Caroline Gardner CBE joined the IFAC Nominating Committee in 2023, nominated by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). She is a member of the IFAC board and a fellow of CIPFA, serving as president during 2006-2007, and was a public interest member of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) between 2010 and 2015.

Ms. Gardner has considerable experience in governance, audit, and financial management in executive and non-executive roles. She was the Auditor General for Scotland from 2012 to 2020, responsible for auditing the Scottish Government and public bodies in Scotland and reporting to the Scottish Parliament. She now has a portfolio of non-executive appointments, including chair of the Audit Oversight Body of PwC UK and a member of the board of the Wheatley Group, where she is chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Joan Curry FCA joined the IFAC Board in November 2019 having been nominated by Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Ms. Curry is an elected Council member of Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI), the membership body representing 27,500 Irish Chartered Accountants in Ireland and around the world. Ms. Curry became a Chartered Accountant in 1988 with Smyth Lawlor & Co, now JPA Brenson Lawlor. Ms. Curry joined the Department of Finance in 2002 and has extensive experience of public financial management in the Irish civil and public sector including the development and implementation of public financial procedures for the Central Government sector.

Ms. Curry has been an active member of CAI since 2002 serving on a number of committees concerning public sector matters and ethics and governance. She currently chairs the public sector members committee and is a member of the Council Boards for Strategy and Members.

Ms. Curry is currently Head of Finance in the Department of Transport.

While the SMP Committee is supportive of the Ethics Board’s exploration of concepts other than professional skepticism to capture the behavior expected of all professional accountants (PAs), it is not convinced it is necessary to add the currently proposed standalone requirement outside the fundamental principles. The SMP Committee is also concerned about the proposed changes on upholding ethical values, which appears to go beyond the Code.

Ethical behavior in relation to tax advice is crucial. The work carried out by a professional accountancy organization (PAO) member needs to be trusted by society at large as well as by clients and other stakeholders. PAOs' and their members' conduct in this regard reflects not just on themselves but also on the accountancy profession. PAOs have a responsibility to ensure that their members who provide tax advice uphold the profession's reputation.

In celebration of World Standards Day, IFAC (International Federation of Accountants) today released a new report detailing how and where international accountancy standards—which focus on audit and assurance, ethics, education, and private and public sector accounting—are being adopted and implemented globally.

The report, which includes data from the more than 170 professional accountancy organizations that comprise IFAC’s membership, shows strong and sustained support for both the adoption and implementation of international standards, especially in areas where IFAC member organizations are involved in the process from start to finish.

The International Standards: 2019 Global Status Report reveals:

• 90+% of jurisdictions examined use International Standards on Auditing, International Financial Reporting Standards, and the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants.
• 80+% of jurisdictions examined have monitoring & enforcement mechanisms for quality assurance and investigation and discipline.
• 76% of IFAC member organizations have some level of authority in adopting international standards and best practices.
• IFAC member organizations are instrumental in ensuring high-quality standards’ implementation through advocacy, raising awareness, technical support, translation, training and enforcement.

The report also shines a light on the important and often untold story of how standards are adopted and implemented—a process that can be as complex as developing a standard.

“Since there are no international laws requiring nations to adopt and implement international standards, support from IFAC’s member organizations for these dual objectives is critically important to progress,” according to IFAC CEO, Kevin Dancey. “This new report reinforces the impact of standards in driving transparency and creating a common language for high-quality financial information.”

 According to the new report, there is a positive trend in international standards’ usage where IFAC member organizations have at least some authority in the standard-setting and regulatory environment. However, additional multi-stakeholder support from international policymakers and regulatory organizations, as well as leaders from government, academia, and business, is required to extend the adoption success story by creating the right conditions for implementation.

“International standards have come a long way since 2000 when there was little to no global adoption. While there is always more to be done, IFAC member organizations play a vital role in ensuring the successful implementation of international accountancy standards, which ultimately help drive sustainable economic growth and financial market stability in their respective jurisdictions,” said Dancey.

About the Report
The International Standards: 2019 Global Status Report's data comes from the IFAC Member Compliance Program and covers 173 IFAC member organizations and the 130 jurisdictions in which they operate. The report establishes a baseline on international standards’ adoption and implementation and explores how accountancy best practices and IFAC member organizations have a positive impact.

About IFAC
IFAC is the global organization for the accountancy profession dedicated to serving the public interest by strengthening the profession and contributing to the development of strong international economies. IFAC is comprised of more than 175 members and associates in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

IFAC member organizations are instrumental in adoption and implementation, creating a common language for high-quality financial information worldwide.

PAO Development & Advisory Group helps IFAC achieve strong, sustainable PAOs around the world. The advisory group, comprised of experts with decades of experience working with and for PAOs and developing their capacity, serve as important strategic advisors and actively contribute to IFAC’s strategic goals and implementation. Learn more.