The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has finalised significant revisions to the International Education Standards (IESs), embedding sustainability across the training of aspiring professional accountants. These changes reinforce the profession’s essential role in delivering high-quality sustainability reporting and assurance, grounded in integrity and professional excellence.
“IFAC and our members are shaping the future of the profession through learning, innovation, a united voice, and a shared commitment to the public interest,” said Lee White, IFAC Chief Executive Officer. “These updated education standards ensure that professional accountants worldwide are equipped with the competencies needed to implement sustainability reporting and assurance standards effectively.”
The revised IESs establish a global baseline for sustainability-related competencies, ensuring that professional accountants are prepared to apply disclosure and assurance standards issued by key global standard-setters, including the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), and the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB).
As sustainability information becomes integral to decision-making, transparency, and accountability, these updates equip accountants with the skills needed to deliver credible, decision-useful sustainability reporting that meets the expectations of management, investors, regulators, and other stakeholders.
Key Enhancements in Sustainability Education
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Integrated Sustainability Approach: Sustainability concepts are now embedded throughout the IES learning outcomes for initial professional development, enabling accountants to link financial and sustainability data effectively.
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New Assurance Competency Area: Introduces foundational learning outcomes to strengthen understanding of assurance principles.
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Enhanced Business Acumen: Expands learning related to assessing sustainability’s impact on business models, value chains, and strategic decision-making.
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Behavioural Competencies: Emphasises skills such as critical thinking, adaptability, collaboration, and ethical decision-making.
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Expanded Implementation Guidance: Offers improved explanatory materials to support adoption by professional accountancy organisations, educational institutions, and training providers.
Additionally, IES 6 (Initial Professional Development – Formal Assessment of Professional Competence) has been updated to include two new principles—integrity and authenticity—and an updated definition of equity, alongside guidance for hybrid and remote assessment methods.
These revisions reaffirm IFAC’s commitment to advancing a resilient, future-ready global profession. IFAC encourages early adoption, with the revised standards becoming effective from 1 July 2026.
Info obtained here
