Navigating the national regulatory environment is a crucial part of establishing and developing an effective professional accountancy organization (PAO). The right accountancy regulation model is vital to ensuring a well-functioning profession that produces high-quality financial information, supports economic growth and development, and is relevant to professional accountants and their clients. In light of regulatory evolution in recent years and the ongoing need for PAOs to adapt to, and actively influence, their environment, the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) today released new guidance to support PAOs in these efforts.
“There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution for accountancy regulation; there are many different models in place around the world that work effectively,” said IFAC Executive Director Alta Prinsloo. “Understanding the key principles of accountancy regulation, and how they function in practical terms, helps PAOs and their key constituents ensure the profession’s long-term sustainability, and their ability to continue to function in the public interest.”
Making Regulation Work: Principles and Models for the Accountancy Profession explores the scope of accountancy regulation, why it is needed, and key principles for consideration, as highlighted in IFAC Public Policy Position 1, Regulation of the Accountancy Profession and From Crisis to Confidence: A Call for Consistent, High-Quality Global Regulation. It also provides regulatory model examples used in a number of countries, with further information available in country profiles on the IFAC website.
The guidance is part of the PAO Capacity Building Series, which includes guidance on PAO governance, advocacy and public policy, partnerships, and engaging professional accountants in business. It also builds on one of the key findings of the MOSAIC PAO Global Development Report, which cites strengthening PAOs’ legal and regulatory foundations and internal capacity as a critical need for the global accountancy profession.
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.