The Call for Applications: Chair of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board^® (IPSASB^®) was issued today, seeking an exceptional individual to serve as IPSASB Chair beginning January 1, 2016.

The Chair will lead the strategic direction of the IPSASB and facilitate the deliberative and consultative processes that underpin the authority and credibility of the IPSASB, its standards, and activities. In addition, the Chair is responsible for developing and maintaining effective relationships with national standard setters, regulators, and other key stakeholders.

The successful candidate for the position must have demonstrated technical and professional competency, including relevant experience in the public sector and public sector accounting; a commitment to the IPSASB mission; and a dedication to the public interest that is genuine, time-tested, and global in nature. The successful candidate will have effective leadership, communication, and strategic skills; an ability to work effectively among numerous cultures and professional specializations; strong public speaking and communications skills for both technical and non-technical audiences; and proficiency in oral and written English.

The IPSASB Chair reports functionally to a public interest oversight authority and refers to the Managing Director, Professional Standards, as a resource and key source of advice. The IPSASB Chair is initially appointed for a three-year term and can be re-appointed twice for a total service of nine years.

For further information about the position and instructions on how to apply, please see the Call for Applications: Chair of the IPSASB on the IFAC website. Applications are due by February 6, 2015.

About the IPSASB
The IPSASB develops accounting standards and guidance for use by public sector entities.  It receives support (both direct financial and in-kind) from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the South African Accounting Standards Board, and the governments of Canada, New Zealand, and Switzerland.  The structures and processes that support the operations of the IPSASB are facilitated by IFAC.

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. It is comprised of more than 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board^® (IAASB^®) today released its Strategy for 2015–2019: Fulfilling Our Public Interest Mandate in an Evolving World and its Work Plan for 2015–2016: Enhancing Audit Quality and Preparing for the Future. The Strategy and Work Plan illustrate the IAASB’s commitment to strengthening public confidence in financial reporting and contributing to the ongoing relevance of the financial statement audit, while staying abreast of emerging developments to ensure its work addresses pertinent public interest matters relevant to its wide range of stakeholders.

The board’s five-year Strategy is underpinned by three strategic objectives that reflect a continued focus on International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) as the basis for high-quality audits, the importance of the IAASB’s standards for other services to address emerging needs of stakeholders, and the board’s intention to strengthen collaboration with others to address public interest matters relevant to its work. These objectives will guide the board’s work throughout the five-year period.

“The widespread and growing international use of the clarified ISAs underscores the importance of the IAASB continuing to focus its efforts on maintaining the quality and proportionality of these standards, and to meeting the expectations that stakeholders have regarding their application,” noted Prof. Arnold Schilder, IAASB Chairman. “As a result, the board’s initial focus in its five-year strategy is designed to address key topics relevant to audits, while at the same time monitoring other relevant developments.”

Influenced by the findings from the IAASB’s ISA Implementation Monitoring project and its extensive outreach program, the Work Plan for the next two years prioritizes the most pertinent public interest issues and impacts on audit quality, including group audits, quality control, professional skepticism, and audit considerations relevant to financial institutions.

The IAASB also recognizes the role that its other assurance and related services standards play in addressing the needs of investors and other users as financial and integrated reporting evolves. Explains Kathleen Healy, IAASB Technical Director, “The ongoing work of our Innovation Working Group, as well as considerations of whether our standards for services other than audits are meeting the needs of small- and medium-sized entities, will be invaluable in keeping the board informed of matters relevant to its stakeholders and informing future standard-setting and other activities.”  

About the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB)
The IAASB develops auditing and assurance standards and guidance for use by all professional accountants under a shared standard-setting process involving the Public Interest Oversight Board, which oversees the activities of the IAASB, and the IAASB Consultative Advisory Group, which provides public interest input into the development of the standards and guidance. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IAASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

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 over 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.