La iniciativa CReCER (Contabilidad y Responsabilidad para el Crecimiento Económico Regional), creada por el Banco Mundial, el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, la Federación Internacional de Contadores (IFAC) y el Comité Global de Políticas Públicas (GPPC) de las seis firmas auditoras más grandes del mundo (PWC, Deloitte, Ernst and Young, KPMG, Grant Thornton y BDO), promueve una gestión financiera sólida en los sectores público y privado en Latinoamérica y el Caribe, a través del fortalecimiento de la contabilidad y la calidad de la información financiera y la auditoría. La séptima edición del evento CReCER se desarrollará en el 2013, para el cual Colombia fue designado como país anfitrión, eligiéndose a Cartagena como ciudad sede.

CReCER - sp from LCSFM on Vimeo.

IFAC, along with the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Global Public Policy Committee, held the seventh Conference for Accounting and Accountability for Regional Economic Growth, or CReCER (Contabilidad y Responsabilidad para el Crecimiento Económico Regional) in Cartagena, Colombia, in August 2013,  hosted by IFAC member body the Instituto Nacional de Contadores Públicos de Colombia.

Themed Integrating Approaches to Financial Reporting to Advance Regional Economic Growth: An Exchange between Public and Private Sector, the conference drew more than 350 attendees and speakers and covered important topics, such as national and regional initiatives to advance adoption and implementation of international standards; global perspectives on the evolving role of auditors and accountants; recent capital market developments to support investment; and the future of business reporting, including integrated reporting.

CReCER from LCSFM on Vimeo.

The public sector, including national, regional, and local governments and related governmental entities, plays a major role in society. In most economies, public expenditure forms a significant part of gross domestic product (GDP) and public sector entities are substantial employers and major capital market participants. The public sector determines, usually through a political process, the outcomes it wants to achieve and how it wants to achieve them. These include enacting legislation or regulations; delivering goods and services; redistributing income through mechanisms, such as taxation or social security payments; and the ownership of assets or entities, such as state-owned enterprises. Governments also play a role in promoting fairness, peace and order, and sound international relations.

Effective governance in the public sector leads to better decision making and the efficient use of resources, and strengthens accountability for the stewardship of those resources. Effective governance is characterized by robust scrutiny, which provides important pressures for improving public sector performance and tackling corruption. Effective governance can improve management, leading to more effective implementation of the chosen interventions, better service delivery, and, ultimately, better outcomes. People’s lives are thereby improved.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) recently issued a Consultation Draft for an International Framework on good governance in the public sector. Good Governance in the Public Sector follows an initial review of relevant governance literature and includes input from public sector governance experts.1

This proposed Framework will be important to public sector entities, and their stakeholders, who want to improve their governance at all levels across the globe. It offers a set of core principles for good governance in public sector entities, supplemented by practical implementation guidance.

The proposed Framework is not intended to replace national and sectoral public sector governance codes. Instead, it was designed as a reference for those who develop and set national governance codes for the public sector when updating and reviewing their own codes. Where codes and guidance do not exist, the Framework provides a shared understanding of what constitutes good governance in the public sector and a powerful stimulus for positive action.

Definition and Key Principles

In the Framework, governance is defined as the arrangements, including political, economic, social, environmental, administrative, legal, and other arrangements, put in place to ensure that the intended outcomes for stakeholders are defined and achieved.

The Framework says the function of good governance in the public sector is to ensure that entities act in the public interest at all times, which requires:

A.     Strong commitment to integrity, ethical values, and the rule of law; and

B.     Openness and comprehensive stakeholder engagement.

 In addition to the requirements for acting in the public interest, achieving good governance in the public sector also requires:

C.     Defining outcomes in terms of sustainable economic, social, and environmental benefits;

D.     Determining the interventions necessary to optimize the achievement of intended outcomes;

E.     Developing the capacity of the entity, including the capability of its leadership and the individuals within it;

F.     Managing risks and performance through robust internal control and strong public financial management; and

G.    Implementing good practices in transparency and reporting to deliver effective accountability.

These core principles for good governance in the public sector are high level and bring together a number of concepts.

Presentation given by Stathis Gould, IFAC senior technical manager and head of Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB), on the roles and expectations on professional accountants in business during an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) USA chapter meeting that featured delegates from the Shanghai National Accounting Initiative (SNAI). The presentation includes how IFAC supports the significant PAIB sector of the accountancy profession, areas of focus for the IFAC PAIB Committee, and specific initiatives.

IFAC recently convened the first-ever meeting between the issuers and users of risk management and internal control guidelines, including representatives from the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), CPA Canada’s Risk Oversight and Governance Board (RGOB), Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA), International Federation of Risk and Insurance Management Associations (IFRIMA), International Organization for Standardization, and Risk Management Society (RIMS).

