• IESBA Refuerza las Provisiones de Independencia del Auditor; Limita Aún más las Excepciones y Aclara la Guía Sobre Servicios Diferentes al Aseguramiento

    Nueva York, Nueva York
    Spanish

    El Consejo de Normas Internacionales de Ética para Contadores® (IESBA®, Consejo de Ética) ha publicado los Cambios al Código sobre ciertas provisiones de servicios diferentes al aseguramiento para clientes de auditoría y aseguramiento. Los cambios perfeccionan las provisiones de independencia estipuladas en el Código de Ética para Contadores Profesionales™ (el Código), en particular, impidiendo a los auditores brindar ciertos servicios prohibidos -diferentes al aseguramiento- a aquellos clientes de auditoría de entidades de interés público en situaciones de emergencia, y garantizando que no asuman responsabilidades administrativas al brindar servicios diferentes al aseguramiento a sus clientes de auditoría.

    "La independencia del auditor es fundamental para la confianza pública en la auditoría externa", señaló el presidente del IESBA, el doctor Stavros Thomadakis. "Estas mejoras no solo reforzarán la independencia, sino que también promoverán mayor consistencia en la aplicación de las provisiones del Código en las más de cien jurisdicciones del mundo, donde el Código está en uso".

    Entre las revisiones se eliminaron las provisiones que permitían a una firma de auditoría brindar determinados servicios de contabilidad e impuestos a clientes de auditoría de entidades de interés público en situaciones de emergencia, pues eran susceptibles de caer en una interpretación demasiado general. Adicionalmente, las provisiones revisadas incluyen:

    • Una nueva guía clarificada sobre lo que constituye la responsabilidad administrativa, y
    • Una guía clarificada sobre el concepto de servicios "mecánicos y rutinarios" relacionados con la creación de registros contables y preparación de estados financieros para clientes de auditoría que no son entidades de interés público.

    Las revisiones incluyen igualmente cambios correspondientes a las provisiones de servicios diferentes al aseguramiento del Código en relación con otros clientes de aseguramiento.

    "Estos cambios se enfocan en unas pocas, pero importantes, áreas del Código. Sin embargo, la junta continúa explorando otras áreas que podrían requerir mejoras", indicó el Director Técnico del IESBA, Ken Siong. "Por consiguiente, la junta ha creado un nuevo proyecto que revisará la claridad, pertinencia, y efectividad de las garantías relativas a la independencia del auditor en el Código, particularmente teniendo en cuenta que éstas se relacionan con la provisión de servicios diferentes al aseguramiento para clientes de auditoría".

    Para acceder al pronunciamiento revisado, visita el sitio web del IESBA: www.ethicsboard.org. Los cambios entrarán en vigor a partir del 15 de abril de 2016, con la posibilidad de una adopción temprana. Para mayor detalle, referirse al pronunciamiento final.

    Acerca del IESBA
    El International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants es un consejo independiente de emisión de estándares que desarrolla y emite -en el interés público- estándares de ética de alta calidad y demás declaraciones para los contadores profesionales alrededor del mundo. A través de sus actividades, el IESBA desarrolla el Código de Ética para Contadores Profesionales, el cual establece los requerimientos éticos para contadores profesionales. Las estructuras y los procesos que soportan las operaciones del IESBA son facilitados por la IFAC. Visítanos en www.ethicsboard.org para mayor información.

    Acerca de la IFAC
    La IFAC es la organización global para la profesión contable, dedicada a servir el interés público a través del fortalecimiento de la profesión y contribuir en el desarrollo de economías internacionales sólidas. La IFAC se compone de 175 miembros y asociados en 130 países y territorios, representando aproximadamente a 2,5 millones de contadores en la práctica pública, la educación, el gobierno, la industria y el comercio.

    IESBA Reinforces Auditor Independence Provisions; Further Limits Exceptions and Clarifies Guidance Around Non-Assurance Services

  • IESBA Progresses toward Global Standard on Responding to Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations; Issues Revised Proposal

    New York, New York English

    The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants® (IESBA®, the Ethics Board) today released for re-exposure an enhanced standard, Responding to Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations. The proposed standard sets out a new framework to guide auditors, other professional accountants in public practice, and professional accountants in business (PAIBs) in deciding how best to act in the public interest when they come across an act or suspected act of non-compliance with laws and regulations.

