Compliance Program

The IFAC Board established the Member Body Compliance Program as a means to evaluate the quality of members' and associates' endeavors to meet IFAC membership requirements. The program's primary objective is one of encouragement and improvement.

The Compliance Advisory Panel oversees the implementation and operation of the IFAC Compliance Program, which is the responsibility of the IFAC staff. As one of IFAC's public interest activities, the Compliance Program is overseen by the Public Interest Oversight Board.

Statements of Membership Obligations

The Statements of Membership Obligations (SMOs) are issued by the IFAC Board and establish requirements for members and associates to promote, incorporate, and assist in implementing international standards issued by IFAC and the International Accounting Standards Board. The SMOs also establish requirements for quality assurance and investigation and discipline activities.

Program Components

IFAC members and associates participate in three parts of the program that seek to understand whether and how the SMO requirements are being fulfilled. The information gathered forms the basis for evaluating whether members and associates have used their best endeavors to meet the SMO requirements. Members and associates are also requested to periodically update their responses and provide information about progress made, changes in the legal and regulatory environment, and other developments. As members update information in the online questionnaires, they are requested to inform the Compliance staff about the changes so that the responses can be republished on IFAC website. 

Part 1, Assessment of the Regulatory and Standard-Setting Framework
Part 1, Assessment of the Regulatory and Standard-Setting Framework, was implemented in 2004. This questionnaire requires members and associates to provide information about the regulatory and standard-setting framework in their jurisdiction. Responses are accessible to the public. Click here to update or complete the Part 1 questionnaire.

Part 2, SMO Self-Assessment
Part 2 of the Compliance Program requires members and associates to complete a self-assessment questionnaire about their best endeavors to promote and incorporate international standards issued by IFAC and the IASB, quality assurance and investigation and discipline programs to monitor compliance with applicable professional standards. Responses to this questionnaire are also accessible to the public. See the "Instructions" section below for information on updating or completing the Part 2 questionnaire.

Part 3, Action Plans
Part 3 of the Compliance Program requires members and associates to develop action plans, including identifying tools, resources, and regulatory changes to address areas identified through the Part 2 self-assessment. Detailed information is provided in the action plan template and the Part 3 guidance notes. A summary of the Part 3 process is also available in English, French, Russian, and Spanish. The first six member body action plans are posted on the website.

Instructions for Completing Self-Assesments

To complete the Part 1 and Part 2 self-assessments, members, associates and applicants enter the unique username and passwords provided by Compliance staff.

Part 1 requires organizations to enter information using a web-based tool.

Organizations may begin Part 2 by reviewing the Instruction Guide to Part 2 and completing a tutorial for using the electronic questionnaire tool. After reviewing the Instruction Guide and tutorial, proceed to the Part 2 questionnaire site to access the questionnaire and other supporting documents.

Key Contacts

Russell Guthrie (russellguthrie@ifac.org) Director, Quality Assurance and Member Body Relations
Sylvia Barrett (sylviabarrett@ifac.org) Deputy Director, Member Body Development

For a complete list of Compliance Advisory Panel members, click here.