This guidance serves as a companion document for the Implementation Support Material document entitled Designing Learning Outcomes for Curricula that Meet Public Sector Accountancy Needs. It is grounded in the Learning Outcomes approach that “embodies the idea that learning and development activities are most effective when based on what the individual needs to demonstrate”.

The imperative to create organizational value is enhancing the need for the professional accountant in business to assume the role of strategic business partner. This implementation guidance examines how accountants in business can meet this challenge by:

Changes in technology across the financial reporting supply chain are impacting the expected information and communications technologies (ICT) competencies and skills of aspiring and professional accountants to perform their roles. Identifying the ICT skills needed by aspiring and professional accountants serves the public interest by enabling the accounting profession to provide high-quality financial reporting, auditing, or other related financial and accounting services in the digital age.

These newly revised International Education Standards address learning and development for information and communications technologies (ICT) and professional skepticism. As market expectation increases for ICT skills and professional skepticism, these standards were developed to address the competencies, skills, and behaviors for both aspiring and professional accountants in these critical areas.

The revised education standards include newly added and revised ICT and professional skepticism learning outcomes that:

On Wednesday, November 20^th, at 10:00 AM SST (Singapore) the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), the ASEAN Federation of Accountants, and the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants will co-host a 90-minute webinar focusing on the key features of the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants.

Wednesday November 20, 2019 at 10:00 AM SST (Singapore Standard Time): Register now

During the webinar, the IESBA representatives will explain the Code’s new structure; as well as the substantive revisions, including enhancement to the conceptual framework and provisions relating to inducements, including gifts and hospitality; pressure; and preparing and presenting information. The webinar will also touch on the new Non-compliance with Laws and Regulation (NOCLAR) and revised Long Association provisions; as well as the IESBA’s new eCode which was launched in June 2019.

Effective since mid-June 2019, the Code reinforces professional accountants’ responsibility to comply with the five fundamental principles of ethics and emphasizes the International Independence Standards that apply in performing audits, reviews and other assurance engagements.

More information about the Code is available at the IESBA’s website.   

If you have questions about this webinar, please email Geoff Kwan at geoffkwan@ethicsboard.org.  

The Finance Minister of Portugal, Mário Centeno, spoke at the IPSASB's September 2019 meeting in Lisbon, Portugal. 

In his speech, he highlights the importance of IPSAS in public financial management, as well as the state of IPSAS adoption in Portugal.

The full speech text can be accessed by clicking here.