Annual Financial Statements for SMEs: Getting It Right Without Overcomplicating It

Annual financial statements are often technically correct but practically weak. This session shows how to prepare clear, compliant SME financial statements that stand up to scrutiny.

3 CPD units June 17, 2026 1 presenter

What will set you apart

By completing this course you will gain the following competencies

What users of SME financial statements really look for
How IFRS for SMEs applies in practice
Common errors in SME financial statements
How presentation affects credibility
Where disclosures are often wrong or missing
How to avoid review and audit issues
How to prepare statements that make sense

Event breakdown

Purpose of annual financial statements
Structure and presentation
Applying IFRS for SMEs in practice
Common classification errors
Disclosure requirements
Consistency across statements
Frequent problem areas
Avoiding review and audit findings

Category: Financial ReportingType: CPD CourseCPD category: Financial Reporting

Description

Preparing annual financial statements for SMEs is often treated as a compliance exercise rather than a professional deliverable. This session focuses on the practical application of IFRS for SMEs and how to prepare financial statements that are clear, consistent, and defensible. Attention is given to common problem areas such as incorrect classifications, weak disclosures, and poor presentation. These issues regularly lead to questions, findings, and loss of confidence in the numbers. This session focuses on how to apply IFRS for SMEs without overcomplicating the process. Strong financial statements communicate clearly, reduce follow up queries, and protect professional credibility. Getting this right saves time, reduces risk, and improves trust.

Presenters

Nicolene Smit — Nicolene Smit is an accounting professional, academic, and education strategist with experience across professional practice, higher education, and professional body leadership. She completed her accounting articles in 2015 before moving into academia in 2017, where she served as a lecturer, subject head, and programme coordinator in Accounting Sciences. Nicolene holds a Master's degree in Taxation, a BCom Honours degree in Financial Management, and is a Chartered Business Accountant in Practice (CBAP) with CIBA. Since joining CIBA as Education Manager in 2023, she has led initiatives in academic partnerships, professional designation development, competency frameworks, and the advancement of future-focused accounting education, including the integration of artificial intelligence into finance and accounting learning

You will earn a certificate

On successful completion you will receive a certificate for 3 CPD units in Financial Reporting.

Requirements

Laptop, desktop, or mobile device with internet access
Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox browser