    “Fundamentally, all professional accountants have an ethical responsibility to respond in these situations and not turn a blind eye to them,” commented IESBA Chairman Dr. Stavros Thomadakis. “Importantly, their response can play a role in ensuring that serious instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations are appropriately addressed, or in deterring them. The board intends the proposed framework to guide professional accountants’ response in these situations, ensuring their actions serve the public interest while recognizing the essential role of management and those charged with governance in addressing the issue.”

    Among other matters, the proposed standard serves to better equip auditors and other professional accountants to address such issues by providing a pathway to disclosure to an appropriate authority in appropriate circumstances without the duty of confidentiality under the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants™ acting as a barrier. It also places renewed emphasis on the importance of senior-level PAIBs promoting a culture of compliance with laws and regulations within their organizations.

    “The board believes that the proposed framework represents a holistic, proportionate, and balanced model for addressing what can often be complex situations,” noted IESBA Technical Director Ken Siong. “The board also believes that the proposed standard’s enhanced guidance will support and complement legal and regulatory frameworks in jurisdictions that already mandate reporting by professional accountants of identified or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations to appropriate authorities.”

    The development of the proposed standard was informed by stakeholder responses to the first Exposure Draft issued in August 2012 and other extensive consultation with stakeholders, including global roundtables in Hong Kong, Brussels, and Washington, DC in 2014, and discussions with the IESBA Consultative Advisory Group.

    For an overview of the proposed standard, see the At-a-Glance document.

    How to Comment
    The Ethics Board invites public comment on the Exposure Draft and, in particular, from regulators and audit oversight bodies, preparers, those charged with governance, investors, accounting firms, and all other stakeholders who have a role or interest in addressing the relevant issues. National and regional professional accountancy organizations also are invited to share the ED and encourage participation from their members and employees. To access the ED and submit a comment, please visit the Ethics Board’s website at www.ethicsboard.org. Comments are requested by September 4, 2015. 

    About the IESBA
    The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) is an independent standard-setting board that develops and issues, in the public interest, high-quality ethical standards and other pronouncements for professional accountants worldwide. Through its activities, the IESBA develops the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, which establishes ethical requirements for professional accountants. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IESBA are facilitated by IFAC. Please visit www.ethicsboard.org for more information.

    About IFAC
    The International Federation of Accountants® (IFAC®) is the global organization for the accountancy profession dedicated to serving the public interest by strengthening the profession and contributing to the development of strong international economies. IFAC is comprised more than 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

  • Exposure Draft, Responding to Non-compliance with Laws & Regulations

    The proposed standard sets out a new framework to guide auditors, other professional accountants in public practice, and professional accountants in business (PAIBs) in deciding how best to act in the public interest when they come across an act or suspected act of non-compliance with laws and regulations. 

    Published:
    | May 6, 2015

  • IESBA April 2015 Meeting Highlights

    New York, New York English

    Highlights from the IESBA's April 13-15, 2015, meeting in New York, NY.

    :05 Introduction

    :30 Opening Remarks from IESBA Chair Stavros Thomadakis

    2:43 Non-compliance with Laws & Regulations

    4:30 Long Association

    8:00 Structure of the Code

    10:29 Safeguards

    13:38 Next Meeting

    Meeting Highlights Listen & Subscribe in iTunes

  • IESBA Reinforces Auditor Independence Provisions; Further Limits Exceptions and Clarifies Guidance around Non-Assurance Services

    New York, New York English

    The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants® (IESBA®, the Ethics Board) today released Changes to the Code Addressing Certain Non-Assurance Services Provisions for Audit and Assurance Clients. The changes enhance the independence provisions in the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants™ (the Code) by, in particular, no longer permitting auditors to provide certain prohibited non-assurance services to public interest entity (PIE) audit clients in emergency situations, and ensuring that they do not assume management responsibility when providing non-assurance services to audit clients.

    “Auditor independence is foundational to public trust in the external audit,” said IESBA Chairman Dr. Stavros Thomadakis. “These enhancements will not only further reinforce independence but also promote greater consistency of application of the Code’s provisions in the 100-plus jurisdictions around the world where the Code is currently in use.”

