IFAC TO BEEF UP ACCOUNTING EDUCATION STANDARDS

The International Accounting Education Standards Board, which operates under the auspices of the International Federation of Accountants, has issued a Strategy and Work Plan for 2010-2012 with a focus on enhancing International Education Standards for accounting and providing guidance for adoption and implementation of the standards, aiming to prescribe principles for the learning and development of accountants.

The board plans to focus in the next two years on revising and improving the clarity of the education standards; developing implementation guidance and quality control measures for education providers; and promoting greater awareness among academics, regulators and others of the IAESB's pronouncements and its role in advancing international debate on emerging issues relating to the development and assessment of professional accountants. For more, visit www.ifac.org/education.

PACTER APPOINTED TO IASB

London - Paul Pacter has been named to a seat on the International Accounting Standards Board, replacing Jim Leisenring, whose term ends in June.

Pacter has served for the past six years as director of small and midsized entities for the IASB, and led the development of the slimmed-down set of International Financial Reporting Standards for SMEs. He has decided to serve a two-year term, rather than the customary five-year term, and will serve until June 30, 2012. He will continue to chair the new SME Implementation Group on behalf of the board.

Pacter is expected to continue to help with the convergence of U.S. GAAP and IFRS. He previously served as deputy director of research at the Financial Accounting Standards Board and as executive director of its parent, the Financial Accounting Foundation. He was also vice chairman of the advisory council to the U.S. Governmental Accounting Standards Board. Since 2000, Pacter has also been a part-time director in Deloitte's global IFRS leadership team and a specialist in Chinese accounting standards.