure and disclose climate-related risks and opportunities. Comments are requested by July 29, 2022. To learn more about the ISSB, its exposure drafts and the impacts of Canada, attend a webinar on the subject.

Climate change for executives: This course (3.5 CPD hours) uses interactive case studies, theory and real-life perspectives from experts to provide executives with a technical understanding of the basics when it comes to climate change risks as well as potential financial and non-financial opportunities.

IPSASB natural resources consultation: The International Public Sector Accounting Board (IPSASB) has released a consultation paper on natural resources for comment. This is its first step in developing guidance on the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of natural resources in the public sector. Canada’s Public Sector Accounting Board will be responding to the paper and, in order to do so, it is hosting a virtual roundtable to ensure diverse Canadian perspectives are included in their submission.

TAX

Running a high-quality tax practice: As practitioners know, tax is a highly complex and challenging area where missteps can be costly. In this blog, you’ll learn how to mitigate tax risk to make your practice more productive and profitable. And be sure to tune into our webinar on the same subject.

Ethics for the tax practitioner: Looking for a framework for making ethical decisions in a tax specific context? This on-demand course (two CPD hours) will help you recognize the importance of ethics in tax practice, while helping practitioners identify ethical issues, avoid ethical blind spots and spot rationalizations.

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING (AML)

AML resources: This collection brings together a number of valuable publications, podcasts and other learning tools, all designed to help accountants and accounting firms involved in activities covered under Canada’s AML legislation to comply with their obligations. Among other resources, make sure to consult the 2022 Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Guide.

AML and ethics: With this online course, you will gain the knowledge and tools necessary to instill financial ethics in your organization. Not only will you be able to analyze your organization’s level of anti-money laundering compliance, but you’ll have the know-how to recognize the ramifications of non-compliance and implement a compliance program .

AUDIT AND ASSURANCE

Audit quality blog: This blog is meant to offer timely and relevant information on standards, technologies and emerging trends impacting audit and assurance. Recent posts include: fraud in the audit of financial statements, assurance in the sustainable debt market and more.

PACT guide: For practitioners in the areas of practice management, advisory, compilations and tax, this comprehensive resource provides guidance, templates and links to help you and your staff perform your services, while also covering practice management topics.

TECHNOLOGY

Data management certificates: For anyone who wants to become a leader in digital transformation, these programs may be for you. With the data management foundations certificate (33 CPD hours), you’ll learn to harness data and turn it into meaningful insights for strategic decision-making, while in the advanced certificate (125 CPD hours), you’ll find out how to analyze data, reduce risk and add value.

The Internet of Things: Once considered a novelty, the internet of things (IoT) has now evolved into a mainstream technology framework that we rely on every day. In this book, author Samuel Greengard not only takes us on a guided tour of the growing array of consumer devices now available, but he also shows how IoT is part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is transforming business through smart manufacturing, end-to-end supply chain visibility and much more.

BUSINESS SKILLS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

BDC resources: For CPA-entrepreneurs wanting to start or grow their business or even brush up on business basics, these learning tools from the Business Development Bank of Canada cover everything from exporting products to building websites.

The Lean Startup: For those with a yen to start their own business, this book is a must. Written by Eric Ries, an entrepreneur and author of a blog called Startup Lessons Learned, it focuses on creating a vision and adapting quickly rather than developing a major business plan. It also offers many practical tips on how to start your business safely.

LEADERSHIP

Managing for collective creativity: Encouraging creativity is one of the most important—yet often overlooked—aspects of management. In this article, the authors use examples from successful companies to show how leaders continually innovate over time. And, in a related TED Talk, one of the authors, business professor Linda Hill, offers a set of tools and tactics you can use to keep great ideas flowing in your organization.

Leaders eat last: As this book from Start with Why author Simon Sinek points out, people face two kinds of threats when working within an organization: outside dangers (direct competition and market conditions) and inside dangers (personal conflict, intimidation or even humiliation). Here, Sinek shows how great leaders build a strong culture by minimizing internal dangers so that staff can direct more of their energy toward external ones.

KEEP EXPLORING—AND LEARNING

For more inspiration, check out our other resources in topical areas such as sustainability and technology as well as our complete repertoire of courses and webinars. If you’re interested in evolving technological and social business changes, and their effect on the accounting profession, listen to season two of Foresight: The CPA Podcast on your favourite podcast streaming service.