Kathryn Byrne joined the IFAC Board in November 2022 having been nominated by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. She previously served as a member of IFAC’s Nominating Committee (2018-2021), chair of the Compliance Advisory Panel (2016-2017), and member of the Compliance Advisory Panel (2010-2015).
Ms. Byrne has more than 35 years of experience delivering services to domestic and foreign corporations, ensuring they are following US GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). She is a member of the Group Governance Council of Mazars Group and was a Signature Bank board member for over 16 years until April 2022. During this time, she served as Lead Director and was a member of the examining, compensation, risk, and nominating committees. She is also chair of Women@Mazars, is a Trustee of The Bolger Foundation, a mentor to a Liberian student for SHE-CAN and serves on the James Madison University College of Business Board of Advisors.
Ms. Byrne graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance. She also completed the Mazars Next MBA Program.
This section covers the trends, opportunities, and impact/risks of the following technologies and related issues: Robotic Process Automation (RPA), AI, blockchain, cloud computing, and data governance, including cybersecurity.
The IESBA’s Rollout initiative is intended to promote awareness and support the adoption and effective implementation of the changes to the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (“the Code”) arising from the IESBA’s Definitions of Listed Entity and Public Interest Entity project.
The Working Group will release materials that facilitate this initiative, such as but not limited to
Today, the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) released a new report providing insight into climate-related disclosure. Getting to Net Zero: A Global Review of Corporate Disclosuresfocuses on corporate emissions reduction reporting. It finds that inconsistency and incomparability of target disclosures may pose challenges for investors, regulators, and other stakeholders who require actionable information. The report’s findings strongly support the movement in global policy towards rapidly enhancing the usefulness of disclosures on climate-related targets and transition plans.
Getting to Net Zero is based on 2020 corporate reporting and provides a useful benchmark for climate disclosures which are under development by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), among other initiatives. The report also comes during the COP27 conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, where delegates from over 190 countries, many of which have proposed or set net-zero targets for around mid-century, gather to discuss and progress climate actions.
“With COP27, this is perfect time to dig into what is being disclosed and explore how emissions disclosures need to become more decision-useful,” said IFAC CEO Kevin Dancey. “The accountancy profession is well positioned to drive improvements in climate reporting, ensuring information is trusted and decision-useful for management and boards, investors, and all stakeholders.”
Some key takeaways from Getting to Net Zero include:
66% of the large, exchange-traded companies IFAC reviewed included some type of emissions reduction target in their corporate disclosures.
These emissions targets used a variety of terminology and only 39% incorporated Scope 3 emissions.
Most companies (90%) who disclose emissions targets also provide a disclosure about how they plan to reach their target.
Only 24% of companies with a plan include some past expenditure or future estimate of expenditures to implement plan actions.
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 180 members and associates in 135 countries and jurisdictions, representing more than 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.
Report Finds Challenges and Gaps in Emissions Target and Transition Plans
The 7th edition of the Africa Congress of Accountants (ACOA2023) will be hosted in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire from 15-18 May 2023 under the theme Structural Transformation and Growth of Africa Economies. This unique edition of the congress will gather more than 2000 delegates and speakers from more than 65 English-, French-, and Portuguese-speaking countries, and provide an excellent opportunity to connect, share, and expand in Africa.
This November ICAEW will hold its second five-day virtual climate summit, bringing members from across the profession together on the issue of climate change.
With growing climate concerns an ever-present consideration for companies around the world, what can – and should – finance professionals be doing to support efforts towards net zero, sustainability and green finance?
For today’s event we are partnering with the Institute of Chartered accountants in England and Wales and focusing on the impact and potential outcomes of the current global energy crisis. How this is impacting us, what is likely to happen next and what can be done about it. We start with 3 presentations. Firstly a segment on ’resilience’ and how we can take steps to mitigate / resolve / address the impact of the energy crisis. Then a ‘people’s perspective’ on what is happening now and what may happen in future.
