IFIAR: Cooperation in International Audit Regulation
Driving Audit Quality Around The World
September 15, 2021 marked the 15th anniversary of the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR). Established in Paris in 2006 by independent audit regulators from 18 jurisdictions, IFIAR has grown to 56 Members around the world.
IFIAR’s mission is to serve the public interest, including investors, by enhancing audit oversight globally. Since the beginning, IFIAR has focused on sharing knowledge of the audit market environment and the practical experience of independent audit regulatory activity, promoting collaboration and consistency in regulatory activity, and providing a platform for dialogue with other international organizations interested in audit quality. IFIAR has grown to become the leading international organization in auditing matters.
Every year, IFIAR convenes a plenary meeting for more than 100 Member representatives to discuss progress on its strategy, emerging regulatory issues, challenges facing the audit profession, and strategic approaches to sustainable audit quality. During these meetings, IFIAR meets with the leadership of the six largest global network firms, international standard setters, and investor and audit committee representatives. It has established a number of Working Groups and Task Forces to address matters important to audit regulators, along with annual Inspections and Enforcement Workshops. To help identify audit quality trends, IFIAR conducts an annual Inspection Findings Survey which informs IFIAR’s collective efforts to promote audit quality globally, complementary to individual regulators’ audit firm inspection and oversight regimes. Results are made public every year.
As part of its outreach program, IFIAR delivers presentations, responds to requests for comment regarding proposed standard setting, and actively engages with non-Member jurisdictions interested in developing an independent auditor oversight regime. IFIAR also collaborates on audit-related matters with its Observer organizations, such as the Basel Committee of Banking Supervisors (BCBS), the European Commission, the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB) and the World Bank.
Milestones Timeline
2023
IFIAR releases Report on 2022 Survey of Audit Regulators’ Enforcement Regimes.
2023
Takashi Nagaoka (FSA/CPAAOB, Japan) and Kevin Prendergast (IAASA, Ireland) are appointed IFIAR Chair and Vice-Chair.
2022
IFIAR publishes its revised Core Principles for Independent Audit Regulators.
2021
IFIAR publishes an Report: Internationally Relevant Developments in Audit Markets.
2021
IFIAR’s Strategic Plan (2021-2026) is adopted by IFIAR Members.
2021
Duane DesParte (PCAOB, United States) and Takashi Nagaoka (FSA, Japan) are appointed IFIAR Chair and Vice-Chair.
2020
IFIAR announces the results of the four-year initiative to reduce the number of audit files with at least one finding and agrees a new four-year initiative with the six largest global audit firm networks.
2020
IFIAR publishes an Information Paper: Facilitating Oversight of Global Audit Firm Networks.
2019
Frank Schneider (FAOA, Switzerland) and Duane DesParte (PCAOB, United States) are appointed IFIAR Chair and Vice-Chair
2019
IFIAR reaches 55 Members.
2018
IFIAR’s first Strategic Plan (2018-2021) is adopted by IFIAR Members.
2018
IFIAR publishes a report on its 2018 survey of audit regulators' enforcement regimes.
2017
IFIAR Members from 15 jurisdictions were appointed as IFIAR’s first Board Members (Abu Dhabi, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States)
2017
IFIAR establishes its Secretariat in Tokyo, Japan.
2017
Brian Hunt (CPAB, Canada) and Frank Schneider (FAOA, Switzerland) are appointed IFIAR Chair and Vice-Chair.
2016
IFIAR Members approve establishing a permanent Secretariat in Tokyo, Japan. Together with the implementation of IFIAR’s new Board-led governance structure as of April 2017 this will significantly enhance IFIAR’s organizational capabilities and accelerate its ability to take actions aimed at improving audit quality.
2016
IFIAR establishes an Advisory Group comprising high level representatives from the investor and audit committee community from around the world.
2016
IFIAR publishes its Reference Guide intended to assist non-member jurisdictions to implement independent auditor oversight systems.
2016
IFIAR celebrates 10 year anniversary.
2015
Janine van Diggelen (AFM, the Netherlands) and Brian Hunt (CPAB, Canada) are appointed IFIAR Chair and Vice-Chair.
2015
IFIAR membership approves the Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding Concerning the Co-operation in the Exchange of Information for Audit Oversight (MMOU). The MMOU will facilitate the exchange of confidential information among Members regarding public oversight of audit firms and auditors, including inspections, investigations, enforcement and registration.
2015
IFIAR releases Current Trends in the Audit Industry – a thought leadership publication that explores the current state of, and trends in the audit industry in six key areas.
2015
IFIAR releases its first Report on Survey of Enforcement Regimes and the first Enforcement Workshop is held in Chinese Taipei.
2015
IFIAR issues its first Thematic Review report, addressing how IFIAR Members apply IFIAR’s Core Principles on risk-based inspections and on inspections reporting.
2015
IFIAR’s Global Audit Quality Working Group (GAQWG) and the six largest network firms agree on a new initiative to improve audit quality globally with a measurable target for the reduction in audits with at least one finding by 25% over the next four years.
2014
IFIAR reaches 50 Members.
2013
Lewis Ferguson (PCAOB, United States) and Janine van Diggelen (AFM, the Netherlands) are appointed IFIAR Chair and Vice-Chair.
2013
IFIAR issues its first comment letter to the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board(IAASB), marking a new step in its ongoing discussions with international audit standard setters.
2012
Lewis Ferguson (PCAOB, United States) succeeds Dan Goelzer as IFIAR Vice-Chair.
2012
IFIAR publishes its first annual report.
2012
IFIAR launches its first annual Inspection Findings Survey Report summarizing issues identified by Members around the world. The Survey is designed to identify the level of inspection activity and common inspection findings related to the audits of public companies, and responds to a request from the FSB to provide information regarding findings from the inspections of audits of major financial institutions.
2011
Paul George (FRC, United Kingdom) and Dan Goelzer (PCAOB, United States) are appointed IFIAR Chair and Vice-Chair.
2011
IFIAR establishes 11 Core Principles for Independent Audit Regulators which seek to promote effective independent audit oversight globally.
2011
IFIAR joins the Monitoring Group comprising international financial institutions and regulatory bodies committed to advancing the public interest in areas related to international audit standard setting and audit quality.
2009
Steven Maijoor (AFM, the Netherlands) and Paul Boyle (FRC, United Kingdom) are appointed IFIAR Chair and Vice-Chair.
2009
IFIAR organizes a first dialogue session with a regionally diverse group of investor representatives at its plenary meeting.
2009
An Advisory Council of a small number of IFIAR Members formally starts its operations to assist and advise the IFIAR Chair and Vice Chair in their duties.
2008
IFIAR Members ratify the organization’s Charter which sets out common goals and guiding principles and rules regarding its activities.
2008
IFIAR embarks on meetings with the leadership of the six largest global audit networks to better understand the networks’ structures and roles, and to discuss audit quality matters.
2007
Paul Boyle (FRC, United Kingdom) and Steven Maijoor (AFM, the Netherlands) are appointed IFIAR Chair and Vice-Chair.