CPABC in Focus September/October 2014 | Page 36

as with the recent release of a jointly-issued converged standard on revenue recognition. But, increasingly, they are coming to different conclusions on key aspects of their remaining joint projects. That said… the AcSB and FASB have taken steps to achieve closer contact in the last year. FASB’s chair and I, together with members from both boards, now meet periodically to provide updates and exchange views on global issues. By participating in various global standards activities, we are continuing to seek ways to influence the IASB and FASB to narrow the differences between their standards. Other key projects for the AcSB We currently have a very important initiative ramping up: developing our next strategic plan, which would cover the years 2016 through 2021. To develop this, the board and its staff will be undertaking two main tasks. First, we’ve undertaken a review of the effects of applying our current strategy, which is that we have separate sets of standards for publicly accountable enterprises, private enterprises, NFPOs, and pension plans. Our review of this strategy began back in 2010 when the AcSB started monitoring the experiences Canadians faced as they moved to apply IFRS, ASPE, and the other standards. We believe that this current strategy still holds true, and we will be continuing with these separate frameworks—in line with our belief that one size doesn’t fit all. Next, the AcSB will build on our findings from this review by identifying how we can better implement our various financial reporting strategies. We’ll then develop a draft of our next strategic plan, which will be issued for public comment in 2015. We look forward to hearing from our stakeholders and working with them on this initiative. Additional information Keep up with the AcSB and its activities by: • isiting www.frascanada.ca V regularly, and • ubscribing to The Standard, a S weekly email from the standards boards and oversight councils that can be tailored to the standards news you want—from IFRS to ASPE to CASs—via www.frascanada.ca/subscribe. Mertens Valuation Services Ltd. Independent Expert Advice Rick Mertens has been assisting fellow accountants and their clients with independent business valuation and related services for the past 10 years. Rick is located in the Greater Vancouver area but regularly works with clients located throughout British Columbia. Rick is committed to providing high quality service in a personalized, timely and cost effective manner. He has extensive experience in business valuations, economic loss claims and transaction advisory. In addition to his CBV and CPA / CGA designations, Rick has also completed the 3-Year In-Depth Tax Program of the CICA and other specialized courses, and can assist with various planning matters. Business Valuation | Litigation Support | Transaction Advisory Rick Mertens, CBV, CPA, CGA #2300 – 2850 Shaughnessy Street Port Coquitlam, BC, V3C 6K5 604-518-7551 | [email protected] www.mertensvaluation.com | facebook.com/mertensvaluation www.linkedin.com/in/rickmertens 36 CPABC in Focus • Sept/Oct 2014