The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has submitted a comment letter to the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) on its exposure draft for proposed revisions to ISA 240, which covers fraud.

IFAC supports the IAASB’s focus on fraud, but the proposals raise several concerns for the global profession. Any approach to these issues should reflect the fact that the primary responsibility for preventing and detecting fraud rests with management. Extant requirements within the standard provide an effective basis for dealing with the auditor’s responsibilities in relation to fraud, so the IAASB should take an evidence-based approach to amendments, ensuring that any changes in approach that increase costs for auditors and clients can be justified through added value.

Some of the proposals may lead to a widening of the existing expectation gap—especially the changes related to transparency in the auditor’s report. The proposed requirements may also result in extra work and effort on all audits regardless of whether specific fraud risks have been identified, and without corresponding increases in value. The resulting approach might not be practical or cost effective for many audits and is unlikely to make a meaningful difference to audit quality in many cases.  

IFAC will remain engaged with the IAASB’s consultation process until the publication of a final standard and supporting guidance materials.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has submitted a comment letter to the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) on its exposure draft for proposed revisions to the IESBA Code relating to the use of external experts.

External experts can improve the quality of reporting and assurance. They are an important resource, especially for small- and medium-sized practices, where there is often less in-house specialist knowledge. Standards in this area should not discourage the use of experts, and any requirements should be clear—and consistent with the corresponding reporting and assurance standards.

IFAC’s response highlights the potential that proposed revisions could undermine the quality of reporting and assurance engagements by creating inappropriate barriers to the use of external experts. Proposals for subjective evaluation of competence, capability, and objectivity could prevent the use of experts based on perceived, rather than meaningful, challenges to ethical behavior. New requirements for information gathering in some areas appear excessive and impractical. The exposure draft also has notable inconsistencies in approach and terminology with the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board's (IAASB) proposed International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000.

IFAC will remain engaged with the IESBA’s consultation process until the publication of a final revision and supporting guidance materials.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has submitted a comment letter to the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) on its exposure draft for the proposed revisions to the Code of Ethics related to sustainability.

The global business community and the accountancy profession are making a significant transformation with respect to sustainability disclosures. The IESBA has an important role, like other standard setters, in this transformation.

IFAC appreciates the significant resources and effort the IESBA has devoted to this important project. However, the actions of standard setters, regulators, and policy makers must be undertaken and calibrated with priority for both being an effective influence on the sustainably transformation and bringing along relevant stakeholders in the business community, including the accountancy profession, on the journey. It is important for the IESBA to be a positive influence in this transformation through the creation of practical, easily understandable, and sufficiently flexible standards.

IFAC has raised three key areas in which the IESBA can enhance the practicality of implementation:

• Reduce complexity and call for transparency from practitioners with respect to relevant, jurisdiction-specific sustainability assurance oversight, as well as enforcement where they conduct engagements.
• Remove barriers to financial statement auditors providing sustainability assurance to the same client.
• Revise or remove proposed requirements related to value chain considerations.

IFAC will remain engaged with the IESBA’s consultation process until the publication of a final standard and supporting guidance materials.

In preparation for its 5^th Research Forum, which will be co-hosted by Comparative International Governmental Accounting Research Network (CIGAR) at its June 2025 conference, the IPSASB is calling for scholarly contributions from the academic community. This is an opportunity for researchers to have a significant impact on accounting standards used by governments and public sector entities across the globe.

Coordinated through the Academic Advisory Group, which includes independent scholars from all parts of the world, as well as the IPSASB members who have an academic background, the IPSASB is offering a grant of USD $2,000 for selected scholarly papers submitted covering three research areas. Up to six grants are available in total.

The research areas of interest are:

• Presentation of Financial Statements
• Interaction with GFSM 2014
• Accounting for Biodiversity in the Public Sector
• IPSAS 18, Segment Reporting
• IPSAS 20, Related Party Disclosures
• IPSAS 31, Intangible Assets
• IPSAS 35, Consolidated Financial Statements
• IPSAS 41, Financial Instruments

The grant recipients, as well as other scholars, will present the first drafts of their full papers at the 2025 Research Forum (June 2025). As a first step, academics are invited to submit abstracts by October 4, 2024. For more information, see the IPSASB’s Call for Papers.

Learn more about the Academic Advisory Group and submit.

About the IPSASB
The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board® (IPSASB®) works to strengthen public financial management globally through developing and maintaining accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards^® (IPSAS^®) and other high-quality financial reporting guidance for use by governments and other public sector entities. It also raises awareness of IPSAS and the benefits of accrual adoption. The Board receives support from the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the New Zealand External Reporting Board, the government of Canada, and the World Bank. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IPSASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please go to permissions or contact permissions@ifac.org.

