Smart regulation, heightened transparency and inclusive growth are needed for global economic progress. These three priorities encapsulate the themes in the IFAC Call to Action ahead of the 2018 G20 Summit.

G20 countries play a crucial role in fostering institutions and governance models that can anticipate, respond to, and mitigate future crises. 

With low levels of public trust threatening confidence in the institutions that support the global economy, IFAC's ten recommendations focus on rebuilding this trust.

IFAC (the International Federation of Accountants) today calls upon G20 countries to pursue smart regulation, heightened transparency, and inclusive growth to rebuild trust in institutions and advance global economic progress.

“Low levels of public trust threaten both economic and political stability,” said Fayezul Choudhury, IFAC CEO. “Leaders in government and business must work together to bolster good governance and collaborate for effective public policies that inspire confidence in the institutions supporting the global economy.”

G20 countries play a crucial role in fostering institutions and governance models that can anticipate, respond to, and mitigate future crises. In advance of the 2018 G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, IFAC issues 10 actionable recommendations for G20 countries to support the global economy.

Develop Smarter Regulation

Regulation must effectively support the public interest through well-targeted conception, effective design and committed implementation. To achieve smarter regulation, G20 countries must:

• Develop and adopt consistent, comprehensive, and high-quality regulation
• Create a coherent, transparent global regulatory environment that limits divergence; and
• Implement internationally-accepted standards to enhance confidence and stability in the global financial system.

Increase Transparency

Robust transparency in the public and private sectors is key to earn public trust, fight corruption, encourage good governance and promote ethical business practices. To increase transparency in the global economy, G20 countries must:

• Strengthen governance in the public and private sectors
• Embrace integrated reporting
• Enhance public sector financial management; and
• Collaborate to tackle corruption.

Enable Inclusive Growth

The fruits of a growing global economy must be shared inclusively to inspire confidence in the future. To enable inclusive growth, G20 countries must:

• Foster an environment that supports small- and medium-sized entity growth
• Create a secure and digital-ready investment environment; and
• Collaborate for a coherent international tax system.

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.

IFAC (International Federation of Accountants) seeks volunteers with a strong commitment to the public interest to contribute to the strength and vitality of accountancy globally and its future by serving on the IFAC board and committees.

The Call for Nominations for the IFAC Board and Committees in 2020 details openings and requirements for successful nominations for membership on the IFAC Board and three IFAC committees— Professional Accountancy Organization Development, Professional Accountants in Business, and Small and Medium Practices Committees.

The Nominating Committee encourages all IFAC members to review the Call for Nominations, including vacancy details and composition targets. Gender equality is especially important to the Nominating Committee to ensure balance; nominations of qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged. The companion guide offers strategic guidance in selecting candidates, including identifying the most qualified and diverse nominee for each available position to reflect the depth and breadth of the global accountancy profession.

Nominations can be submitted online via the Nominations Database by February 15, 2019. Additional information on the Nominating Committee and its open, transparent selection process is available on 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. 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.

This Call for Nominations for the IFAC Board and Committees in 2020 sets out the upcoming opportunities for membership in 2020 on the IFAC Board and committees:

IFAC publishes Developing a Nominations Strategy to assist nominating organizations and self-nominees through the nominations process for vacancies on the IFAC board and committees and the independent standard-setting boards: the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), and International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB).

This resource provides an overview of the different types of data analytics and their applications to financial reporting and audit, as well as usage in business, to uncover valuable insights.

Sheila Fraser, O.C., FCPA, FCA, was a member of the IFAC board from November 2018 to May 2021, nominated by CPA Canada.

Ms. Fraser served as Auditor General of Canada from 2001 to 2011, the first female to hold this position. Born in Dundee, Quebec, Ms. Fraser earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University in 1972 and became a Chartered Accountant in 1974.

Ms. Fraser enjoyed a fruitful and challenging career with the firm of Ernst & Young, where she became a partner in 1981. In the Quebec City office, she was responsible for a wide range of private and public sector clients. She joined the Office of the Auditor General of Canada as Deputy Auditor General in January 1999.

Ms. Fraser has always been active in her profession, at both the provincial and national levels. For her noteworthy service to the auditing and accounting professions, Ms. Fraser was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2018. She was awarded the designation "Fellow" by the Ordre des comptables agréés du Québec in 1994 and by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario in 2000. She was a 2009 recipient of the ICAO Award of Outstanding Merit, the highest honor that the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario can bestow upon its members. Ms. Fraser has also been awarded honorary degrees from 18 Canadian universities, which recognize her contribution to accounting, legislative auditing and public administration.

Ms. Fraser is currently a member of the Board of the Canadian Public Accountability Board and the Board of Directors of Manulife Financial Corporation. She also previously served on the Board of Directors for IISD Experimental Lakes Area Inc., chaired the Audit and Evaluation Advisory Committee of the United Nations Development Program and served as a Trustee and Vice-chair of the IFRS Foundation, the oversight body of the International Accounting Standards Board

Visionary French accountancy leader, Mr. René Ricol, was today awarded the international accountancy professions’ highest honor, the IFAC Global Leadership Award in Honor of Robert Sempier.

