A strong and well-governed professional accountancy organization (PAO) produces and sustains a strong accountancy profession that is able to serve the public interest and contribute to economic stability and growth. A successful PAO gains much of its strength from the sense of identity, benefits, and rights that members derive from membership; and from the contributions that individual members and firms make to the PAO in recognition of its public interest perspective.

This third edition of the guide features enhancements to the two sample manuals, as well as other refinements for clarity and consistency with International Standard on Quality Control (ISQC) 1. The guide contains the requirements set out in ISQC 1 in addition to implementation guidance, including discussion material and an integrated case study that can be used as the basis for education and training.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is excited to announce that the World Congress of Accountants (WCOA) will be held November 17–20, 2026, in Seoul, South Korea. The Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants (KICPA) and IFAC will serve as joint hosts, working closely to welcome professional accountants from around the world for the event.

Recognized as a preeminent event for the profession, WCOA brings together Professional Accountancy Organization (PAO) representatives from over 100 countries to strengthen the global accountancy community by sharing experiences, learning and deepening relationships across the profession.  

WCOA 2026 marks the launch of a new biennial format, wherein the event will be held every two years. All accountants, as well as interested members of the public, are invited to participate in WCOA virtually to hear about how the profession is positioning itself for the future. In-person participation will be invite-only and will bring together some of the most experienced and visionary leaders in our field. WCOA will continue to be scheduled alongside IFAC Council meetings.

In-person participants of WCOA 2026 will have the opportunity to join in plenary sessions, panel discussions, and hear from distinguished subject-matter experts. The event will include opportunities to attend networking events, in order to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among professionals from various sectors. In-person WCOA 2026 attendees will be comprised of IFAC PAO leadership (staff and volunteers), professional services firms, standard-setters, regulators and other government officials, representatives of multilateral and development agencies, and the business and investor communities. Select sessions will be livestreamed so that virtual attendees are included in these important conversations.    

 Lee White, IFAC Chief Executive Officer, said:

"Seoul is a vibrant, innovative, and truly international city—an ideal host for WCOA 2026. At this Congress, the importance of a resilient, adaptable, and global accountancy profession will be front and center. We are honored to partner with our esteemed member, KICPA, to bring the world together here—leaders, colleagues, and friends united by our shared commitment to the public interest. The value of a strong, global profession has never been more pronounced, nor more needed.

We look forward to creating a Congress where every moment matters—whether on stage in a plenary or in a simple conversation between two new acquaintances—each connection will help shape the future of our profession. And of course, we will be engaging deeply on the drivers reshaping that future: sustainability, AI, and how we attract and empower the next generation of talent."

Mr. Woon-Youl Choi, KICPA President said:

“We are delighted that Seoul has been selected as the host city for WCOA 2026. I am confident that WCOA 2026 will serve as a meaningful platform not only to address priorities in accounting, auditing, and sustainability, but also to explore the challenges and opportunities of AI-enabled digital innovation.

Over the years, Korea has consistently strengthened transparency and trust amid a rapidly evolving domestic and global environment. Through this Congress, we look forward to sharing our experience with the global community while co-creating new value for future generations.

KICPA will work closely with IFAC—from program design through on-site delivery—to ensure a high-quality and rewarding experience for all participants. We also invite every participant to experience Seoul’s vibrant culture and dynamic innovation ecosystem during the Congress and to leave with forward-looking insights.”

IFAC looks forward to working with KICPA to deliver a world-class event in November 2026. Subscribe to IFAC newsletters and follow us on LinkedIn for more announcements in the coming months. For more information on WCOA 2026, please email WCOA@IFAC.org.

About IFAC

IFAC, by connecting and uniting its members, makes the accountancy profession truly global.     

IFAC member organizations are champions of integrity and professional quality, and proudly carry their membership as a badge of international recognition.     

IFAC and its members work together to shape the future of the profession through learning, innovation, a collective voice, and commitment to the public interest.     

