Fri, 01 May 2026 05:24:53 +0000

What’s Really Behind the AICPA Stand on International Standards? Unpacking the Currency, Context, and Consequences In today’s globally interconnected business environment, the alignment between national auditing practices and international standards is more critical than ever. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) stands at a pivotal point, consciously navigating its stance on International Standards—particularly those issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) under the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). While the AICPA publicly endorses convergence, deeper scrutiny reveals layers of strategic, regulatory, and industry-specific factors shaping its position. The Appearance of Convergence: Why the AICPA Supports International Standards On the surface, the AICPA’s advocacy for International Standards stems from a commitment to global consistency, transparency, and audit quality. By adopting International Standards on Auditing (ISA), the AICPA seeks to align U.S. public company audits with global peers—reducing complexity for multinational corporations, enhancing cross-border audit team mobility, and strengthening investor confidence.