IFRS Resource Center
Stay current on the latest IFRS news and resources
SEC's consideration of U.S. registrants using IFRS
Increasing globalization coupled with related regulations continues to put pressure on moving towards a common global accounting framework – International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). On July 13, 2012, the Office of the Chief Accountant (OCA) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a final staff report on its Work Plan for the Consideration of Incorporating International Financial Reporting Standards into the Financial Reporting System for U.S. Issuers (the work plan). This report summarizes what the SEC staff in the OCA learned in conjunction with carrying out its work plan, which was originally issued in February 2010. While this report reiterates the U.S. commitment to the objective of a single set of high-quality globally accepted accounting standards, it does not provide a final recommendation to the SEC on whether U.S. issuers should be required or allowed to apply IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). However, the report does include:
- Key observations about constituents' views with respect to the application of IFRS by U.S. issuers
- Seven significant themes noted by the SEC staff during their completion of the work plan
For additional discussion of constituents' views and the themes noted by the SEC staff, refer to SEC staff issues final staff report on IFRS work plan.
Because the report does not provide a final recommendation to the SEC or indicate whether one is forthcoming, it is not clear what the SEC staff's or SEC's next steps and timetable are at this time. For the latest information on the SEC's Work Plan for Global Accounting Standards, see their Spotlight webpage.
Understanding the impact of IFRS and available resources
Currently more than 100 countries use IFRS, so if your business goals include global expansion, it is critical to educate yourself about the impact on your financial reporting processes and business now. The overall implications of IFRS are numerous and reach beyond accounting to affect the following business areas: operations, tax, financing, contracts, compensation programs, information technology systems and internal controls. Therefore, it is important to closely follow the SEC's actions along with new developments from other standard setting bodies in order to effectively address the implications to your business.
The following are a variety of resources and reference materials to help you gain a better understanding of what IFRS means for your organization. Some of these resources are from our global network, RSM International (RSMI).
U.S. GAAP vs. IFRS comparisons at-a-glance series
A series of comparisons providing an overview of the significant differences between U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and IFRS for a specific topic designed to help you gain a better understanding of what IFRS means for your organization.
IFRS News in Brief – current edition
IFRS News in Brief is a monthly publication from RSMI summarizing the latest IFRS activities, including announcements, actions and decisions of the IFRS Foundation, IASB and IFRS Interpretation Committee.
Insights articles on IFRS developments
Insights is a biweekly resource for recent financial reporting developments and practice issues. Insights articles about IFRS and International Standards on Auditing can be found on the International page of the Financial Reporting Resource Center.
IFRS technical guide
A Guide Through IFRS for Small and Medium-Sized Entities
In July 2009, the IASB released IFRS for Small and Medium Sized Entities (SMEs), a set of standards that was designed to meet the needs of entities that do not have public accountability. Based on that guidance, RSMI drew upon the knowledge of its global IFRS experts to develop a detailed analysis to help small and medium-sized businesses understand the new standards as well as present the benefits of a global financial reporting language.
IFRS services guide
IFRS Services
A nine-page guide to IFRS implications for global businesses and how we can help you navigate them.
