A global search has begun for highly qualified individuals to fill four volunteer openings on the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) for an initial term of service of up to 3 years, commencing January 1, 2023.

The Public Interest Oversight Board’s (PIOB) newly formed Standard Setting Boards’ Nominations Committee has issued Invitations for Application, which includes the calls for both IESBA members and members of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB). The application period will be open until March 30, 2022. The Board terms are renewable after the initial three years, for a maximum term of service of six years.

The Nominations Committee will make recommendations to the PIOB for up to four appointments and re-appointments to the IESBA. Individuals may also make nominations on their own behalf.

For additional information, please see the PIOB’s nominations web page or email SSBNominations@ipiob.org.

This Questions and Answers (Q&A) publication is issued by the Staff of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants® (IESBA®).

The Staff of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) today released a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the recently revised fee-related provisions of The International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code)*. The FAQs have been informed by the extensive discussions and consultations with a wide range of stakeholder groups and the IESBA’s own deliberations during the development and finalization of the standard.

The publication is designed to highlight, illustrate or explain aspects of the revised fee-related provisions in the Code and thereby assist in their proper application. It is intended to complement the Basis for Conclusions for the final standard and assist national standards setters, professional accountancy organizations, and professional accountants in public practice (including firms) as they adopt and/or implement the revised provisions. The publication is also intended to assist regulators and audit oversight bodies, the corporate governance community, investors, preparers, educational bodies or institutions, and other stakeholders in understanding the revised standard and its application.

*The revised standard addresses a number of topics, including threats to independence created by fees paid by an audit client (including fees for services other than audit), fee dependency, and transparency of fee-related information to those charged with governance and to the public from an auditor independence perspective in the case of public interest entities. The revised standard becomes effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2022. Read the provisions here.

Kam Leung joined the IESBA technical team in August 2020. In her capacity, she provides technical direction and support on developing IESBA pronouncements and manages the Board’s relationship with major stakeholders.

She currently leads the Use of Experts Project which is developing revisions to the Code to address the ethical behavior expected when experts are used in reporting and assurance (including sustainability assurance).

Previously, she was also the staff lead of two IESBA Technology work-streams which was completed at the end of 2022, cumulating in technology-related revisions to the Code and the issuance of the Phase 2 technology fact-finding report at the end of 2022. As part of the work-streams, several technology-related non-authoritative resources were also published to guide stakeholders’ ethical decision-making when using technology. She had also supported the Non-Assurance Services project during the finalization of the revisions.

Ms. Leung has a broad range of experience in managing audits, management reporting, and standard setting through her prior roles at PwC, Prudential Corporation Asia, and the Hong Kong Institute of CPAs,

Ms. Leung holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California San Diego. She is a certified public accountant and a member of the Hong Kong Institute of CPAs and an associate member of the New York State Society of CPAs.

Read a short interview with Kam.

Geoff Kwan joined the IESBA technical team in 2017 and currently serves as a Director.

Mr. Kwan currently oversees the IESBA’s Firm, Culture and Governance work stream and is also part of the staff team on the Sustainability project. He also conducts stakeholder outreaches globally to promote the IESBA Code.

In his previous roles within the IESBA , Mr. Kwan managed a number of IESBA’s technical projects and work streams including Inducement, Role and Mindset Expected of Professional Accountants, Technology, and the Definitions of Listed Entity and Public Interest Entity. He also led the development of IESBA’s Strategy and Work Plan 2024 -2027.

Mr. Kwan began his career as a Solicitor before gaining a broad range of technical and management experience from his roles with the National Australia Bank, Ombudsman Victoria, and the Commonwealth Department of Human Services in Australia. He holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Law and Commerce from the University of Melbourne.

Carla Vijian joined the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) in 2018. Currently, Ms. Vijian leads IESBA’s key initiatives: the Tax Planning and Related Services project. In her capacity, she provides technical direction and support on developing IESBA pronouncements and manages the Board’s relationship with major stakeholders. Ms. Vijian is also focused on topics of mutual strategic interests between the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) and the IESBA.

Previously, Ms. Vijian worked in the audit practice of Deloitte London and Sydney, where she managed several large transnational audits in various industries specializing in all aspects of financial reporting, auditing internal controls, financial and non-financial performance information. Ms. Vijian is also experienced in product development, having worked on global audit transformation projects.

Ms. Vijian graduated from New Zealand with a Master’s Degree in Management Accounting. She is a member of the Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand and an associate member of the New York State Society of CPAs.

Read a recent profile on Ms. Vijian and other IESBA, IAASB and IFEA staff members in Acuity magazine.

Ms. Gabriela Figueiredo Dias is the Chair of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) and the co-CEO of the International Foundation for Ethics and Audit, the recently created organization that houses the IESBA and the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB). Since the beginning of 2023, she has served as co-CEO role with IAASB Chair Tom Seidenstein.

Ms. Figueiredo Dias was initially appointed chair in January 2022 and reappointed in January 2025. In this role, and now as co-CEO, she ensures that IESBA activities maintain a public interest focus, while developing high-quality ethics and independence standards. She brings a strategic mindset to the development and implementation of IESBA objectives and fulfills several interrelated roles, serving as leader, spokesperson, and stakeholder liaison. In her role as IFEA Co-CEO, she manages the Foundation’s operations.

Ms. Figueiredo Dias has extensive experience in international standard setting, legal and regulatory structure and governance, and academia. Previously, she was the Executive Chair (2016-2021) and Deputy Chair (2015-2016) of the Portuguese Securities Commission (CMVM), the authority responsible for regulating and supervising financial instrument markets, covering listed companies, asset managers, auditors, and investment firms. There, she managed and provided strategic direction to the CMVM and represented the organization in regional and global financial forums. Ms. Figueiredo Dias joined the CMVM in 2007 as Senior Counsel on international affairs and regulatory policy and during 2008-2015 she served in several senior leadership roles, including Head of the International and Regulatory Policy Department and of the Markets, Issuers, and Financial Information Department, and Advisor to the Chair.

Ms. Figueiredo Dias served as a Board Member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), Chair of the ESMA Investment Management Standing Committee, and a member of ESMA’s Management Board and Mediation Panel. She was also a member of the Portuguese National Council of Financial Regulators. In addition, Ms. Figueiredo Dias served as Vice-Chair of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Corporate Governance Committee. She was a member of IOSCO’s Sustainability Task Force (2020-2021) and an observer at the Monitoring Board of the IFRS Foundation. Ms. Figueiredo Dias is a founding member of the Portuguese Corporate Governance Institute and a member of the European Corporate Governance Institute. Since February 2021, Ms. Figueiredo Dias is also the President of the General Council of the University of Coimbra in Portugal.

Over her 30+ years career, Ms. Figueiredo Dias published numerous papers, articles, and books, as author or co-author, on corporate governance, auditors, pension funds, corporate boards, and sustainability. More recently, during her term as CMVM Chair, Ms. Figueiredo Dias focused on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters and integrity of professionals in financial information and management. With such a focus, Ms. Figueiredo Dias has led a progressive mindset transformation amidst the Portuguese market stakeholders towards a more sustainable and ethical financial ecosystem.

Ms. Figueiredo Dias holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law from the Coimbra University Law School. She did extensive academic research in several Universities in the UK and US and holds a certificate in Leadership and Communications from Nova University (Lisbon).