Last updated: 22 Apr 2024 10:30 Posted in:
A new publication setting out four key areas where accountants need to update their knowledge to meet the growing demand for high-quality sustainability-related information has been published by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).
The report, ‘Equipping professional accountants for sustainability: what’s new and what hasn’t changed’, speaks to the vital role accountants play in producing reliable sustainability-related data, reporting and assurance, as well as the importance of education and training in ensuring professional accountants are able to meet society’s needs.
IFAC said: “Much of what accountants already do is transferable to sustainability; however, new topics and challenges require new ways of thinking and working. The framework aims to help professional accountants as well as professional accountancy organizations close any gaps between known and needed technical expertise, business acumen, behavioural competence, and ethics and professional values.”
The publication was developed following previous sustainability and education research as part of work to revise the International Education Standards and with the support of the IFAC International Panel on Accountancy Education.
It is available on the IFAC website and complements IFAC's existing resources on sustainability, including webinars, podcasts, and publications, all of which are available on the IFAC Knowledge Gateway.