As a newly qualified accountant with The Institute of Chartered Accountants (Ghana) (ICAG), you are asked to make a short presentation to the rest of the staff in the accounting and finance department of your employer who are themselves yet to join ICAG as students about the standard-setting process adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

Required:
Discuss the standard-setting process as adopted by the IASB to these junior staff.

  1. Issues Paper:
    IASB staff prepare an issues paper, including studying the approach of national standards setters and identifying key accounting issues.
  2. SAC Consultation:
    The Standards Advisory Council (SAC) is consulted about the advisability of adding the topic to the IASB’s agenda.
  3. Discussion Document:
    A Discussion Document may be published for public comment, allowing stakeholders to provide input on the proposed standard.
  4. Exposure Draft:
    An Exposure Draft is published for public comment. This draft represents the first version of the proposed standard and invites further feedback.
  5. International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) Finalization:
    After considering all comments received during the exposure draft period, the IFRS is finalized. The final standard must be approved by at least 8 votes (out of 14) from the IASB board members.
    The final standard includes both a basis for conclusions and any dissenting opinions.

Each step is part of a thorough process to ensure that new or revised standards are well-considered, incorporating global perspectives and feedback.