As we rapidly approach the 8.5 billion people on Earth expected by 2030, sustainable development challenges, such as inequality and extreme poverty, climate change, and trust in business and government, pose challenges for societies, economies, organizations, and financial markets. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals represent the means to sustain people, planet, and prosperity to 2030, and include a clear call for partnerships between the public, private, and voluntary sectors to address these challenges.

A new report from the International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®) provides a snapshot of the accountancy profession’s contribution to achieving these Goals. “Accountancy is the basis of strong and sustainable organizations, financial markets, and economies,” said IFAC Chief Executive Officer Fayez Choudhury. “It is important for our profession to be conscious of how we contribute, both directly and indirectly, to the Goals. The skillset, experience, and influence professional accountants possess gives them enormous scope to shape solutions to sustainable development challenges.”

“‘Business as usual’ is no longer sustainable—if business ignores the Goals, they do so at their own peril,” said Charles Tilley, Chair of the IFAC Professional Accountants in Business Committee, which contributed to the report, as did the IFAC Professional Accountancy Organization Development Committee. “The public and private sectors should embrace the opportunities presented by the Goals to act in the public interest as well as create value for business and investors. What we do as accountants benefits society and contributes to the resilience of the organizations we work in, both of which are key themes of this publication.”

IFAC looks forward to a continuing dialogue within and beyond the profession on its role in mainstreaming, implementing, and monitoring the Goals, starting with a workshop on this topic at the IFAC Annual Council meeting in Brasilia, Brazil, November 16-17. 

About this Report
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: A Snapshot of the Accountancy Profession’s Contribution highlights the importance of the Goals to business and the profession, and considers how accountancy contributes to eight specific Goals. It features existing activities and initiatives within the profession that support the Goals and poses questions for professional accountancy organizations and professional accountants to consider.

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 more than 175 members and associates in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

As we rapidly approach the 8.5 billion people on Earth expected by 2030, sustainable development challenges, such as inequality and extreme poverty, climate change, and trust in business and government, pose challenges for societies, economies, organizations, and financial markets. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent the means to sustain people, planet, and prosperity to 2030, and include a clear call for partnerships between the public, private, and voluntary sectors to address these challenges.

Are you seeking an exceptional opportunity that combines your understanding of the public interest role of accountancy with your desire to make a difference on a global stage? The high-quality international standards that underpin the global accountancy profession are developed by the independent standard-setting boards, for which today’s Call for Nominations for 2018 is released.

The Call sets out the upcoming opportunities for membership on 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).

For 2018, there are 26 vacancies on the independent standard-setting boards—7 each on the IAASB, IESBA, and IAESB, and 5 on the IPSASB. The current member can be re-nominated for 17 of these vacancies and, if considered appropriate, re-appointed for a second term of service.

These volunteer vacancies on the boards are open for nominations by all stakeholders, including professional accountancy and international organizations, governmental agencies, firms, and the public. Nominations of non-accountants for the public member vacancies are strongly encouraged. Travel support is available to qualified candidates from developing nations, self-nominees, and public members.

Candidates should have knowledge of the subject matters considered by a particular board, as well as English proficiency. Each board meets up to four times per year and the required time commitment is approximately 300 to 850 hours per year, depending on the board and task force involvement, including preparation and travel time. Although each candidate will ultimately be selected based on experience, nominations of highly qualified candidates from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America are strongly encouraged. Nominations of female candidates for all boards and from all regions are particularly welcome. For more information on openings and geographic targets of a particular board, please see the Vacancy Overview table on p. 9-12 of the Call.

Nominations can be submitted through the Nominations Database. All nominations need to be submitted before January 31, 2017.

To provide nominating organizations and nominees with some insights on the nominations process and the value of serving on the standard-setting boards, the following documents are available on the Nominating Committee web page: Developing a Nominations Strategy and Giving Back to the Profession: The Value of Serving.

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 the best candidate, please visit the Nominating Committee web page.