    The revisions include the removal of provisions that permitted an audit firm to provide certain bookkeeping and taxation services to PIE audit clients in emergency situations, as these were susceptible to being interpreted too generally. In addition, the revised provisions include:

    • New and clarified guidance regarding what constitutes management responsibility; and
    • Clarified guidance regarding the concept of “routine or mechanical” services relating to the preparation of accounting records and financial statements for audit clients that are not PIEs.

    The revisions also include corresponding changes to the Code’s non-assurance services provisions with respect to other assurance clients.

    “These changes focus on a few select, but important, areas of the Code. Nonetheless, the board continues to explore other areas where there may be a need for further enhancement,” noted IESBA Technical Director Ken Siong. “In this regard, the board has recently launched a new project that will review the clarity, appropriateness, and effectiveness of the safeguards against threats to auditor independence in the Code, particularly as these relate to the provision of non-assurance services to audit clients.”

    To access the revised pronouncement, visit the IESBA website: www.ethicsboard.org. The changes will be effective April 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. See the final pronouncement for details.

    About the IESBA
    The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) is an independent standard-setting board that develops and issues, in the public interest, high-quality ethical standards and other pronouncements for professional accountants worldwide. Through its activities, the IESBA develops the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, which establishes ethical requirements for professional accountants. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IESBA are facilitated by IFAC. Please visit www.ethicsboard.org for more information.

    About IFAC
    The International Federation of Accountants® (IFAC®) is the global organization for the accountancy profession dedicated to serving the public interest by strengthening the profession and contributing to the development of strong international economies. IFAC is comprised more than 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

  • Changes to the Code Addressing Certain Non-Assurance Services Provisions for Audit and Assurance Clients

    The changes in the pronouncement enhance the independence provisions in the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants™ (the Code) by, in particular, no longer permitting auditors to provide certain prohibited non-assurance services to public interest entity (PIE) audit clients in emergency situations, and ensuring that they do not assume management responsibility when providing non-assurance services to audit clients. 

    IESBA
    English

  • IESBA eNews: January 2015

    English

    Thank you for signing up to receive eNews from the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants® (IESBA®, the Ethics Board). This edition provides a summary of topics discussed and decisions made at the last Ethics Board meeting, held January 12–14, 2015, in London, UK. See the Meeting Page for highlights, including a podcast summary and agenda papers. You can also subscribe to our podcast channel in iTunes and follow us on Twitter @Ethics_Board. 

    Non-Assurance Services

    Following a review of comments received on its Exposure Draft, as well as consultation with the IESBA Consultative Advisory Group, the IESBA unanimously approved changes to the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants™ (the Code) regarding the provision of non-assurance services (NAS) to audit and assurance clients. Subject to approval from the Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB), the revised provisions will be published by early April. Changes to the Code will include:

    • The withdrawal of the exception provisions that permit an audit firm to provide certain bookkeeping and taxation services to public interest entity (PIE) audit clients in emergency situations;
    • Additional guidance and clarification regarding what constitutes management responsibility; and
    • Enhanced guidance and clarification regarding the concept of “routine or mechanical” services relating to the preparation of accounting records and financial statements for non-PIE audit clients.

    The IESBA also approved corresponding and conforming changes to Section 291 of the Code pertaining to the provision of NAS to assurance clients that are not audit clients. The changes will be effective approximately one year after the release of the final pronouncement.

    Structure of the Code

    The IESBA discussed a number of topics, including the possibility of rebranding the Code and aligning certain definitions of terms used in the Code with those of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board® (IAASB®).

    In addition, the IESBA received a brief progress report on the project’s background work, including the possibility of using a plain English editor and refining the drafting guidelines for the restructuring work.

    At its next meeting in April, the IESBA will consider responses to its Structure of the Code Consultation Paper, which closed on February 4. The board is also expected to consider a preliminary draft of sections of the restructured Code.

    To enhance accessibility and navigability, the Code is now available in a new web-based format. Enhancements to the web-based Code are being considered in tandem with the restructuring.

    Review of Safeguards in the Code

    The IESBA approved a new project to review the clarity, appropriateness, and effectiveness of the safeguards in Sections 100 and 200 of the Code and those safeguards that pertain to non-assurance services in Section 290.

