information technology

Information Technology Conference 2006

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I am today co-chairing the annual CPA Australia Information Technology Conference 2006 at the Stamford Plaza.  This is the first of the conferences – the schedule is repeated in Melbourne on 19 July and Sydney on 25 July. 

The sessions are focussed on the business impact of information systems – as it should be – and the following key benefits are noted:

By attending this high profile industry event you will
learn key strategies to achieve increased value from
your IT decisions and gain insights into:

  • The changing environment of IT
  • Avoiding project failure
  • Measuring and tracking KPIs
  • Building your business on effective IT governance
  • Linking IT spend to the business strategy
  • Integrating financial systems with your business

All of which are themes that should resonate, and I’ll be interested in these topics from several perspectives – but not least of all because I am speaking on most of these topics myself at a later date!

How you spend your IT dollar

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Sometimes that old plant and equipment should go where it's appreciated - the museumI have been mining the archives for relevant publications to post to the website. The firm in 2001/2002 published a monthly IT issues newsletter (pretty much before we’d heard of blogs). I am intending to publish some select articles that are still relevant to the blog.
The first of these is ‘How you spend your IT dollar‘. By way of note, I believe I eventually gave the bike away to Lifeline, so hopefully there is a teenager out there who is using it to good effect these days. Unless it was still a deathtrap, in which case I hope the teenager’s still quite sullen.

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Career Watch – me six years ago

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Six years ago (!) I was profiled in the CPA Australia journal – in their career watch section, nothing too special. It was in order to promote the IT Specialisation for CPA Australia (technically, I am a ‘Certified Practising Accountant (Specialist in Information Technology); my full handle is a bit cumbersome.

I decided I probably should record it for posterity – see how we’re travelling so to speak.

For the record, Horwath Brisbane Chartered Accountants merged with BDO Kendalls in November 2002 – which is why the names have changed. Incidentally, at least one good reason to merge is the apparent difficulty people have always had with Horwath (here it’s been reproduced as Howarth, and on my first day at Horwath I got a rude shock from a client who pronounced it as ‘whores & whores’ (and they weren’t trying to be rude))!

Fortunately I think I can say confidently that we are developing a niche systems consulting area of the firm, although perhaps not in the direction I thought we would go six years ago!

Career Watch – Micheal Axelsen (30) [editor: well, I was then!]

Micheal Axelsen, B. Comm (Hons), CPA, MinfmSystems, is MD of Horwath Business Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, in Brisbane. He is a specialist in IT, and holds a Master of Information Systems.

How did you specialise in IT? I tutored in information systems (IS) at University of Queensland in 1991. In 1996 when I qualified as CPA, I knew IS was more appealing. I pursued my MinfmSystems degree and knocked on doors until Bruce Hatcher of Horwath gave me a job.

Who has been the major influence on your career? Charles Rheault (my old boss at Brisbane’s Anglican Church Grammar School). He taught me the value of looking after staff, that those with talent should contribute to the community, and to always keep a sense of humour in a crisis. He also taught me the value of eating pizza when working late.

What is the best career advice you have ever had? ‘The patient has the disease’ – you need to be objective, and if you are going to have a long successful career, you need to have balance and be able to draw a line between work and home.

Who do you admire in business? Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1975. He was ill in the mid-80’s and was brave enough to walk away from day-to-day involvement (with a considerable amount of cash in his pocket!) and change his lifestyle.

Where will you be in 10 years? Professionally, I hope Howarths has developed into a niche systems consulting firm. Personally, I hope to have attained this elusive ‘balance’.

This article has been posted through to my publications section.

IT outsourcing – selecting the ‘best’ infrastructure model

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This article was published on CEO Online a month or two ago, and I did promise I would post it here eventually.  And as I am of course absolutely certain that there is a raft of readers out there who would like to see the full article on the basis of that promise (delusionment is a wonderful thing) I am posting the article here.

In order to keep us all sane, you will need to click through to see the full article.

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CPA Australia – going places

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Anyone who has half-glanced at my CV or some of my blog posts will note that although I provide information systems consulting services to my clients, I am actually a lapsed accountant.  The reason I remain so passionate about CPA Australia is that I think a Commerce or Business degree from a university is the best entry point into the world of business, bar none.  This is even more true if, as a student, you are not certain of your future direction.  Commerce generally, and accounting particularly, lets you direct your career to meet your changing circumstances and professional preferences.  And of course I think CPA Australia is the best accounting professional body for allowing you this flexibility.  Naturally.

By way of example, I quote the members of the CPA Australia Information Technology & Management Centre of Excellence (which I chair) – all qualified accountants (with one exception), all working in very different fields.  This wasn’t necessarily because they felt that accounting was their best entree into the world of IT, but rather because it allowed their career to be flexible and follow their interest whilst maintaining a leading business professional qualification. 

All of which is leading up to the fact that I note that CPA Australia’s new advertising campaign was launched this week.  I had a sneak preview at the new Queensland President’s networking drinks last week (Lyndal Drennan is the new Queensland CPA President) but the ads are, I think, their best yet.  You can see them here:  CPA Australia Advertising Campaign 2006. 

Nicolette Sharp - the only time she goes backwards...