Global influence

The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) is proactive in ensuring that the profession’s voice remains influential and is heard globally.

Canada’s Chartered Accountants (CAs) are a founding member of the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA).  The GAA is made up of 11 of the world's leading accounting bodies, brought together to promote quality services, share information and collaborate on important international issues.  It represents over 775,000 professional accountants

The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) is a founding member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and remains an active participant.

Professional standards

IFAC is dedicated to serving the public interest by strengthening the accountancy profession, contributing to the development of strong international economies and establishing and promoting high quality professional standards.

CICA’s voice on the global stage

Kevin Dancey, FCA, President and CEO, CICA, is an IFAC Board member. The CICA’s active participation with IFAC gives Canadian Chartered Accountants a voice on the global stage. It also allows Canadian CAs to share ideas and experiences with international colleagues to the enrichment of all of us.

IFAC background

Founded in 1977, IFAC is the worldwide organization for the accountancy profession. It comprises 167 members and associates in 127 countries, representing more than 2.5 million accountants employed in public practice, industry and commerce, government and academe.

IFAC is based in New York City and is staffed by accounting and other professionals from around the world.

The Global Accounting Alliance (GAA) is an alliance of leading professional accountancy bodies in significant capital markets. It was created to promote high-quality services, share information and collaborate on important international issues.

The GAA works with national regulators, governments and stakeholders, through member-body collaboration, articulation of consensus views, and working in collaboration where possible with other international bodies, especially the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). 

Passport for member services

Now all members of Global Accounting Alliance (GAA) institutes can obtain local professional support when working in another country covered by the GAA.

All 11 provincial and territorial institutes/Ordre have agreed to host visitors from other GAA institutes while they are working in their jurisdiction. Visitors will be able to receive certain services at no fee, such as:

• electronic copies of host institute's magazine (where available)
• electronic newsletters
• member rates for continuing professional development and networking events, affinity products
• access to meeting rooms, libraries, information services and technical help at member rates (where available)

Global significance

This service reflects the global significance of about 775,000 professional accountants in over 165 countries covered by the Global Accounting Alliance and will help in ensuring their ongoing high standards of professional service. All Global Accounting Alliance Institutes will offer similar services.

Contact

For more information on GAA Passport Services available in Canada, please contact Cairine Wilson, Vice President, Member Services, CICA, at 416-204-3349 or by email.

Proposals to Enhance the Quality of International Standard-Setting

This discusion paper released by the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA) in December 2011, explores the idea of developing a robust set of principles, such as an international code, aimed at promoting high quality processes for standard-setting at the international level.

Making financial reporting simpler and more useful: The way forward

The GAA has published its report Making financial reporting simpler and more useful: The way forward, which is based on a series of roundtable events held in London, Beijing and New York in 2009.

The report summarizes the range of discussions and views expressed at the roundtables, examining the many emerging thoughts, ideas and actions proposed. 

Finally, the report outlines actions that should lead to financial reporting becoming simpler and more useful.