Ms. Gabriela Figueiredo Dias will become the first Chairwoman of the IESBA from January 1, 2022. Ms. Figueiredo Dias will succeed Dr. Stavros Thomadakis, who has led the IESBA since 2015.

Ms. Figueiredo Dias has extensive experience in international standard setting, legal and regulatory structure and governance, and academia. She currently serves as the President of the CMVM (Portuguese Securities Market Commission), the authority responsible for regulating and supervising the markets of financial instruments, covering listed companies, asset managers, auditors and investment firms. There, she provides strategic direction to the Board, manages the organization and represents it before International Organizations such as IOSCO and OECD, the European Commission and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), as well as the Portuguese Government, the National Council of Financial Supervisors and market stakeholders. She has also served as head of the international and regulatory policy department and of the issuers and financial information department at CMVM and has extensive experience in and understanding of financial regulatory frameworks. In addition, she has served as a member of the ESMA Board and Management Board, member of the IOSCO Board, Vice-Chair of the OECD Corporate Governance Committee, Chair of the ESMA Investment Management Standing Committee, and she will remain in office as non-executive President of the General Board of the University of Coimbra in Portugal. She holds a master’s degree in law from the Coimbra University Law School.

“I am honored to be selected as the next IESBA Chair during this critical time of transition for the Board and the profession,” said Ms. Figueiredo Dias. “As President of the Portuguese Securities Commission, I have advocated for strong international standards, based on robust ethical principles and developed with the public interest in mind. The IESBA’s work in setting high-quality, internationally appropriate ethics standards for auditors, including in respect to their independence, and other professional accountants in business, the public sector and public practice is critical to the integrity and robustness of the global financial system and architecture, and I look forward to leading the IESBA in playing an impactful role toward a more sustainable global economy and society.”

“Having experienced firsthand the demands of this role, I am confident Gabriela’s knowledge of the field and unwavering commitment to enhancing ethics on behalf of the public interest will be invaluable assets to the IESBA,” said Stavros Thomadakis, IESBA Chairman. “I look forward to Gabriela’s service to the IESBA and believe she will be a strong and assiduous proponent of the Board’s collective vision.”

Ms. Figueiredo Dias’ appointment was recommended by the Interim Nominating Committee after an independent and extensive global search. Her appointment was endorsed by the IFAC Board and approved by the Public Interest Oversight Board, which oversees the IESBA.

"I’m pleased to convey that the Interim Nominating Committee recommended Ms. Figueiredo Dias via a very competitive process," said Makoto Sonoda, Interim Nominating Committee Chair. "The Committee has full confidence in Ms. Figueiredo Dias who will bring her extraordinary experience, a clear vision, and a vast network to the IESBA, all of which will contribute to the Board’s public interest mandate and mission of strengthening ethics standards globally.”

About the IESBA

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) is an independent global standard-setting board. The IESBA’s mission is to serve the public interest by setting ethics standards, including auditor independence requirements, which seek to raise the bar for ethical conduct and practice for all professional accountants through a robust, globally operable International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (The Code).

About the Interim Nominating Committee

Chaired by Mr. Makoto Sonoda, Chair of the Committee on Issuer Accounting, Audit and Disclosure (Committee 1) of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and Director for International Accounting and Director for International Capital Market Regulation of the Financial Services Agency (FSA), the Interim Nominating Committee was formed by the Monitoring Group to conduct an independent global search for the new IESBA Chair.

Today IFAC completed its inaugural series—Exploring the IESBA Code—a unique, educational resource developed in collaboration with the staff of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA). Launched in November 2019, each installment of the series highlights important concepts and topics in the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards).

The final installment, released today, explains the “building blocks” structure of the Code and its interconnected nature. This installment is intended to help readers better understand how to use and navigate the Code so that they can quickly identify and access the ethics and independence standards and guidance relevant to them. Other topics covered in the series include: the fundamental principles, the conceptual framework, auditor independence, conflicts of interest, inducements, non-compliance with laws and regulations (NOCLAR), pressure, and the role and mindset expected of the professional accountant with a focus on bias.

“The Exploring the IESBA Code series is a very useful tool to complement the IESBA eCode,” said Dr. Stavros Thomadakis, IESBA Chairman. “Each installment provides a summary of important aspects of the Code with cues on how to read and apply its authoritative text. This final installment spotlights the purpose of the Code, how it is structured, and how it should be used—by accountants in business (PAIBs) and public practice (PAPPs), including auditors. The successful completion of this initiative demonstrates once again how IESBA’s and IFAC’s  partnership is valuable in supporting the global adoption and implementation of the Code.”

IFAC’s CEO, Kevin Dancey, said “The ethical foundation of the accountancy profession is one of its most important features. The Exploring the IESBA Code series demonstrates IFAC’s commitment to this ethical foundation and our role in supporting the important work of IESBA, as well as the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) and International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB). I encourage our members, professional accountancy organizations and national standard setters around the world to leverage this new resource—to help raise awareness of the Code and to help professional accountants uphold their public interest responsibility.” 

