According to a report from The Accountant Online, the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has revised its International Education Standards (IES) to incorporate sustainability competence, ensuring accountants are prepared to handle sustainability-related disclosure and assurance standards.

These updates affect IES 2, 3 and 4, eating a global foundation for sustainability expertise within the profession.

The revisions align with standards from the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants and the International Sustainability Standards Board. IFAC CEO Lee White emphasized necessary skills to implement sustainability reporting and assurance effectively. 

Key updates include new assurance competence areas, enhanced business acumen and expanded guidance on ethical and professional responsibilities. Additionally, IES 6 has been modernized to improve the assessment of professional competence, incorporating principles of integrity and authenticity and adapting to hybrid and remote assessments. 

The updated standards take effect on July 1, 2026 and IFAC encourages early adoption to ensure a smooth transition.