The Call for Applications: Chair of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board^® (IPSASB^®) was issued today, seeking an exceptional individual to serve as IPSASB Chair beginning January 1, 2016.

The Chair will lead the strategic direction of the IPSASB and facilitate the deliberative and consultative processes that underpin the authority and credibility of the IPSASB, its standards, and activities. In addition, the Chair is responsible for developing and maintaining effective relationships with national standard setters, regulators, and other key stakeholders.

The successful candidate for the position must have demonstrated technical and professional competency, including relevant experience in the public sector and public sector accounting; a commitment to the IPSASB mission; and a dedication to the public interest that is genuine, time-tested, and global in nature. The successful candidate will have effective leadership, communication, and strategic skills; an ability to work effectively among numerous cultures and professional specializations; strong public speaking and communications skills for both technical and non-technical audiences; and proficiency in oral and written English.

The IPSASB Chair reports functionally to a public interest oversight authority and refers to the Managing Director, Professional Standards, as a resource and key source of advice. The IPSASB Chair is initially appointed for a three-year term and can be re-appointed twice for a total service of nine years.

For further information about the position and instructions on how to apply, please see the Call for Applications: Chair of the IPSASB on the IFAC website. Applications are due by February 6, 2015.

About the IPSASB
The IPSASB develops accounting standards and guidance for use by public sector entities.  It 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.  The structures and processes that support the operations of the IPSASB are facilitated by IFAC.

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 more than 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board^® (IAASB^®) today released its Strategy for 2015–2019: Fulfilling Our Public Interest Mandate in an Evolving World and its Work Plan for 2015–2016: Enhancing Audit Quality and Preparing for the Future. The Strategy and Work Plan illustrate the IAASB’s commitment to strengthening public confidence in financial reporting and contributing to the ongoing relevance of the financial statement audit, while staying abreast of emerging developments to ensure its work addresses pertinent public interest matters relevant to its wide range of stakeholders.

The board’s five-year Strategy is underpinned by three strategic objectives that reflect a continued focus on International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) as the basis for high-quality audits, the importance of the IAASB’s standards for other services to address emerging needs of stakeholders, and the board’s intention to strengthen collaboration with others to address public interest matters relevant to its work. These objectives will guide the board’s work throughout the five-year period.

“The widespread and growing international use of the clarified ISAs underscores the importance of the IAASB continuing to focus its efforts on maintaining the quality and proportionality of these standards, and to meeting the expectations that stakeholders have regarding their application,” noted Prof. Arnold Schilder, IAASB Chairman. “As a result, the board’s initial focus in its five-year strategy is designed to address key topics relevant to audits, while at the same time monitoring other relevant developments.”

Influenced by the findings from the IAASB’s ISA Implementation Monitoring project and its extensive outreach program, the Work Plan for the next two years prioritizes the most pertinent public interest issues and impacts on audit quality, including group audits, quality control, professional skepticism, and audit considerations relevant to financial institutions.

The IAASB also recognizes the role that its other assurance and related services standards play in addressing the needs of investors and other users as financial and integrated reporting evolves. Explains Kathleen Healy, IAASB Technical Director, “The ongoing work of our Innovation Working Group, as well as considerations of whether our standards for services other than audits are meeting the needs of small- and medium-sized entities, will be invaluable in keeping the board informed of matters relevant to its stakeholders and informing future standard-setting and other activities.”  

About the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB)
The IAASB 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 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 over 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®) today published its Statements of Membership Obligations (SMOs) 1-7 (Revised) in the Spanish language.

The Revised SMOs are the first Spanish-language publication to result from IFAC’s Ibero-American cooperation framework, known as the IberAm project. Established in 2012, the IberAm project—which includes IFAC and its member bodies Instituto de Censores Jurados de Cuentas de España, Federación Argentina de Consejos Profesionales de Ciencias Económicas, and Instituto Mexicano de Contadores Públicos—is an IFAC-authorized translation and review process that strives to achieve longer-term, sustainable processes for single Spanish translations of international standards and other IFAC publications. The Interamerican Accounting Association, IFAC’s regional organization for Latin America and the Caribbean, is an observer to the project.  In addition, the project involves a Review Committee of technical experts representing IFAC member bodies in nine Spanish speaking countries.

“A significant number of IFAC’s member organizations are in countries where Spanish is the official language, so the IberAm Project, and our Spanish speaking member bodies and regional organization, are truly making valuable contributions to the profession,” said IFAC’s Chief Executive Officer Fayez Choudhury. “The IberAm Project’s motto is ‘The whole is greater than the sum of the parts,’ and its members have demonstrated admirable cooperation and collaboration. We are gratified that this translation—and future ones—will help advance IFAC’s goal of widespread adoption and implementation of international standards, and we are pleased to serve as a natural facilitator and trusted intermediary.”

