Integrated Reporting (IFRS approved)

Background

Integrated Reporting is a process founded on integrated thinking that results in a periodic integrated report by an organisation about the value creation over time. An Integrated Report is a concise communication about how an organisation’s strategy, governance, performance and prospects, in the context of its external environment, lead to the creation of value over the short, medium and long term. The primary purpose of an integrated report is to explain to providers of financial capital how an organisation creates value over time. It, therefore, contains relevant information, both financial and other. An integrated report benefits all stakeholders interested in an organisation’s ability to create value over time, including employees, customers, suppliers, business partners, local communities, legislators, regulators and policy-makers.

Integrated Reporting (IR) is by many seen as the future of reporting. Integrated reporting brings many benefits to organisations and their stakeholders by linking financial and non-financial elements of the company’s business together and thus presenting a more holistic picture of the company’s value creation, business model and strategy. Integrated Reporting thus leads to a clear and concise articulation of your value creation story which is useful and relevant to all stakeholders. In short, Integrated Reporting brings together material information about an organisation’s strategy, governance, performance and prospects in a way that reflects the commercial, social and environmental context within which it operates.

Publishing integrated reports has become commonplace, is strongly recommended by the King IV Report on Governance for South Africa, and is a requirement for South African listed companies. A variety of organisations, both listed and non-listed, can benefit in multiple ways from publishing an integrated report.

The most widely used framework for integrated reporting is the<Integrated Reporting> Framework developed by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) [now the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation (IFRS Foundation)].  To help mainstream integrated reporting, the foundation training partner (Enact) and approved local trainer (Environmental and Sustainability Solutions) offer this course based on the (IIRC) <Integrated Reporting> Framework.

Aim and objectives of this course

The course aims at improving the participant’s knowledge of Integrated Reporting and caters to both non-financial and financial reporters. We focus on what Integrated Reporting can bring to the organisation, what it means and how to work with the guidelines to improve current reporting and to move towards a more fully integrated reporting. By doing so, the ability of participants to assess and evaluate integrated reports is also enhanced.

Specific objectives include:

  • Developing an understanding of the broader context of integrated reporting;
  • Presenting the business case for the introduction of Integrated Reporting, including integrated thinking, to an organisation;
  • Explaining the fundamental concepts of value creation, the capitals, and the value creation process;
  • Describing the requirements of the International <IR> Framework;
  • Describing the factors which contribute to successful implementation of Integrated Reporting, including integrated thinking, within an organisation;
  • Being able to manage or participate in the development of an integrated report;
  • Study examples how various organisations have implemented integrated reporting; and
  • Understanding the relationship between the <IR> Framework and the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards.

Outline of the course

The course covers the following topics:

  • The context of integrated reporting;
  • Conceptual introduction to integrated reporting;
  • The objectives and structure of the <IR> Framework;
  • The Guiding Principles for integrated reporting;
  • The Content Elements of an integrated report;
  • The link between the <IR> Framework and the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards;
  • Designing an integrated reporting process;
  • What is expected from a good integrated report; and
  • Consider some examples of integrated reports.

Certificate

This course is internationally certified by the IFRS. Successful participants will receive an internationally recognised certificate from the IFRS.

Course presenters

This course is jointly presented by Enact, an IFRS Training Foundation Partner and Environmental & Sustainability Solutions (ESS), a collaboration partner of Enact.

Registration

To register for this course, please click here. To view the training schedule, please visit our training calendar.

Training and Consulting Professionals