In the face of global economic volatility, technological disruption, and climate and sustainability pressures, professional accountants in business (PAIBs) are playing critical strategic roles in building trust, enabling resilient organizations, and delivering long-term value creation.  

At our PAIB Advisory Group meeting hosted by the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA) in Tokyo, we convened a diverse group of PAIBs for a strategic discussion on how PAIBs are shaping the future of business and the public sector. With deep expertise, on-the-ground experience in leading organizations, and global reach across more than 20+jurisdictions, our global advisory group provides a unique and practical lens into how organizations navigate complexity, and the evolving priorities for our profession.

A new article from PAIB Advisory Group Chair Sanjay Rughani incorporates multiple insights and resources from the meeting into four actions that can redefine our profession’s role at the forefront of transformation: 

• Reframe the profession’s identity and value; 
• Leverage AI to lead, not follow; 
• Embrace modern talent models; and 
• Grow PAIB membership. 

Relevant to our members’ efforts in shaping the profession’s future, the article highlights how professional accountants are not only supporting business performance but actively shaping it, guiding strategic shifts through integrated thinking and sustainability leadership, integrating AI into finance and business processes to boost productivity and embedding risk culture to better navigate uncertainty. These insights are grounded in real-world examples, including transformations underway at Fujitsu, the UK Civil Service, and evolving roles for PAIBs across IPO markets in Japan, India, and the US. 

Share this resource to spark discussions and strategies, supporting your members in their various business and public sector roles.   

Read Shaping Business and Performance: Key Insights from the PAIB Advisory Group’s Meeting in Tokyo. 

About IFAC  
IFAC, by connecting and uniting its members, makes the accountancy profession truly global.    

IFAC member organizations are champions of integrity and professional quality, and proudly carry their membership as a badge of international recognition.    

IFAC and its members work together to shape the future of the profession through learning, innovation, a collective voice, and commitment to the public interest.    

About IFAC’s 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.   

By bringing these experts together, IFAC delivers thought leadership, fosters collaboration, and equips its member organizations with tools and strategies to support their members in navigating complex, evolving business landscapes. 

The IPSASB held its second meeting of the year from June 10 to 13, 2025, in Toronto, ON, Canada.

At our meeting last week, we continued our analysis of responses to the Climate-related Disclosures and Tangible Natural Resources exposure drafts, and we progressed several other projects that will enhance IPSAS Standards, which provide the cornerstone for effective and efficient public financial management.

While investments in carbon credits have significant potential to boost advancement in clean technology, protect and restore nature, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the burgeoning voluntary carbon market (VCM) has experienced growing pains. Critics and proponents alike have raised concerns about the quality of carbon credits, the integrity of stated emissions reductions and verification, and the appropriate role of credits in corporate net zero planning. The future of the market depends on improving its integrity, and professional accountants can play an important role.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), in collaboration with the Edinburgh Group (EG), has launched a pioneering online tool designed to help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) maximize the benefits of incorporating sustainability into their strategy and business operations.

Developed specifically for IFAC and EG members to provide to their own members, The Small Business Sustainability Checklist is an interactive tool that provides practical steps to future-proof businesses and boost sustainability practices. It is designed to be tailored by each business according to its industry sector, lifecycle, and products and services. 

The innovative resource uses a simple self-assessment approach to score users’ sustainability initiatives across environmental factors, social responsibility, and governance. It helps users identify risks and opportunities, which can inform a roadmap for improvement.

Lee White, IFAC Chief Executive Officer, said, “This checklist is a practical tool to help small businesses benchmark and track their sustainability efforts, providing the resources and guidance to help them take the first step or make progress from what they’re currently doing.”

In an environment of shifting sustainability regulations worldwide, the straightforward approach of The Small Business Sustainability Checklist arrives at a critical time for small and medium-sized practices looking to support their clients to tackle sustainability-related risks and unlock opportunities.

“This is all about building sustainable futures for both accounting practices and their clients, to face the global standards of today and tomorrow,” White said. 

CA Rajendra Kumar P., Chair of the Edinburgh Group, noted: “As a coalition of sixteen accountancy bodies from across the world that is focused on supporting small- and medium-sized practices and entities, the Edinburgh Group expects this new tool will be hugely beneficial to those who use it.”

Peer-led content to deliver real-world examples

With interactive videos featuring real-world experiences from industry peers, the tool offers users firsthand insights into how fellow professionals are tackling sustainability challenges. By sharing practical strategies and best practices, these industry voices provide valuable context, helping accountants translate sustainability concepts into actionable steps for their own firms and for their clients.

“IFAC’s new tool is more than just a guide to reporting, it’s a resource that fosters best-in-class sustainability practices and helps firms develop advisory services,” said industry leader Sarah Lawrance. “As accountants and small businesses, we have a responsibility to consider our impact on the future, and this tool helps us all take meaningful action, no matter where we are on our journey.”

“This checklist sparks essential conversations between accountants and their clients,” Sarah added. “It empowers accountants to position themselves as sustainability leaders within their firms while also guiding their clients toward their own sustainability goals.”

The tool is now available via IFAC’s website.

About IFAC  

IFAC, by connecting and uniting its members, makes the accountancy profession truly global. IFAC member organizations are champions of integrity and professional quality, and proudly carry their membership as a badge of international recognition. IFAC and its members work together to shape the future of the profession through learning, innovation, a collective voice, and commitment to the public interest.  

About Edinburgh Group

The Edinburgh Group is a coalition of 16 accountancy bodies from across the world, representing over 1.3 million professional accountants. It champions, and provides a forum for the exchange of views on, issues affecting small- and medium-sized practices and small- and medium-sized entities, as well as related issues impacting developing nations and professional accountants in business in the context of the advancement of the accountancy profession internationally.