Ipsasb

August 2007

In This Issue:

  1. IFAC Launches Multilingual Website; IPSASB Home Page Available in Multiple Languages
  2. Outcomes of July 2007 IPSASB Meeting
  3. Project Histories Now Available on IPSASB Home Page
  4. IPSASB Releases Strategic and Operational Plan
  5. French and Spanish Translations of 2007 Handbook Being Developed
  6. IPSASB Staff Changes
  7. Share IPSASB eNews with Your Colleagues
  8. Next Meeting

1. IFAC Launches Multilingual Website; IPSASB Home Page Available in Multiple Languages

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has launched a multilingual website that features a translated home page for the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB). The new home page provides information on the IPSASB in the six working languages of the United Nations, which are Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish, in addition to English, IFAC's official language. The multilingual IFAC website also provides information about its structure and governance, membership, IFAC's other independent standard-setting boards, and resources for small and medium practices and professional accountants in business - including those working in the public sector.

The multilingual IPSASB home page is available at http://www.ipsasb.org.

2.Outcomes of July 2007 IPSASB Meeting Available

Meeting Highlights and Decisions from the IPSASB's most recent meeting in Montreal, Canada on July 3-6 are now available in English, French, and Spanish. At the July meeting, the IPSASB discussed projects on the following topics:

  • Conceptual framework;
  • Employee benefits;
  • External assistance;
  • Impairment of cash-generating assets;
  • Financial instruments;
  • Service concession arrangements;
  • Social benefits; and
  • Updating International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs).

A number of documents relating to these projects were reviewed at this meeting, and the IPSASB plans to approve these for issue following its next meeting in November 2007. Meeting Highlights and background papers for the July meeting can be viewed at http://www.ifac.org/PublicSector/Meetings.php.

3. Project Histories Now Available on IPSASB Home Page

The IPSASB home page on IFAC's website features project histories and briefs for current IPSASB projects. The project histories, which are updated shortly after each IPSASB meeting, provide a quick reference on the status of active projects. To view histories and briefs for current IPSASB projects, please visit: http://www.ifac.org/PublicSector/Projects.php#InProgress.

4. IPSASB Releases Strategic and Operational Plan

The IPSASB's Strategic and Operational Plan, 2007-2009 is now available for review on its website. The plan sets out the direction and scope the IPSASB will take in fulfilling its objectives. It also provides information on the planned future direction of the IPSASB, including its work program.

5. French and Spanish Translations of 2007 Handbook Being Developed

French and Spanish translations of the 2007 IPSASB Handbook of International Public Sector Accounting Pronouncements are progressing. The IPSASB is working with the translators to make translations of more recently issued IPSASs available first. French and Spanish translations of the standards issued as part of the IPSASB's 2005 handbook may be downloaded free-of-charge from the IFAC online bookstore.

6. IPSASB Staff Changes

The IPSASB team has been joined by three new Technical Managers at its Toronto, Canada offices. They are Juan Zhang and Qing Song, who are both on secondement from the People's Republic of China, and Don Geiger. In addition, the IPSASB team says farewell and thank you to Aria Montcrieff, the IPSASB's New York-based Administrative Assistant, who has accepted a promotion within IFAC.

7. Share IPSASB eNews with Your Colleagues

The IPSASB issues regular eNews updates to keep you current on its activities and recent publications. Please forward this eNews to any interested colleagues and advise them that they can subscribe to receive this eNews by following these simple steps:

  1. Go to the eNews sign-up page at http://www.ifac.org/E-news/index.tmpl.
  2. Enter your email address, name and country.
  3. Select "Public Sector eNews" from the check list as well as any other eNews alerts that you would like to receive.

You will receive the next issue of the IPSASB eNews directly into your inbox.

8. Next Meeting

The next meeting of the IPSASB will be held in Beijing, China on November 27-30, 2007. The meeting is open to public observers. For more information and to register to attend, visit: http://www.ifac.org/PublicSector/#Meetings.

For more information about any of the items mentioned above or other information about the IPSASB, please contact: pr@ifac.org or visit the IPSASB's home page at http://www.ipsasb.org.

About IFAC

Founded in 1977, 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 155 members and associates in 118 countries, representing more than 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry and commerce. In addition to setting international public sector financial reporting standards through the IPSASB, IFAC, through its independent standard-setting boards, sets ethics, auditing and assurance, and education standards. It also issues guidance to encourage high quality performance by professional accountants in business.