This questions and answers (Q&As) publication was released by the staff of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) to support the adoption and implementation of the IESBA’s Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (the Code). These Q&As cover issues related to materiality, partner rotation, public interest entities, and network firms, among several other topic areas.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the global organization for the accountancy profession, today released for comment the Professional Accountants in Business Strategy and Work Plan for 2013-2016.

Since more than half of all professional accountants in the world work in business and the public and not-for-profit sectors, addressing their needs is of great importance to IFAC and the international accountancy organizations that comprise IFAC’s membership.

The strategy and specific initiatives aim to improve recognition of the diverse roles professional accountants in business perform and how they need to be positioned to drive successful and sustainable organizations. Professional accountants in business can be found working as employees or advisors, often at senior levels such as chief financial officer or controller. They have the collective power to significantly influence their organizations in implementing effective governance and an ethical culture supported by integrated risk management and internal control, sustainable leadership, and effective reporting and performance management.

“The Strategy and Work Plan for 2013–2016 sets out a vision to achieve global recognition of the contribution of professional accountants in business as partners in facilitating sustainable organizational success,” said Roger Tabor, chair of the Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee, which is tasked with carrying out the strategy and initiatives. “The key theme supporting this vision is that professional accountants in business should facilitate integrated governance, thinking, and management, as well as reporting, in organizations. These are the critical areas that organizations are grappling with and require the accountancy profession to raise awareness of their contribution and ensure that their competency matches the needs and expectations of their employing organizations.”

The proposed Strategy and Work Plan for 2013-2016 includes specifics for planned projects and initiatives. IFAC member organizations and other stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on the proposals.

How to Comment
IFAC and the PAIB Committee invite all stakeholders to comment. To access the Exposure Draft and submit a comment, visit the PAIB Committee section of the IFAC website. Comments on the Exposure Draft are requested by January 31, 2013. You must register on the IFAC website to submit a comment.

About the PAIB Committee
The PAIB Committee serves IFAC member bodies and professional accountants worldwide who work in commerce, industry, financial services, education, and the public and the not-for-profit sectors. Its aim is to promote and contribute to the value of professional accountants in business by increasing awareness of the important roles professional accountants play, supporting member bodies in enhancing the competence of their members, and facilitating the communication and sharing of good practices and ideas.

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 167 members and associates in 127 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

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This IAASB Staff Questions & Answers publication highlights how the design of International Standard on Quality Control (ISQC) 1, Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Financial Statements, and Other Assurance and Related Services Engagements, enables it to be applied in a manner proportionate with the nature and size of a firm.

The Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has issued Integrating Governance for Sustainable Success, which uses case studies to analyze how professional accountants in business support the performance of their organizations by integrating governance into the key drivers of sustainable organizational success.

“Governance is still too often seen primarily as a compliance exercise rather than a means for driving the sustainable performance of an organization,” said Roger Tabor, chair of the PAIB Committee. “Successful organizations have a governance structure and culture that go beyond conformance with regulations and support the organization’s efforts to improve performance. Governance should be part of the DNA of an organization.”

The new report illustrates that good governance is about more than the basic protection of stakeholders’ interests or compliance designed to satisfy regulatory requirements. Rather, integrating good governance throughout an organization offers powerful support to the way sustainable value is created. The report addresses how professional accountants support their organizations to build good governance into the entire cycle of strategic planning, resource utilization, value creation, accountability, and assurance. Such a holistic approach ensures that governance is integrated into all aspects of an organization.

“Professional accountants are typically in a position of strategic or functional leadership or are otherwise well placed to partner with colleagues in evaluating and improving governance,” said John Cahill, chair of the PAIB Committee’s Governance and Ethics Task Force. “This report usefully demonstrates how they can increase their organizations’ sustainable performance.”

About the PAIB Committee
The PAIB Committee serves IFAC member bodies and professional accountants worldwide who work in commerce, industry, financial services, education, and the public and the not-for-profit sectors. Its aim is to promote and contribute to the value of professional accountants in business by increasing awareness of the important roles professional accountants play, supporting member bodies in enhancing the competence of their members, and facilitating the communication and sharing of good practices and ideas.