Many additional Spanish translations are scheduled over the coming months. One of the most significant will be the 2013 edition of the Handbook of International Quality Control, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance, and Related Services Pronouncements from the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. Other publications include ones from the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants, International Accounting Education Standards Board, IFAC’s Small and Medium Practices Committee, IFAC’s Professional Accountants in Business Committee, and IFAC’s Professional Accountancy Organization Development Committee.

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 over 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

Now there are more ways to access the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants™ (the Code) developed by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants^® (IESBA^®, the Ethics Board). The newly released, web-based 2014 Code is designed to provide enhanced access and greater ease of use and navigation.

“Digital is now the preferred medium of communication. It is also how the tech-savvy world today will want to access and use the wealth of materials produced by the board. The board intends to move with the times, technologically,” said interim IESBA Chair Wui San Kwok. “The board will continue to look at ways to utilize the immense technological possibilities in making the Code and other board materials more accessible and usable, including enhancing research, link, and filter functionalities.”

Key features of the web-based Code include the ability to:

• Find relevant pages and sections using a powerful keyword search;
• Display definitions of key terms within the text;  
• Navigate sequentially or by using the interactive table of contents; and
• Access previous editions and links to translations, most of which are hosted on third-party sites.

Related to the new platform, the IESBA is currently consulting on ways to improve the structure and delivery of the Code. Additional features may be incorporated into the platform in the future. See the Consultation Paper released earlier this month, and submit your comments by February 4, 2015.

Users can continue to purchase print copies of the Code, or download or print it from the Ethics Board’s website: www.ethicsboard.org.  

About the IESBA
The IESBA develops ethics 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 other pronouncements. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IESBA are facilitated by IFAC. Please visit www.ethicsboard.org for more information, and follow us on Twitter @Ethics_Board.

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 over 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants^® (IESBA^®, the Ethics Board) today released for public comment the Exposure Draft (ED), Proposed Changes to Part C of the Code Addressing Presentation of Information and Pressure to Breach the Fundamental Principles. The proposals respond to the need for more robust and practical guidance to help professional accountants in business (PAIBs) deal with two matters on which they most often seek assistance in practice: their responsibility to produce financial reports that are faithful representations of the economics of transactions, and pressure to breach fundamental ethical principles.

“PAIBs play an important role in the financial reporting supply chain, and they may encounter pressure to act unethically. The proposed guidance will help them understand what their options are, and therefore better support them in fulfilling their responsibility to act in the public interest,” said interim IESBA Chair Wui San Kwok. “The proposal also clarifies that when preparing financial information, exercising discretion—for example, when selecting an accounting method—in a manner that is intended to mislead is not acceptable.

Among the proposed changes are:

• Fuller and more explicit guidance regarding PAIBs’ responsibilities when presenting information;
• Strengthened guidance on how a PAIB can disassociate from misleading information;
• An expanded description of pressure that may lead to a breach of the fundamental principles in the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants™ (the Code) together with practical examples to illustrate different kinds of situations in which such pressure may arise; and
• New guidance to assist PAIBs in identifying and responding to pressure that could result in a breach of the fundamental principles.

The Ethics Board is also proposing a number of related changes to other areas within Part C of the Code.

“The development of this enhanced guidance reflects a rebalancing of the board’s focus to be more inclusive of PAIBs, a very large and important part of the accountancy profession,” noted IESBA Technical Director Ken Siong. “It will serve to remind PAIBs of some of the fundamental ethical principles by which they should be guided in their different roles within their organizations, and with which they must comply.”

How to Comment
The Ethics Board invites all those with an interest in international ethics standards for the accountancy profession to respond to the Exposure Draft. To access the ED and submit a comment, please visit the Ethics Board’s website at www.ethicsboard.org. Comments are requested by April 15, 2015. The Ethics Board encourages national and regional professional accountancy organizations to share the ED and encourage participation from their members and employees.

About the IESBA
The IESBA develops ethics 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 other pronouncements. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IESBA are facilitated by IFAC. Please visit www.ethicsboard.org for more information, and follow us on Twitter @Ethics_Board.

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 over 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The Notice of the Call for Nominations for the Independent Standard-Setting Boards in 2016 was issued today. The Notice of 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 2016, there are 25 vacancies on the independent standard-setting boards. All 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.

The official Call for Nominations for the Independent Standard-Setting Boards in 2016 will be issued on January 14, 2015, and nominations may be submitted from January 14 to March 15, 2015. The Notice of the Call is issued in advance of the Call for Nominations to allow sufficient time for all stakeholders to prepare for the next nominations cycle.

To assist nominating organizations and self-nominees, the International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®) has published Developing a Nominations Strategy, which was also released today. Along with the Notice of the Call, the documents provide information on the relevant membership qualifications, including the required time commitment and performance expectations for volunteers and to offer strategic and practical guidance in identifying the most qualified candidate for each available position.

