Update on the International Federation of Accountants

Update on the International Federation of Accountants

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  International Federation of Accountants- UPDATE Gabriella Kusz Sr. Technical Manager Member Body Development UNCTAD – ISAR Friday November 2, 2012
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  IFAC
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  IFAC’s Mission • Toserve the public interest by: – Contributing to the development, adoption and implementation of high- quality international standards and guidance – Contributing to the development of strong professional accountancy organizations and accounting firms, and to high-quality practices by professional accountants – Promoting the value of professional accountants worldwide – Speaking out on public interest issues where the accountancy profession’s expertise is most relevant
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  IFAC Structure, Oversightand Consultation Monitoring Group IFAC COUNCIL Public Audit Nominating Interest Committee Committee Oversight Board IFAC IFAC Regulatory BOARD Liaison Group Planning and Finance Committee Forum Consultative Consultative Consultative of Firms Advisory Advisory Advisory Group Group Group Professional Professional Small and International International International International Transnational Accountancy Accountants Medium Compliance Auditing and Accounting Ethics Public Sector Auditors Organization Advisory Panel Assurance Education Standards Accounting Committee in Business Practices Development Committee Committee Standards Standards Board for Standards Committee Board Board Accountants Board KEY ACCOUNTABILITY OVERSIGHT CONSULTATION/ADVICE
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  The International Auditingand Assurance Standards Board • Sets international quality assurance, auditing, review and other assurance and related services standards in the public interest. • Facilitates A&I of international standards • 82 jurisdictions are using or plan to use the Clarified ISAs • Highlights of key current board activities – Top priority for 2012-1014: Enhancement of Auditor Reporting standards – Invitation to Comment: Improving the Auditor’s Report – Auditing Financial Statement Disclosures, and Int’l Audit Quality Framework – Compilation and Review Engagements―ISRS 4410 (Revised) and ISRE 2400 (Revised) – Assurance on Greenhouse Gas Statements – ISAE 3410 (New)
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  The International PublicSector Accounting Standards Board • Develops IPSASs and other guidance for public sector entities • Has developed and issued: – 32 accrual standards and 1 cash-basis standard (for countries moving toward full accrual accounting) • Highlights of key current board activities – Public sector Conceptual Framework - highest profile project -goal to complete by late 2014 – A number of public sector specific projects, e.g. long-term sustainability – Public consultation on work program (responses due October 31, 2012) – Public interest oversight and governance changes in process 2014-2015 • Momentum in adoption continues
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  The International AccountingEducation Standards Board • Strengthens the worldwide accountancy profession by enhancing education • Develops and implements International Education Standards (IESs) • Highlights of key current board activities – Revise and redraft its suite of eight IESs – The revision of the IESs will improve readability and ensure consistent application of each standard by reducing ambiguity about the requirements imposed on an IFAC member body
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  The International EthicsStandards Board for Accountants • Develops and issues high-quality ethics standards and other pronouncements • The IESBA Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants applies to all professional accountants, whether in public practice, business, education, or the public sector • Highlights of key current board activities – Ground breaking Exposure Draft―Responding to a Suspected Illegal Act – Exposure Draft -- Conflicts of Interest – Exposure Draft -- Breaches of the Code
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  Professional Accountants inBusiness Committee • Provides leadership and guidance on relevant issues pertaining to professional accountants in business • Highlights of key current committee activities – The key roles and expected areas of competency of PAIBs are highlighted in, Competent and Versatile: How Professional Accountants in Business Drive Sustainable Organizational Success (available for download from the IFAC website); supported by – How Professional Accountants Integrate Governance into Their Organizations' Drivers of Sustainable Success. – New International Good Practice Guidance, Evaluating and Improving Internal Control in Organizations.
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  Small and MediumPractices Committee • Works to raise the profile and of SMPs globally • Represents their interests to standard setters and regulators • Develops tools and resources to promote continued success • Highlights of key current committee activities – SMP Quick Poll – SMP LinkedIn page – Guide to Review Engagements – Practice Management Guide (revision)
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  PAO Development Committee •Addresses the challenges facing the development of strong professional accountancy organizations (PAOs) in emerging and developing countries • Highlights of key current committee activities – Mentoring Insights: The Mentor Perspective Workshop (Dubai, UAE) – Cooperation with CAPA in “Realizing the Power of PAOs” (Hanoi, Vietnam) – Second MOSAIC Steering Committee Meeting (London, UK) – Presentation of PAO Global Development Report – CReCER 2012 “Quality Financial Information for Regional Economic Development” (Managua, Nicaragua)
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  Compliance Advisory Panel • IFAC members and associates are required to participate in the IFAC Member Body Compliance Program to demonstrate that they are maintaining their good standing and addressing the requirements of IFAC membership. • Statements of Membership Obligations – Foundation of the IFAC Member Body Compliance Program – Adherence is mandatory for all IFAC members and associates – Serve as a framework for credible and high-quality PAOs – Clarified SMOs now available
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  Forum of Firms •Membership: 23 networks focused on transnational audits • Audit quality focus – Engagement with international standard-setters, OECD, IVSC, IASB, etc. – In-country roundtables – India & Indonesia (2013 Africa?) – IMF Engagement on Central Bank Audits – Information Papers – Engagement Quality Control Reviews
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  Public Policy andRegulation • Preparation and publication of Policy Position Papers (in 2012) – IFAC’s Support for a Single Set of Auditing Standards: Audits of Small- and Medium-Sized Entities (PPP#2) – Public Sector Financial Management Transparency and Accountability: The Use of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (PPP#4) – A Definition of the Public Interest (PPP#5) – Global Regulatory Convergence and the Accountancy Profession (PPP#6) • Preparation and submission of comment letters and recommendations to global and regional organizations (G- 20, the Monitoring Group, Eurostat, and the IFRS Foundation) – Policy input to IFAC leadership communications at international forums, meetings and conferences
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  Translations • Establishment ofan Ibero-American cooperation framework to achieve longer-term, sustainable processes for a single, Spanish translation of international standards and other IFAC publications. • Translation memories have been created for the Russian and Spanish translations of the International Standards on Auditing and Quality Control. • Staff presented during the Regional Dialogue Series entitled Spanish Translation of International Standards - New Initiatives. • ISA Russian Translations Roundtable April 2012 (Moscow, Russia)
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  www.ifac.org