CPA Ireland launches global online accounting resource for public sector accountants
The Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA Ireland) has today launched the online CPA Certificate in IPSAS Financial Reporting for accountants working in public sector organisations all around the world, particularly those in developing nations.
International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) are a set of accrual based accounting standards which aim to improve the quality of general purpose financial reporting, leading to better informed assessments of the resource allocation decisions made by governments.
Developed in partnership with Nelson Croom, a leading publisher of online professional development courses and launched at the World Congress of Accountants in Rome, is designed to teach accountants these internationally recognised standards and to develop their knowledge and competence in public sector financial reporting.
David FitzGerald, director of member services with CPA Ireland said: “Many countries still use cash based accounting in their public sector accounts. There is an international movement towards the adoption and implementation of IPSAS, in some cases supported by legislation. However, many countries do not have sufficient in country expertise to meet the educational requirements of their accountant population. CPA Ireland is delighted to partner with representative bodies in these nations to meet this need.”
There is a significant interest in the adoption of IPSAS in developing countries, because of the increased transparency and accountability these standards yield. The standards are based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).
The African Union, which represents 54 African countries, has recently adopted accrual based IPSAS as the basis of its accounting and financial reporting process.
The Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) is a progressive accountancy body, representing more than 20,000 members, approximately half of which work in the public sector. ANAN has already committed to the training of 1,000 accountants through IPSASAcademy.net.
Alhaji Sakirudeen Labode, ANAN president said, “If we truly desire to drop the toga of a developing country and join the league of developed nations, our reporting system must swing along the lines of the credible path. That will also lead to transparent presentation of financial positions through application of the standards.
“Many governments introduced IPSAS because it is considered to be good and transparent. While some adopt the standards wholesale, some adopt and modify the system, but the bottom line, however, is its universality. The use of IPSAS is steadily becoming more widely spread and increasingly relevant in public sector accounting around the world.”
Suitable candidates for the course include accountants working in national governments, regional governments, local governments and related governmental entities (e.g., agencies, boards and commissions). The benefits of adopting IPSAS include improved accountability, greater transparency, greater credibility, improved overall management and planning and harmonisation of reports and systems.
The course is authored by Dr Wayne Bartlett, FCCA, MBA, who has lectured extensively on the subject all over the world and academic oversight is provided by professor Robert Kirk, professor of financial reporting at the University of Ulster. It consists of 9 modules, with an assessment for each module, and an overall assessment. The course takes approximately 70 hours to complete, and on completion graduates are issued with the CPA Certificate in IPSAS Financial Reporting.
