We all know there’s a wealth of information out there, but finding the best thought leaders online is not always easy. Here, Acuity takes a look at some of the best accounting and business leaders to follow on social media and blogs. 

1. Cindy Hook - CEO Deloitte Australia and Treasurer Chief Executive Women

(Pictured: Cindy Hook by John Feder/Newspix)

A champion of diversity and wellness, Cindy Hook is an active LinkedIn and Twitter user as well as blogging on Deloitte. Hook began her career as an auditor with Deloitte in San Francisco, before moving to the Australian firm in 2009. Recent posts on her blog include topics such as the Future of Work, wellbeing and LGBTI.

2. Mark Weinberger – Global CEO of EY

(Pictured: Mark A. Weinberger by Tony Barson/Getty Images)

Useful for a global view, Weinberger is an avid Twitter user and has over 16,000 followers. With recent tweets about megacities, the future of Shanghai, ethical investment and tax reform, Weinberger has also published extensively on LinkedIn, with articles on how business can create value in the 21st century. He’s championed diversity globally at EY and has set a target for 30 per cent of equity partners to be women by 2020.

3. Sir Richard Branson

(Pictured: Richard Branson by Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

As one of the world’s most successful and admired business people, Sir Richard is generous in sharing the secrets of his failures and successes. He has amassed over 11.6 million followers on his Twitter account and he publishes blogs regularly on his company website, Virgin. He covers everything from how to convince people of good ideas, the future of business and how to dream big. These are topics of relevance and interest to CAs seeking success.

4. Bernard Salt - Managing Director, The Demographics Group

In #Adelaide to release my #Lifestylepreneur Movement report commissioned by #nbn. Green shoots of start up #businesses using #technology pic.twitter.com/oHY6zJbhHi

— Bernard Salt AM (@BernardSalt) October 11, 2017

Australian demographer and futurist Bernard Salt is a world leader in his insights and a strong influencer in the worlds of business and politics. Most active on Twitter, the former KPMG Partner has a total following of about 50,000 on social media channels. 

Themes that Salt explores include the global power shift from America to China, tax trends and jobs of the future. With recent posts about the future of Brisbane, rising income levels and a fairness levy on retirees, he has predicted major trends such as the baby boomer ‘sea change’ in property buying and ‘Gen-Y expectations’ in their careers and lifestyles. Salt is also active on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

5. Karen Loon FCA - Diversity Leader at PWC Singapore

A nice evening! @PwC_Singapore won the bronze award in the HR Excellence Awards 2017 #diversity & #inclusion category #hrea2017 pic.twitter.com/BcRJxtmneU

— Karen Loon (@LoonKaren) October 12, 2017

A Big Four accounting diversity executive who transferred from Australia to Singapore at PwC when she was young, Karen Loon publishes thought-provoking articles on LinkedIn and on her Twitter feed. Themes include the PwC Global FinTech Report, diversity, data, winning the fight for female talent in Asia and the value of young accountants working overseas.

6. Tom Selling’s AccountingOnion.com

AccountingOnion.com is authored by an accounting teacher who has more than 35 years’ experience and is a thought leader and expert witness. Selling says “blogging has emerged as an important way for independent professionals to gain exposure that could lead to opportunity,” and has one of the world’s most visited advice sites.

7. Harold Averkamp’s Accountingcoach.com

Accountingcoach.com offers advice on most technical aspects of accounting. It has more than a million visitors each month, with bookkeeping, financial and managerial sections. Creator Harold Averkamp explains accounting in a clear, concise and thorough manner. His background includes 25 years as a university instructor and consultant for many organisations. A useful section for young accountants gives career and job finding advice.

8. Cloud software experts MYOB and Xero

With more than half a million subscribers each, these accounting software players know a lot about what accountants want. MYOB’s The Pulse Blog has news, views and ideas for CAs ranging from government policy, to accounting software and social media. The Xero blog also offers a fresh look at multiple business and accounting topics and also available are accounting guides, podcasts and training courses. 

9. Boston Consulting (BCG)

BCG is a hub of thought leadership. As one of the world’s “Big 3” strategy consulting firms globally, BCG articles are written by the best of the best consultants, the ones top tier companies pay unmentionable sums for. Readers get access to the best real world, as actually implemented, knowledge, experience and advice. Recent topics include going public with an IPO, why the Financial Accounting Standards Board in the US won’t define financial accounting and professional skepticism.

10. Harvard Business Review (HBR)

The world’s premium business publication from Harvard University needs no introduction. Published six times per year, HBR often quoted at conferences, consulting presentations, or in other articles. No CA’s thought leadership scan is complete without the HBR.

Additional reporting by Shelley Dempsey.

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