The Nominating Committee follows an open and transparent process to select the best 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 Nominating Committee web page.

About the IAASB
The IAASB 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 IFAC.

About the IAESB
The IAESB develops education standards, guidance, and information papers for use by IFAC member bodies 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 develops ethics 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 other pronouncements. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IESBA are facilitated by IFAC. Please visit www.ethicsboard.org for more information, and follow us on Twitter @Ethics_Board.

About the IPSASB
The IPSASB develops accounting standards and guidance for use by public sector entities. It 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. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IPSASB are facilitated by IFAC.

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. Founded in 1977, it is comprised of over 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®) and the donor signatories of MOSAIC (Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Accountancy and Improve Collaboration) launched the MOSAIC website last week at the World Congress of Accountants in Rome, Italy.  IFAC, the global organization for the accountancy profession with members and associates in 130 countries, developed the website with support by the donors. The new site underpins the collaborative nature of MOSAIC, which aims to strengthen the accountancy profession globally by enabling international donors and professional accountancy organizations (PAOs) to better support development of the capacity of the accountancy profession in emerging and developing economies.

“The MOSAIC website provides a global platform to facilitate knowledge sharing,” said Fayez Choudhury, CEO of IFAC. “The launch of this website highlights an important step in a strategic approach to strengthen and maintain the capacity of the accountancy profession in both the public and private sectors and improve the global financial system.”

The site collates resources from diverse sources into one site, enabling users to access regulations governing accountancy in specific nations, guidance on best practices in growth of the profession in emerging economies, and the overall status of broader development issues in varying nations and regions, among other resources. The site features interactive maps that provide the status of the accountancy profession in specific nations, the development need, and national and regional PAOs and contact details. In addition to national and regional resources, the website also highlights five key topic areas for important resources and news—Education and Certification, International Standards, Legislation and Regulation, PAO Capacity Building, and Public Sector Financial Management, all critical areas for the profession.

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. Its objective is to increase the capacity of professional accountancy organizations 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. MOSAIC’s signatories are the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Australian Agency for International Development (now Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia Aid), Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Development Cooperation (FINNIDA), GAVI Alliance, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Inter-American Development Bank, International Federation of Accountants, New Zealand Aid Programme (NZAid), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), UK Department for International Development (DFID), US Agency for International Development (USAID), and The World Bank.

MOSAIC was signed on November 30, 2011, in Busan, Korea at the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and convened to review global progress in improving the impact and value of development aid and to commit to further ensure that aid reduces poverty and support progress toward the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.

About the World Congress of Accountants (WCOA)
Sponsored by of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the WCOA is the foremost international event for the profession, bringing together thousands of delegates from around the world to discuss, share, and debate ideas and global solutions to the issues affecting the profession in the interest of the world’s citizens, investors and businesses. It has been held every five years since 1977 and every four years since 2002, and attended by professionals and prominent business leaders, including professional accountants, international regulators, standard setters, government officials, and corporate leaders.

WCOA 2014, hosted by the Consiglio Nazionale dei Dottori Commercialisti e degli Esperti Contabili (CNDCEC), took place November 10-13 in Rome’s Auditorium Parco della Musica. The theme—2020 Vision: Learning from the Past, Building the Future—explored the pivotal role of accounting amid rapid economic, political, and social change. The Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation was the imperial sponsor.

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. Founded in 1977, it is comprised of over 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The Notice of the Call for Nominations for the IFAC Board and Committees in 2016 was issued today along with the companion guide, Developing a Nominations Strategy. The Notice of the Call sets out the upcoming opportunities for membership on the Board of the International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®), the global organization for the accountancy profession with more than 175 members and associates in 130 countries, and its Compliance Advisory Panel, Professional Accountancy Organization Development Committee, Professional Accountants in Business Committee, Small and Medium Practices Committee, and Nominating Committee.

For 2016, there are 31 vacancies on the Board and committees, including the chair of the Compliance Advisory Panel. All vacancies on the Board and committees are open for nominations by IFAC members.

The Nominating Committee encourages all IFAC members to review the Notice of the Call, including the detailed information regarding open vacancies, composition targets, specific membership qualifications, and requirements for the Board and each committee. It also offers strategic guidance in selecting candidates, including identifying the most qualified nominee for each available position.

The official Call for Nominations will be issued on January 15, 2015, and nominations may be submitted from January 15 to March 15, 2014. The Notice of the Call is issued in advance of the Call for Nominations to allow sufficient time for stakeholders to prepare for the next nominations cycle.

The Nominating Committee follows an open and transparent process in selecting the best candidates for the available positions while also striving 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 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. Founded in 1977, it is comprised of over 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants^® (IESBA^®, the Ethics Board) today released its 2013 Annual Report, Reinforcing Trust in the Profession.

