In a letter submitted this week, the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the global organization for the accountancy profession with members and associates in 127 countries, urged the G-20 Leaders at their June 2012 meeting in Mexico to focus on global solutions to global issues, to create sustainability and growth.

The letter, which is a follow-up to previous submissions in 2009, 2010, 2011, and earlier in 2012, recommends that the G-20 take action directed toward the priorities of the current Mexican Presidency to: achieve economic stabilization and structural reforms as foundations for growth and employment; strengthen the financial system and foster financial inclusion to promote economic growth; improve the international financial architecture in an interconnected world; and promote sustainable development, green growth, and the fight against climate change. The recommendations include:

• The adoption and implementation, across all jurisdictions, of:
  • International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS);
  • International Standards on Auditing (ISAs); and
  • Auditor independence requirements set out in the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, issued by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA).
• That the G-20 works to support strengthened resourcing and governance arrangements of international regulatory organizations (including standard setters) that have clearly defined expectations and responsibilities. In this regard, IFAC reiterates its support for shared private sector/public sector arrangements for international standard setting for financial reporting, auditing and assurance, ethics, and accounting education.
• That the G-20 supports initiatives leading to greater transparency in the management of public resources, including improving financial reporting practices by governments, developing an international framework of governance for public sector organizations, combating money laundering and terrorist financing, and ensuring that taxation obligations are properly assessed and collected according to the law.
• That the G-20 formally signals its support for the work being undertaken by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) with respect to developing a framework for integrated reporting. The IIRC, in which IFAC participates, is an important initiative and represents a collaboration among a broad cross-section of corporate, investment, accounting, securities, regulatory, and academic leaders.
• That governments and regulators adhere to principles of high-quality regulation, especially economic impact assessment, in implementing evidence-based regulatory reform. In particular, they should recognize that regulatory reforms may affect parts of the economy differently; for example, changes targeting large and complex organizations may have unintended consequences when applied to small- and medium-sized entities.
• That G-20 nations support initiatives aimed at strengthening the accountancy profession in developing and emerging countries. In fulfilling its mission, IFAC contributes to the development of strong professional accountancy organizations and high-quality practices by professional accountants in many ways, including through its relationships with the donor community.

“Today’s global issues require global solutions, and the G-20 is uniquely positioned to support global sustainability and growth,” said IFAC Chief Executive Officer Ian Ball. “The current problems being confronted by the global community require enhanced management of public resources, improved non-financial reporting, and more sustainable organizations. The accountancy profession is well-placed to assist in finding and implementing these solutions.”

The letter to the G-20 with the full recommendations is posted on the IFAC website.

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 167 members and associates in 127 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is pleased to present the following recommendations for consideration at the G-20 Leaders’ Summit on June 18-19, 2012 in Los Cabos, Mexico. These recommendations focus on actions aimed at promoting global sustainability and growth, and are directed towards several of the stated priorities of the Mexican presidency of the G-20.

IFAC CEO Ian Ball is featured in FT.com's Alphaville discussing the merits of accrual-based accounting.

IFAC Deputy President Warren Allen discussed “Developing Global Solutions—a Shared Responsibility” at the 22^nd Audit & Assurance Conference of the Auditing Special Interest Group of the British Accounting & Finance Association

The Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has issued proposed International Good Practice Guidance, Eleven Principles for Effective Business Reporting Processes, for public comment. The aim of this guidance is to establish a benchmark for good practice in implementing effective business reporting processes in an organization. The guidance will help professional accountants in business and their organizations create a cycle of continuous improvement for their business reporting processes to assist stakeholders in making informed decisions about the organization.

“High-quality business reports are crucial for strong capital markets and sustainable economic growth,” said Roger Tabor, chair of the PAIB Committee. “And producing high-quality business reports requires organizations to have effective business reporting processes in place.”

With this guidance, the PAIB Committee aims to provide principles-based guidance that supports professional accountants in business by helping them apply good practices. This guidance is directed at all organizations wishing to enhance their reporting processes—no matter their size or structure, or whether they are private or public.

“This guidance will help professional accountants in business and their organizations ensure that they implement the most effective reporting processes,” said Karyn Brooks, chair of the PAIB Committee’s Business Reporting Task Force. “Implementing these processes will enable them to provide stakeholders—both internal and external—with high-quality financial and non-financial information.”

Professional accountants, their professional organizations, and other interested parties are encouraged to respond to the proposed guidance to help improve its applicability to professional accountants in organizations of all sizes.

How to Comment
The PAIB Committee invites all stakeholders to comment. To access the exposure draft and submit a comment, visit the PAIB Committee section of the IFAC website at www.ifac.org/paib. Comments on the exposure draft are requested by August 23, 2012.

About the PAIB Committee
The PAIB Committee serves IFAC member bodies and professional accountants worldwide who work in commerce, industry, financial services, education, and the public and the not-for-profit sectors. Its aim is to promote and contribute to the value of professional accountants in business by increasing awareness of the important roles professional accountants play, supporting member bodies in enhancing the competence of their members, and facilitating the communication and sharing of good practices and ideas. 