“René Ricol has served the global accountancy profession with distinction,” said IFAC’s immediate past President Rachel Grimes. “During his term as IFAC President, he was a passionate advocate for standard-setting in the public interest, initiating, with international regulators and standard setters, enhancements that led to the current arrangements for setting international audit and ethics standards and helping to create the shared public-private model we recognize and still strongly support today.”

Mr. Ricol is a Chartered accountant, financial expert, and former expert of the court of last resort (Cour de Cassation). He was recognized as Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit and Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor in July 2011. He also received the Grand Cross Medal of the National Order of Merit in 2014.

He joined IFAC’s Board in October 1997 and served as the IFAC President from November 2002 to November 2004. From 1994 to 1998, he was President of the Ordre des Experts Comptables and was President of the Compagnie Nationale des Commissaires aux Comptes from 1985 to 1989.

Since 1991, he has served as President of the Observatoire National des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises. He is one of the founders and primary movers of the “Tous Pour l’Emploi” movement, set up with the help of professional associations and organizations to help businesses create jobs.

In August 2005, the Prime Minister entrusted him with the mission to restructure the l'Agence Pour la Création d’Entreprises (APCE), where he led the adoption of a strategic plan and implementation of a new governance structure.

Mr. Ricol was also Chairman of “France Investissement” (France Investment) set up by the government in partnership with private investors to accelerate the development of capital investment in France and increase available funds for small and medium sized companies.

In 2008, he led the development of a report about the financial crisis for President Nicolas Sarkozy who subsequently said in an interview that all the decisions made by the G4, G5, G20 were proposed in this report. René Ricol was subsequently appointed as National Credit Mediator to support and help businesses facing financial issues.

As General Commissioner for Public Investment from 2010 until 2012, he was in charge of the management of 35 billion euro of investments for the development of a future-oriented French economy.

He initiated what would become the pact of responsibility and solidarity announced by François Hollande in December 2013.

In September 2014, René Ricol was entrusted by the French President François Hollande with a mission related to retirement savings’ mobilization to support French economy. 

About the IFAC Global Leadership Award
Established in 2017 by the IFAC Board, the IFAC Global Leadership Award in Honor of Robert Sempier recognizes individuals who make outstanding contributions to the global accountancy profession. The award honors the contributions of Robert Sempier, IFAC’s first executive director and replaces two past IFAC Awards—the Robert Sempier Award (established in 1991) and the IFAC International Gold Service (IGS) Award (established in 2010).

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.

Analyzing data captured by IFAC and CIPFA's International Public Sector Financial Accountability Index, this 2018 Status Report analyzes information from 150 jurisdictions across the globe to develop an understanding of public sector financial reporting. The results paint a positive picture for future accrual and adoption efforts globally.

Today IFAC (the International Federation of Accountants), the voice of the global accountancy profession, announced the election of Dr. In-Ki Joo of the Republic of Korea as its President. Dr. Joo will serve a two-year term through November 2020, serving previously as IFAC Deputy President since November 2016.

A leading academic voice in accountancy, Dr. Joo is a Professor, Emeritus, of Accounting at the Yonsei University School of Business. He previously served as the Dean of the University College and the Dean of Academic Affairs at Yonsei University.

Dr. Joo’s commitment to serving and representing the profession is evident in his varied and deep leadership roles, including on the Board of LG Electronics and for the Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Throughout his career, Dr. Joo has additionally served in top leadership positions at the Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants, the Korean Accounting Association, the Korean Academic Society of Business Administration, and the Korean Academy of Business Ethics.

“I believe strongly in the potential of the profession to support the growth and stability of organizations, financial markets, and global economic progress,” said Dr. Joo. “I am honored and energized to lead IFAC during this time of great change and opportunity for our profession. In particular, I look forward to focusing on a future ready profession which harnesses the strength of its education platforms and commitment to ethics.”

IFAC also announced the election of Alan Johnson as Deputy President. Mr. Johnson’s more than three decades in the public and private sector of the profession includes a recent appointment as Non-executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at the Department for International Development (DFID) in the UK.

Previously, Mr. Johnson was CFO of Unilever’s global foods business, responsible for leading the finance functions in over 80 countries. He has also led Unilever’s global internal audit function and has worked in seven countries across Europe, Africa, and Latin America.

Mr. Johnson is a former Director of Jerónimo Martins SGPS, S.A., an $18 billion food retailer with operations in Portugal, Poland, and Colombia.

New Board Members Elected
The IFAC Council elected six new members to the IFAC Board, spanning four continents:

• Sheila Fraser of Canada, nominated by Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada)
• Margrét Pétursdóttir of Iceland, nominated by Nordic Federation of Public Accountants (NRF)
• Christine Ramon of South Africa, nominated by South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
• Jianhua Tang of China, nominated by Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CICPA)
• Ayse Ariak Tunaboylu of Turkey, nominated by Expert Accountants' Association of Turkey (EAAT)/ Union of Chambers of Certified Public Accountants of Turkey (TURMOB)
• Lisa Padmore of Barbados, nominated by Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados (ICAB)

IFAC Admits New Member Organization
IFAC is pleased to admit the Association of Accountants of the Republic of Latvia (AARL) as a new member organization, sponsored by the Latvian Association of Certified Auditors.

Established in 1994 with the objective to certify and improve the professional skills of accountants, the AARL has shown great progress since admission as an IFAC Associate in 2013, particularly in the area of international standards adoption.

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.