Certificate in International Public Sector Accounting Standards (Cert IPSAS)

The syllabus contains the following topics:

IPSASB

An overview of the work of the Board (IPSASB), including its organisation, the characteristics of public sector entities, the relationship between IPSAS® and the corresponding International Accounting Standards (IAS) / International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS®), the purpose of financial statements and any on-going projects.

Financial statement presentation and accounting policy

Develops an overview of:

  • Financial statements (IPSAS 1)
  • Cash flow statements (IPSAS 2)
  • Accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates, and errors (IPSAS 3)
  • Segment reporting (IPSAS 18)
  • Disclosure standards and other topics, presentation of budget information (IPSAS 24)

Financial performance

Provides an understanding of:

  • Non-exchange revenue (IPSAS 23)
  • Exchange revenue (IPSAS 9)
  • Construction contracts (IPSAS 11)

Accounting for assets and liabilities

Delivers teaching around a wide range of topics including:

  • Property plant and equipment (IPSAS 17)
  • Intangible assets (IPSAS 31)
  • Investment property (IPSAS 16)
  • Impairment of cash generating assets (IPSAS 26)
  • Impairment of non-cash generating assets (IPSAS 21)
  • Borrowing costs (IPSAS 5)
  • Inventories (IPSAS 12)
  • Leases (IPSAS 13)
  • Financial instruments (IPSAS 28, 29, 30)
  • Provisions
  • Contingent liabilities and contingent assets (IPSAS 19)
  • Events after the reporting date (IPSAS 14)
  • Employee benefits (IPSAS 39)
  • Social benefits (IPSAS 42)
  • Agriculture (IPSAS 27)
  • Concessions
  • Foreign operations and hyperinflationary economies (IPSAS 4, 10)
  • Service concessions (IPSAS 32)
  • Translation of financial statements of foreign operations (IPSAS 4)
  • Financial reporting in hyperinflationary economies (IPSAS 10)

Consolidation

Delivers training around:

  • Separate Financial Statements (IPSAS 34)
  • Consolidated Financial Statements (IPSAS 35)
  • Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures (IPSAS 36)
  • Joint Arrangements (IPSAS 37)
  • Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities (IPSAS 38)
  • Public Sector Combinations (IPSAS 40)

Disclosure standards

  • Related party disclosures (IPSAS 20)
  • Disclosure of financial information about the general government sector (IPSAS 22)

Cash basis IPSAS

Teaches students about Part 1 of the cash basis IPSAS, covering required information in:

  • The statement of cash receipts
  • Payments
  • Disclosures
  • Consolidation under the cash basis
  • Presentation of budget information in the financial statements
  • The additional (non-mandatory) disclosures encouraged in Part 2 of the cash basis IPSAS

First-time adoption of accrual-based IPSAS

Delivers training cover the following areas:

  • Migrating from cash to accrual basis
  • First time adoption of IPSAS (IPSAS 33)
  • Change management and the adoption of IPSAS

Forthcoming proposals for change

Teaches students about Public sector financial crisis and IPSAS, IPSASB’s strategic direction and forthcoming proposals from the IPSASB.

Exposure Drafts, Consultation Papers and other proceedings 'issued' on or before 31 August annually will be assessed within the certificates from early in April until 31 March of the following year.