Vale Ian Mackintosh

Thursday, May 11, 2023

Our condolences to the family and friends of Ian Mackintosh, who sadly passed away last week.  Ian was a widely respected standard-setter with a long and varied career across multiple continents.  Ian was an inaugural member of the Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (PSASB) of the Australian Accounting Research Foundation (AARF) in 1983, reflecting his significant experience providing services to public sector entities in Canberra as a Coopers & Lybrand partner.  That was the public start of his four decades of interest in and contribution to accounting standard-setting, both in Australia and around the world.

As well as membership of the PSASB, Ian was also a member and Chair of AARF’s Urgent Issues Group (UIG).  Ian was Chair of the PSASB when it merged with the Australian Accounting Standards Board at the start of 2000, being appointed Deputy Chair of the AASB.  In addition, he was a member and then Chair of IFAC’s Public Sector Committee and instrumental in the decision that led to the PSC becoming the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB).  Ian later became Chair of the UK Accounting Standards Board and then was appointed Vice-Chair of the International Accounting Standards Board.  More recently, Ian was Chair of the Corporate Reporting Dialogue.  His standard-setting work remarkably encompassed both the public and private sectors, and also financial and broader reporting.

Outside of standard-setting, Ian was a Coopers & Lybrand partner for many years, plus a term as Chief Accountant for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and a stint as a Financial Manager with the World Bank, focusing on the South Asia Region.  Obviously a man of many talents!

We acknowledge and appreciate Ian’s major contribution to the Australian and global accounting profession and standard-setting.  All those who knew him will miss him greatly.