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 167 members and associates in 127 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

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IFAC submitted this comment letter to Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) on its public consultation for Guidance Note on Sequencing PFM Reforms, specifically on the section that deals with “developing the accounting system.” The comment letter addresses multiple issues, including the importance of robust arrangements for public sector financial management, the use of International Public Sector Accounting Standards, and implementation of public sector financial management reforms.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC) have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), first signed in 2009.

The MoU creates a cooperation process to enable valuers and auditors to obtain a better mutual understanding of standards relevant to financial statements, and will help both organizations pursue their objective of maintaining confidence in business reporting in both the public and private sectors. Actions under the MoU are also designed to promote the credibility and acceptability of valuations prepared in accordance with the International Valuation Standards.

The MoU reflects the IVSC’s and IFAC’s shared conviction that the transparency provided by high-quality international standards contributes significantly to the effective functioning of capital markets and economic growth.  The MoU acknowledges the ongoing working relationships between the IVSC, IFAC, and the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), which is supported by IFAC. The MoU also anticipates closer working relationships between IVSC and other IFAC activity groups.

Roel Campos, Interim Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the IVSC, states, “This agreement to renew the earlier Memorandum of Understanding represents an ongoing commitment by both IVSC and IFAC to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations. It demonstrates the cohesive and united approach of the IVSC, IFAC, and its independent standard-setting boards to maintaining standards as global markets continue to develop.”

“The ongoing financial crisis has shown the importance of transparency in financial reporting by both private and public sector entities,” said Göran Tidström, president of IFAC.  “The IVSC has served as a member of the IAASB’s Consultative Advisory Group, and the organizations are both members of the Private Sector Task Force (PSTF). This agreement strengthens the already close ties between the IVSC and IFAC and will serve as a platform for further cooperation.”

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 167 members and associates in 127 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

About the IVSC
The IVSC is an independent, not-for-profit, private sector organization. As the established international standard setter for valuation, the IVSC develops and maintains standards for the reporting and disclosure of valuations, especially those that will be relied upon by investors and other third party stakeholders. It also supports the need to develop a framework of guidance on best practice for valuations of the various classes of assets and liabilities and for the consistent delivery of the standards by properly trained professionals around the globe.

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Two new signatories were welcomed to MOSAIC (Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Accountancy and Improve Collaboration) this week at the second Steering Committee Meeting held in London, UK, hosted by the Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria have agreed to become a part of this groundbreaking initiative working to strengthen professional accountancy organizations (PAOs), improve financial reporting, management, and auditing in both the public and private sectors, and positively impact economic growth and poverty reduction around the world.

The second meeting of the MOSAIC Steering Committee offered an opportunity for presentation and discussion of the draft PAO Global Development Report. Co-financed by the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the World Bank, this report provides MOSAIC signatories and observers with a global view of PAO development; insight into the key trends, challenges, and success factors facing their progress; and a shared starting point to guide future MOSAIC activities. Agenda topics also included potential initial activities for MOSAIC support and coordination and establishment of a permanent MOSAIC Secretariat.

“As MOSAIC grows in strength and number, we are able to see how and where the international development agenda can support PAOs in developing and emerging economies, which, in turn, provides an essential platform for sound financial reporting and economic growth,” said Deborah Williams, co-chair of the MOSAIC Steering Committee and chair of the IFAC PAO Development Committee.

“MOSAIC seeks to support the development of the entirety of the accountancy profession—in both the public and private sectors at the professional accountant and accounting technician levels,” said Tony Hegarty, co-chair of the MOSAIC Steering Committee and chief financial management officer at the World Bank.

MOSAIC was launched in November 2011 by IFAC and 10 signatories from the donor community to increase coordination and provide the foundation for increasing capacity of PAOs.

About MOSAIC
MOSAIC (Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Accountancy and Improve Collaboration) sets out the basis for improving cooperation and collaboration between IFAC, international donors, and the international development community. It provides the foundation for increasing the capacity of professional accountancy organizations and improving the quality of financial management systems in emerging economies. IFAC, the global organization for the accountancy profession, serves as the Interim Secretariat for MOSAIC.

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More information on MOSAIC is available online.

This report from the Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee analyzes how professional accountants in business can support their organizations and increase performance by integrating governance into the key drivers of sustainable organizational success. Using case studies from around the world, the report illustrates that good governance is about more than the protection of stakeholders' interests or compliance with regulatory requirements.