Insights
Our thinking
Practical guidance on audit, tax, ethical finance and AI for the people who run growing businesses.
The latest from regulators, professional bodies and the press, selected by Astana Group. Links open the source site in a new tab.
Source
IRAS
Featured · Tax updates
Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) Rules and Domestic Top-up Tax (DTT)
IRAS's guide to the Pillar 2 minimum tax for large multinational groups, updated on 13 October 2026, covers the Income Inclusion Rule, the Domestic Top-up Tax and the implementation of the Side-by-Side package in Singapore.
13 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
AI in finance
AI and the audit: AICPA publishes practice aid to assist auditors
The AICPA's new practice aid helps auditors weigh how AI affects a financial statement audit, both when a client uses AI in its reporting and when the audit firm uses AI tools. The auditor stays responsible for the audit opinion.
Journal of Accountancy · 13 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
AI in finance
FIS equips CFOs with agentic AI to forecast cash flow and surface risk earlier
FIS has launched a suite for the finance office that brings collections, liquidity, risk and cash into one view, with a module that forecasts cash across several time horizons. A vendor announcement, so treat the claims as untested.
FIS · 12 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Islamic finance
Jordan approves 'landmark' $564m sukuk for Greater Amman Municipality
Jordan's Cabinet approved the municipality's first sukuk, an ijara structure of 400 million dinars paying 5.5% a year over five years. It is the first phase of restructuring about 1 billion dinars of municipal debt.
Arab News · 12 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Tax updates
Singapore and the Kyrgyz Republic sign Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement
The DTA signed on 12 October 2026 clarifies taxing rights on cross-border income, with withholding tax capped at 5% or 10% on dividends and 8% on interest and royalties. It enters into force after ratification by both countries.
IRAS · 12 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Tax updates
Goods and Services Tax (GST): What it is and how it works
IRAS's explainer on the 9% GST, updated on 8 October 2026, now includes a worked example of how the tax flows through a supply chain. Useful for founders deciding whether and when to register.
IRAS · 8 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
AI in finance
Fact-checking AI is taking up more of CFOs' and finance teams' time
A Datarails survey of 270 CFOs finds finance teams spend around a quarter of their week checking or correcting AI output, and few would let AI produce a board report unsupervised. Auditability, accuracy and compliance remain the main barriers to trust.
CPA Practice Advisor · 7 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Audit & reporting
Commencement of key changes under the Corporate and Accounting Laws (Amendment) Act 2025 on 20 October 2026
From 20 October 2026 companies must confirm their officers' particulars in annual returns, striking-off and restoration are streamlined, public accountants can renew for up to three years, and professional indemnity insurance extends to sole proprietor and partnership accounting firms.
ACRA · 6 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
AI in finance
Singapore's digital economy reaches 19.3% of GDP as AI adoption deepens: IMDA
IMDA's Singapore Digital Economy Report 2026 shows AI adoption among SMEs rose from 14.5% to 23.4% in a year. Most adopting firms reported productivity gains, and finance and accounting remains one of the most common uses.
TechNode Global · 5 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Audit & reporting
Audit Practice Guidance No. 1 of 2026: Using Artificial Intelligence Responsibly
ACRA's guidance gives auditors and audit firms practical considerations for using AI in audit work, covering integrity, judgement, accountability, transparency and the protection of client data, with examples and questions to reflect on.
ACRA · 2 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
AI in finance
Using an Excel agent to clean, validate and reconcile data
A step-by-step walkthrough of an AI agent inside Excel cleaning a 59,000-row general ledger and reconciling it to the trial balance in about ten minutes, with the auditor reviewing the agent's plan and documentation at each step.
Journal of Accountancy · 1 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Islamic finance
MUFG Bank commences Islamic banking operations from Labuan
MUFG Bank's Labuan branch opened an Islamic banking window on 1 October 2026 after approval from the Labuan Financial Services Authority, adding Shariah-compliant financing for cross-border flows across ASEAN, Japan and EMEA.
BusinessToday Malaysia · 1 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Audit & reporting
ISCA issues Audit Bulletin 10 on key revisions to SSA 570 (Revised 2024)
The revised going concern standard applies to periods beginning on or after 15 December 2026. The bulletin sets out stronger risk assessment, a review of management's going concern evaluation in every audit, a longer assessment period and enhanced reporting.
ISCA · 30 Sept 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Islamic finance
Islamic Finance Awards 2026: Market-defining deals bolster Islamic finance in record year
Global sukuk issuance rose about 14.5% to roughly US$291 billion in 2025, a record, led by Gulf issuers. Malaysia's bond and sukuk market reached 2.25 trillion ringgit.
The Asset · 7 Jul 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Islamic finance
New advisory panel to drive Malaysia's global Islamic finance ambitions
Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission have formed the MIFC Advisory Panel, a cross-agency body to strengthen Malaysia's position as an international Islamic finance hub, alongside an industry-led MIFC Business Network.
New Straits Times · 23 Jun 2026 (opens in a new tab)
No articles in this topic yet.
Events
Workshops and webinars
22
Oct
Expand Into ASEAN: Malaysia
Webinar · Online (Zoom)
22 Oct 2026, 3.00pm to 5.00pm · SME Centre@SMF
29
Oct
ISCA Business Growth Clinic (October)
In person · ISCA House, 60 Cecil Street, Singapore 049709
29 Oct 2026, 5.00pm to 7.00pm · ISCA
29
Oct
Scaling Smart: Aligning Workforce Transformation and Regulatory Readiness
Webinar · Online (Zoom)
29 Oct 2026, 2.30pm to 4.30pm · SME Centre@SMF and Mapletree Industrial
11
Nov
ISCA Conference 2026: Reimagining the Future, Resilience in a Multipolar Economy
In person · Sands Expo and Convention Centre
11 Nov 2026, 9.00am to 6.00pm · ISCA
13
Nov
Expand Into ASEAN: Indonesia
In person · Singapore Management University (SMU ALCove)
13 Nov 2026, 2.00pm to 5.00pm · SME Centre@SMF
18
Nov
Singapore FinTech Festival 2026
In person · Singapore EXPO
18 to 20 Nov 2026 · MAS and GFTN