The IPSASB held its fourth and final meeting of the year from December 5-8, 2017 in Toronto. The IPSASB’s Consultative Advisory Group (CAG) met on December 4, 2017 and the CAG’s views informed the IPSASB’s discussions.

Nominating Committee encourages all stakeholders—including the public—to nominate diverse candidates with strong leadership skills to serve the public interest and contribute to the work of the independent standard-setting boards.

See the Call for Nominations for more information, including available positions and requirements. Nominate via the Nominations Database by February 15, 2018. 

Highlights from the IPSASB CAG's December 4, 2017 meeting in Toronto, Canada.

0:10 -- Welcome and introduction
0:39 -- Chair’s summary of the IPSASB CAG meeting
10:28 -- Closing remarks

Highlights from the IPSASB's December 5 - 8, 2017 meeting in Toronto, Canada.

• 00:10 – Welcome and introduction
• 00:56 – Chair’s meeting overview
• 02:35 – Strategy and work plan consultation
• 06:29 – Leases
• 08:21 – Public sector measurement
• 10:27 – Heritage
• 13:34 – Chair’s summary of the IPSASB’s year
• 16:18 – Closing remarks

The excitement is building and registration is now open for the world’s largest gathering of accountants: the World Congress of Accountants (WCOA) 2018 in Sydney, Australia, November 5-8, 2018.

Held in the new International Convention Centre on the world-famous Sydney harbor and co-hosted by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and CPA Australia, the 20^th WCOA promises to be the biggest and most exciting congress yet.

IFAC’s member organizations have always played an important role in telling millions of professional accountants about the importance of WCOA. For WCOA 2018, that role has never been easier.

From now until the congress starts in Sydney next November, our member organizations will have access to innovative, regularly-updated multi-media tools and content including: press releases, social media content, news updates, videos, and photos.

IFAC members will be able to access these materials after subscribing to the WCOA newsletter for regular updates. In the coming weeks, you will receive the newsletter and information on how to set up an account and password to start utilizing the WCOA Brandfolder.

The WCOA 2018 program will explore a range of key themes, including:

• protecting the public interest and building prosperity;
• addressing the leadership challenge;
• embracing disruptive technologies and innovation;
• enhancing ethics and integrity; and
• exploring sustainable solutions to business, social enterprises, and economies.

ACCA and one of Australia’s leading universities, RMIT, are WCOA 2018’s debut sponsors but there are many additional sponsorship opportunities available. 

This publication outlines what an agreed-upon procedures engagements is, identifies the benefits to clients of offering such services, and when such engagements are appropriate. It also covers examples of financial and non-financial information AUP engagements and six short case studies with example procedures that might be applied.

The IAESB Personal Perspectives Series shares insights from board members and technical advisors on some of the challenges affecting aspiring professional accountants and the importance of effective accountancy learning and development. This Perspective, Promoting Trust for Sustainable Growth, is from Blanca Tapia, IAESB Member and a faculty member at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and Dr. Sylvia Meljem, IAESB Technical Advisor and faculty member of the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México.

Highlights from the IESBA's December 4 - 8, 2017 meeting in Livingstone, Zambia.

• 00:13 - Introduction: Ken Siong, IESBA Technical Director
• 00:50 - Highlights & Key Developments: Stavros Thomadakis, IESBA Chairman
• 03:07 - Part C of the IESBA Code: Helene Agelii, IESBA Member 
• 05:04 - Professional Skepticism – Richard Fleck, IESBA Deputy Chair 
• 08:08 - Safeguards: Gary Hannaford, IESBA Member 
• 12:11 - Structure of the IESBA Code, Don Thomson, Task Force Chair and former IESBA Member 
• 14:26 - Closing Remarks: Ken Siong, IESBA Technical Director

A call for nominations for the four international standard-setting boards is issued today. For nearly two decades, the global economy and financial market stability have been supported by the work of these international, independent standard-setting boards. Members of these boards are highly knowledgeable and informed individuals with insight and perspectives relevant to global standards.

The Call for Nominations for 2019 details the upcoming opportunities for qualified individuals to join the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB), International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), and International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB). Serving on these boards allows individuals with diverse professional backgrounds to contribute to the development of international standards, and to gain international experience while serving the public interest.

Nominations for the 22 open volunteer positions can come from all stakeholders, interested parties, and the general public. Travel support is available to qualified candidates from developing nations, self-nominees, and public members.

Gender equality is especially important to the Nominating Committee and, therefore, nominations of strong female candidates are strongly encouraged. Although candidates are ultimately selected based on professional background and experience, nominations from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East are particularly welcome to promote greater diversity on each board.

Candidates should have relevant subject-matter knowledge as well as strong English proficiency. Each board meets up to four times per year; the required time commitment is approximately 300 to 850 hours per year, depending on the board, member involvement, preparation, and travel time. 

The Nominating Committee requests submissions by February 15, 2018 via the Nominations Database. 

About the IAASB
The IAASB is an independent standard-setting board that 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 the IAESB
The IAESB is an independent standard-setting board that develops education standards, guidance, and information papers for use by IFAC member organizations under a shared standard-setting process involving the Public Interest Oversight Board, which oversees the activities of the IAESB, and the IAESB 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 IAESB are facilitated by IFAC.

About the IESBA
The IESBA is an independent standard-setting board that develops ethical standards and other pronouncements for professional accountants worldwide under a shared standard-setting process involving the Public Interest Oversight Board, which oversees the activities of the IESBA, and the IESBA Consultative Advisory Group, which provides public interest input into the development of the standards and guidance. Through its activities, the IESBA develops the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, which establishes ethical requirements for professional accountants. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IESBA are facilitated by IFAC.

About the IPSASB
The IPSASB is an independent standard-setting board that works to strengthen public financial management globally through the development of accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and other guidance for use by governments and other public sector entities. It receives support from the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the New Zealand External Reporting Board, and the governments of Canada and New Zealand. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IPSASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

About the Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee follows an open and transparent process with public interest oversight to select the most suitable candidates for the available positions, while also aiming to achieve gender, regional, and professional balance. For more information about the Nominating Committee, its due process, or guidance in selecting candidates, please visit the Nominating Committee web page.

About the PIOB
The Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB) is the global independent oversight body that seeks to improve the quality and public interest focus of the international standards formulated by the IAASB, IAESB and IESBA in the areas of audit and assurance, education, and ethics. Through its oversight activities, the PIOB works to bring greater transparency and integrity to the audit profession, thereby contributing to the enhanced quality of international financial reporting.

About the Public Interest Committee
The governance and standard-setting activities of the IPSASB are overseen by the Public Interest Committee (PIC), to ensure that they follow due process and reflect the public interest. The PIC is comprised of individuals with expertise in public sector or financial reporting, and professional engagement in organizations that have an interest in promoting high-quality and internationally comparable financial information.

Narrada pelo técnico do IPSASB, João Carlos Fonseca, esta apresentação fornece uma visão geral do Exposure Draft 63, Benefícios Sociais.

O Exposure Draft aborda a contabilização de benefícios sociais, tais como reforma, desemprego e incapacidade, com o objetivo de melhorar a consistência, transparência e relato de benefícios sociais por entidades do setor público, os quais representam uma grande percentagem dos gastos públicos em muitas jurisdições.

O Exposure Draft 63 define benefícios sociais e propõe requisitos para o reconhecimento e mensuração de esquemas de benefícios sociais. Também propõe requisitos de divulgação que fornece informação adicional para os utilizadores avaliarem o efeito dos benefícios sociais nas finanças públicas no futuro.

Tradução parcialmente baseada na lei portuguesa.

Translation partially based on Portuguese law.