Forensic accounting, fraud detection, convergence to international financial reporting standards and non-resident taxation are among key issues that will come up for discussion at the 41st southern regional conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) beginning here Aug 29.

Titled Jnana yajna, the two-day event to be held at International Convention Centre, Hyderabad, will be attended by over 5,000 practising chartered accountants.

The meet is also likely discuss the issues arising out of Rs.7.8 billion accounting fraud in Satyam Computer Services. Two auditors of Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) are among the accused in the fraud, which shocked the corporate India early this year.

M. Devaraja Reddy, chairman, southern India regional council (SIRC) of ICAI, told reporters that the event would also have a spiritual session. Sri Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami will deliver a lecture on the morality.

Minister for Corporate Affairs Salman Khursheed last week said the ministry is waiting for ICAI report on the action to be taken against PwC in Satyam fraud.

Reddy, however, said he was not authorised to comment on Satyam issue as the central council of ICAI was looking into it.

The conference gives us an opportunity to share best practices, resources and knowledge amongst members to improve and deliver finer corporate governance methodologies, he said.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K. Rehman Khan, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and ICAI president Uttam Prakash Agarwal will address the conference.