The International Bar Association (IBA) and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) have announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that formalises and demonstrates a commitment to closer cooperation between the two organisations and the legal and accountancy professions as a whole.

This MoU provides a framework for expanding the cooperation between the IBA and IFAC, with a particular focus on anti-corruption and how the professions can work more closely together in the fight against money-laundering and economic crime., with key stakeholders such as the United Nations and Financial Action Task Force. Other areas of cooperation include maintaining the reputations and integrity of the accountancy and legal professions; ensuring that initiatives to regulate both professions are proportionate and fit-for-purpose; and enhancing the strength of the IBA and IFAC’s collective voice on global policy issues so that the legal and accountancy professions are in the best position to serve the public interest.

Dr Mark Ellis, IBA Executive Director, commented: ‘As the global voices for our respective professions, the IBA and IFAC are uniquely placed to contribute to global policymaking in the public interest. This MoU marks a natural progression of the collaborative work the IBA and IFAC have been undertaking for several years. There is strength in our collective voice as we aim to bring about positive, meaningful change in the anti-corruption sector. We look forward to implementing the framework set out in this Memorandum and furthering our collaborative efforts with IFAC.’

Kevin Dancey, IFAC Chief Executive Officer, remarked: ‘I hope that our relationship, at the global level, inspires and encourages professional accountancy organisations and bar associations to develop stronger bilateral relationships in their jurisdictions to increase their impact in the public interest and achieve shared goals.’

Cooperation between the IBA and IFAC has increased in recent years in the context of The IBA and IFAC Anti-Corruption Mandate (July 2018) and close engagement on the roles of the two professions in combatting corruption and financial crime.

In June 2021, the IBA and IFAC co-hosted a side event at the UN General Assembly Special Session Against Corruption in New York on the essential role both the accountancy and legal professions play in fighting corruption on a global scale, with a particular focus on issues of professional ethics and independence. Following on from this event, at the ninth session of the UN Convention Against Corruption Conference of States Parties in December 2021, the IBA and IFAC co-hosted a side event examining the ways in which the accountancy and legal professions act as ‘gatekeepers’ of the global financial system in terms of the prevention, identification and mitigation of corruption.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

1. The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, is the foremost organisation for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies, with members based in more than 170 jurisdictions. Established in 1947, shortly after the creation of the United Nations, with the aim of protecting and advancing the rule of law globally, the IBA was born out of the conviction that an organisation made up of the world's bar associations could contribute to global stability and peace through the administration of justice. The IBA acts as a connector, enabler, and influencer, for fair practice and accountability worldwide and through its global membership, it influences the development of international law reform and helps to shape the future of the legal profession throughout the world.

2. The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is the global organisation for 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 180 members and associates in 135 countries and jurisdictions, representing more than 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

3. The IBA Anti-Corruption Committee provides an international forum for private and public-sector practitioners to meet and discuss anti-corruption laws, compliance practices, enforcement trends and asset recovery issues. It facilitates the sharing of best practice and the regular communication of legal and other developments, including new legislation, case-law, prosecution guidance and government policy, as well as developments in civil society, the private sector and international organisations.

4. Find the IBA on social media here:

• IBA (@IBAnews)
• twitter.com/IBAnews
• twitter.com/IBAevents
• www.facebook.com/internationalbarassociation
• www.linkedin.com/company/international-bar-association

5. Find IFAC on social media here:

• twitter.com/ifac
• linkedin.com/company/ifac
• facebook.com/InternationalFederationOfAccountants
• youtube.com/IFACMultimedia

To implement the International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB’s) standards and jurisdictional standards and regulatory requirements, organizations must ensure effective oversight arrangements to deliver high quality, cost effective and decision useful reporting. As reporting and assurance of sustainability-related disclosure evolves, audit committees have a critical role to play in expanding their existing oversight responsibilities for financial reporting and compliance to sustainability-related disclosures.

Because many professional accountants serve on and are accountable to audit committees, the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), has released Key Questions for Audit Committees Overseeing Sustainability-Related Disclosure to prepare audit committees with effective questions to ask when overseeing sustainability and ESG related disclosures.

The key questions for audit committees cover:

• Roles and responsibilities across the organization
• Data collection, processes and controls
• What’s being reported?
• Audit and assurance

“Professional accountants serving on boards and audit committees play critical roles in the oversight of sustainability-related disclosures, and this release will help prepare audit committees step up their roles to advance sustainability,” said Kevin Dancey, IFAC CEO. “We also encourage professional accountancy organizations (PAOs) to utilize these key questions to help their members stay up to date with, and prepare for, expanding oversight responsibilities in relation to sustainability.”

Access the placemat to find out the essential questions.

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 180 members and associates in 135 countries and jurisdictions, representing more than 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

Mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting is on the horizon.

Audit committees have a critical role to play in expanding their existing financial reporting oversight responsibilities as reporting and assurance of sustainability-related disclosure evolves.

Given that many professional accountants serve on and are accountable to audit committees, there is also a key role for professional accountancy organizations (PAOs) to support their members to stay up to date with, and prepare for, expanding oversight responsibilities in relation to sustainability.

IFAC welcomes this comprehensive review of IFRS for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In principle, we support alignment of IFRS for SMEs with full IFRS Standards. As a basic standard-setting principle we believe the concepts that underpin IFRS and IFRS for SMEs should be the same, notwithstanding that their application may need to be modified to address user needs and capacity constraints of SMEs.

