IFRS is coming to the US and Canada. In Canada, implementation is set for 2011, while in the US companies will be allowed to report under IFRS in 2010, and it will be mandated by 2014.
As this looms, the question is why is there so little education on IFRS within North America?
One possible reason, at least within colleges and universities, is that they are so focused on preparing students for the CPA exam that until IFRS is a full part of the CPA exam scant attention will be paid.
For those already in the profession, there seem to be some better - and growing - resources. A quick review of the AICPA's website shows that they are starting to take it seriously, with a special website http://www.ifrs.com/ exploring the issues for US-based issuers and accounting firms.
Associations of accounting firms are also addressing the issue with education, in some cases drawing on the experience of their firms from outside North America to start the education of those in North America. Within IGAF Worldwide, we are going to be having a one-day training session at our annual Business Assurance meeting in early January 2009.
