ACCA Certificate

in International
Public Sector
Accounting
Standards (IPSAS)

Qualifications
for the public
sector

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 About
ACCA
ACCA is the Association of Chartered
Certified Accountants and we’re
the world’s most forward thinking
professional accountancy body.

We believe that accountancy is vital for economies to

grow and prosper – which is why we work all over the
world to build the profession and make society fairer
and more transparent.
Founded in 1904, we now have more than 188,000 fully
qualified members and 480,000 students worldwide.
They’re amongst the world’s best-qualified and most
highly sought-after accountants – and they work in every
sector you can imagine.

ACCA in the public sector 4

What is the ACCA Certificate
in International Public Sector
Accounting Standards (IPSAS)? 5
Benefits of the ACCA Cert IPSAS 6
Who is it for? 7
How does it work? 7
Certificate in IPSAS course contents 8
Pricing 9
Additional support for the
public sector 10

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ACCA in the public sector
For public finance leaders of the future, We equip you to deliver excellent public
ACCA is your partner of choice. Our financial management and develop the
qualifications directly answer the needs of strategic, forward thinking public sector
the public sector for today - and tomorrow. accountants that the world needs.
Together with our 64,000 members and
We understand that public service
students working in the public sector
excellence and value for money matter in
worldwide, we ethically support the

What is the ACCA

developed and developing economies
business of government and build
around the world. That’s why our
stronger societies worldwide.
resources support finance professionals
throughout their careers, making them
invaluable business partners with strong
Our partnerships have been integral in
founding a national self-sustaining
Certificate in International
professional skills.
Because we’re global, we can tailor our
accountancy profession in numerous
countries globally including: Botswana, Public Sector Accounting
Standards (IPSAS)?
Cambodia, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mauritius,
support at a local level to share the
Swaziland, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia.
unique expertise that we’ve acquired by
We currently have over 640 approved
working with major partners – from
employers in the public sector from IPSAS® have been developed to enhance the quality, consistency and transparency
governments to donor agencies and
around the world. of public sector financial reporting worldwide. Issued by the International Public
beyond. And our market-leading research
signposts future developments, helping Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB), they are cash-based standards and
you to anticipate how finance is changing accruals standards used for the preparation of general purpose financial statements
in the public sector. by governments and other public sector entities around the world.
The ACCA Certificate in International Public Sector Accounting Standards – known
as Cert IPSAS - has been specifically developed to help you meet the challenges of
implementing IPSAS® by:

64,000 640 ■■ examining the fundamental requirements of accrual-based IPSAS® on a

standard-by-standard basis, for the benefit of preparers, auditors and users of
financial statements
members and students working approved employers in the ■■ providing guidance on how to use IPSAS® in practice, with the aid of cases,
in the public sector worldwide public sector from around the world interactive exercises and formative questions
■■ explaining the difference between the cash basis IPSAS® and accrual-based IPSAS®
■■ providing an overview of how IPSAS® are used around the world
■■ explaining the workings of the IPSASB and how these are developing.

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 Benefits of Who is it for? How does it work?
the ACCA
Cert IPSAS
Cert IPSAS will be relevant to your finance The Cert IPSAS includes both an online course and
professionals if your organisation is using or about to a test.
implement IPSAS®, or if your employees are working
The online course includes all the study materials
Our qualification will equip finance with clients who are using or about to use IPSAS®.
your employees will need, although candidates will
professionals working in the sector,
It’s perfect for helping employees with a background benefit from having a copy of the International Public
or wanting to work in the sector, with
in financial reporting to meet the challenges of Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) 2016
stronger and more relevant
implementing IPSAS®, providing a practical and Handbook of International Public Sector Accounting
financial reporting skills.
introductory knowledge of these standards and Pronouncements. You can find the handbook at
■■ Comprehensive syllabus: The fundamental requirements of how they are interpreted and applied. www.ifac.org
accruals-based IPSAS® are taught on a standard-by-standard basis, It’s been prepared for: If your employees already using IPSAS® at work and
for the benefit of preparers, auditors and users of financial want formal recognition of their skills, they can apply
statements. It also gives guidance on how to use IPSAS® in practice, ■■ public sector employers and employees globally
to only take the online Cert IPSAS assessment. If they
with the aid of questions, cases and interactive exercises and ■■ accountants working or wishing to work in the don’t need certification, but want extra knowledge in
explaining the difference between the cash basis IPSAS® and public sector the field, they can choose the course only.
accruals-based IPSAS® ■■ learning providers
You can apply online at any time. When you pay by
■■ Essential public sector finance knowledge: It’s a great source of ■■ national and local governments credit card, you’ll get access to the online course and
the essential IPSAS® knowledge and principles that prepare finance ■■ policy makers specialising in the public sector assessment for twelve months. Typically, a candidate
professionals for the increasingly global market place. It keeps should take 20 hours to work through the course.
■■ international donors.
them ahead of international developments and shows them how Studying for another qualification as an ACCA member
they can apply them to their organisation. If your employees already have a professional
can count towards their continuing professional
accountancy qualification, this qualification can be a
■■ Continual evolution: The course is updated to reflect changes in development (CPD).
valuable source of CPD – offering an opportunity to
regulation legislation. Any changes made on or before 1 top up existing competencies with specific technical The certificate is assessed by a one hour exam with
September annually will be assessed within the Cert IPSAS and knowledge and skills around IPSAS®. multiple-choice questions. There are 25 multiple-choice
included in the accompanying course from early in January until 31 questions based on the syllabus. The candidate is
December of the following year. The updated Cert IPSAS materials If your employees do not hold a professional
required to answer 13 questions correctly.
are published on the ACCA website on 1 April each year. accountancy qualification, it offers them the
opportunity to gain formal recognition of their The fee covers three attempts to take the assessment.
■■ Flexible learning: It’s a fully-flexible online qualification that can be IPSAS® knowledge and skills. It is recommended that But they must be taken within three months of
accessed anytime, anywhere – or delivered as part of a blended an educational or vocational background in financial accessing the online course. If candidates don’t pass
learning programme and provides an efficient, convenient solution to reporting is gained before starting on Cert IPSAS. after three attempts, another registration fee needs to
meet your organisation’s training needs. be paid to attempt the assessment again, which gives
a further three attempts to pass.

