Overview    

Financial distress is one of the most critical challenges businesses face, often threatening survival, stakeholder confidence, and compliance with statutory requirements. Accountants play a pivotal role in guiding organisations through these turbulent periods by providing sound financial advisory services that balance business continuity with legal and ethical obligations. From recognising early warning signs to navigating complex restructuring and recovery strategies, accountants are central to ensuring that distressed businesses make informed decisions that protect both value and compliance. 

Join Caryn Maitland CA(SA) on 20 October 2025 from 10:00 to 12:00 as she explores the essential advisory tools, regulatory frameworks, and professional responsibilities that accountants must master to effectively support distressed businesses.   

Learning objectives   

Attending this webinar will equip you with the following competencies:  

• Understand the warning signs and indicators of financial distress. 

• Learn the key advisory tools available to accountants in restructuring, turnaround, and recovery scenarios. 

• Gain insight into compliance obligations under the Companies Act, insolvency law, and tax regulations when advising distressed businesses. 

• Strengthen their ability to guide clients through cash flow forecasting, debt restructuring, and stakeholder negotiations. 

• Appreciate the ethical and professional responsibilities accountants face when advising distressed entities.   

Content   

The webinar will cover the following topics:  

• Introduction to Business Distress 

  • Defining financial distress: liquidity vs solvency problems 

  • Early warning indicators (financial ratios, covenant breaches, creditor pressure) 

• Legal & Regulatory Framework 

  • Companies Act requirements (Sections 129–134 on business rescue) 

  • Insolvency law considerations 

  • SARS obligations for distressed companies (tax returns, VAT arrears, penalties) 

  • Directors’ fiduciary duties in distress situations 

• Advisory Tools for Accountants 

  • Short-term liquidity management (cash flow forecasting, working capital management) 

  • Debt restructuring and renegotiating with creditors 

  • Evaluating financing options (equity injections, rescue finance) 

  • Business rescue vs liquidation – practical implications 

• Turnaround & Recovery Planning 

  • Strategic options for distressed businesses 

  • Cost reduction and operational efficiency 

  • Asset realisation and divestments 

  • Stakeholder communication and management 

• Professional & Ethical Considerations 

  • Independence and conflicts of interest in advisory roles 

  • Transparency, confidentiality, and disclosure requirements 

  • Ethical guidance from the IFAC Code of Ethics and SAICA Code 

• Practical Case Studies 

  • Advising SMEs in cash flow crisis 

  • Navigating SARS arrears and creditor negotiations 

  • Lessons from failed vs successful turnarounds 

Obtaining your CPD certificate  

This training is compliant with the International Education Standard (IES7) issued by the International Federation of Accountants and recognised for CPD by relevant professional bodies including ACCA, CIMA, IAC, IIA, SAICA and SAIPA.  

All attendees are issued with a CPD certificate available in an online profile.  

About the presenter  

Caryn Maitland CA(SA) 

Caryn Maitland is a Chartered Accountant (SA). She has been a member of IRBA as a registered auditor and accountant since 2002 and is also a registered member of SAICA. 

Caryn has lectured Auditing and Accounting at various institutions and has conducted independent workshops and seminars for professional accountants since 2006 on various topics. She has presented on the national tour for the annual Legislation Update with ProBeta Training (Pty) Ltd in 2014 and 2015, as well as on the FASSET national tour for the Tax Administration Act in 2014.  Caryn is also involved with the annual SAICA SMP Technical tour.    

Who should attend?  

The following persons will benefit from attending this webinar:  

• Practising accountants including: CA(SA), Professional Accountant (SA), AGA(SA), FCCA, BAP(SA), BA(SA) and ACCA.  

• Compilers. 

• Independent reviewers. 

• Registered auditors.  

• Trainee accountants. 

Price  

• R 450.00 - Online admission - Individual.  

• Group Price 1 - From R337 per person (up to 5 users)   

• Group Price 2 - From R260 per person (up to 10 users)   

• Group Price 3 - From R224 per person (over 11 users)  

Steps to register for the event:   

If you already have a profile, login and register for the webinar.  

If you don’t have a profile, create a free profile then login and register for the webinar.  

Click here to create a free profile (There is no charge to create a profile and gain access to our free Monthly Practice Management Series).  

Click here to find out about the Technical Resource Centre & CPD Subscription options.    

Additional material  

By attending this webinar you will be provided with:  

• A summarised slide presentation.  

• Reference documents and/or course material where available.  

• You can ask questions during the webinar and you will also have access to the presenter after the webinar.  

Corporate training solutions  

At the Accounting Academy, we recognize the evolving needs of businesses in today's dynamic environment. Beyond our standard webinar offerings, we provide tailored corporate training solutions designed to empower your team with the latest in accounting and professional skills. Whether you're looking for online sessions or face-to-face training, our programs are crafted to ensure a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.  

Drawing inspiration from modern training methodologies, our corporate solutions are interactive, adaptable, and focused on real-world applications. We prioritize hands-on learning, ensuring your team can immediately apply their newfound knowledge in practical scenarios.  

Interested in a bespoke corporate training experience? Reach out to us at [email protected] or call 010 593 0466. Together, let's design a training program that elevates your team's capabilities and aligns with your organizational goals.    

Contact us  

Have any questions or need any assistance? Contact us today!  

• Online chat through our website.  

• WhatsApp: Start chatting (+27635026114)  

• Phone: 010 593 0466  

• E-mail: [email protected]