International Federation of Accountants

What International Federation of Accountants does

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is a private, non-profit global federation founded on October 7, 1977, in Munich, Germany, and headquartered in New York City. It serves as the unified international voice of the accountancy profession, bringing together 187 member and associate professional accountancy organizations (PAOs) across 140 jurisdictions. IFAC's core function is to develop, promote, and support the adoption of high-quality international standards in auditing and assurance (via IAASB), ethics (via IESBA), public sector accounting (via IPSASB), and professional education (via the International Education Standards). Beyond standard-setting, IFAC operates digital platforms—including the Knowledge Gateway, e-International Standards, Accountancy Education E-Tool, Pathways to Accrual, Practice Transformation Hub for small and medium practices, and the Translations Database—that deliver knowledge, resources, and tools to the global profession.

IFAC's business model is a hybrid of subscription-based institutional membership, transactional publication/handbook sales, and event-driven revenue. Its primary customers are PAOs and, by extension, the millions of professional accountants they represent across public practice, commerce, industry, financial services, education, and government. Secondary customer segments include government finance authorities (particularly those transitioning to accrual accounting), universities and professional education providers, and small and medium accounting practices. Revenue streams include recurring membership dues (tiered by member size and capacity), one-time and digital-format sales of standards handbooks and publications via the IFAC marketplace, and transaction-based event revenue from the World Congress of Accountants (held approximately every five years) and the IFAC Connect global event series.

Distribution is largely direct-to-institutional through membership relationships, supplemented by owned digital platforms and global events. The federation also convenes advisory groups (PAIB, SMP, Education, PAO Development) that shape thought leadership and policy positions on emerging issues such as AI, sustainability reporting, integrated thinking, and anti-corruption compliance. IFAC prepares its own financial statements in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and has reported corporate carbon footprints under the GHG Protocol, signaling operational alignment with the standards and reporting frameworks it promotes.

Name

International Federation of Accountants

Legal name

International Federation of Accountants

Website

https://ifac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

IFAC is a global, non-profit federation of 187 professional accountancy organizations across 140 jurisdictions. It develops international standards in auditing, ethics, education, and public sector accounting through IAASB, IESBA, and IPSASB, and delivers knowledge via digital platforms and global events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Accountancy Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Accounting & Reporting (GAAP/IFRS) (EDABAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory (BPAHAFAC), Fraud Risk Management & Anti-Bribery/Anti-Corruption (ABAC) (BPAHAFAL)

Keywords

• International accounting standards
• Professional accountancy organizations
• Audit and assurance standards
• Public sector accounting
• Accountancy education standards

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: IFAC member organizations pay annual dues based on criteria related to their size and capacity. These membership fees form the core operational funding for the federation.
2. Publications and Standards: Revenue from sale of International Standards handbooks, publications, and educational materials. Standards are available in digital and print formats through the IFAC marketplace.
3. Events and Conferences: World Congress of Accountants (WCOA) and IFAC Connect global event series generate revenue through registrations and sponsorships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IFAC develops and promotes adoption of international standards for the accountancy profession through three independent standard-setting boards: IAASB (audit and assurance), IESBA (ethics), and IPSASB (public sector). It serves as the global voice of the profession through advocacy, capacity building, thought leadership on AI and sustainability, and convening members via events like the World Congress of Accountants. The organization supports 187 member professional accountancy organizations across 140 jurisdictions worldwide.

Product overview

IFAC operates as a global organization for the accountancy profession, providing a unified platform of standards, knowledge resources, and professional development tools. The core offerings include the International Education Standards (accessible via the Accountancy Education E-Tool), e-International Standards for auditing, ethics, and public sector standards, and the Knowledge Gateway as the central resource hub. Supporting products include the Pathways to Accrual for public sector transition, Practice Transformation Hub for SMPs, IFAC Connect event series, World Congress of Accountants flagship event, Translations Database for global accessibility, and Standard-Setting Boards' Handbooks for authoritative guidance. Together these products serve to strengthen the global accountancy profession and contribute to international economic development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IFAC Connect: Global event series convening leaders across the globe to shape the future of accountancy, governance and corporate success
• World Congress of Accountants (WCOA)
• IAASB
• IESBA
• IPSASB
• International Education Standards (IESs)
• Practice Transformation Hub
• Pathways to Accrual
• Knowledge Gateway
• IFAC Accountancy Podcast

Products and services

• Knowledge Gateway

Quantifiable outcome

• 56% of governments expected to adopt accrual accounting by 2030
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, regional and core.

