IFRS 16 Leases CPD — Training Guide for Accountants 2026
IFRS 16 CPD for accountants — lessee accounting, ROU assets, lease modifications, IBR, short-term exemptions, and verifiable IFRS 16 training.
IFRS 16 Leases, effective from 1 January 2019, fundamentally changed how lessees account for leases by bringing most leases onto the balance sheet. Several years on, many finance teams still encounter complexity in the standard's application — particularly around lease modifications, variable lease payments, short-term and low-value exemptions, and the interaction with IFRS 9. For accountants preparing, reviewing, or auditing lease disclosures, IFRS 16 CPD remains a priority. This guide covers what IFRS 16 CPD should include.
Why IFRS 16 CPD Remains Relevant
Despite being live for several years, IFRS 16 continues to generate complexity in practice. Key ongoing challenges include: lease modifications — changes to lease terms, rents, or scope require reassessment of the lease liability and right-of-use (ROU) asset; variable lease payments — distinguishing between lease and non-lease components; Covid-19 rent concessions — the IASB practical expedient amendments and their ongoing application; short-term and low-value exemptions — ensuring consistent application across a portfolio; sale and leaseback transactions — the specific requirements under IFRS 16 and IFRS 15; and the interaction with impairment testing of ROU assets under IAS 36.
What IFRS 16 CPD Should Cover
A comprehensive IFRS 16 CPD programme covers: the lessee accounting model — initial recognition of the ROU asset and lease liability; subsequent measurement — depreciation of the ROU asset and unwinding of the lease liability discount; the incremental borrowing rate (IBR) — how to determine and apply it; lease term — including renewal and termination options; variable lease payments — fixed in substance vs genuinely variable; lease modifications — the accounting treatment for changes in scope, term, or consideration; short-term and low-value exemptions — eligibility and consistent application; presentation and disclosure — what IFRS 16 requires in the financial statements; the sale and leaseback model; and lessor accounting — finance leases vs operating leases under IFRS 16.
IFRS 16 vs FRS 102 Section 20
UK companies applying FRS 102 follow Section 20 (Leases) rather than IFRS 16. FRS 102 uses the traditional finance lease / operating lease distinction for lessees, which is structurally different from IFRS 16's single on-balance-sheet model. The FRC has proposed aligning FRS 102 Section 20 more closely with IFRS 16 in a future revision — finance professionals should monitor the FRC's FRS 102 triennial review for updates on timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does IFRS 16 CPD count as verifiable CPD? Yes — structured IFRS 16 training with a clear outcome counts as verifiable CPD for ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW, and other professional body members.
Who needs IFRS 16 CPD? Preparers, reviewers, and auditors of financial statements for companies with significant lease portfolios — particularly in retail, hospitality, aviation, logistics, and real estate, where lease volumes are highest.
Further Reading
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