During the event, Alignment of International Risk Management Guidelines, representatives from participating organizations presented their latest work and future plans, including: 

• Dave Landsittel, COSO
• Gigi Dawe, CPA Canada’s ROGB
• Julia Graham, FERMA and IFRIMA
• Vincent Tophoff, IFAC
• Jan Mattingly, International Organization for Standardization’s TC262 on Risk Management
• Carol Fox, RIMS

The presentations were followed by a panel discussion that reinforced the need for further international collaboration and alignment in the area of risk management and internal control. Participants decided to use the momentum from this meeting to initiate a series of collaboration projects.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the global organization for the accountancy profession, today issued Policy Position Paper 8, Enhancing Organizational Reporting, to emphasize the importance and usefulness of reporting broad-based information beyond that which is provided in traditional financial reporting.

Enhanced organizational reporting provides a more complete view of an organization’s position, performance, and longer term potential and sustainability, and is in the public interest. It provides important information for both internal and external stakeholders to support managing and directing operations, decision making, promoting transparency, and the discharge of accountability.

“Given the high volume of responses to the recently-issued Framework from the International Integrating Reporting Council, we feel this is an important and timely topic,” said Fayez Choudhury, IFAC CEO. “We recognize that there are many organizational reporting frameworks and regulations available and being developed, and it is important to examine the relationships between these frameworks and promote global consistency and convergence.”

The accountancy profession has a history of involvement in developing and improving reporting processes and controls, and identifying and reporting key financial and other information. IFAC believes that the accountancy profession has a key role to play in enhancing organizational reporting.

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 173 members and associates in 129 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

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To stimulate a global debate on preparing accountants for finance leadership, IFAC, the global organization for the accountancy profession, today released a new Discussion Paper, The Role and Expectations of a CFO. The paper features five principles that highlight the changing expectations, scope, and mandate of the chief financial officer (CFO) and finance leadership roles and recommends actions professional accountancy organizations and employers can take to prepare professional accountants for career progression to finance leadership.

These principles and recommended actions raise awareness of the implications for the education, training, and development of professional accountants. The Discussion Paper will be used as a basis to engage professional accountancy organizations, employers, and other stakeholders to share and enhance approaches to preparing professional accountants for finance leadership.

The Discussion Paper is also important to the regulatory community, which strives for well-governed and managed organizations. The CFO is a critical part of a chain of actors—including the governing body, chief executive officer, audit committee, and auditor—that share responsibility for ensuring sustainable value creation, as well as relevant organizational reporting. The advantages that professional accountants’ training, expertise, and experience bring to the CFO role are not always recognized, especially professional accountants’ combination of ethical and technical mindsets with business acumen and organizational awareness.

“In these tough economic times, the objectivity and values of the professional accountant can be of enormous value to finance leadership positions in organizations in every economic sector,” said Roger Tabor, chair of IFAC’s Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee. “But professional accountants in finance leadership roles aren’t universal and, in some parts of the world, their numbers are declining. So it is more important than ever for the profession to develop outstanding professionals who are well equipped to work in business and government, and to take on finance leadership roles.”

“Working closely with employers to understand their needs and requirements helps the accountancy profession to deliver business-ready accountants,” according to Susanna Chiu, chair of the PAIB Committee’s Role, Domain, and Competency Advisory Group, president of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and director of Li & Fung Development (China) Ltd. “The education and training of professional accountants should incorporate broader managerial capabilities and skills. Professional accountancy organizations should foster a commitment to lifelong learning and become more innovative in how they engage and serve professional accountants in business.”

A panel of finance leaders from China and the PAIB Committee will debate the key requirements and expectations of finance leadership and highlight what professional accountants need to do to prepare for leadership roles at the Global PAIB Forum, hosted by the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Beijing, China, on October 16, 2013. The Forum will facilitate discussion and encourage closer relationships between professional accountants, professional accountancy organizations, employers, and other stakeholders.

An At a Glance publication is also available to provide an overview of the Discussion Paper, key discussion questions, and additional details relating to this initiative.

How to Participate
IFAC will use the Discussion Paper in conjunction with outreach to initiate a global debate among professional accountancy organizations, professional accountants, and other stakeholders. Respondents can also submit their comments electronically through the IFAC website, using the “Submit a Comment” button on the Discussion Paper page.

About the PAIB Committee
The PAIB Committee serves IFAC member bodies and professional accountants worldwide who work in commerce, industry, financial services, education, and the public and the not-for-profit sectors. Its aim is to promote and contribute to the value of professional accountants in business by increasing awareness of the important roles professional accountants play, supporting member bodies in enhancing the competence of their members, and facilitating the communication and sharing of good practices and ideas.

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. It is comprised of 173 members and associates in 129 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

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IFAC Chief Executive Officer Fayez Choudhury and International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) Deputy Chair Ron Salole recently participated in a World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund (IMF) seminar, “Strengthening Fiscal Transparency and Government Accounting,” held Tuesday, October 8 in Washington, DC.

