Former AICPA chairwoman named deputy president on IFAC board

Olivia Kirtley, CPA, CGMA, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ governing Council and former chairwoman of the AICPA board of directors, has been named deputy president on the board of the International Federation of Accountants, a global organization dedicated to strengthening the accounting profession.

Her term begins immediately, IFAC spokeswoman Laura Wilker said late last week. Kirtley succeeds Warren Allen, who was appointed IFAC president.

Kirtley became a member of the IFAC board in 2007, following a stint on the independent IFAC Task Force on Rebuilding Public Confidence in Financial Reporting from 2002 to 2003.

As deputy president of the board, Kirtley, a business consultant on strategic and corporate governance issues, will chair IFAC’s planning and finance committee, which works directly with IFAC staff to develop the organisation’s strategic plan. She also heads the board’s constitution review working group and serves on the nominating committee and the regulatory liaison group.

“Olivia’s election as IFAC’s deputy president is important for the business community and the profession,” AICPA President and CEO Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, said in an AICPA news release. “Her perspective as former chairman of the AICPA, a former CFO and presently as board member of several companies makes her uniquely qualified for this critical international leadership role for the profession.” 

Kirtley serves on boards of directors of three companies: U.S. Bancorp, Papa John’s International and ResCare. Previously, she was vice president of finance and chief financial officer of Vermont American Corp.

In 1998, Kirtley became the first woman to be elected to chair the AICPA board of directors. From 2000 to 2003, she headed the AICPA Board of Examiners, which oversees the content and structure of the uniform CPA examination. During her tenure, the board of examiners converted the CPA exam from a pencil-and-paper format to a digital format. In 2003, the AICPA awarded her the Gold Medal for exemplary leadership and service to the accountancy profession.

“Olivia’s CPA and CGMA credentials demonstrate deep financial and management accounting experience that is crucial for the future of a profession that underpins the global economy,” said Charles Tilley, FCMA, CGMA, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. “The demands on accountants are intensifying around the world, and Olivia has the insight and vision to ensure the profession keeps pace with the challenge.”

IFAC has 173 members and associates in 129 countries and jurisdictions, representing about 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry and commerce. IFAC offers accountants guidance on ethics, auditing and assurance, education and public sector accounting.

—Sabine Vollmer (svollmer@aicpa.org) is a CGMA Magazine senior editor.