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 develops accounting standards and guidance for use by public sector entities. It receives support (both direct financial and in-kind) from the Government Accounting Standards Board, the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the South African Accounting Standards Board, the New Zealand External Reporting Board, and the governments of Canada, New Zealand, and Switzerland. The IPSASB receives advice from the Public Interest Committee, which promotes the public interest in the IPSASB’s standard-setting activities, and advice from the IPSASB 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 IPSASB are facilitated by IFAC.

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 PIC
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.

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 more than 175 members and associates in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

Development partners joined accountancy leaders last week to discuss public financial management (PFM) reforms in Francophone Africa. The leaders attended the Public Financial Management, Strengthening Institutions and Accountability conference, hosted by the International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®), Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA), Fédération Internationale des Experts Comptables et Commissaires aux Comptes Francophones (FIDEF), World Bank, and African Development Bank.

The leaders evaluated progress since last year’s successful PFM event in Dakar, Senegal, at which participating Finance Ministers pledged to support PFM reforms. They heard that PFM reform progress has been slow across the 18 Francophone Africa countries. The quality of budgeting and financial reporting, and the effectiveness of internal and external auditing and parliamentary oversight, remain poor in the majority of these countries. Delegates underscored the public sector capacity challenge, and recognized many more accounting professionals are required to achieve the desired reform outcomes.

Speaking at the event, IFAC Executive Director, Alta Prinsloo, expressed support for the call issued by FIDEF to review the accountancy profession model in Francophone Africa to ensure it meets the demand for public sector accountancy skills. Under the current model, professional accountancy organization members in Francophone Africa are limited to professional accountants in public practice.

Ms. Prinsloo said, “Our Accountability. Now. message is clear. High-quality public financial reporting supports informed decision making, effective and efficient spending, quality public services, enhanced transparency and accountability, and—ultimately—increased trust in government. The demand for accountancy skills necessary to produce high-quality public sector financial reporting is both a public interest obligation, and an opportunity for professional accountancy organizations in Francophone Africa.”

About IFAC
The International Federation of Accountants (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 more than 175 members and associates in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

Building on the success of ongoing capacity building projects throughout Africa, the International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®) today announced the selection of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) to begin work with the accountancy profession and regulators in Kyrgyzstan to further develop the profession.

“A robust and well-functioning accountancy profession contributes significantly to sustainable businesses, sound capital markets, effective stewardship of public finances, and—ultimately—economic growth.” said Alta Prinsloo, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. “We are looking forward to embarking on this journey with the accountancy profession in Kyrgyzstan.”

ICAEW will work with the Union of Accountants and Auditors (UAA), an IFAC associate, and a range of national stakeholders, including the State Service for Regulation and Supervision of Financial Markets, to address recommendations from the World Bank Centre for Financial Reporting Reform’s Kyrgyz Republic: Corporate Financial Reporting, A Country Strategy and Action Plan, issued in 2012 and officially approved by the Kyrgyz government.

“Kyrgyzstan has developed a plan for economic development in coordination with the international development community—the time to move forward and transform the Kyrgyz accountancy profession is now,” said Vernon Soare, ICAEW Chief Operating Officer. “This project will enable the UAA and the profession’s key stakeholders to sustain positive reform and contribute to continued growth in Kyrgyzstan over the longer term.”

In 2014, IFAC received almost £5 million from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) to fund PAO capacity building in at least ten emerging countries over seven years. Projects under the IFAC Capacity Building Program using DFID funding are currently underway in Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and regionally in Africa. Partner organizations are selected following global Calls for Expressions of Interest and an extensive proposal and review process by the IFAC PAO Capacity Building Program Independent Selection Panel.

About IFAC
The International Federation of Accountants® (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 more than 175 members and associates in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

About DFID
The UK Department for International Development (DFID) leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty. They are ending the need for aid by creating jobs, unlocking the potential of girls and women and helping to save lives when humanitarian emergencies hit. For more information, visit www.gov.uk/dfid.

About ICAEW
ICAEW is a world leading professional membership organisation that promotes, develops and supports over 147,000 chartered accountants worldwide. It provides qualifications and professional development, shares knowledge, insight and technical expertise, and protects the quality and integrity of the accountancy and finance profession.