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 IESBA

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) is an independent global standard-setting board. The IESBA’s mission is to serve the public interest by setting ethics standards, including auditor independence requirements, which seek to raise the bar for ethical conduct and practice for all professional accountants through a robust, globally operable International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code).

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) today released the latest in its Exploring the IESBA Code educational series: Installment 8: Responding to Non-compliance with Laws and Regulations (NOCLAR) [for PAIBs].

The publication is part of a 12-month short series to help promote awareness of the provisions in the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code). Each installment focuses on a specific aspect of the Code using real-world situations in a manner that is relatable and practical. This NOCLAR installment is part 1 of 2 and is focused on explaining the actions that accountants in business, including senior professional such are directors, and officers are expected to take when they become aware of, or suspect a NOCLAR within their employing organizations. Part 2 will focus highlighting provisions that apply to auditors and other accountants in public practice in client service. Previous installments highlighted the Code’s five fundamental principles of ethics and conceptual framework, as well as more topic-specific requirements, such as independence and conflicts of interest.

“The Exploring the IESBA Code series is the result of a strong collaborative effort between the International Federation of Accountants and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA),” said Kevin Dancey, CEO of IFAC. “International standards are the bedrock on which our profession is built, and IFAC is committed to developing resources that raise awareness and encourage the adoption and implementation of such standards.”

Dancey continued, “We launched the Exploring the IESBA Code initiative last November to support the work of IESBA and highlight the substantively revised and restructured Code, including the digital eCode. We are pleased to see this material being used by professional accountancy organizations around the world to promulgate guidance on ethics and independence, and we will continue to support this important work.”

The Exploring the IESBA Code is published by IFAC and does not form part of the Code. It is non-authoritative and is not a substitute for reading the Code.  Click here to access this and future installments.

For more information about IFAC, visit www.ifac.org

For more information about the IESBA and the Code, visit www.ethicsboard.org

Highlights from the IESBA's December, 2019 meeting in New York, NY.

• 00:10 - Introduction: Diane Jules, IESBA Deputy Technical Director
• 01:04 - Highlights & Key Developments: Stavros Thomadakis, IESBA Chairman
• 04:51 - Non-Assurance Services: Richard Fleck, IESBA Deputy Chair
• 07:01 - Fees: Ian McPhee, IESBA Member
• 09:45 - Technology: Patricia Mulvaney, IESBA Member
• 14:00 - IAASB/IESBA Coordination: Sylvie Soulier, IESBA Member
• 16:08 - Final thoughts: Stavros Thomadakis, IESBA Chairman
• 16:51 - Closing Remarks: Diane Jules, IESBA Deputy Technical Director

This case study examines IPSAS adoption efforts in the Philippines, outlining the country context, structure of government, the accounting and auditing environment in the country, budget process, historical roots and capacity building involved. The case study also provides an executive summary and key takeaways from the Philippines adoption journey that can be useful for other countries.

The Western Balkan professional accountancy organizations (PAOs)—a group of PAOs comprising both IFAC members and non-members—have expressed interest in furthering their regional cooperation in the area of accountancy education and professional development in order to accelerate the development of the accountancy profession in the region.

Both IFAC and the World Bank Centre for Financial Reporting Reform (CFRR) have been working with the PAOs through their respective programming. In April 2018, the two organizations joined together to host a joint one-day Education Community of Practice workshop. Over 60 participants, including the leadership of PAOs from all over Europe, international experts, and members of IFAC’s Compliance Advisory Panel and PAO Development Committee participated in the event.

The workshop hosted panel sessions and open discussions where participants exchanged experiences, best practice examples, and the vision for the future.  

IFAC staff presented its recent International Standards: 2017 Global Status Report and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the accountancy profession at both a global level and for the Western Balkan region in particular. The report also highlights available resources, guidance, examples of best practice, and observations, including the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration and support from national, regional and global organizations to maintain the progress made thus far in the adoption and implementation of international standards.

Further details and materials from the workshop are available on the CFRR’s website.

Highlights from the IESBA's March 12 - 14, 2017 meeting New York, NY.

• 00:12 - Introduction: Ken Siong, IESBA Technical Director
• 00:45 - Highlights & Key Developments: Stavros Thomadakis, IESBA Chairman
• 03:57 - Professional Skepticism: James Barbour, IESBA Member 
• 06:09 - Inducements: Michael Ashley, IESBA Member
• 11:12 - Fees: Ian McPhee, IESBA Member
• 13:01 - Closing Remarks: Ken Siong, IESBA Technical Director

In July 2017, more than 80 representatives representing 15 professional accountancy organizations (PAOs) in the ASEAN region and neighboring Asia-Pacific countries, regional bodies, and donor and development agencies gathered in Hanoi, Vietnam to participate in a Statements of Membership Obligations (SMO) workshop, co-organized by the IFAC Quality & Development (Q&D) staff and the Vietnam Association of Certified Public Accountants (VACPA).

 Under the theme of Realizing the Power of PAOs: Credibility, Competency, and Collaboration, the one day workshop provided PAOs and key stakeholders the opportunity to take stock of the current state of the accountancy profession in the region and discuss challenges and successes affecting the profession. The main discussion points and conclusions from the workshop are available, which will be helpful to those working to strengthen PAOs.