By connecting and uniting its members, IFAC makes the accountancy profession truly global.
Our advisory groups play a vital role in connecting the global accountancy profession by bringing together diverse expertise and perspectives from our membership and leading accounting and finance professionals. By fostering collaboration and innovation, these groups help us shape the future of the profession, ensuring it remains globally connected and committed to serving the public interest. They also help us provide value back to our membership by working with us to develop tools and resources that address trending challenges and opportunities.
The Professional Accountants in Business Advisory Group considers key global trends in the context of the issues facing chief financial officers and finance functions, as well as boards and their audit committees.
The Small and Medium Practices Advisory Group provides input to the independent standard-setting boards, develops practical guidance and resources, and promotes the visibility and recognition of SMPs and SMEs.
We extend a very warm welcome to all our new advisory group members and express our sincere gratitude and farewells to departing members, listed below, for volunteering their time to strengthen our profession.
Lee White, IFAC Chief Executive Officer said: “We are thrilled to welcome these distinguished professionals to our advisory groups. Their expertise and dedication will enhance our efforts to strengthen global collaboration and support the profession in meeting the challenges and opportunities of today’s rapidly changing world. Thank you to our outgoing members for generously sharing your time and insights with us—we invite you to stay connected and continue to be part of our collective voice shaping the future of the accountancy profession.”
Jennifer Eberman, Director, Assurance and Financial Reporting, Global Audit and Assurance Learning | Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (Canada)
Maria Escobar, Dean of the Faculty of Public Accounting, Universidad Externado de Colombia | Instituto Nacional de Contadores Públicos de Colombia (INCP) (Colombia)
Geoffrey Injeni, Faculty and Leadership/Management Consultant, Strathmore University Business School | Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) (Kenya)
Manil Jayesinghe, Board Member, Securities & Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka | Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) (Sri Lanka)
Mirela Paunescu, Associate Professor, Bucharest University of Economic Studies | Corpul Expertilor Contabili si Contabililor Autorizati din Romania (CECCAR) (Romania)
Qi Zhang, Professor, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law | Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CICPA) (China)
Departing Members
Adriana Florina Popa, Professor, Academia de Studii Economice din București | CECCAR (Romania)
Gabriela-María Farías-Martínez, Associate Dean of Faculty Development, School of Business, Tecnológico de Monterrey | Instituto Mexicano de Contadores Públicos (IMCP) (Mexico)
Greg Owens, Director, Global Assurance, BDO Global | BDO Global (United Kingdom)
Innocent Okwuosa, Chief Executive Officer, Entop Consulting Ltd | Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (Nigeria)
Stacy-Ann Golding, Managing Director, S.N. Golding Financial Services Limited | Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad and Tobago)
IFAC, by connecting and uniting its members, makes the accountancy profession truly global.
IFAC member organizations are champions of integrity and professional quality, and proudly carry their membership as a badge of international recognition.
IFAC and its members work together to shape the future of the profession through learning, innovation, a collective voice, and commitment to the public interest.
Mr. Mohammad Maqbool is a Chartered Accountant from England & Wales, Canada and Pakistan. He is also Fellow member of Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountancy (CIPFA) UK. He has extensive accountancy practice experience as a senior partner in various Chartered Accountants firms.
Mr. Maqbool is serving as Council Member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) for the term 2022-2026, Chairman Education & Training Committee and Chairman Audit Committee of ICAP. He is a council member by Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) from South Asia for the term 2023-2025. Mr. Maqbool is also the Chairman of the Public Relation Committee of South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) and Dean of the School of Accountancy at the University of Lahore since July 2002. He is also a non-executive director of Bata Pakistan Limited.
Mr. Maqbool served as a council member of Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants (CIPFA) UK for multiple terms from 2016 to 2021 and served as a member of the Students and Members Board of CIPFA. He was the President of Pakistan Institute of Public Finance Accountants (PIPFA) in both 1995 and 2015. He also served as a member of Accounting Standard Board of ICAP for the term 2017-2023.
Mr. Maqbool received his master’s degree in commerce from the University of Punjab, Pakistan.
Jumadi Anggana is an Assurance Partner at KAP Rintis, Jumadi, Rianto & Rekan (PwC Indonesia) and serves as the Territory Assurance Leader for PwC Indonesia. In this role, he leads and manages the firm's assurance practice.
Mr. Anggana began his career at KAP Siddharta & Siddharta, which was initially a member firm of Coopers & Lybrand in Indonesia and later became a member firm of KPMG in 1998. In 2007, he joined KAP Hadi Sutanto & Rekan, a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers, which eventually evolved into KAP Rintis, Jumadi, Rianto & Rekan.
With over 29 years of experience, Mr. Anggana specializes in providing assurance services and financial reporting advisory support. His diverse clientele includes national, multinational, and state-owned companies across various industries such as telecommunications, electronics, automotive, toll roads, manufacturing, healthcare, and power generation.
Mr. Anggana served as a member of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (DSAK) at the Institute of Indonesia Chartered Accountants (IAI) from 2005 to 2012, a period of significant change in the adoption of accounting standards in Indonesia. This experience provided him with valuable insights into standard convergence, as well as the adoption and implementation of new accounting standards. Currently, he is a member of the National Council of IAI.
The International Standards: 2024 Global Adoption Status Snapshot highlights how widely international standards are embraced across IFAC member jurisdictions. Since the inaugural 2019 report, we continue to see notable progress in adoption of the international standards as well as enhancing quality assurance and investigation & discipline systems. The 2024 update highlights a selection of success stories from IFAC members. It also identifies the conditions that help advance adoption and implementation, as well as more opportunities for further collaboration and connected learning.
