Why intangible assets are reshaping business valuation

Why intangible assets are reshaping business valuation

Author: CPA Australia July 21, 2026 Duration: 22:58

How do you measure value when much of a company's worth no longer appears on the balance sheet? 

This episode explores the growing importance of intangible assets and why they have become one of the most significant challenges facing accountants, valuers, investors, and standard setters. 

As investment increasingly flows into intangibles such as software, data, AI, brands and intellectual capital, questions are emerging about whether traditional financial reporting can keep pace. 

Key listener takeaways include: 

  • Why intangible assets are becoming a major driver of business value 

  • The growing gap between market value and financial statement value 

  • How valuation standards support consistency and trust 

  • Why investors need greater visibility for intangible investments 

  • What CFOs, auditors and valuers can do differently to improve intangible valuations 

  • What the IASB's review of intangible asset reporting could mean 

  • Why transparency, professional judgement, and valuation quality matter 

You'll gain clear insight from this practical discussion on where value now lives inside organisations and how reporting frameworks may need to evolve. 

Host: Elinor Kasapidis, chief of policy standards and external affairs, CPA Australia 

Guests: Ram Subramanian, external reporting policy lead, CPA Australia 

Nicolas Konialidis, director of the International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC) in Asia and technical director of IVSC's Business Valuation Board. He has over three decades of experience in equity markets, corporate finance, and valuations in Europe, the USA and Asia

Learn more about the IVSC by heading to its website and there you'll find additional perspectives on intangibles. 

IOSCO is the international body that brings together the world's securities and derivatives regulators, and is recognised as the global standard setter for financial market regulation. 

You can also watch the Valuing AI, Data and Intangible Assets: Insights from Nicolas Konialidis webinar from CPA Australia's 'Accounting for Intangibles Summit'. 

Listen to more With Interest episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts 

And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career. 

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting: 

Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au 

Chapters:

00:00 Intangible Assets and Business Valuation: Why Value Creation Is Changing

00:26 CPA Australia With Interest: Valuations, Accounting Standards and Intangible Assets

01:30 Nicolas Konialidis on the Dot-Com Boom, Market Valuations and Intangibles

02:31 IVSC Explained: International Valuation Standards and Financial Reporting

04:08 AI, Data, Software and Platform Businesses: The Intangible Asset Challenge

06:07 Capital Allocation and AI Investment: Why Better Intangible Asset Reporting Matters

07:05 IVSC Intangible Assets Research: Goodwill, Brand Value, Human Capital and Data

10:19 IAS 38 and the IASB Review: Modernising Accounting for Intangible Assets

11:28 CFOs as Chief Value Officers: Valuation Skills for the Intangible Economy

13:36 Making Intangibles More Tangible: Improving Valuation Transparency and Comparability

15:17 IOSCO, IVSC and Financial Reporting: Raising Valuation Quality Standards

16:40 CPA Australia Intangible Summit: The Future of Accounting and Valuation Standards

18:31 Technology Innovation vs Accounting Standards: Closing the Intangibles Gap

19:29 Valuation Risk and Intangible Assets: Impacts on Investors and Capital Allocation

20:46 Market Value vs Book Value: Why Financial Reporting Must Stay Relevant

21:58 Key Takeaways: Intangible Assets, Valuation Standards and Market Confidence


Tune in to With Interest for a clear-eyed look at the forces shaping the world of business and finance. Presented by CPA Australia, this weekly discussion moves beyond the headlines to explore the practical implications of change for accounting professionals, business leaders, and anyone with a stake in the economic landscape. You’ll hear from practitioners and experts who break down complex topics in auditing, taxation, and corporate strategy into actionable insights. The conversations in this podcast are grounded in real-world application, whether the subject is a shift in regulatory frameworks, emerging leadership challenges, or broader economic trends. It’s a resource designed to inform your decisions and deepen your understanding of the professional landscape. For those looking to stay current and think critically about their work, With Interest provides a reliable and engaging audio companion. Each episode serves as a timely update and a catalyst for deeper professional reflection, all delivered with the authority and depth you would expect from CPA Australia.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

With Interest
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