New accounting diploma launched in IFRS

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI) has announced the launch of a new diploma for Chartered Accountants in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in conjunction with BPP Ireland.

The purpose of the new qualification will be to ensure that accountants are fully conversant with the new standards.

IFRS are developed by the International Accounting Standards Board, an independent standard setting body, and have been adopted by the European Union for the preparation of the consolidated accounts of listed companies for use from January 1, 2005.

Launching the Diploma, Ronan O’Loughlin, ICAI Director of Education and Training said: "ICAI has already been training our members for the introduction of IFRS through our Continuing Professional Development programme and indeed the demand for courses here led us to believe that some members would be interested in a specialist qualification in this important area. We are delighted therefore to come together with education specialists BPP to provide this new diploma."

"IFRS will revolutionise financial reporting. When fully adopted, they will introduce unprecedented transparency on an international basis in the preparation of company accounts. This can only be good news for shareholders and investors," he added.

The course is set to run over ten weeks on a Friday and Saturday and will commence on May 28.