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Contents

In this book

1. UAE corporate tax: why your IFRS accounts now drive your tax bill3
2. IFRS 18 is coming: what changes in your income statement5
3. IFRS 9 and IFRS 7 amendments now in force: ESG-linked loans and electronic payments7
4. IFRS S1 and S2: sustainability reporting moves next to the financial statements9
5. IFRS 19: lighter disclosures for subsidiaries from 202711
6. IAS 21 amendments: what to do when a currency cannot be exchanged13

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Foreword

IFRS Updates

IFRS keeps moving. These notes summarize the changes our clients ask about most, what they mean in practice and what to prepare now.

Each note links to the full article. If you would like help applying any of it, our team is a message away.

Consultify Global Insights team

This article is general information, not accounting, tax or legal advice. Rates, thresholds and effective dates should be confirmed with the official sources (IFRS Foundation, tax authorities, regulators) or your adviser before acting.

UAE · Corporate tax · 14 October 2026

UAE corporate tax: why your IFRS accounts now drive your tax bill

The UAE introduced federal corporate tax through Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022. It applies to financial years beginning on or after 1 June 2023, at 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that. Taxable income is worked out from the accounting profit in the financial statements, so well-prepared IFRS accounts are now the foundation of every UAE tax return.

Key takeaways

• 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income, 9% above
• Applies to financial years beginning on or after 1 June 2023
• Qualifying Free Zone Persons can have 0% on qualifying income
• Taxable income starts from your financial statement profit

IFRS 18 · 5 October 2026

IFRS 18 is coming: what changes in your income statement

IFRS 18 Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements replaces IAS 1 from 1 January 2027. Income and expenses move into five categories (operating, investing, financing, income taxes and discontinued operations), with two new required subtotals. Comparatives must be restated, so 2026 figures need to be ready in the new format.

Key takeaways

• Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027; early adoption permitted
• New subtotals: operating profit, and profit before financing and income taxes
• Management-defined performance measures must be disclosed and reconciled
• Comparative periods are restated, so plan your 2026 data now

IFRS 9 & 7 · 18 September 2026

IFRS 9 and IFRS 7 amendments now in force: ESG-linked loans and electronic payments

The IASB's May 2024 amendments to IFRS 9 and IFRS 7 apply to periods beginning on or after 1 January 2026. They answer practical questions raised after the post-implementation review of IFRS 9: when a liability paid through an electronic payment system can be derecognised, how to assess loans with ESG-linked interest, and what extra disclosures investors now receive.

Key takeaways

• Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2026
• Optional earlier derecognition of liabilities settled by electronic payment
• Clearer SPPI guidance for ESG-linked and other contingent features
• New disclosures for contingent features and equity investments at FVOCI

IFRS S1 & S2 · 2 September 2026

IFRS S1 and S2: sustainability reporting moves next to the financial statements

In June 2023 the International Sustainability Standards Board issued IFRS S1 (general requirements) and IFRS S2 (climate-related disclosures). They are designed to sit alongside IFRS financial statements, for the same reporting entity and period. Whether they are mandatory depends on each jurisdiction, but many lenders and investors already ask for this information.

Key takeaways

• Issued June 2023 by the ISSB
• Effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2024
• Early use of S1 only together with S2
• Mandatory status depends on each country's adoption

IFRS 19 · 27 August 2026

IFRS 19: lighter disclosures for subsidiaries from 2027

IFRS 19 Subsidiaries without Public Accountability: Disclosures was issued in May 2024 and is effective from 1 January 2027. Eligible subsidiaries keep full IFRS recognition and measurement, but replace the disclosure requirements of other standards with a reduced set. For groups, that can mean one set of books and much less work at subsidiary level.

Key takeaways

• Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027
• Optional for subsidiaries without public accountability
• Parent must publish IFRS consolidated financial statements
• Same recognition and measurement, far fewer disclosures

IAS 21 · 29 July 2026

IAS 21 amendments: what to do when a currency cannot be exchanged

Groups with operations in countries with currency controls have long faced a practical question: what exchange rate do you use when you cannot actually exchange the currency? The IASB answered it in August 2023 with amendments to IAS 21. Companies must assess exchangeability consistently, estimate a spot rate when a currency is not exchangeable, and explain the impact to readers.

