What is IFRS: All About International Financial Reporting Standards

Updated on Jan 29, 2025 06:28 IST
Jaya Sharma

Jaya SharmaAssistant Manager - Content

The full form of IFRS is International Financial Reporting Standards. These accounting standards are issued by both the IFRS Foundation and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). IFRS constitute a standardised way to describe a company's financial performance. Its aim is to ensure that the financial statements are understandable and comparable anywhere in the world. IFRS is relevant for companies that have publicly listed shares and securities. In the United States, GAAP is still followed. 

What are IFRS?

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are the set of accounting rules used in the financial statements of public companies. By following IFRS, companies can prepare financial statements that are comparable, transparent and consistent. 

List of IFRS Standards

The following IFRS standards are stated on the official website and are as mentioned below:

Q:   What is IFRS and GAAP?
A:

IFRS is the widely accepted set of accounting standards that are implemented in over 140 countries. GAAP is the generally accepted accounting principles that are accepted in the United States for financial reporting.

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Q:   Is IAS 1 an IFRS standard?
A:

From 1st January 2027, IFRS 18 will supersede IAS 1. This means that IAS 1 will no longer remain effective. For now, IAS 1 is not the same as IFRS. 

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Table of content
  • What are The Benefits of Learning IFRS Standards?
  • Who Can Learn IFRS Standards?
  • How To Become Certified in IFRS Standards?
  • Online Courses To Learn IFRS Standards in Detail
  • Popular IFRS Colleges in India
  • Popular Private IFRS Colleges in India
  • Popular IFRS Specializations
View More

What are The Benefits of Learning IFRS Standards?

benefits of IFRS

The following benefits explain the benefits of IFRS standards:

  • Financial professionals who understand IFRS can work across international borders, as these standards are used in over 140 countries globally. This international mobility can significantly enhance career prospects and open doors to opportunities with multinational corporations.
  • Those who have the knowledge of IFRS can compare and analyze financial statements from companies worldwide, as these standards create a common financial language. 
  • More countries are adopting these standards or converge their local standards with IFRS. Even in countries that primarily use different standards (like US GAAP), professionals benefit from understanding IFRS due to increasing global business interactions and potential future convergence.
  • Professionals who have expertise in IFRS standards can assist companies apply IFRS, a complex process that many organizations undergo when expanding internationally or listing on foreign stock exchanges. 
  • Understanding IFRS helps professionals understand the principles-based approach to accounting. Unlike more rules-based systems, IFRS needs professionals to apply principles to complex situations.
  • IFRS knowledge enables better risk management and decision-making in international business contexts, as professionals can better understand the financial implications of cross-border transactions and identify potential accounting issues before they become problems.
  • Professionals who master IFRS standards often command higher salaries and have access to more senior positions, particularly in multinational companies and international accounting firms where IFRS expertise is highly valued and increasingly necessary.
Q:   Who should learn about IFRS?
A:

Knowledge of IFRS is particularly valuable for investment analysts, accountants, and business consultants who need to evaluate companies across different jurisdictions.

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Who Can Learn IFRS Standards?

Anyone interested in building a career in the Accounting and Finance domains can learn International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The following people are qualified : 

Category

Who Should Learn

Educational Qualification

  • Graduates with a degree in MBA in Finance
  • Commerce graduates in accounting roles
  • Accounting and Finance students
  • Business school graduates

Professional Accountants

  • Chartered Accountants (CAs)
  • Cost and Management Accountants (ICWA/CMA)
  • Company Secretaries
  • Chief Financial Officers
  • Finance Managers
  • Financial Controllers
  • Chief Accountants

Industry Practitioners

  • Internal Auditors
  • External auditors and assurance providers
  • Public Practice Accountants
  • Corporate Finance Professionals
  • Financial Analysts
  • Financial Consultants

Experience-Based Learners

  • Professionals with 2+ years in finance/accounting
  • Bookkeepers seeking career advancement
  • Business owners
  • Fintech professionals
Q:   What is the format of balance sheet used in IFRS?
A:

'Statement of Financial Position' is the balance sheet format used in IFRS. It first presents non-current assets which is followed by current assets, equity, non-current liabilities and at last, it presents current liabilities.