About KICPA

The Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants (KICPA), established in 1954 under the Certified Public Accountants Act, is the statutory professional body representing Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in Korea. Guided by the principle that sound accounting makes economic fundamentals sound, KICPA works to build trust and transparency in Korea's financial markets. Through setting professional standards, ensuring ethical conduct, and supporting continuous professional development, KICPA enables CPAs to serve the public interest, promote sound corporate governance, and contribute to Korea's economic development. KICPA is a member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the global home for the accountancy profession dedicated to serving the public interest.

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board is hosting a three-part global webinar series designed to assist sustainability assurance practitioners, firms, jurisdictional standard setters, and professional organizations as they adopt, implement, or apply International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements (ISSA 5000) Regulators, oversight bodies, and other stakeholders (e.g., preparers, those charged with governance or users of sustainability reporting) may also find these webinars helpful.

This series, ISSA 5000 in Focus, will take participants through ISSA 5000 from engagement acceptance, assessing risks and designing and performing procedures, and finally to concluding and reporting. Each webinar includes an explanation of ISSA 5000 requirements with practical implementation insights, real-world examples, and solutions to common challenges.

Across the three sessions, participants will:

• Gain an understanding of ISSA 5000 concepts, scope, and application.
• Enhance their understanding of the requirements of ISSA 5000, including addressing assurance issues that may be particularly challenging, such as materiality and value chain considerations.
• Explore common pitfalls and how to overcome them.
• Engage directly with IAASB experts during Q&A segments.

Each webinar will take place twice to accommodate different time zones and a global audience. The webinars will air via Zoom with livestreaming on YouTube.

Webinar #1: Foundational Principles and Concepts

• Register for October 1, 11:00 UTC
• Register for October 2, 18:00 UTC

Webinar #2: Engagement Planning, Risk Assessment & Response

• Register for October 7, 11:00 UTC
• Register for October 8, 18:00 UTC

Webinar #3: Concluding and Reporting on Sustainability Assurance Engagements

• Register for October 14, 11:00 UTC
• Register for October 15, 18:00 UTC

Additional details on each webinar are available below.

Webinar #1: Foundational Principles and Concepts

Dates: October 1 (11:00 UTC) or October 2 (18:00 UTC)
Being well prepared sets the tone for a successful sustainability assurance engagement. In this session, IAASB experts will walk participants through the fundamental concepts and underlying premises for applying ISSA 5000—explaining its scope, authority, and why it was developed—and addressing overarching matters in preparing to perform a high-quality sustainability assurance engagement, including making sound engagement acceptance decisions.

• Register for October 1, 11:00 UTC
• Register for October 2, 18:00 UTC

Webinar #2: Engagement Planning, Risk Assessment & Response

Dates: October 7 (11:00 UTC) or October 8 (18:00 UTC)
Planning, risk assessment and response are at the heart of delivering a robust sustainability assurance engagement. Together they enable the practitioner to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence as a basis for their sustainability assurance conclusion. This session explores what is key to an effective strategy and engagement plan under ISSA 5000, and the essential aspects of identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement of the sustainability information and designing and performing procedures to respond to those risks.

• Register for October 7, 11:00 UTC
• Register for October 8, 18:00 UTC

Webinar #3: Concluding and Reporting on Sustainability Assurance Engagements

Dates: October 14 (11:00 UTC) or October 15 (18:00 UTC)

The assurance engagement culminates in the practitioner’s conclusion about whether the sustainability information is free from material misstatement. The practitioner’s conclusion and assurance report are the ultimate deliverables of the sustainability assurance engagement and are designed to enhance the degree of confidence of intended users about the entity’s sustainability information. In this session, IAASB experts will guide participants through the final stages of the engagement process under ISSA 5000—the evaluation of evidence, forming a conclusion, and preparation of an assurance report.

• Register for October 14, 11:00 UTC
• Register for October 15, 18:00 UTC