Key takeaways

• Issued by the IASB in August 2023
• Assess exchangeability in a consistent way
• Estimate a spot rate when a currency is not exchangeable
• Disclose the rate used, the method and the risks

Contents

In this book

1. Germany: which companies need a statutory audit under the HGB?3
2. Getting more from CaseWare: best practices for audit files and financial statements5
3. ISA 600 (Revised): what group audits look like now7
4. Data analytics in the audit: testing every transaction, not just a sample9
5. Year-end audit readiness: a practical checklist11
6. Working with offshore audit teams: quality, confidentiality and speed13

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Foreword

Audit & Assurance

For audit firms and the finance teams they audit: practical notes on tools such as CaseWare, auditing standards and getting audit-ready.

Each note links to the full article. If you would like help applying any of it, our team is a message away.

Consultify Global Insights team

This article is general information, not accounting, tax or legal advice. Rates, thresholds and effective dates should be confirmed with the official sources (IFRS Foundation, tax authorities, regulators) or your adviser before acting.

Germany · HGB · 13 October 2026

Germany: which companies need a statutory audit under the HGB?

In Germany, the audit requirement depends on company size. Under section 316 HGB, corporations that are not "small" must have their annual financial statements audited, and without the audit the statements cannot be adopted. The size classes in section 267 HGB were raised in 2024, so some companies may have moved category.

Key takeaways

• Small corporations are exempt from statutory audit
• Small: up to €7.5m assets, €15m revenue, 50 employees
• Medium: up to €25m assets, €50m revenue, 250 employees
• Two of three criteria, on two consecutive balance sheet dates

CaseWare · 9 October 2026

Getting more from CaseWare: best practices for audit files and financial statements

CaseWare products are used by accounting and audit firms around the world to build engagement files and produce financial statements straight from the trial balance. Used well, they cut review time and errors; used loosely, they become one more place for numbers to disagree. A few habits make the difference, from clean trial balance mapping to consistent templates and sign-offs.

Key takeaways

• Start every file from a firm-approved template
• Map the trial balance carefully once, then lock the mapping
• Link schedules and notes to the trial balance, never retype numbers
• Use sign-offs and review notes to keep a clear audit trail
• Roll forward each year instead of starting again

ISA 600 · 24 September 2026

ISA 600 (Revised): what group audits look like now

The IAASB's revised ISA 600, effective for audits of group financial statements for periods beginning on or after 15 December 2023, puts risk at the centre of group audits. Group auditors now decide what a "component" is, direct and review component auditors more closely, and document more. For group finance teams, that means more requests, earlier, and real benefits from clean, consistent reporting packs.

Key takeaways

• Effective for periods beginning on or after 15 December 2023
• Risk-based scoping replaces the old "significant component" approach
• Closer two-way communication with component auditors
• Consistent group reporting packs make the audit faster

Audit analytics · 12 September 2026

Data analytics in the audit: testing every transaction, not just a sample

Traditional audits test samples. Data analytics lets auditors and internal control teams look at every journal entry, invoice and payment, and focus their effort on the unusual ones: duplicates, entries posted at odd times, round amounts or transactions just under approval limits. The results are only as good as the data, so clean, complete extracts from the ERP matter.

Key takeaways

• Analyse full populations, then investigate exceptions
• Common tests: duplicates, gaps, unusual timing, approval limits
• Start from complete, reconciled ERP data extracts
• Analytics supports judgement; it does not replace it

Audit readiness · 14 August 2026

Year-end audit readiness: a practical checklist

A smooth audit is decided long before the auditors arrive. Most delays come from the same few gaps: unreconciled balance sheet accounts, incomplete fixed asset registers, missing contracts and late answers on judgements. A clear "prepared by client" list, agreed early and owned by named people, keeps the audit on time and on budget.

Key takeaways

• Agree the PBC (prepared by client) list and dates early
• Reconcile every balance sheet account with support
• Prepare registers, contracts and minutes in one place
• Document key judgements before the auditors ask

Audit support · 22 July 2026

Working with offshore audit teams: quality, confidentiality and speed

Busy season puts pressure on every audit firm. Offshore audit support adds trained capacity without permanent hiring, but only works if quality and confidentiality are designed in from the start: the firm's own methodology and templates, clear review responsibilities, secure systems and a predictable rhythm of communication.