This progress is made possible by the steadfast commitment of IFAC member organizations to the requirements outlined in the Statements of Membership Obligations (SMOs). By proudly carrying their IFAC membership as a badge of international recognition and working with IFAC to publish their adoption & implementation actions on IFAC’s International Standards Adoption Map, these organizations reinforce their dedication to integrityand professional quality, and to shape the future of the profession through their commitment to the public interest.
IFAC, by connecting and uniting its members, makes the accountancy profession truly global.
IFAC member organizations are champions of integrity and professional quality, and proudly carry their membership as a badge of international recognition.
IFAC and its members work together to shape the future of the profession through learning, innovation, a collective voice, and commitment to the public interest.
Professional accountants in business (PAIBs) play a crucial role in advancing sustainable business practices, promoting transparency, and enhancing the economic and social prosperity of communities across the globe.
In its final meeting of 2024, IFAC’s PAIB Advisory Group explored the transformative role of PAIBs in tackling global challenges and seizing new opportunities to strengthen the role of accountants in driving business success and resilience. Discussions focused on navigating systemic risks, fostering innovation, and advancing sustainability to position PAIBs as key enablers of transformational change.
Key themes included:
Embracing AI for Innovation: Generative AI is revolutionizing the work of PAIBs. A case study on internal audit highlighted its use, saving time and enhancing strategic insights.
Driving Climate Resilience: PAIBs are crucial in improving sustainability information and disclosure and mobilizing investments to support low-carbon transitions.
Integrated Thinking and Decision-Making: Breaking silos to enable holistic decision-making and creating long-term value requires integrated thinking capabilities which can vary by career stage or role.
Supply Chain Management and Procurement: PAIBs can partner with procurement, operations, and compliance teams to achieve ethical and sustainable procurement and supply chain management practices.
Sanjay Rughani, PAIB Chair, said: “In this era of transformation, professional accountants are uniquely positioned to drive change and create value across organizations. By embracing innovation and integrated thinking, PAIBs can lead the way in shaping a resilient, sustainable future.”
IFAC remains committed to equipping PAIBs with the tools and resources to thrive in a dynamic global landscape. The next PAIB Advisory Group meeting will take place in April 2025 in Tokyo, hosted by the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA).
Formed in 1977, the PAIB Advisory Group is comprised of volunteers with experience and expertise in the world of business and the public sector, nominated by the professional accountancy organizations that make up IFAC’s membership.
By bringing these experts together, IFAC delivers thought leadership, fosters collaboration, and equips its member organizations with tools and strategies to support their members in navigating complex, evolving business landscapes.
About IFAC
IFAC, by connecting and uniting its members, makes the accountancy profession truly global.
IFAC member organizations are champions of integrity and professional quality, and proudly carry their membership as a badge of international recognition.
IFAC and its members work together to shape the future of the profession through learning, innovation, a collective voice, and commitment to the public interest.
The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) congratulates Professor Jens Poll on his appointment as President of Accountancy Europe for the 2025-2026 term and Giancarlo Attolini as Deputy President. Both Jens Poll and Giancarlo Attolini bring a wealth of expertise and experience to their new roles.
Lee White, CEO of IFAC, commented: “I warmly congratulate Jens Poll on becoming President of Accountancy Europe. Jens’ longstanding commitment to the profession, including as Accountancy Europe Deputy President, as well as his time as a member of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), as Vice Chair of the IFAC Small and Medium Practices Committee and as Chair of the European Group of International Accounting Networks and Associations (EGIAN), demonstrate his dedication to upholding and advancing high-quality global ethical standards, and to the profession’s future. His guidance will undoubtedly help steer Accountancy Europe through a period of critical transformation, addressing challenges and opportunities that shape our profession globally.”
Welcoming Giancarlo Attolini, Lee White added: “We are equally pleased to see Giancarlo Attolini take on the role of Accountancy Europe Deputy President. Having contributed significantly as an Accountancy Europe Board member since 2023, Giancarlo brings extremely valuable leadership that will strengthen Accountancy Europe’s mission. In addition, as past Chair of the IFAC Small and Medium Practices Committee and founding partner of Attolini Spaggiari & Associati Studio Legale e Tributario, Giancarlo has been a steadfast advocate for the needs of small and medium-sized practices and has played a pivotal role in promoting practices transformation.”
Lee White emphasized: “Jens’ and Giancarlo’s deep involvement with IFAC underlines their leadership and vision for the global profession. Their new roles will only enhance the already strong collaboration between IFAC and Accountancy Europe as we continue working together towards our shared goals of transparency and accountability, as well as of sustainability and digital transformations, in the public interest.”
IFAC also extends a warm welcome to Eelco van der Enden as the new Chief Executive Officer of Accountancy Europe. Lee White shared: “I am delighted to see Eelco assume this role. His extensive experience and proven leadership will be pivotal in guiding Accountancy Europe into a new chapter and I look forward to collaborating with him and the Accountancy Europe team.”
Finally, Lee White congratulates Mark Vaessen on his leadership as Accountancy Europe President for 2023-2024, and in particular for overseeing the successful CEO transition from Olivier Boutellis-Taft to Eelco van der Enden. Mark will continue to serve the global accountancy profession, having been appointed to the IFAC Board in November 2024.
Accountancy Europe and IFAC share a deep commitment to supporting the profession, and fostering high-quality standards and practices that build trust in organizations, drive innovation, and advance sustainability, while ensuring investor and consumer protection.
About IFAC IFAC, by connecting and uniting its members, makes the accountancy profession truly global.
IFAC member organizations are champions of integrity and professional quality, and proudly carry their membership as a badge of international recognition.
IFAC and its members work together to shape the future of the profession through learning, innovation, a collective voice, and commitment to the public interest.
