The IFRS Foundation Trustees are seeking a new Chair of the IFRS Advisory Council, the strategic advisory body to the Trustees and the Foundation’s two standard-setting boards, to succeed the existing Chair Bill Coen when his term ends. The appointment is for a three-year term (potentially renewable once) beginning on 1 February 2025 and is remunerated. The time commitment required for the role is approximately two to three days per month.
About the IFRS Foundation
The IFRS Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation created in 2001 to develop—in the public interest—high-quality, understandable, enforceable and globally accepted standards for general purpose financial reporting, and to promote and facilitate their adoption. The Standards—IFRS® Accounting Standards and IFRS® Sustainability Disclosure Standards—are collectively referred to as IFRS® Standards.
The Standards are set by the Foundation’s two independent standard-setting bodies, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), using a rigorous, inclusive and transparent due process. The Trustees oversee the two boards and are accountable to a Monitoring Board of public authorities.
About the Advisory Council
The IFRS Advisory Council is the formal strategic advisory body to the Trustees, the IASB and the ISSB. The Council consists of 55 representatives of organisations and individuals from diverse functional and geographical backgrounds with an interest in international corporate reporting. Members include academics, auditors, investors and other users of corporate reports, preparers, regulators, professional accounting bodies, standard-setters and multilateral organisations.
The Advisory Council normally meets twice a year for a period of two days in London. One or two additional short meetings may be held by videoconference to deal with time-sensitive matters arising between the in-person meetings. Meetings are open to the public. All Council discussions are in English.
The Chair of the Advisory Council is appointed by the Trustees and, as required by the IFRS Foundation Constitution, cannot be a member of the IASB, the ISSB or a member of the Foundation’s staff.
About the role
The Chair of the Advisory Council is actively involved in setting the agenda for the Council’s meetings, and leads all its meetings. The Chair reports to the Trustees after each meeting. The Trustees also invite the Chair of the Advisory Council to attend and participate in the Trustees’ meetings as appropriate (normally at least once a year). The Chair is actively involved in the search for new members to join the Advisory Council and in recommending appointments and reappointment of members to the Trustees.
Read further about the IFRS Advisory Council, including its terms of reference and criteria for membership. Please consult the criteria when considering nominations.
Ideal experience
- Strong leadership and influencing skills, demonstrated by previous experience chairing groups with a diverse range of members.
- Significant demonstrable experience of working in a collegial environment with a globally diverse team where the Chair has to provide leadership, build consensus and chair large complex meetings.
- Experience in international work including political, diplomatic and cultural aspects—demonstrated experience of working constructively with a very wide range of international and national bodies.
- Understanding of corporate reporting and the role of global accounting and sustainability disclosure standards, as well as relevant current issues such as the effect of new technologies on corporate reporting and developments in the demands of the global capital markets.
Other personal characteristics
- Strong strategic forward thinker.
- Practical and pragmatic, balanced and open-minded, able to work in a dynamic environment.
- Strong communication skills.
- Strong cultural and diversity awareness.
- Commitment to working in the public interest.
- Capacity to devote sufficient time to the duties of the Chair.
To apply
Please indicate interest by sending a cover letter and curriculum vitae by 30 June 2024 to Ken Robinson, Chair of the IFRS Foundation Nominating Committee, by email to jrobinson@ifrs.org.
Followable tags
IFRS Foundation strategy and governance
