Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) is pleased to present this fifth annual 2025 Chartered Accountants IFRS Survey – a reflection of our commitment to elevating the collective voice of Chartered Accountants. 

The survey was designed to capture Chartered Accountants’ perspectives and the impacts of IFRS Accounting Standards and associated reporting requirements. Our aim is to ensure Chartered Accountants actively contribute to the development and refinement of these standards, sharing valuable insights that support integrity in the economy and the public interest.

The findings offer critical insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by IFRS Accounting Standards, with a particular focus on the inaugural IFRS Complexity Index, lease accounting under IFRS 16, goodwill accounting under IAS 38 and the IASB priority projects and focus areas.

This year marks the first time CA ANZ has introduced an IFRS Complexity Index, which aggregates responses across four dimensions. The 2025 baseline index provides a score that reflects a moderate to high level of complexity in applying the IFRS Accounting Standards.

IFRS Complexity Index

• Chartered Accountants continue to face significant complexity in applying the IFRS Accounting Standards, with a baseline Complexity Index of 0.54 on a scale of 0 to 1.
• 84% of Chartered Accountants require ongoing training, with nearly two-thirds finding interpretation challenging.
• 41% of Chartered Accountants report a moderate to excessive time burden, and 69% experience moderate or more disruption from updates to the IFRS Accounting Standards.

Impact of IFRS 16 Leases

• Over 60% of Chartered Accountants report moderate or significant impact from IFRS 16, with complexity cited as the top concern.
• Chartered Accountants are divided on the benefits of bringing all leases onto the balance sheet; practitioners tend to disagree while corporate and public sector professionals are more supportive.
• Nearly half of Chartered Accountants reported that the ongoing cost exceeded their initial expectations.

Goodwill accounting

• There was an even split among Chartered Accountants between the amortisation and impairment-only approaches to accounting for goodwill.
• Half of Chartered Accountants believe goodwill gradually declines over time.

IASB priorities

• Going concern disclosures, cryptocurrencies and climate-related risks are highlighted by Chartered Accountants as some key priority areas for the IASB to focus on.

CA ANZ wishes to thank all respondents for the time taken to provide this valuable feedback. This feedback will be voiced directly in engagement with local and international standard setters and inform CA ANZ’s advocacy efforts toward simplifying and improving accounting standards.