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 SMP Committee submitted this comment letter to the IESBA in response to their Exposure Draft: Proposed Changes to Certain Provisions of the Code Addressing the Long Association of Personnel with an Audit or Assurance Client

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.

This strategy implementation plan for 2015 highlight IFAC's priorities for the coming year. Using IFAC’s Strategic Plan for 2013-2016 as the starting point, the Plan aligns the strategic objectives with four operating lines.

The IFAC website is now mobile friendly, having undergone a series of adjustments over the last few months.

The website is also now using Google Translate, which makes the entire site available in 80 languages. The Google Translate button is located on the upper right of the IFAC website, near the search field.

Please note, if you wish to reproduce or translate materials published by IFAC, you must still submit a request to the Translations & Permissions Department.