EY, CIPFA, IASeminars partner on worldwide training on IPSAS

Ernst & Young, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), and IASeminars have concluded arrangements to jointly offer a comprehensive range of training courses on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) in selected countries around the world.

The move is coming on the backdrop of the recent sovereign debt crisis that has reinforced the importance of credible and transparent reporting of government financial data.

The IPSAS enhance the quality of financial reporting and are being adopted around the world by an increasing number of governments, public authorities and international organisations, including the United Nations. Additionally, the European Union is considering the development of European Public Sector Accounting Standards (EPSAS) based on similar principles to IPSAS.

Speaking on the joint IPSAS training courses slated for June 11, 2014, at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja, Ian Carruthers, CIPFA’s policy and technical director and a member of the IPSAS Board, says: “CIPFA is delighted to be working with EY and IASeminars on this important project. There is a growing international demand for high-quality IPSAS training, and this new collaboration will help provide the skills needed to operate within the increasingly demanding world of international public finance.”

Thomas Müller-Marqués Berger, Global Leader, International Public Sector Accounting at EY and also a member of the IPSAS Board says: “As one of the global industry leaders in transparency, EY is pleased to be cooperating with two of the world’s leading IPSAS training providers. We also see this joint project as the logical next step in the already successful cooperation between CIPFA and EY, and we look forward to contributing our global knowledge and experience gained from large-scale IPSAS conversion projects.”

Ayodeji Ogunyemi, advisory director, EY Nigeria, on the other hand, says the opportunity that exists for EY, CIPFA and IASeminars to provide a one-stop support to organisations looking to implement IPSAS is huge, adding that EY Nigeria is positioned to provide hands-on implementation services to complement the training programme.

Meanwhile, EY, CIPFA and IASeminars will be holding an official launch event in Abuja on June 11, 2014, hosted by the British High Commission.