The seminar was part of the World Bank Group-IMF 2013 Annual Meeting, bringing together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector executives, and academics to discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development, and aid effectiveness.

Bertrand Badré, Managing Director and World Bank Group Chief Financial Officer, delivered a welcome address to the seminar participants, followed by a keynote speech from Gerd Schwartz, Deputy Director, IMF Fiscal Affairs Department.

Messrs. Choudhury and Salole were panelists for “Improving Government Accounting,” chaired by Charles McDonough, Vice President and Controller of the World Bank. The panel explored the importance of accrual accounting, opportunities and challenges with its implementation, and the role that the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs) play for transparency and quality of government accounting.

"Sound government finances directly contribute to the efforts to restore or gain confidence in the public sector,” Mr. Badré said. “It is an important step in building trust in governments as the transparency, reliability, and accountability that result from such practices support value for taxpayer’s money.”

“IFAC’s support of high-quality international standards for the public sector will be instrumental in promoting more comprehensive and reliable fiscal reporting by governments around the world,” said Mr. Schwartz.

“Poor governmental reporting represents a threat to global financial stability and economic growth that must be addressed,” Mr. Choudhury said, citing the 2012 IMF paper Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Risk, which highlighted the seriousness and extent of current inadequacies in governments’ fiscal reporting and accountability and underscored the risks associated with them.

“IFAC has long recognized that a fundamental way to protect the interests of the public and investors is to develop, promote, and enforce a common set of high-quality international financial reporting standards for the public sector,” he added. “That is why the IPSASB, an independent standard-setting board, was created to develop IPSASs.”

“We see the adoption of IPSASs as important to all economies around the world,” said Mr. Salole. “Additionally, there are some advanced economies that still follow cash accounting and we see this as inadequate in terms of governmental reporting.”

The event also featured regional briefings, press conferences, and other events focused on the global economy, international development, and the world's financial systems. The IMF also used the seminar to launch the new Fiscal Transparency Code, which will serve as a basis for a renewed push for greater fiscal transparency.

About the IPSASB
The IPSASB develops accounting standards and guidance for use by public sector entities. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IPSASB are facilitated by IFAC. The IPSASB receives support (both direct financial and in-kind) from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the South African Accounting Standards Board, and the governments of Canada, New Zealand, and Switzerland.

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. It is comprised of 173 members and associates in 129 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

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As part of the continuing effort to strengthen the accountancy profession globally, the Professional Accountancy Organization Global Development Report was released today. The report is an initiative of MOSAIC, the Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Accountancy and Improve Collaboration.

The report was created to provide an assessment of professional accountancy organization (PAO) development at the global, regional, and national levels. Through its 10 key findings, the report establishes the success factors and challenges associated with building a strong, sustainable accountancy profession supported by an effective PAO.

“As an integral part of national financial infrastructures, PAOs can provide significant contributions to the financial, economic, and social development of nations,” said Deborah Williams, MOSAIC Steering Committee co-chair and chair of the IFAC PAO Development Committee. “Capacity-building efforts benefit the global economy since properly functioning PAOs support the production of high-quality financial information and contribute to public and private sector development, economic growth, and the aid-effectiveness agenda.”

The report’s key findings include the importance of undertaking PAO development comprehensively at the national level; strengthening legal and regulatory foundations; furthering implementation of international standards; and supporting internal strengthening of PAOs. The findings will provide direction for the MOSAIC Steering Committee in its future endeavors.

“This report will provide vital direction on where to focus efforts to increase PAO capacity and improve the quality of public and private sector accounting and financial management, goals that underpin MOSAIC,” said Jennifer Thompson, MOSAIC Steering Committee co-chair and chief financial management officer at the World Bank. “It allows us to further the principles of aid effectiveness—embodied in the Paris Declaration, Accra Agenda for Action, and the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation—to contribute to economic growth and a reduction in poverty.”

MOSAIC is a historic Memorandum of Understanding that sets out the basis for improving cooperation and collaboration between IFAC, international donors, and the international development community. With 13 signatories, it provides the foundation for an aligned approach to increase the capacity of PAOs and improve the quality of financial management systems in emerging economies. The PAO Global Development Report was co-financed by the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and World Bank.

About MOSAIC
MOSAIC (the Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Accountancy and Improve Collaboration) sets out the basis for improving cooperation and collaboration between IFAC, international donors, and the international development community. MOSAIC’s objective is to increase the capacity of PAOs in partner countries to improve the quality of public and private sector accountancy and financial management with a view toward enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of donor assistance, contributing to economic growth, and reducing poverty. IFAC, the global organization for the accountancy profession, serves as the Secretariat for MOSAIC.

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. It is comprised of 173 members and associates in 129 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

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