When Alan Oster, NAB’s Group Chief Economist, delivers his keynote address in front of over 500 accounting professionals next Friday morning, you can bet they’ll be listening to every word. The economic update at Reckon National Conference next week comes right after a change in Australia’s leadership, and also amid a global shift in the accounting profession.
Alan Oster is a regular commentator on economic trends and policy issues. Just this week NAB has reported a significant increase in business confidence in the NAB Monthly Business Survey for August 2013. The result shows business confidence is the highest since May 2011. This is an interesting piece of research considering the same survey also showed sales remained weak for businesses last month.
Speaking on behalf of the NAB, Alan Oster has reportedly said the increased business sentiment may have been due to an interest rate cut during the month and a lower Australian dollar, however he has noted that political factors are likely to have been most important considering the pending change in government (as the survey was done prior to 7 September, 2013).
Next week, at Reckon National Conference, Alan Oster’s economic update will look at current business confidence, as well as business conditions, post-election. He’ll touch on the ongoing performance of the Australian economy, as well as global economic trends, issues that will be particularly significant for accounting professionals working with clients on business planning as head toward 2014.
Today, more than ever, the global economy is incredibly relevant to Australian accounting professionals. Accounting firms of all sizes, and their clients, are increasingly working with clients and contractors off-shore, they’re also faced with increasing competition from businesses overseas and influenced by global technology trends.
Reckon National Conference is open to all accounting professionals. It will be held:
Friday, 20 September, 2013
Melbourne Park Function Centre
8.15am – 5pm
Register now (registrations close Friday 13 September)
Reckon National Conference will also feature a keynote presentation from Doug Sleeter, a well-known international thought leader on small business and accounting. Doug Sleeter will cover what he see as key trends occurring today and ways that accounting professionals can prepare for the future.
You can follow tweets from the Reckon National Conference using #ReckonEngage.
