Welcome to IFAC's Professional Accountants in Business Committee (PAIB) eNews.

In This Issue:

1. Business Reporting Process Guidance Released by PAIB Committee
2. Reminder: Comment Period Coming to a Close for Strategy and Work Plan
3. PAIB Committee Submits Comment Letters on Relevant Issues, Publications
4. ACCA Virtual Conference Includes IFAC Presentation on Sustainability and Accountancy
5. PUMA Environmental P&L Methodology Receives Independent Approval
6. COSO Seeking New Board Chair
7. Recent News, Events, and Publications of Interest

1. Business Reporting Processes Guidance Released by PAIB Committee

Principles for Effective Business Reporting Processes, new International Good Practice Guidance (IGPG), has been released by the PAIB Committee. The guidance helps professional accountants in business work with their organizations to enhance business reporting processes, and discuss the key issues of developing effective processes. At the heart of the new guidance are 11 key principles for evaluating and improving business reporting processes, which are complemented by practical guidance outlining the critical arrangements that need to be in place for effective business reporting. The guidance can also be used to prepare for enhanced forms of business reporting, such as integrated reporting, and is designed for organizations of all sizes, structures, and sectors, as all organizations need to produce high-quality reports.

2. Reminder: Comment Period Coming to a Close for Strategy and Work Plan

The comment period for the proposed Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Strategy and Work Plan for 2013-2016 closes next week—January 31, 2013. The proposed plan outlines specific initiatives to improve recognition of the diverse roles professional accountants in business perform and how they need to be positioned to drive successful and sustainable organizations. As professional accountants in business make up more than half of all accountants in the world, they have the collective power to significantly influence their organizations in implementing effective governance and an ethical culture supported by integrated risk management and internal control, sustainable leadership, and effective reporting and performance management.

Additionally, the comment period for Project and Investment Appraisal for Sustainable Value Creation, proposed new International Good Practice Guidance, closes on February 28, 2013. The proposed IGPG will help the accountancy profession facilitate sustainable organizations, financial markets, and economies by taking into account economic, environmental, and social considerations for project appraisal and investment decisions.

3. PAIB Committee Submits Comment Letters on Relevant Issues, Publications

The PAIB Committee has submitted multiple comment letters recently on topics relating to the work and needs of professional accountants in business.

• Responding to a Suspected Illegal Act
  The PAIB Committee submitted a comment letter to the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA)’s proposed changes to the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, Responding to a Suspected Illegal Act. In the letter, the PAIB Committee makes the case for the IESBA to clarify the need for the proposed revisions, modify the wording to change aspects of reporting an illegal act from a “requirement” to “apply or be able to explain,” allow for cultural or legal differences, and clarify that resignation over a suspected illegal act should be the last resort of a professional accountant, among other recommendations.

• COSO’s Internal Control over External Financial Reporting
  In response to the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO)’s Internal Control over External Financial Reporting: Compendium of Approaches and Examples and Illustrative Tools for Assessing Effectiveness of a System of Internal Control, the PAIB Committee advocated for greater integration between internal control and risk management frameworks; revision of the internal control framework to embrace a wider perspective beyond applying internal control to reporting, operations, and compliance; and shortening the text of the framework.

• Invitation to Comment: Improving the Auditor’s Report
  The PAIB Committee’s response to the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB)’s Invitation to Comment, Improving the Auditor’s Report, drew heavily from Integrating the Business Reporting Supply Chain, which recommended specific improvements to auditor communication. The committee’s response emphasized the primary need for high-quality business reporting from organizations.

4. ACCA Virtual Conference Includes IFAC Presentation on Sustainability and Accountancy

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) recently invited IFAC's Head of Professional Accountants in Business, Stathis Gould, to address its Global Virtual Conference during the Business Models for a Green Economy session. Mr. Gould’s session, which drew more than 300 participants, touched on the overall global context for issues of sustainability, examples of models in use, and embedding sustainability into business practices. The presentation slides and audio file are available on the IFAC website.

5. PUMA Environmental P&L Methodology Receives Independent Approval

Footwear company PUMA recently received approval from independent experts gathered by its parent company, PPR, to review its approach to environmental profit and loss(P&L). In 2011, PUMA became the first major company to release an environmental P&L statement and put an economic value on greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption (see July 2011 PAIB Committee eNews for more information). The results of this independent methodology review found that PUMA’s approach “clearly applied credible valuation approaches.” For more information, see The Guardian Sustainability Blog.

6. COSO Seeking New Board Chair

COSO is seeking a new chair for a three-year term beginning June 1, 2013. The current chair, David Landsittel, is stepping down after serving for four years.

7. Recent News, Events, and Publications of Interest

• The World Bank has published a new report on climate change, Turning Down the Heat: Why a 4°C Warmer World Must Be Avoided. The report argues that the world could see significant, problematic changes, including extreme heat waves, declining food supplies, and rising sea levels, if greenhouse gas emissions aren’t lowered.
• The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) has released its prototype of the International Integrated Reporting Framework to “demonstrate progress towards defining key concepts and principles that underpin [integrated reporting] and support organizations’ ability to produce an integrated report.” Additionally, the IIRC has released:
  
• Emerging Examples Database to demonstrate emerging best practices;
• Understanding Transformation: Building the Business Case for Integrated Reporting;
• Video interviews with Pilot Programme participants discussing their experiences and approaches; and
• The Pilot Programme 2012 Yearbook: Capturing the Experiences of Global Businesses and Investors.

The Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the global organization for the accountancy profession with members and associates in 129 countries, has issued new International Good Practice Guidance, Principles for Effective Business Reporting Processes. This principles-based guidance establishes a benchmark for professional accountants in business to establish more effective business processes in the organizations in which they work.

"An organization’s sustainable success depends on the support of stakeholders and the quality of their decision making,” said Roger Tabor, chair of the PAIB Committee. “High-quality reporting is essential to both, and needs effective business processes to deliver it."

This guidance is directed at all organizations wishing to enhance their reporting processes—no matter their size or structure, or whether they are private or public, as all organizations should have effective reporting processes to provide high-quality reports for their internal and external stakeholders.

“Professional accountants in business are often involved in the design, planning, execution, audit, evaluation, and improvement—or, in short, the implementation—of their organizations’ reporting processes,” said Karyn Brooks, chair of the PAIB Committee’s Business Reporting Task Force. “This International Good Practice Guidance covers the primary issues professional accountants in business should address in implementing effective reporting processes in their organizations.”

About International Good Practice Guidance
International Good Practice Guidance (IGPG) issued by the PAIB Committee cover areas of international and strategic importance in which professional accountants in business are likely to engage. In issuing principles-based guidance, IFAC seeks to foster a common and consistent approach to those aspects of the work of professional accountants in business not covered by international standards. IFAC seeks to clearly identify principles that are generally accepted internationally and applicable to organizations of all sizes in commerce, industry, education, and the public and not-for-profit sectors. Previously issued IGPGs are available on the IFAC website, including Preface to IFAC’s International Good Practice Guidance.

About the PAIB Committee
The PAIB Committee serves IFAC member bodies and professional accountants worldwide who work in commerce, industry, financial services, education, and the public and the not-for-profit sectors. Its aim is to promote and contribute to the value of professional accountants in business by increasing awareness of the important roles professional accountants play, supporting member bodies in enhancing the competence of their members, and facilitating the communication and sharing of good practices and ideas.

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 173 members and associates in 129 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

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This International Good Practice Guidance from the IFAC Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee helps organizations enhance their reporting processes and discusses the key issues professional accountants in business need to address when implementing effective reporting processes in their organization. At the heart of the new guidance are 11 key principles for evaluating and improving business reporting processes, which are complemented by practical guidance outlining the critical arrangements that need to be in place for effective business reporting.

The Nominating Committee of IFAC has today issued the Call for Nominations for Boards and Committees in 2014. This announcement represents the beginning of the period for submitting nominations for available positions on the independent standard-setting boards* and the IFAC Board and committees. The period for nominations ends on March 15, 2013.

For 2014, there are 46 vacancies on boards and committees, including two leadership positions—the chairs of the Professional Accountancy Organization Development Committee and the Professional Accountants in Business Committee.

“The independent standard-setting boards and the IFAC Board and committees attract extremely talented and qualified individuals with wide-ranging experience, which contributes to their authority,” said IFAC President Warren Allen. “We thank all our stakeholders, including our members and the Forum of Firms, for their continued support and look forward to receiving their nominations.”

The Nominating Committee is looking for highly-qualified nominees who possess knowledge of the subject matters considered by the relevant board or committee, are proficient in English, and are willing to commit between 300 and 600 hours per year, depending on the board or committee. Nominations from the Africa-Middle East and the Latin America-Caribbean regions, as well as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) are particularly encouraged, as are nominations of female candidates.

All vacancies on the independent standard-setting boards are open for nominations by the public, including, for the first time, the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board. For more information regarding open vacancies, requirements for membership, and how to apply, please refer to the Call for Nominations.

The Nominating Committee follows an open and transparent process in selecting 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 www.ifac.org/about-ifac/structure-governance/nominating-committee.

IFAC encourages all members and associates to share the Call for Nominations with their membership in order to solicit the most talented professionals.

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 173 members and associates in 129 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

 *The independent standard-setting boards are 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).

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During the May 2012 Professional Accountancy Organization (PAO) Development Committee meeting held in Tunis, Tunisia, discussions were held on the success factors, opportunities, and challenges relevant to the accountancy profession in Africa. Key points have been summarized and refined into the following informal high-level guidance, which may be particularly informative and insightful to those individuals and organizations working to establish, strengthen, and/or further develop PAOs throughout Africa.

The SMP Committee submitted this comment letter to the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA)'s proposed changes to the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants addressing Responding to a Suspected Illegal Act.

The business advisory video series features interviews with SMP Committee Members Florin Toma, CPA, Romania, and Stuart Black, FCA, Australia. View all on the IFAC YouTube Channel.

The business advisory video series features interviews with SMP Committee Members Florin Toma, CPA, Romania, and Stuart Black, FCA, Australia. View all on the IFAC YouTube Channel.

The business advisory video series features interviews with SMP Committee Members Florin Toma, CPA, Romania, and Stuart Black, FCA, Australia. View all on the IFAC YouTube Channel.