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  • Ethics Considerations in Sustainability Reporting

    Including Guidance to Address Concerns About Greenwashing

    This publication spotlights key provisions in the Code that apply in preparing and presenting sustainability information. It emphasizes the professional accountant’s obligation to be straightforward and honest and refrain from being associated with information that is misleading or false, including in situations where they might experience pressure to do so.

    IESBA
    English
  • IESBA Issues Staff Publication Highlighting the Relevance and Applicability of the IESBA Code in Combatting Greenwashing

    New York, NY English

    Earlier today, the Staff of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) released a Questions & Answers (Q&A) publication, Ethics Considerations in Sustainability Reporting, Including Guidance to Address Concerns about Greenwashing. The publication highlights the relevance and applicability of the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code) to ethics-related challenges in the context of sustainability reporting and assurance, especially circumstances involving misleading or false sustainability information (i.e., “greenwashing”). 

    Among other matters, the publication spotlights key provisions in the Code that apply in preparing and presenting sustainability information. It emphasizes the professional accountant’s obligation to be straightforward and honest and refrain from being associated with information that is misleading or false, including in situations where they might experience pressure to do so.

    The publication is intended to assist professional accountants, especially those in business, but might also be of interest to other professionals involved in preparing sustainability reports or disclosures. It will also be useful to regulators and audit oversight bodies, policy makers, investors, those charged with governance, national standard setters, professional accountancy organizations, and others with an interest in the work of professional accountants and in sustainability reporting and assurance.

    About IESBA

    The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) is an independent global standard-setting board. The IESBA serves the public interest by setting ethics standards, including auditor independence requirements, which seek to raise the bar for ethical conduct and practice for all professional accountants through a robust, globally operable International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards).

    The IESBA believes a single set of high-quality ethics standards enhances the quality and consistency of services provided by professional accountants, thus contributing to public trust and confidence in the accountancy profession. The IESBA sets its standards in the public interest with advice from the IESBA Consultative Advisory Group (CAG) and under the oversight of the Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB).

  • Ethical Leadership In A Digital Era: Applying The IESBA Code To Selected Technology-Related Scenarios

    This non-authoritative publication provides seven hypothetical scenarios to illustrate how accountants can navigate practical issues in ethical leadership when using or implementing technology.

    Each scenario highlights the application of specific requirements and guidance in the IESBA Code, in particular those related to compliance with the fundamental principles of ethics, and auditor independence.

    IESBA
    English
  • IFAC and ICAEW Examine Recent Crime Trends in Latest Installment of Anti-Money Laundering Thought Leadership Series

    New York, NY English

    Together with ICAEW, The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) today released a new installment in its Anti-Money Laundering: The Basics educational series: Installment Eight: Crime Trends.  

    The publication is part of a series helping accountants enhance their understanding of how money laundering works, the risks they face, and what they can do to mitigate these risks and make a positive contribution to the public interest. Installment eight looks at recent crime trends like human trafficking and terrorist financing and the role money laundering plays.  

    Anti-Money Laundering: The Basics is user-friendly, easily accessible, and will be a resource for Small and Medium Practices (SMPs) and accountants less familiar with AML, while also providing guidance for those looking for a quick refresher or reference.

    Anti-Money Laundering: The Basics is featured on both the IFAC (landing page) and ICAEW websites and available for download for free. To be globally relevant, the series uses the risk-based approach of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog -- as a starting point. 

    For more information about IFAC, visit www.ifac.org.

    For more information about ICAEW, visit https://www.icaew.com/.

    Latest publication looks at terrorist financing, corruption, trade-based money laundering and other illicit opportunities