CONCLUSION
This paper set out to examine the current process of Russia‘s movement toward adoption of IFRS within
the context of Russian cultural, governmental and private sector organizations and consider examples from outside
Russia of competent and responsive local standard setting bodies and supportive institutional infrastructure that will
be needed by Russia to achieve its IFRS aspirations. The issue of whether Russia could achieve all this on the tight
time frame it has chosen was specifically addressed.
Russia may be moving swiftly toward partial adoption of IFRS for calendar and fiscal year 2012. The
success of this process is, however, less to be measured by meeting its immediate deadlines than by the care with
which Russia‘s expert body considers and discusses all implementation issues connected with any of the IFRS
documents they are examining for Russia and the ongoing process of IFRS examination and problem solving as
IFRS continues to evolve. It also will depend on how well the Russian Ministry of Finance and its two
governmental colleague institutions the Central Bank and the Federal Financial Markets Service can collaborate
effectively. What is needed is that a stable relationship be established between the government and standard
preparing advisory bodies like NSFO and other professional accounting organizations. Partial, and even full
adoption of IFRS, is only the beginning of a dynamic standard setting process that will continue as the IASB
continues to evolve IFRS. This will require a supporting infrastructure where dialogue with the IASB and flexibility
will be critical factors. It remains to be seen whether the Russian Federation‘s tendency to create highly formal,
procedural legalistic processes for approving IFRS will permit such flexibility.
Russia has highly talented and educated professionals to meet the tasks ahead. It is hoped that the NSFO in
its future actions and policies, will show itself to be a strong, independent and dedicated advisory organization
International Business & Economics Research Journal – February 2012 Volume 11, Number 2
266 © 2012 The Clute Institute
acting in consort with Minfin on behalf of Russian accountancy and the Russian people. Minfin, itself must
continue to pursue a reformist policy with regard to the implementation and evolution of IFRS on Russian soil.
Ultimately, the real stakes in this venture will be transparent, reliable financial reporting that will inspire confidence
in the users of Russian financial statements worldwide. We look forward with cautious optimism to the continued
success of IFRS proliferation in Russia.