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Cert IPSAS course contents
The syllabus contains the following topics:
Pricing
IPSASB ■■ investment property (IPSAS 16)
® Cash basis IPSAS ®

An overview of the work of the Board ■■ impairment of cash generating assets Teaches students about Part 1 of the cash
(IPSASB), including its organisation, the (IPSAS® 26) basis IPSAS®, covering required
characteristics of public sector entities, ■■ impairment of non-cash generating information in:
the relationship between IPSAS® and the assets (IPSAS® 21) ■■ the statement of cash receipts and
corresponding International Accounting ■■ borrowing costs (IPSAS® 5) payments
Standards (IAS) / International Financial ■■ inventories (IPSAS® 12) ■■ disclosures
Reporting Standards (IFRS), the purpose ■■ leases (IPSAS® 13) ■■ consolidation under the cash basis
of financial statements and any ongoing ■■ financial instruments (IPSAS® 28, 29, 30) ■■ presentation of budget information in
projects. the financial statements
■■ provisions
■■ contingent liabilities and contingent ■■ the additional (non-mandatory)
Financial statement assets (IPSAS® 19) disclosures encouraged in Part 2 of the
presentation and accounting ■■ events after the reporting date cash basis IPSAS®.
(IPSAS® 14)
policy
■■ employee benefits (IPSAS® 25) First-time adoption of
Develops an overview of: ■■ agriculture (IPSAS® 27).
■■ financial statements (IPSAS® 1) accrual-based IPSAS®
■■ cash flow statements (IPSAS® 2) Delivers training cover the following
■■ accounting policies, changes in Consolidation areas:
accounting estimates, and errors Delivers training around: ■■ migrating from cash to accrual basis
(IPSAS® 3). ■■ consolidated and separate financial ■■ first time adoption of IPSAS® (IPSAS® 33)
statements (IPSAS® 6) ■■ change management and the adoption
■■ interests in joint ventures (IPSAS® 8) of IPSAS®.
Financial performance ■■ investments in associates (IPSAS® 7) For pricing and study Users can purchase the certificate individually, but there are also pricing options
Provides an understanding of: ■■ translation of financial statements of options, contact your available for organisations that want to register batches of candidates. This means
Forthcoming proposals that the more candidates you register with us, the better value the qualification is.
■■ non-exchange revenue (IPSAS® 23) foreign operations (IPSAS® 4)
for change local ACCA office or visit Cert IPSAS can also be delivered as part of a blended learning programme.
■■ exchange revenue (IPSAS® 9) ■■ financial reporting in hyperinflationary
www.accaglobal.com/certipsas
■■ construction contracts (IPSAS® 11). economies (IPSAS® 10) Teaches students about Public sector
■■ disclosure standards and other topics, financial crisis and IPSAS®, IPSASB’s ACCA members receive a discount for the certificate if
presentation of budget information strategic direction and forthcoming they supply their membership number when signing up
Accounting for assets and proposals from the IPSASB.
(IPSAS® 24) to the qualifications. Discounts are also provided to
liabilities ■■ segment reporting (IPSAS® 18)
ACCA Approved Employers.
Delivers teaching around a wide range of ■■ related party disclosures (IPSAS® 20)
topics including: ■■ disclosure of financial information
■■ property plant and equipment about the general government sector Employers or tuition providers who want to offer Cert IPSAS to multiple users
(IPSAS® 17) (IPSAS® 22) may qualify for contract pricing - which makes Cert IPSAS particularly cost
■■ intangible assets (IPSAS® 31) ■■ service concessions (IPSAS® 32).
effective. The best rates are reserved for Approved Employers, Approved
Learning Partners and ACCA members.
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 Additional
support for Below are some of the other ways we can help

the public your organisation:

sector ACCA Advanced

Qualification Diploma in
We help you deliver
Public Financial
excellence in public financial
Management
management and value for
money for both service users
and citizens.
Our range of qualifications, research,
recruitment and consultancy services is
designed to help you build the finance
capabilities your organisation needs to
deliver effective financial management
and the stewardship of public funds.

ACCA Careers
and Job Board ACCA-X

To make an order or enquire about

discount pricing please speak with an ACCA
business development manager or email
ppqadmin@accaglobal.com

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Want to
know more?
Find out more about
ACCA’s public sector
qualifications by emailing
ppqadmin@accaglobal.com

www.accaglobal.com

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