The Board of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has extended Ian Ball's term as Chief Executive Officer until February 2013. Mr. Ball joined IFAC as its Chief Executive in March 2002, having previously served IFAC as Chair of its Public Sector Committee (now International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board) and as a member of its Nominating Committee. Prior to that, Mr. Ball was a Professor of Accounting and Public Policy, an international consultant in public management, an accounting standard setter, and a senior official in the New Zealand Treasury.
During his tenure at IFAC, Mr. Ball has overseen the implementation of the IFAC Reforms, a series of initiatives designed to strengthen international audit, ethics, and accounting education standard-setting processes to achieve convergence to international standards and to ensure that the international accountancy profession is responsive to the public interest. These reforms included the launch of the Member Body Compliance Program, which requires members and associates to promote, incorporate, and assist in implementing international standards issued by IFAC and by the International Accounting Standards Board, and to meet requirements for quality assurance, investigation, and discipline activities.
In addition, under his leadership, IFAC has expanded its support for developing nations, for small- and medium-sized practices and enterprises, for the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board, and for professional accountants in business