Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Description
Participants will build foundational knowledge of PSAS, including the reporting model and conceptual framework, and understand how PSAS differs from ASPE and IFRS. Participants will apply concepts to practical scenarios through examples, mini‑cases, and discussion.
Topics include:
- PSAS handbook structure, the new conceptual framework, and financial statement presentation (including PS 1202 and key differences from PS 1201).
- Government reporting entity, controlled entities, government business enterprises, partnerships, and consolidation.
- Revenue standards: PS 3400, government transfers, tax revenue, restricted assets and revenues.
- Financial instruments, foreign exchange, and remeasurement gains and losses.
- Asset retirement obligations and liabilities for contaminated sites.
- Tangible capital assets and impairment; purchased intangibles and cloud computing costs; leases; public‑private partnerships.
- Contractual rights and obligations; contingent assets and liabilities; related party and inter‑entity transactions; restructuring transactions.
- Employee benefits and pensions (including introduction to the new PS 3251); loans receivable and loan guarantees.
- Additional PSAS matters: GAAP hierarchy, public sector guidelines, SORPs, and selected case studies.
NOTE: This course description has been revised and reflects updates for 2026. If you have any questions, please contact pdevents@cpaontario.ca.
To access your course, visit the CPA Ontario Blackboard site and sign in using the same username and password used for the Registration Portal. You can also access your course through the Blackboard Learn app (iOS or Android).
Important: Course access begins on the date of purchase and remains available for the Access Time specified for the course under Dates and Location. Please review the access time before purchasing. Note that it may take up to 15 minutes after registration for the course to appear in Blackboard.
Registration, cancellation, withdrawal, and other CPA Ontario PD policies can be found here.
Key Takeaways
By the end of this course, participants should be able to:
- Explain the PSAS reporting framework and the role of the conceptual framework.
- Compare key PSAS concepts with ASPE and IFRS to understand similarities and differences.
- Identify significant upcoming PSAS changes and where they affect presentation and disclosure.
- Apply PSAS concepts to common public sector scenarios using case exercises.
Who Will Benefit
- Preparers of public sector financial statements (e.g., CFOs, directors of finance, managers, and accounting staff).
- Auditors of public sector financial statements (e.g., partners, senior managers, managers, and senior auditors).
- Board or audit committee members and senior management of public sector entities and governments.
- Professionals working with governments, municipalities, First Nations, and government‑controlled entities.
Prerequisite(s)
- General working knowledge of ASPE and/or IFRS. Some knowledge of the Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS) handbook is ideal but not required.
How to Access the Course
To access your course in Blackboard, please follow these steps:
- Go to https://pdlms.cpaontario.ca
- Select ‘Ontario’ from login menu
- Sign in using the same login credentials used to register for the course
- Navigate to your course to access the content
Important: Your course access time begins on the date of purchase and remains available for the duration noted above. Please note that it may take up to 15 minutes after registration for the course to appear in Blackboard.
Registration, cancellation, withdrawal and all other CPA Ontario PD policies can be found here.