• SAICA (South African Institute of Accountants)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026Co-hosting the 2028 World Congress of Accountants in Cape Town, South Africa, bringing together the global accountancy profession for the flagship event.
• CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2025Joint report on public sector accounting showing that 56% of governments expected to adopt accrual accounting by 2030, co-authored to advance public sector financial management globally.
• ICAC (Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean)regionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2025Partnership on report 'Navigating the Energy Transition in the Caribbean' addressing climate resilience and the accountancy profession's role in regional transformation.
• JICPA (Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Host of the April 2025 PAIB Advisory Group meeting in Tokyo, demonstrating collaboration with national PAOs for professional development and thought leadership.
• ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 July 2024Joint report publication on 'Integrated Mindset in Practice: Professional Accountants in Business and Anti-Corruption Compliance' addressing anti-corruption measures and integrated thinking in organizations.
• Basel Institute on GovernancemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 July 2024Joint publication on anti-corruption compliance and integrated mindset for professional accountants in business, leveraging Basel Institute's expertise in countering corruption.
• IAASB (International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFAC-affiliated standard-setting board developing International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) and other assurance standards used globally to enhance audit quality and consistency.
• IESBA (International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFAC-affiliated standard-setting board developing the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, setting ethical standards for the global profession.
• IPSASB (International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFAC-affiliated standard-setting board developing International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) for use by governments and public sector entities worldwide.
• OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration under the auspices of B20 and the 25th Anniversary of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention campaign for anti-corruption initiatives.
• Business at OECD (BIAC)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on anti-corruption Collective Action as part of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention campaign, bringing business voice to policy discussions.
• Forum of FirmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFAC-affiliated body of international networks of accounting firms performing transnational audits, working together to serve the public interest through consistent high-quality audits.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IFRS Foundation: The IFRS Foundation sets International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS Accounting Standards) and, since 2021, the ISSB sustainability standards. It is the most directly comparable organization to IFAC: both are international, standards-setting bodies governing the global accountancy profession from outside any single jurisdiction.
• CPA Australia: CPA Australia is one of the largest national PAOs in the Asia-Pacific region and an IFAC member. It serves a comparable function to IFAC at the national level — credentialing accountants, advocating for the profession, and engaging in standards promotion.
• Institute of Management Accountants (IMA): IMA is the worldwide association of accountants and financial professionals in business, focused on management accounting and the CMA certification. As a global PAO serving corporate finance professionals, it is directly comparable to IFAC's Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) constituency.
• Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ): CA ANZ is a major Australasian chartered accountancy body formed from the merger of ICAA and NZICA, and an IFAC member. Its CEO Lee White (now IFAC CEO) came from CA ANZ, and the body is a close peer in serving professional accountants across two jurisdictions.
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA): CIMA is the world's leading professional body for management accountants and is now part of the AICPA-CIMA联合体. It is comparable to IFAC as a global qualification-granting body serving the accountancy profession, with overlapping focus on ethics, sustainability, and standards adoption.
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA): The AICPA is the largest national PAO in the United States and an IFAC member. It sets US professional standards, publishes the Uniform CPA Examination, and represents more than 400,000 members. It is the closest national-level peer to IFAC's role of serving and standardizing the profession.
• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA): ACCA is one of the largest global professional accountancy bodies with members in 180+ countries. Like IFAC, it operates internationally, issues qualifications, and engages in standards promotion, although ACCA serves individual accountants directly while IFAC serves PAOs.
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW): ICAEW is a major UK chartered accountancy body, an IFAC member, and a strategic partner on IFAC's anti-corruption thought leadership. It shares IFAC's mission of professional standards, public-interest advocacy, and capacity-building for the accountancy profession.

Broad incumbents

• International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO): IOSCO is the global body for securities regulators and a key user/adopter of IAASB audit standards. It is comparable to IFAC as a global standards-adjacent organization governing capital markets integrity, and its endorsement of ISAs amplifies or constrains IFAC's standard-setting influence.
• OECD: The OECD is a broad intergovernmental policy organization with which IFAC partners on the Anti-Bribery Convention and B20 initiatives. While not a direct competitor, OECD's corporate governance, taxation, and anti-corruption work overlaps heavily with IFAC's standards and advocacy mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IFAC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IFACMultimedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/InternationalFederationOfAccountants
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ifac
• Instagraminstagram.com/globalaccountants

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Federation of Accountants