Interpretation and Application of IPSAS

FOREWORD

It is with pleasure that I am writing this foreword to Interpretation and Application of IPSAS, which has been authored by Caroline Aggestam-Pontoppidan and Isabelle Andernack.

International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs) are issued by the IPSAS Board (IPSASB) for use by public sector entities around the world in the preparation of their financial statements, and are intended to improve the quality of financial reporting.

However, although an entirely accurate picture is difficult to obtain, it would appear that adoption and implementation of IPSAS around the world has been slower than expected. It is hopefully the case that the next few years will see many more public sector organizations on all continents embracing IPSAS, and thereby upgrading the reporting, the accountability and the transparency of their organizations.

Relatively few publications dealing with the practical adoption of IPSAS have been available to implementers and other interested parties so far, and it is to everybody's benefit to see this work, entitled Interpretation and Application of IPSAS, being published.

In particular, I am pleased to see a text that includes examples and mini-case studies that help to illustrate how IPSAS is applied – this will be very helpful for training and education purposes. This book also provides useful insights into navigation of the transition to IPSAS, either under the accrual basis or cash basis of accounting.

I am confident that this important work ...