A new tool from the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is now available to help professional accountancy organizations take leading roles in the anti-corruption fight in their jurisdictions. Global Fight, Local Actions: Anti-Corruption Advocacy Workbook for PAOs equips PAOs and accountancy profession leaders with the background and framework to craft bespoke approaches and messages that best fit their jurisdiction and needs.

Global Fight, Local Actions was used to facilitate discussion at the annual Pan African Federation of Accountants PAO Leadership Forum as part of a workshop on anti-money laundering and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “Grey List.” The PAFA Forum was held in advance of the 2023 African Congress of Accountants, taking place this week in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

“PAOs and the accountancy profession are essential stakeholders at the center of the fight against corruption, in every jurisdiction, in every region,” said Scott Hanson, Director of Policy & Global Engagement at IFAC. “Equipping our member organizations to lead anti-corruption efforts in their jurisdictions was one of our priority actions in last year’s Action Plan for Fighting Corruption and Economic Crime, which this new workbook delivers. We look forward to talking to PAOs around the world to continue helping them develop their national anti-corruption advocacy plans.”

IFAC also plans to build off Global Fight, Local Action with additional initiatives on priority anti-corruption areas, including the interconnected issues of sustainability reporting, public financial management, and financial literacy.

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 180 members and associates in 135 countries and jurisdictions, representing more than 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

As the world seeks to decarbonize its economies and achieve net zero emissions, there is an urgent need for stakeholders to understand and respond to that challenge.

Finance professionals and the accountancy profession have a critical role to play in putting sustainability at the heart of decision-making and in enabling responsible corporate practices in the public interest. They must, however, be equipped with the right education and skills to do.

As a Partner Event of the EU Green Week 2023, Developing green skills for finance professionals - Building capacity for a fair and sustainable transition will be held virtually on 8 June 8, 2023 from 4:00pm-5:15pm.

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Accountancy Europe and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) are bringing together global experts to discuss the skills and education needed for finance professionals to contribute to a green and just transition, focussing in particular on:

• How to identify and create the right framework for sustainability education for finance professionals
• The strong need for capacity building in the sustainability information space, and
• Challenges and opportunities for practitioners

Helen Brand, Chief Executive of ACCA, said: “Finance and accountancy professionals, including auditors, have a key role to play in the transition to a greener global economy. They are increasingly informing and driving sustainability reporting and strategies in businesses across every sector. So it’s crucial that they are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills.”

“Sustainability education and training are crucial to help accounting and finance professionals address the impacts of climate change in what companies report, empowering them with the knowledge and expertise needed, said Kevin Dancey, IFAC CEO. “ We need to build capability and capacity for high-quality, decision-useful sustainability disclosures—it all starts with education.”

“A just sustainable transition requires appropriate skills and training", said Olivier Boutellis-Taft, Accountancy Europe’s CEO. "The accountancy profession has relevant knowledge and practical experience and also needs to continue expanding its ability to respond to societal needs and support the fundamental changes required to transform our economy.”

The event will feature:  

• Olivier Boutellis-Taft, CEO, Accountancy Europe
• Anne Marie Vitale, IFAC’s chair of the International Panel on Accountancy Education
• Sharon Machado, Head of Sustainable Business, ACCA
• Mardi McBrien, Chief of Strategic Affairs & Capacity Building, IFRS Foundation
• Bianca Isaincu, Policy Analyst, financial literacy and sustainable finance, OECD
• Adriana Tiron Tudor, Chair of Professional Accountancy Education in Europe
• Clemence Lecat, Senior Manager Accounting Expertise, Unilever

The event is free to attend and will be held in English via zoom. View the agenda and register now.  

About ACCA 

ACCA is a global body representing the accounting and auditing profession. The ACCA upholds, trains and advocates for the highest professional and ethical values. Currently, it has 241,000 members and 542,000 future members based in 178 countries. 

About Accountancy Europe 

Accountancy Europe unites 50 professional organisations from 35 countries that represent 1 million professional accountants, auditors, and advisors. They make numbers work for people. Accountancy Europe translates their daily experience to inform the public policy debate in Europe and beyond. Accountancy Europe is in the EU Transparency Register (No 4713568401-18). 

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 180 members and associates in 135 countries and jurisdictions, representing more than 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the global organization for the accountancy profession with members and associates in more than 130 jurisdictions, is seeking an outstanding individual to become its next Chief Executive Officer. 

The successful candidate would join IFAC in late 2023 to facilitate an orderly transition from current CEO Kevin Dancey.  Mr. Dancey has served as CEO since 2018 and announced in March his intent to step down at the end of 2023.   

Thanks largely to the stewardship of Mr. Dancey, IFAC today enjoys constructive relationships with its various stakeholders, and is in as strong a position as ever to help influence the direction of the future of the profession.   

The successful candidate for the CEO role must have a keen interest in and deep personal commitment to IFAC’s vision and purpose: to serve the public interest by promoting the value of professional accountants worldwide; speaking out on public interest issues where the accountancy profession’s expertise is most relevant; developing strong professional accountancy organizations and accounting firms; and supporting the development, adoption and implementation of high-quality international standards. 

Korn Ferry has been retained for the search and is partnering with an IFAC CEO Search Committee, chaired by past President Alan Johnson, to actively engage IFAC member organizations, the accountancy community, and other stakeholders and encourage a diverse and international applicant base.  

The full job specification is available here. It includes a link for qualified applicants to submit indications of their interest. 

Referrals for potential candidate names and contact information may be sent to Sara.Curley@kornferry.com.

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 180 members and associates in 135 jurisdictions, representing more than 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.