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How To Become Certified in IFRS Standards?

Those who want to become certified professionals with the knowledge of IFRS, need to get an FSA credential. By clearing this two-part credential, professionals will be able to integrate sustainability considerations into financial analysis. This will prepare you to lead on disclosure. By getting an FSA credential, a professional will be able to understand how sustainability and financial performance interlink. They will learn to navigate through the complexities of modern business.

1. The FSA Credential Level I exam

This is a 2-hour long exam that consists of 110 MCQs. The following table covers the syllabus of the exam:

Part

Sections

Topics

Part I: The Need for Sustainability Disclosure Standards

1. Demand for sustainability information

  • What is sustainability?
  • Growing investor demand
  • Demand within companies
  • Other institutions driving demand

2. The historical basis for disclosure

  • The aftermath of the stock market crash of 1929
  • Disclosure as the basis of regulatory reform
  • The road to standardized accounting procedures

3. Materiality: a guiding principle for required disclosure

  • A long-standing legacy of investor decision-making 
  • General characteristics of materiality
  • Materiality changes over time

4. The limitations of financial disclosure

  • Financial information beyond financial statements: the use of non-GAAP
  • The changing nature of market value
  • The scope of financial reporting expands
  • New tools for investors

Part II: The Sustainability Information Ecosystem

5. Introduction to the sustainability information value chain and the role of data providers

  • Growth of the ecosystem: a maturing industry
  • The role of data providers
  • Sustainability data’s unique challenges

6. The role of standards and frameworks: from fragmentation to cohesion in sustainability disclosure

  • The role of standard-setters
  • Formative standards and frameworks
  • Distinguishing characteristics of sustainability disclosure guidance
  • Creating a coherent system for comprehensive reporting—simplification through consolidation

7. Materiality: going beyond investors

  • Materiality applied to sustainability disclosure
  • Materiality in the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards
  • Materiality in the GRI Standard
  • Materiality in the European Sustainability Reporting Standards
  • Process vs. outcomes

8. Sustainability disclosure across jurisdictions

  • The relationship between standard-setters and regulators
  • The growing prevalence of regulatory disclosure guidance
  • Common types of sustainability reporting rules
  • Types of guidance shaping global disclosure rules
  • The influence of corporate governance codes
  • Balancing flexible implementation with usable information

Part III: Understanding IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards

9. What is useful sustainability-related financial information?

  • The importance of standards
  • Sustainability: a unique context
  • The goals of the International Sustainability Standards Board
  • Additional characteristics of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards
  • The primary objective of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards
  • Qualitative characteristics of useful sustainability-related financial information

10. The IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards

  • Core content
  • Conceptual foundations
  • Determining what information to disclose

11. Setting IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards

  • The structure of the IFRS Foundation
  • Developing the first IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards
  • Maintaining the SASB Standards
  • The initial development of the TCFD Framework

12. How companies disclose sustainability-related financial information

  • Introduction to sample disclosures
  • Why do companies disclose investor-focused sustainability information
  • Where do companies disclose investor-focused sustainability information?
  • What investor-focused sustainability information are companies reporting?
  • How is investor-focused sustainability information being disclosed?

Part IV: Corporate and Investor Use: Going Beyond Disclosure

13. A closer look: investor demand for sustainability information

  • A global call for enhanced disclosure
  • A shift in market paradigms
  • Companies come to call

14. Considerations for corporate use

  • Business roles applicable to sustainability disclosure
  • Preparing for disclosure
  • Preparing quality data
  • Reporting material sustainability data
  • Managing sustainability performance

15. Considerations for investor use

  • Overview of sustainability in investing
  • A Spectrum of the use of sustainability information
  • Investor application of cross-industry vs. industry-specific sustainability data
  • The pre-investment stage
  • Index construction and sector allocation
  • Post-investment engagement
  • Investor reporting
  • Creating an effective framework
  • Data is the backbone

