Today, the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) published a framework for implementing global sustainability standards at the local level, focusing on the building blocks approach published in May 2021. IFAC believes that jurisdictions must begin examining how global standards that the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) intends to develop, starting with climate, can fit together with sustainability-related reporting requirements set at the jurisdictional level.

“As work to establish the ISSB advances, PAOs, firms, and professional accountants in business should be engaging now with their policymakers to consider what mechanisms may need to be established to make forthcoming reporting requirements effective in their jurisdiction,” said IFAC CEO Kevin Dancey. “IFAC’s framework sets out various pathways for local implementation of the IFRS initiative that can all lead to the global and harmonized corporate reporting system we need for investors, capital markets, and stakeholders at large.”

IOSCO’s Sustainability-related Issuer Disclosures report proposes a timeline for the ongoing work of the IFRS Foundation–with the ISSB climate standard expected to be completed by June 2022. Jurisdictions that begin engaging with policymakers now will be able to capitalize on the forthcoming standards–and therefore serve the public interest–as soon as they are finalized.

IFAC urges its member organizations to continue their support for the IFRS initiative, to engage now with local policymakers, and to provide feedback on the framework for making global sustainability standards local.

Read more about IFAC’s support for global sustainability-related standards here.

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.

The IAASB has published new documents related to its open consultation on the audits of less complex entities:

• Proposed supplemental guidance on auditor reporting to provide further guidance on modifications and other changes to the auditor’s report when using the proposed standard; and
• “Mapping” documents to help users navigate between existing, equivalent International Standards on Auditing and the requirements in the newly proposed International Standard on Auditing for Less Complex Entities (ISA for LCE).

The IAASB strongly encourages all interested stakeholders to provide their feedback on the proposed standard by January 31, 2022. The standard is relevant to users of financial statements, owners, management and those charged with governance of entities, preparers of financial statements, legislative or regulatory authorities, relevant local bodies with standard-setting authority, professional accountancy organizations, academics, regulators and audit oversight bodies, and auditors and audit firms, among others.

Stakeholders can submit responses through the “Submit Comment” button online.

These “mapping” documents illustrate how the requirements from the International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) have, or have not, been incorporated within the proposed new International Standard on Auditing for Audits of Less Complex Entities (ISA for LCE).

IFAC calls on the G20 to focus on two key actions—where the global accountancy profession is a strongly committed partner—that will move the needle on sustainability, inclusivity, and prosperity.

IFAC’s new framework for implementing global sustainability standards set by an International Sustainability Standards Board builds on the previously issued Building Blocks Approach. This framework examines how existing mechanisms already in place for adopting IFRS Standards used in financial reporting may be appropriate or adapted for sustainability-related reporting.

The latest edition of the handbook includes:

In preparation of its 3rd Research Forum, which will be co-hosted by Comparative International Governmental Accounting Research Network (CIGAR) at its June 2022 conference, the IPSASB is calling for scholarly contributions from the academic community.

Coordinated through the Academic Advisory Group, which includes independent scholars from all parts of the world, as well as the IPSASB members who have an academic background, IPSASB is offering a grant of USD $1,500 for selected scholarly papers submitted covering three research areas with up to six grants available in total.

The research areas of interest are:

Research Area 1: Research on Practical IPSAS Implementation Challenges 

• Differential Reporting 
• Discount Rates

Research Area 2: Research on Adoption and Implementation of Specific IPSAS

• IPSAS 31, Intangible Assets
• IPSAS 33, First-Time Adoption of Accrual Basis IPSAS

Research Area 3: Broad Future Focused Research

• Climate Change and Public Sector Financial Reporting Related to Sustainability 
• Financial Reporting Impacts of Digitization in the Public Sector

The grant recipients, as well as other scholars, will present the first drafts of their full papers at the 2022 Research Forum (date TBD). For more information, see the the IPSASB’s Call for Papers.

Learn more about the Academic Advisory Group.

About the IPSASB

The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board® (IPSASB®) works to improve public sector financial reporting worldwide through the development of IPSAS®, international accrual-based accounting standards, for use by governments and other public sector entities around the world.

To continue to drive engagement and solicit feedback on its public consultation on a proposed new standard for audits of financial statements of less complex entities (LCE), the IAASB has published a targeted outreach plan. This plan details the IAASB’s focused efforts to facilitate feedback from different stakeholder groups through roundtables, presentations and other related activities. The plan is expected to evolve and will continue to be updated as events and activities are added or confirmed.

The landmark proposed new standard for audits of financial statements of less complex entities responds to demands to have a set of high-quality audit requirements tailored for the needs of less complex entities. The proposed new standard aims to provide a globally consistent approach at a time where several jurisdictional-specific less complex entities standards or related initiatives are arising.

The IAASB strongly encourages all interested stakeholders to provide their feedback on the proposed standard by January 31, 2022. The standard is relevant to users of financial statements, owners, management and those charged with governance of entities, preparers of financial statements, legislative or regulatory authorities, relevant local bodies with standard-setting authority, professional accountancy organizations, academics, regulators and audit oversight bodies, and auditors and audit firms, among others.

Stakeholders can submit responses through the “Submit Comment” button online. The Exposure Draft will also be available in French and Spanish in early September 2021.

About the IAASB
The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board 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). For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please go to permissions or contact permissions@ifac.org.

The IAASB has developed an outreach plan for its proposed new