The report provides a summary of the Ethics Board’s 2013 achievements and includes developments on key projects and initiatives that have continued to progress throughout 2014. In particular, it highlights the board’s extensive efforts in reaching out to stakeholders, and the developments of the board that centered on building public trust in both the profession and the IESBA’s Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (the Code).

The 2013 Annual Report pays tribute to the board’s late chair Jörgen Holmquist and includes a number of key messages that he had expressly wished to convey prior to his passing in March 2014, including the importance of maintaining the board’s focus on setting principles-based standards that are globally operable.

“Ethics is the foundation on which public trust in the accounting profession is built. For this reason, the ethics standards in the Code play a critical role in supporting professional accountants globally in fulfillment of their responsibility to act in the public interest,” said Wui San Kwok, interim IESBA chair. “The board, under Jörgen’s leadership, made significant strides in 2013 in advancing its technical agenda to ensure that the Code remains a set of high-quality, globally accepted ethics standards, and in forging broader and deeper relationships with its constituencies through its outreach program. The board is committed to continuing this momentum, including promoting the Code and its widespread adoption.”

The Annual Report includes a report from Kristian Koktvedgaard, the chair of the IESBA’s Consultative Advisory Group (CAG), which outlines the technical and strategic input the CAG provided to the Ethics Board on its work program initiatives during the year.

To access and download the 2013 IESBA Annual Report, visit www.ethicsboard.org.

About the IESBA
The IESBA develops ethics 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 other pronouncements. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IESBA are facilitated by IFAC. Please visit www.ethicsboard.org for more information, and follow us on Twitter @Ethics_Board.

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 over 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®), the global organization for the accountancy profession with members and associates in 130 countries, presented its Sempier Award to Ndung’u Gathinji of Kenya, during the World Congress of Accountants (WCOA) Closing Ceremony in Rome, Italy. Presented by IFAC President Olivia Kirtley, the award recognizes outstanding contributions to the accountancy profession by an individual over of a period of many years.

“Mr. Gathinji has worked tirelessly to promote the accountancy profession in Kenya and Africa,” Ms. Kirtley said. “His pioneering efforts to launch the Pan African Federation of Accountants, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya, and the former Eastern, Central, and Southern African Federation of Accountants have ensured that the value of the profession has been understood and embraced in Africa in a way that would have been otherwise impossible. Mr. Gathinji is a recognized leader in and passionate activist for the profession and I am both honored and delighted to present him with this award.”

Mr. Gathinji served IFAC for 23 years in many different capacities. He instilled in IFAC, the donor community, and other stakeholders, the principle of working together to support the growth of PAOs in developing and emerging markets. As a chair of the Developing Nations Task Force, his commitment to the importance of accountancy and PAOs in emerging and developing economies helped to ensure continued global attention and the establishment of the permanent Developing Nations Committee (now the PAO Development Committee), which he chaired. Mr. Gathinji also served as a member of the IFAC Board and a member of the Nominating Committee.

In addition, Mr. Gathinji helped establish the African Federation of Stock Exchanges Association in 1993 and has served as its Honorable Secretary since. He was a member of the Standards Advisory Council of the International Accounting Standards Committee and an observer representing Africa at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting. Mr. Gathinji is the Chairman of Drummond Investment Bank Limited and a former Chairman of the Nairobi Securities Exchange Ltd.

About the IFAC Robert Sempier Award
The IFAC Robert Sempier Award was created by the IFAC Council in 1991 to honor the contributions of Robert Sempier, IFAC’s first executive director. It is intended to recognize outstanding contributions to the accountancy profession by an individual over a period of many years, and is presented at the World Congress of Accountants, now held every four years. Previous award recipients have been Bob Sempier (1992), Gordon H. Cowperthwaite (1997), Sir Bryan Carsberg (2002), Marilyn Pendergast (2006), and Robert Mednick (2010).

About the World Congress of Accountants (WCOA)
Sponsored by of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the WCOA is the foremost international event for the profession, bringing together thousands of delegates from around the world to discuss, share, and debate ideas and global solutions to the issues affecting the profession in the interest of the world’s citizens, investors and businesses. It has been held every five years since 1977 and every four years since 2002, and attended by professionals and prominent business leaders, including professional accountants, international regulators, standard setters, government officials, and corporate leaders.

WCOA 2014, hosted by the Consiglio Nazionale dei Dottori Commercialisti e degli Esperti Contabili (CNDCEC), takes place November 10-13 in Rome’s Auditorium Parco della Musica. The theme—2020 Vision: Learning from the Past, Building the Future—explores the pivotal role of accounting amid rapid economic, political, and social change. The Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation is the imperial sponsor.

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. Founded in 1977, it is comprised of over 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.