2. FSA Credential Level II Exam

The level II FSA credential examination which is 2 hours long and consists of 55 MCQs related to 13 miniature case studies. Those who are sitting for the level II exam need to understand that the exam test the candidate's ability to analyse the sustainability performance of the company using quantitative and qualitative financial and sustainability data. The following table provides the complete syllabus of the exam:

Part

Topic

Part I: Identifying the Sustainability Issues Relevant to Financial Performance

How a Company’s Circumstances Influence Material Sustainability Issues

  • Considerations That Shape Each Industry’s Sustainability Profile
  • The Influence of Governance and Management Practices
  • Evaluating How a Company’s Circumstances Influence Material Sustainability Factors

Understanding Sustainability Issues

  • The Universe of Sustainability Issues
  • Identifying Interrelated Impacts

Evaluating Sustainability Issues

  • Applying the Five Factors
  • Contextualizing Sustainability Topics
  • Making Use of the Findings

Part II: Evaluating the Comparability of Sustainability Information

Normalizing Data for More Effective Comparisons

  • When to Normalize ESG Data
  • Selecting Appropriate Measures for Use in Normalization
  • Normalizing for Comparative Analysis

Analyzing the Spread of Industry Performance

  • Getting to Know Your ESG Data
  • Analyzing Data Distribution
  • Outliers and Non-Normal Distributions
  • Considering Data Quality

Considering Company-Specific Context

  • Considering a Company’s Operating Environment
  • Management and Governance Decisions

Part III: The Connection Between Sustainability Performance and Valuation

Characterizing Financial Impact

  • Identifying Risks and Opportunities
  • Assessing the Likelihood, Timing, and Magnitude of Impacts
  • Process for Identifying Metric Types and Categories

Using Sustainability Data in Financial Valuation

  • Overview of Discounted Cash Flow
  • Identifying Channels of Financial Impact

Integrating ESG Beyond DCF

  • Evaluating Returns and Profitability
  • Scenario Analysis
Q:   How many IFRS standards are there?
A:

Currently, there are 17 IFRS standards in application. By 1st January 2027, IFRS 18 and 19 will also be in application.

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Online Courses To Learn IFRS Standards in Detail

The following online courses are relevant for those who want to learn about IFRS standards in detail:

Course About the Course
IFRS - International Financial Reporting Standards  In this course, the set of accounting standards IFRS are discussed that govern how different types of transactions and events should be reported in the financial statements. 
Certificate in IFRS  This course is suitable for finance professionals who want to understand the structure of the IFRS framework. Through this course, the students will learn to apply relevant financial reporting standards to important elements of financial reports. They will also learn to identify and apply disclosure requirement for companies in the financial reports.
Diploma in International Financial Reporting (DipIFR)  Professionals who have enrolled in this course will understand the conceptual framework of financial reporting and learn to apply them. They will also learn to prepare group financial statements including subsidiaries, associates and joint arrangements. Group cash flow statements are not included.

Popular IFRS Colleges in India

Following are the most popular IFRS Colleges in India. Learn more about these IFRS colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
3 Courses
432 - 540
7 LPA

#3 India Today

2 Courses
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#1 Outlook

70 K - 14.62 L
4.8 - 6.14 LPA

#9 The Week

10 Courses
43.41 K - 3.82 L
5.3 - 6.89 LPA

#7 India Today

2 Courses
51.6 K - 80.61 K
9.24 - 9.5 LPA

#2 Outlook

29.66 K - 2.54 L
4.4 - 4.6 LPA

#3 The Week

Popular Private IFRS Colleges in India

2.6 L - 13.2 L
3.6

#47 Outlook

Accounting & Commerce Applications open till Jul 12, 2025. Apply Now

2 Courses
1.5 L - 9.6 L
6 - 7.5 LPA

Accounting & Commerce Applications open till Aug 14, 2025. Apply Now

60 K - 6.25 L
4.0

Accounting & Commerce Applications open till Jul 15, 2025. Apply Now

1.44 L
2 Courses
2.1 L - 3 L
2 Courses
57 K

Popular IFRS Specializations

Following are the most popular IFRS Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

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