The International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®) and its Chief Operating Officer, Alta Prinsloo, were honored to receive the Accountancy Capacity Building Champion of the Year Award at the 2016 The Accountant & International Accounting Bulletin awards.

IFAC’s Professional Accountancy Organization (PAO) Capacity Building Program supports the profession’s growth in the developing world, where the profession’s skills are vital to embedding transparency, credibility, and good governance into national economies.

IFAC CEO Fayez Choudhury said IFAC is delighted to receive the award on behalf of PAOs and their members in emerging economies. “Their passion to grow and support their economies—and become sustainable, self-supporting PAOs—is an inspiration,” he said.

“Led by Alta and her team, IFAC’s capacity building work is made possible by local PAO enthusiasm, visionary funding provided by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), and our delivery partners—highly experienced PAOs from the UK, Ireland, and Kenya—whose on-the-ground experience makes them invaluable assets in helping grow our global profession.”

DFID-funded projects are currently operating in Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, with additional projects under active consideration. These projects are delivered in-country by a wide range of PAOs, including: Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland, and Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya.

IFAC’s capacity building award was collected by President Olivia Kirtley, who was separately honored with the The Accountant and International Accounting Bulletin’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

“With Olivia concluding her two-year term as IFAC president in November, her Lifetime Achievement award is a symbol of the remarkable career that preceded her presidency. As our president, she is an especially effective global ambassador for the profession. And at a time when the accountancy profession is making great progress in promoting women into leadership, Olivia has spent her career shattering glass ceilings and—most importantly—reaching back to help and encourage women following behind her,” Mr. Choudhury said.

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 more than 175 members and associates in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

In the ongoing effort to decrease the gap between the global need for accountancy talent and available, high-quality professional accountants, the International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®) today issued its annual Call for Expressions of Interest for organizations wishing to partner in professional accountancy organization (PAO) capacity-building efforts. This Call for Expressions builds on IFAC’s commitment to strengthen the accountancy profession and PAOs.

IFAC invites organizations to indicate their interest in providing PAO capacity-building services under a UK Department for International Development (DFID) funded program. In 2014, IFAC and DFID, which leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty, entered into an agreement to strengthen PAOs in emerging economies. Under the agreement, DFID is providing £4.935 million over seven years to strengthen PAOs in at least 10 DFID focal countries to play a greater role in furthering economic development. Projects are currently underway in Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. IFAC facilitates, coordinates, and supervises these projects to strengthen developing PAOs.

Interested organizations need to demonstrate that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to execute projects and perform the needed services. Based on information in the Expressions of Interest, the PAO Capacity Building Program’s Independent Selection Panel will evaluate interested organizations and select eligible organizations for the database. In the future, eligible organizations may be invited to bid on specific projects.

All types of organizations are welcome to express interest, but please note that the majority of projects under the PAO Capacity Building Program require establishing ongoing peer-to-peer partnerships between the delivery partner and the beneficiary organization. Individual consultants may also express interest, but will not be included in the database of potential partner organizations and will only receive information relating to smaller, specific projects fitting with their particular expertise.

To submit an Expression of Interest, please click on one of the following links.

• Interested organizations, including PAOs and firms: 2016 Expressions of Interest—Potential Partner Organizations.
• Interested individual consultants: 2016 Expressions of Interest—Interested Consultants.

For additional information, please see the online questions & answers or email DanaJensen@ifac.org.

The Expressions of Interest submission deadline is November 21, 2016.

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 more than 175 members and associates in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

About DFID
The Department for International Development (DFID) leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty. We're ending the need for aid by creating jobs, unlocking the potential of girls and women and helping to save lives when humanitarian emergencies hit. For more information visit www.gov.uk/dfid.

With the increased volatility in the modern business environment and the recent financial and economic crises around the world, the effective management of risk in organizations—including good internal control—has taken on even greater importance. Effective risk management facilitates the achievement of an organization’s objectives, while complying with legal, regulatory, and societal expectations, and enables the organization to better respond and adapt to surprises and disruptions. IFAC, therefore, commends COSO on taking up the challenge to update its ERM Framework.