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 167 members and associates in 127 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

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In this interview, IFAC SMP Committee Chair Giancarlo Attolini discusses the current environment in which SMPs operate and advises on how they can best meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of tomorrow. 

The article was released to IFAC member bodies to publish in their journals. See examples from the Malaysian Institute of Accountants and CPA Ireland. 

International Federation of Accountants Chief Executive Officer Ian Ball today praised the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) for its recent decision to adopt international standards in accounting and auditing, calling it “an important benchmark in underscoring the value of accountancy and the accountancy profession to governments and to business on the African continent.”

PAFA was launched in May 2011 and consists of 39 professional accountancy organizations from 34 African nations. Its General Assembly took the action at the inaugural meeting held May 4 in Tunis, Tunisia, resolving to adopt:

• International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) developed by the International Auditing and Assurance Board (IAASB);
• International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs) developed by the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB);
• International Education Standards (IESs) developed by the International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB);
• International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB);
• International Financial Reporting Standards for Small and Medium Enterprises (IFRS for SMEs) developed by the IASB; and
• Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants developed by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA).

“ISAs provide the framework against which the auditor examines a company’s financial statements and judges whether they can be relied upon by investors, capital market participants, and policymakers,” Ball said. “The adoption of IPSASs, along with international standards on education and ethics, is particularly important in Africa, and so this resolution by PAFA is an important milestone. A sound financial infrastructure—in the form of high-quality, recognized standards in auditing, ethics, public sector accounting, and related regulation—is the only way that sustainable economic development is truly achievable as Africa seeks a larger role in the global economy.”

PAFA’s resolution reflects strong support for IFAC’s Statements of Membership Obligations (SMOs), which form the basis of the IFAC Member Body Compliance Program. SMOs serve as a framework for credible and high-quality professional accountancy organizations focused on serving the public interest. PAFA’s resolution underscores the SMO requirements for IFAC members and associates to adopt and support implementation of international standards and maintain adequate enforcement mechanisms to ensure the professional behavior of their individual members.

The SMOs are issued under the IFAC Board’s authority, and the Compliance Advisory Panel (CAP), together with IFAC Compliance staff, is responsible for reviewing their continuing relevance and sufficiency.

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 167 members and associates in 127 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

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In February 2012, the PAO Development Committee hosted Mentoring Insights—The Mentor Perspective in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The aim of the workshop was to facilitate and encourage information exchange regarding the various aspects of mentoring through a mixture of presentations and interactive discussion sessions.

La Federación Internacional de Contadores (IFAC), una organización mundial para la profesión contable con miembros y asociados en 127 países, celebra la traducción al español del Código de Ética para Profesionales de la Contabilidad del Consejo de Normas Internacionales de Ética para Contadores (IESBA).

Esta traducción única al español es el resultado de un proceso de colaboración de muchos organismos miembros de la IFAC. La traducción la realizó el Instituto de Censores Jurados de Cuentas de España y la revisó el Instituto Mexicano de Contadores Públicos, junto a la Federación Argentina de Consejos Profesionales de Ciencias Económicas y un comité de revisión compuesto por representantes de organismos miembros de la IFAC en Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, México, Panamá, Paraguay, Uruguay y otros interesados clave.

La publicación traducida incluye una Tabla de Equivalencias no oficial que muestra las diferencias entre la terminología utilizada en España y la comúnmente utilizada en América Latina.

Ian Ball, Director General de la IFAC dijo: “La IFAC recibió muchas consultas en relación a contar con una traducción al español del Código de Ética para Profesionales de la Contabilidad. Nos complace que estos organismos miembros de la IFAC hayan cooperado para poner esta importante declaración totalmente a disposición de los contadores hispanohablantes y demás partes interesadas”.

Esta publicación en formato PDF puede descargarse gratuitamente para uso personal de la página de Internet de la IFAC. La publicación no se encuentra disponible en formato impreso. La reproducción, distribución o difusión de la publicación requiere el permiso de la IFAC. Para obtener más información, escriba a permissions@ifac.org.

Para obtener un panorama general de las traducciones de publicaciones de la IFAC, visite la Base de datos de traducciones de la IFAC: www.ifac.org/about-ifac/translations-permissions/translations-database

Acerca del IESBA
El IESBA sirve el interés público al establecer las normas de ética de alta calidad para los profesionales de la contabilidad y al facilitar la convergencia de las normas de ética nacionales e internacionales, incluidos los requisitos para auditores independientes, a través del desarrollo de un código de ética sólido y adecuado a nivel internacional.

Acerca de la IFAC
La IFAC es la organización mundial para la profesión contable que se dedica a servir el interés público mediante el fortalecimiento de la profesión y la contribución al desarrollo de economías internacionales fuertes. La IFAC está compuesta por 167 miembros y asociados de 127 países y jurisdicciones, que representan a aproximadamente 2,5 millones de contadores en la práctica pública y en sectores como la educación, el Gobierno, la industria y el comercio.

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