Key takeaways

• Work in the firm's own methodology, templates and software
• Define who prepares and who reviews every area
• Protect client data with certified security controls
• Use time-zone differences so files progress overnight

Contents

In this book

1. The modern CFO: accounting policies, best practices and what industry voices say3
2. Expanding into the UAE: a finance and tax checklist5
3. Rolling forecasts: the FP&A strategy leading finance teams use7
4. Doing business in Canada: GST/HST and corporate tax basics for finance teams9
5. Cash is king: working capital strategies every CFO should use11
6. Germany: finance and compliance essentials for international companies13

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Foreword

Finance & Strategy

How leading CFOs run finance: accounting policies, forecasting, cash and the practices industry voices keep coming back to.

Each note links to the full article. If you would like help applying any of it, our team is a message away.

Consultify Global Insights team

This article is general information, not accounting, tax or legal advice. Rates, thresholds and effective dates should be confirmed with the official sources (IFRS Foundation, tax authorities, regulators) or your adviser before acting.

CFO insights · 12 October 2026

The modern CFO: accounting policies, best practices and what industry voices say

Today's CFO is expected to close the books fast, explain the numbers to the board, lead ERP and AI projects and keep controls airtight. Strong accounting policies are the foundation: clear, documented choices that everyone applies the same way. Around them, the best finance teams build fast closes, rolling forecasts and reporting that leadership actually uses.

Key takeaways

• Document accounting policies in one living manual, reviewed every year
• Close faster with checklists, reconciliations and clear ownership
• Use rolling forecasts and a small set of KPIs leadership trusts
• Treat ERP, data and AI as finance projects, not IT projects
• Controls and talent remain the CFO's first responsibilities

UAE market · 11 October 2026

Expanding into the UAE: a finance and tax checklist

The UAE offers access to the Gulf, Africa and South Asia from a stable, well-connected base. Its tax system is still competitive, but no longer tax-free: VAT has applied since 2018 and federal corporate tax since financial years beginning on or after 1 June 2023. Getting registrations, bookkeeping and reporting right from the start avoids penalties later.

Key takeaways

• VAT at 5% since 1 January 2018
• VAT registration mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies
• Corporate tax: 0% up to AED 375,000, 9% above
• Free zone or mainland: choose with tax and market access in mind

FP&A · 30 September 2026

Rolling forecasts: the FP&A strategy leading finance teams use

The annual budget is still useful for targets, but it starts ageing the day it is approved. Leading finance teams add a rolling forecast: updated monthly or quarterly, always looking 12 to 18 months ahead, and built on a few business drivers rather than hundreds of line items. Paired with scenarios, it turns FP&A from reporting the past into steering the future.

Key takeaways

• Always look 12 to 18 months ahead, updated monthly or quarterly
• Forecast a handful of drivers, not every account
• Run base, downside and upside scenarios
• Link the forecast to cash, not just profit

Canada market · 26 September 2026

Doing business in Canada: GST/HST and corporate tax basics for finance teams

Canada is a stable, well-regulated market close to the United States, but its tax system has a federal and a provincial layer. Sales tax is GST in some provinces and a combined harmonized sales tax (HST) in others, and the federal corporate rate is topped up by each province. Getting invoicing and provincial rules right is the first priority.

Key takeaways

• GST at 5%; HST combined rates in participating provinces
• HST: Ontario 13%, Nova Scotia 14%, NB, NL and PEI 15%
• Federal corporate rate: 15% general, 9% small business (CCPCs)
• Provincial corporate tax is added on top

Cash & working capital · 8 September 2026

Cash is king: working capital strategies every CFO should use

Profit is an opinion; cash is a fact. Many growing companies are profitable on paper but stretched in the bank, because cash is tied up in receivables, inventory and early payments to suppliers. A short list of disciplines, from a 13-week cash forecast to tighter billing and collections, can release significant cash without new funding.

