Published November 07, 2014
NEW YORK (Nov. 7, 2014) — The American
Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is pleased to report that Olivia Kirtley, CPA, CGMA, has been elected to a two-year
term as president of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).
Kirtley, who succeeds Warren Allen, is the first female president in IFAC
history, as well as the first representative from the business community to
serve in that position.
IFAC is the global organization for the
accountancy profession, dedicated to serving the public interest by
strengthening the profession and contributing to the development of strong
international economies. It is comprised of 179 members and associates in 130
countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants
in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.
Kirtley has a long history of service to the profession, having previously
served on the independent IFAC Task Force on Rebuilding Public Confidence in
Financial Reporting in 2002 and 2003. She became a member of the IFAC Board in
November 2007 and was elected deputy president in 2012.
"Olivia has
brought to IFAC the same qualities that made her tenure as AICPA chair so
successful," said Barry
Melancon, CPA, CGMA, president and CEO of the AICPA. "Her experience in
corporate finance and management accounting, extensive public board leadership
and earlier work in public practice combine for proven leadership in today´s
complex global business environment. I applaud her election."
In 1998, Kirtley was the first woman to be elected chair of the Board of
Directors of the AICPA and continues to serve as a member of the governing
Council. From 2000 to 2003, she was chair of the AICPA Board of Examiners,
during which time the Uniform CPA Examination was converted from
pencil-and-paper to a computer based exam.
In 2003, the AICPA awarded her
its Gold Medal in recognition of her exemplary leadership and service to the
accountancy profession.