IFAC has published Building Trust in Sustainability Reporting: The Urgent Need for Integrated Internal Control to address the demand for high-quality sustainability reporting and to prepare professional accountants for mandatory international and jurisdictional reporting and assurance requirements. This analysis highlights how companies can integrate sustainability information within their existing internal control and governance frameworks.

Professional accountants are ideally positioned to leverage existing internal control frameworks and apply them to sustainability information—enhancing both data quality and the connectivity of sustainability and financial reporting.

The COSO Internal Control - Integrated Framework has long provided a good foundation for delivering confidence in corporate reporting. In an integrated internal control environment, it can provide the foundation for enhancing the quality of sustainability data used for measuring progress on key sustainability objectives and deliver confidence to investors in the sustainability and financial performance of companies.

To bring about sustainability and climate transitions, companies and investors need to make economic decisions based on information they can trust— related to risks and opportunities, performance and resilience. An integrated internal control approach will lead to higher quality and more integrated reporting and help companies avoid perceptions of greenwashing and regulatory or legal action.

 “The professional accountant’s skillset is instrumental in bringing about a step change in the quality of sustainability reporting through applying new reporting standards and integrated internal controls,” said Kevin Dancey, IFAC CEO. “Integrated internal control can put sustainability information on par with financial information, enhance its assurance readiness, and set the foundation for transitioning to a more sustainable business model.”

See IFAC's website and the ISSB’s Knowledge Hub which includes free resources for preparers to help them prepare for applying IFRS S1 and IFRS S2.

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 businesses grapple with uncertainties and navigate the complexities of digital transformations, sustainability and climate transitions, organizational leaders equipped with the unique skill set of professional accountants in business (PAIBs) are essential. PAIBs’ roles more commonly extend beyond traditional financial responsibilities, positioning them as key leaders shaping the trajectory of organizational success.

Informed by IFAC’s PAIB Advisory Group’s last meeting, a new article from IFAC details three paths through which professional accountants have led organizational transformation that can be a guide for PAIBs and businesses globally.

“The accountancy profession is evolving to meet the demands of a changing business environment,” said Sanjay Rughani, IFAC PAIB Advisory Group Chair. "By driving decision-useful sustainability information, harnessing disruptive technologies like AI and IA and nurturing a new generation of accountants who can confidently step into leadership roles, professional accountants can seize the uncertainty of the current environment to elevate the profession and society at large.”

Read the takeaways in Navigating Transformation: The Impactful Leadership of Accountants.

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. 

About the PAIB Advisory Group 

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. 

Ce rapport de l’IFAC et de CPA Canada présentent une analyse du sujet fondée sur des données probantes et des points de vue pratiques.

This report from IFAC and CPA Canada offer evidence-based research and practical perspectives on whistleblower protection legislation.