    The IESBA will consider preliminary issues at its April 2015 meeting, including the approach to co-ordination between this project and the Structure of the Code project.

    Responding to Suspected Non-Compliance with Laws & Regulations

    The IESBA considered a revised draft of the proposed provisions on responding to non-compliance or suspected non-compliance with laws & regulations (NOCLAR). Topics discussed included:

    • The factors to consider in determining whether or not to disclose NOCLAR or suspected NOCLAR to an appropriate authority;
    • A draft rationale for the proposed response framework, which outlines the framework’s strengths in guiding professional accountants in assessing the implications of NOCLAR or suspected NOCLAR and the possible courses of action in responding to it; and
    • Illustrations of how the proposed standard can be applied.

    The IESBA will consider a revised draft of the standard with a view to approval for re-exposure at its April 2015 meeting.

    Long Association of Personnel with an Audit or Assurance Client

    The IESBA considered comments received on its Exposure Draft concerning the long association of personnel with an audit or assurance client. Among other matters, the IESBA discussed, with respect to audits of public interest entities (PIEs):

    • the length of the time-on period for all key audit partners (KAPs);
    • the length of the cooling-off period for other KAPs, including the engagement quality control reviewer;
    • the length of the cooling-off period for the engagement partner; and
    • the proposed provision that a KAP, who at any time during the seven-year time-on period served as an engagement partner, be required to cool off for five years.

    The IESBA will consider significant comments on other aspects of the Exposure Draft and a revised draft of the pronouncement at its April 2015 meeting.

    Review of Part C of the Code

    The IESBA discussed preliminary matters regarding Phase 2 of its project to enhance Part C of the Code, which deals with professional accountants in business (PAIBs). Topics discussed included the scope and objectives of this second phase, and use of terminology, including translatability of terms. The IESBA will consider revised proposals regarding the approach to Phase 2 and its scope in due course.

    Transparency International (TI) UK attended this portion of the meeting and gave a presentation to the board on the role of accountants in relation to corruption and bribery, which is particularly relevant to Part C of the Code.

    Meanwhile, the IESBA’s Exposure Draft, which comprises Phase 1 of the project, is open for comment until April 15, 2015. All stakeholders are encouraged to comment on the proposed changes, which include:

    • Section 320—revisions dealing, in particular, with misuse of discretion when preparing or presenting financial information. The revisions include enhanced guidance on how discretion can be misused in a manner intended to mislead, and the PAIB’s actions when faced with misleading information.
    • Section 370—a new section to guide PAIBs on responding to pressure from superiors or others to breach the fundamental principles, and on not placing pressure on others that would result in a breach of the fundamental principles.

    Learn more and submit a comment.

    Follow the Latest Ethics Resources, News, and Discussions in Global Knowledge Gateway

    Last year, the International Federation of Accountants® (IFAC®) launched the Global Knowledge Gateway™, a digital hub for the global accountancy profession: www.ifac.org/global-knowledge-gateway. The Gateway serves professional and aspiring accountants in all sectors by providing streamlined access to relevant resources, news, discussions, and thought leadership in ten different areas, including ethics. Resources in this area, designed to serve both accountants in business and in practice, include surveys and reports on business ethics issues, as well as practical guidance on implementing the IESBA Code and other codes of conduct.

    We invite you to explore, contribute your views and recommendations, suggest new resources, and subscribe to receive customized bi-monthly updates on new ethics and other content added to the Gateway. Register and subscribe to take full advantage of these features. 

    Next Meetings

    Meetings of the Ethics Board and the Ethics Board’s Consultative Advisory Group (CAG) are open to the public. The next IESBA CAG meeting will be held in New York, USA, on March 10–11, 2015. The next board meeting will be held in New York, USA, on April 13–15, 2015.

    For more information and to register to attend an Ethics Board or Ethics Board CAG meeting as an observer, visit Ethics Board Meetings  and Ethics Board CAG Meetings respectively.

    IESBA Is Hiring

    The IESBA is recruiting at the Deputy Director and Senior Technical Manager levels for its staff team based in New York. For complete job descriptions and required skills and experience for these roles, see Working at IFAC. Qualified candidates should send their resume to jobs@ifac.org.

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