Key takeaways

• Run a rolling 13-week cash flow forecast
• Invoice on time and chase overdue accounts systematically
• Negotiate supplier terms that match your cash cycle
• Track DSO, DPO, DIO and the cash conversion cycle monthly

Germany market · 20 August 2026

Germany: finance and compliance essentials for international companies

Germany combines a huge market with demanding compliance. Companies report under the German Commercial Code (HGB), medium-sized and large corporations need a statutory audit, VAT has a standard and a reduced rate, and electronic invoicing between businesses is being phased in. A finance setup that handles HGB and IFRS side by side makes growth much easier.

Key takeaways

• Local statutory accounts under HGB; IFRS often needed for group reporting
• Audit required unless the corporation is "small" (s.267 HGB)
• VAT: 19% standard, 7% reduced
• B2B e-invoicing is being phased in: check current deadlines

Contents

In this book

1. SAP S/4HANA Finance implementation: a playbook for finance leaders3
2. Choosing an ERP: QuickBooks, Odoo, Dynamics, SAP Business ByDesign or S/4HANA?5
3. ERP data migration: getting master data and opening balances right7
4. After go-live: hypercare, controls and reporting in your new ERP9

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Foreword

ERP Implementations

Lessons from the finance side of ERP projects: SAP S/4HANA, SAP Business ByDesign, Odoo, Microsoft Dynamics and QuickBooks. How to choose, migrate, go live and report with confidence.

Each note links to the full article. If you would like help applying any of it, our team is a message away.

Consultify Global Insights team

This article is general information, not accounting, tax or legal advice. Rates, thresholds and effective dates should be confirmed with the official sources (IFRS Foundation, tax authorities, regulators) or your adviser before acting.

SAP S/4HANA · 15 October 2026

SAP S/4HANA Finance implementation: a playbook for finance leaders

An S/4HANA project succeeds or fails on finance design. The Universal Journal brings general ledger, controlling and asset postings into one table, so decisions about ledgers, profit centers, segments and document splitting shape reporting for years. Finance should own the design, the data and the testing, with SAP Activate giving the project its rhythm from Prepare to Run.

Key takeaways

• Treat S/4HANA as a finance transformation, owned by the CFO
• Use Fit-to-Standard workshops and keep custom code to a minimum
• Decide ledgers, profit centers, segments and document splitting early
• Plan data migration and reconciliations from day one
• Budget time for testing, cutover rehearsals and hypercare

ERP selection · 8 October 2026

Choosing an ERP: QuickBooks, Odoo, Dynamics, SAP Business ByDesign or S/4HANA?

There is no single best ERP, only the best fit for where your business is and where it is going. Small companies often start with QuickBooks or Xero, growing businesses look at Odoo, Dynamics 365 Business Central or SAP Business ByDesign, and large groups with complex operations choose SAP S/4HANA or Dynamics 365 Finance. Choose on processes, reporting needs and total cost, not on demos alone.

Key takeaways

• Start from your processes and reporting needs, not the software
• QuickBooks and Xero suit small businesses with simple operations
• Odoo, Business Central and SAP ByDesign suit growing, multi-entity companies
• SAP S/4HANA and Dynamics 365 Finance suit large, complex groups
• Compare total cost over five years, including implementation and support

Data migration · 24 September 2026

ERP data migration: getting master data and opening balances right

A new ERP is only as good as the data you put into it. Clean master data, a clear chart-of-accounts mapping and fully reconciled opening balances are what let finance trust the system from the first close. Plan migration as its own workstream, run several mock loads and get formal sign-off on every reconciliation before go-live.

Key takeaways

• Treat data migration as its own workstream with a clear owner
• Cleanse master data before you migrate, not after
• Map the old chart of accounts to the new one and document it
• Run several mock loads and reconcile each to the legacy trial balance
• Get formal sign-off on opening balances and open items

Hypercare & reporting · 10 September 2026

After go-live: hypercare, controls and reporting in your new ERP

The weeks after go-live decide whether users trust the new ERP. A structured hypercare period, a first month-end close with extra support, clear user roles and segregation of duties, and well-designed reports turn the system into a real asset. Tools such as SAP Fiori apps, SAP Analytics Cloud and Power BI help leadership see the numbers clearly.

Key takeaways

• Plan a hypercare period with daily issue triage
• Give the first month-end close extra support and time
• Review user roles and segregation of duties early
• Build a small set of reports leadership will use every month
• Collect improvement ideas for a second phase