Pensions and Retirement Training Course on Pension Accounting Disclosures

Module 1: Overview of Pension Accounting Standards and Frameworks
Key concepts of defined benefit and defined contribution accounting
IFRS (IAS 19) and IPSAS 39 — structure and principles
Relationship between actuarial valuations and accounting measurements
Distinctions between funding valuation and accounting valuation
Exercise: Mapping actuarial results to accounting requirements

Module 2: Measurement and Recognition of Pension Assets and Liabilities
Determining the defined benefit obligation (DBO)
Plan assets: recognition, measurement, and fair value hierarchy
Net defined benefit liability or asset on the balance sheet
Past service cost, current service cost, and net interest calculation
Case study: Measuring pension liability under IAS 19 assumptions

Module 3: Actuarial Assumptions and Their Financial Implications
Economic assumptions: discount rates, inflation, and salary projections
Demographic assumptions: mortality, turnover, and retirement ages
Sensitivity analysis and disclosure of key assumption impacts
Impact of assumption changes on profit and loss and OCI (Other Comprehensive Income)
Workshop: Quantifying sensitivity movements in financial statements

Module 4: Preparing and Presenting Pension Disclosures in Financial Reports
Required disclosure elements under IFRS and IPSAS
Reconciliation of opening and closing balances for DBO and plan assets
Presentation of pension expense components in financial statements
Notes, tables, and narrative disclosures for clarity and compliance
Practical exercise: Drafting a pension disclosure note for an annual report

Module 5: Governance, Audit, and Communication of Pension Disclosures
Coordination between actuaries, auditors, and finance teams
Managing audit queries and responding to disclosure reviews
Ensuring governance, transparency, and compliance in reporting
Communicating pension disclosure results to boards and stakeholders
Final case study: Reviewing a full pension disclosure for accuracy and completeness