As the financial services industry continues to undergo rapid transformation, it’s more important than ever to stay up to date with changes that could impact your firm and your clients. With a wide range of accounting and financial advice events happening all over Australia in FY19, there are plenty of chances to learn about the latest in cutting-edge practices and technologies, so you can put them to work for your business.
Conferences, seminars and other educational activities provide great opportunities to broaden your technical skills, gain specialist knowledge and learn about any legislative changes that might affect your clients. Another advantage of attending industry events is the chance to network with like-minded peers to share ideas on how to take your business to the next level.
But with so many accounting and advisory events on offer all year round – and a finite budget for professional development and training – how can you choose which ones you and your team should attend? Here’s are some of our top picks for the year ahead.
Conference and events, July 2018 to June 2019
25–26 July 2018: The Summit (Melbourne)
Join influencers, ministers and professionals for two days of discussion and debate around the high-level policy issues shaping our industry. This year’s event will focus on some of the key challenges facing wealth management, with topics covering superannuation, tax and life insurance.
30–31 August 2018: National Superannuation Conference (Melbourne)
The Tax Institute hosts the premier event for tax specialists within the superannuation industry, with fresh perspectives on tax issues affecting both the large-fund and SMSF sectors.
4–5 September 2018: Accountants Strategy Day (Melbourne, Sydney)
A full-day program delivered by business leaders and practice principals, designed to provide accountants with take-home, practical strategies, tips and tools to transform your services and boost your revenue streams.
5–6 September 2018: Xerocon (Brisbane)
The world’s most innovative conference for cloud accounting leaders is back in 2018. Once again, this event will be packed with software and strategies to help you harness the power of automation so you can grow your business and better serve your clients.
16–18 September 2018: Class Connect (Sydney)
The latest SMSF insights for accountants and financial planners seeking new ways to engage with your clients, increase revenue and efficiently manage day-to-day operations.
10–12 October 2018: AFA National Adviser Conference (Gold Coast)
At the annual Association of Financial Advisers event, advisers from across the country will share insights to help you fine-tune your advice offering so you can give your firm a competitive advantage.
18 October–29 November 2018: SMSF Adviser Summit (Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth)
Combining the SMSF Conference and the SMSF & Accounting Awards, this event delivers take-home technical strategies for building, protecting and managing your clients’ wealth. You’ll also learn about recent legislative and regulatory changes so you can stay ahead of the curve.
5–8 November 2018: World Congress of Accountants (Sydney)
Held every four years, this conference brings together more than 6,000 international finance and business leaders. The theme for 2018 is ‘Global Challenges | Global Leaders’, and will explore how the accounting profession is working to turn current challenges into opportunities for the future.
21–23 November 2018: FPA Professionals Congress (Sydney)
The annual event for the Financial Planning Association of Australia will offer a range of workshops and training sessions for financial planners focusing on areas such as best-practice solutions, technical skills and leadership.
5, 7 February 2019: Chief Economists Forum (Melbourne & Sydney)
Gain insider insights for the year ahead, as leading chief economists and strategists share their market outlook to an audience of over 1,000 financial services professionals.
20–22 February 2019: SMSF Association National Conference (Melbourne)
Expand your technical knowledge and service offering to position your firm as an SMSF leader. As always, this event is a great opportunity to learn about the latest developments from an impressive line-up of SMSF innovators, solution providers and industry specialists.
17–21 March 2019: Count Annual Conference (Wellington)
Now in its 34th year, Count Members will experience valuable professional development streams and an array of networking opportunities, allowing accountants and advisers to build relationships with other firms in the network.
20–21 March 2019: Accounting Business Expo (Sydney)
This event has plenty on offer for accountants, bookkeepers, SME advisers and finance executives. Take advantage of exclusive training, demo sessions, product markets and networking opportunities – all under one roof.
May/June 2019: Adviser Innovation Summit (Sydney, Melbourne)
Learn about the latest products and solutions from leading tech and software companies, so you can build a sustainable advice practice in the age of digital disruption. You’ll also hear from industry speakers and fellow professionals on how they’ve put innovation to work in their businesses.
2018–2019: National events for professional bodies
Industry organisations and professional bodies hold members-only events, training sessions and discussion groups throughout the year, so be sure to find out what’s on offer near you in FY19.
Stay connected – without leaving the office
When you’re juggling a busy schedule and a tight training budget, it may not be possible for you to get to as many industry events as you’d like to. But the good news is that technology is making it easier for you to gain access to world-class training and seminars – all from the comfort of your own office.
By getting your whole team involved in online webinars and presentations, you’ll have access to convenient e-learning solutions that slash the costs of group interstate travel. Some professional organisations now also broadcast their entire conferences online, so be sure to check their websites for details.