[1] The origins of the IAAER can be traced back to meetings of the International Congresses on Accounting that started in 1904.

IAAER was founded in 1984 to serve as a co-host with the Japanese Accounting Association for the sixth of these conferences, which was scheduled to be held in Kyoto, Japan in 1987.

In 2009, IAAER announced that all members would have access to eIFRS, an online repository of material about International Financial Reporting Standards.

[1] IAAER commissions research projects to develop improvements to international accounting and educational standards, and promotes development of accounting skills by working with local and regional bodies and organizing conferences and workshops.

[5] In July 2010 IAAER and ACCA again issued a call for proposals for research supporting development of international standards of education.