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International Association of Administrative Professionals

delete options. During the 1990s it was decided not to Zeff, Stephen A. (2002). Political lobbying on proposed stan-
issue any more accounting-related directives. Instead, dards: A challenge to the IASB. Accounting Horizons, 1,
beginning in 2005 the EU adopted a regulation that 43–54.
required all publicly listed companies to prepare consoli-
dated financial statements using IFRSs. Mahendra Gujarathi

North American Free Trade Agreement. The North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was formed in
1993 between Canada, Mexico, and the United States to INTERNATIONAL
create a common market. It phased out duties on most ASSOCIATION OF
goods and services and promotes free movement of profes-
sionals, including accountants, within the three countries. ADMINISTRATIVE
Projects were under way to analyze the similarities and dif- PROFESSIONALS
ferences between financial reporting and accounting stan- The International Association of Administrative Profes-
dards of the member countries of NAFTA. sionals (IAAP) is a nonprofit administrative support
organization for office professionals, with over 40,000
Other Organizations. Some regional organizations—such members internationally. Membership is usually organ-
as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Commu- ized by chapters. IAAP seeks to support administrative
nity of Sovereign States, Economic Cooperation Organi- professional excellence by providing professional develop-
zation, Baltic Council, Asia Pacific Economic ment opportunities through a wide variety of activities.
Cooperation, Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accoun- IAAP places high value on integrity, encouragement, lead-
tants, and Nordic Federation of Accountants—have made ership, loyalty, professionalism, relevance, pride, connec-
efforts toward harmonizing accounting and disclosure tion, and individual importance.
standards. G4—a group of standard-setting bodies in IAAP (then known as the National Secretaries Asso-
Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United ciation [NSA]) was founded in Kansas City, Missouri, in
States—has also started playing an important role in the 1942, by a group of secretaries who wanted the role of the
harmonization of IASs. secretary to take on a more professional image. In 1951
NSA introduced an examination known as the Certified
PROGRESS FOR INTERNATIONAL Professional Secretaries Examination (which became the
STANDARDS Certified Administration Professionals Examination) that
provided members with the opportunity to demonstrate
The process of harmonized IASs has come a long way on
a rough path. While some critics doubt the feasibility of excellence in office skills and earn the designation “certi-
fied professional secretary.”
such standards, it is becoming increasingly clear that the
question is not whether but when the IASs will gain In 1952 National Secretaries Day was introduced to
worldwide acceptance. The likely endorsement by the recognize the hard work of women office workers. The
IOSCO and the SEC will bring that time closer. tradition continues, and the fourth week of April is set
aside as Administrative Professionals Week, recognizing all
SEE ALSO Accounting; International Federation of office workers.
Accountants
IAAP offers online publications and other publica-
tions for purchase as well as a bimonthly journal called the
BIBLIOGRAPHY Office Pro. An annual international convention is held as
Doupnik, Timothy S., and Perera, Hector (2005). International well as several regional conventions.
accounting. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
International Accounting Standards Board. http://www.iasb.org
WHAT IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE
McGregor, Warren (1999, June). An insider’s view of the current
PROFESSIONAL?
state and future direction of international accounting stan-
dard setting. Accounting Horizons, 13, 159–168. IAAP defines the term administrative professional as “an
Pactor, Paul (1998, July). International accounting standards: individual who is responsible for completing administra-
The world’s standards by 2002. The CPA Journal, pp. 14–21. tive tasks and coordinating and supporting information
and individuals in an office environment” (http://www.
Zeff, Stephen A. (1998, Fall). The IASC’s core standards: What
will the SEC do? Journal of Financial Statement Analysis, pp. iaap-hq.org/about.htm). The tasks performed by an
67–78. administrative professional require outstanding skills in

408 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE, SECOND EDITION