The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has published a French-language translation of its 2007 Handbook of International Public Sector Accounting Pronouncements. This edition contains translations of 24 accrual basis International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs) and the comprehensive cash basis IPSAS. This translation revises the French edition of the 2005 Handbook of International Public Sector Accounting Pronouncements and will increase the accessibility of the most recent standards. This will further help to enhance the accountability and transparency of governmental financial reporting. Key changes from the previous translation include three additional IPSASs and revised versions of eleven other IPSASs.
IPSASs set out the requirements for financial reporting by governments and other public sector entities other than government business enterprises. The accrual IPSASs are based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to the extent that the requirements in those standards are applicable to the public sector.
"Providing an updated French translation is critical to the IPSASB's mission to assist public sector entities throughout the world, and, in particular, in the key constituencies of Francophone Europe, Africa, and North America," states Mike Hathorn, IPSASB Chairman.
The French translation of the IPSASs was undertaken by the IPSASB in conjunction with the International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation, which also prepares translations of IFRSs for the IASB. This will ensure that the English and French versions of the IPSASs converge with the respective English and French versions of the IFRSs, where appropriate.
It is important to note, however, that the English version of the IPSASs is the official authoritative version of the standards. The 2009 Handbook was recently released in English.
The French handbook is available free of charge in an electronic version from the IPSASB section of the IFAC online bookstore (www.ifac.org/store).
About IFAC
IFAC (www.ifac.org/) 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 157 members and associates in 123 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.