About the Public Interest Committee
The governance and standard-setting activities of the IPSASB are overseen by the Public Interest Committee (PIC), to ensure that they follow due process and reflect the public interest. The PIC is comprised of individuals with expertise in public sector or financial reporting, and professional engagement in organizations that have an interest in promoting high-quality and internationally comparable financial information.

The IESBA today submitted a comment letter to the Committee of European Auditing Oversight Bodies (CEAOB) regarding the CEAOB’s draft non-binding guidelines on limited assurance on sustainability reporting under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in the European Union (EU).

Starting from financial years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, large companies in the EU are required to draw up sustainability statements in accordance with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). These statements are required to be subject to an assurance engagement by statutory auditors or other assurance services providers.

To prevent fragmentation and promote consistency in practices until the European Commission’s (EC) adoption of an assurance standard at EU level by October 1, 2026, the EC has invited the CEAOB to develop non-binding guidelines regarding limited assurance on sustainability reporting.

To read the full comment letter, please click here.

About IESBA

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants serves the public interest by setting high-quality ethics standards, including independence requirements, as a cornerstone to ethical behavior in business and organizations, and to public trust in financial and non-financial information that is fundamental to the proper functioning and sustainability of organizations, financial markets and economies worldwide.

Along with the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (“IAASB”), the IESBA is part of the International Foundation for Ethics and Audit (“IFEA”). The Public Interest Oversight Board (“PIOB”) oversees IESBA and IAASB activities and the public interest responsiveness of the standards.

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) has released new supplemental guidance on auditor reporting as it relates to the International Standard on Auditing for Audits of Financial Statements of Less Complex Entities, known as the ISA for LCE. Meant to be read with the ISA for LCE, the new guidance provides assistance for auditors about modifications to the auditor’s report when using the standard. The guidance also includes information on using emphasis of matter and other matter paragraphs, reporting on other information, and reporting on a material uncertainty related to going concern.

Additionally, the guidance features eight illustrative auditor’s reports, including examples of adverse opinions, disclaimer of opinions, and opinions when there is a material uncertainty related to going concern.

Accessible on the IAASB website, this new Auditor Reporting Supplemental Guidance complements previously released resources, including videos and webinars, which provide a robust toolkit for navigating the ISA for LCE, adoption, and implementation. Additional resources will be published this quarter, including an adoption guide, supplemental guidance on the authority of the standard, and a first-time implementation guide.

The new guidance does not amend or override the ISA for LCE, the text of which alone is authoritative. Reading the guidance is not a substitute for reading the ISA for LCE. For more information and to access the new guidance, visit: www.iaasb.org/ISAforLCE

On behalf of the global accountancy profession, IFAC welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the IESSA ED. The global business community and the accountancy profession are at the start of significant transformation with respect to evolving sustainability disclosures. IESBA has an important role, like other standard setters, in this transformation.

We appreciate the significant resources and effort the Board has devoted to this important project. However, the actions of standard setters, regulators and policy makers must be undertaken and calibrated with the priority of being an effective influence on the transformation and by “bringing along relevant stakeholders” in the business community, including the accountancy profession, on this journey. It is important for the IESBA to be a positive influence in this transformation through the creation of practical, easily understandable, and sufficiently flexible standards.

Below are three key matters we urge IESBA to reconsider to enhance the practicality of implementation:

• Reducing complexity and calling for transparency from practitioners with respect to relevant, jurisdiction-specific sustainability assurance oversight and enforcement where they conduct engagements.
• Ensuring barriers to financial statement auditors providing sustainability assurance to the same client are removed.
• Addressing matters of practicality related to value chain considerations—i.e., through revision or removal of proposed requirements.

Click here to read the comment letter.

New evidence came today of the global momentum toward sustainability disclosure. The International Sustainability Standard Board (ISSB) released a new guide to help jurisdictions adopt its sustainability reporting standards, S1 and S2, and announced that more than 20 jurisdictions have indicated plans to incorporate these standards into their legal or regulatory frameworks. These jurisdictions collectively represent nearly 55% of global GDP and more than 30% of global market capitalization.

Commenting on the release of the guide and the new data, Tom Seidenstein and Gabriela Figueiredo Dias, IAASB and IESBA Chairs, respectively, said, “On behalf of our Boards, we congratulate the ISSB on the release of its new adoption guide, which will help jurisdictions navigate the adoption journey and promote necessary consistency and quality for sustainability disclosure. As the IAASB and IESBA continue to progress our proposed standards on sustainability assurance and an ethics framework for sustainability reporting and assurance, we welcome all initiatives aiming at building the necessary capacity and understanding to achieve a consistent application of sustainability related standards, including assurance and ethics standards. Our collective goal is to strengthen stakeholders’ trust and confidence in disclosures.”

New evidence came today of the global momentum toward sustainability disclosure. The International Sustainability Standard Board (ISSB) released a new guide to help jurisdictions adopt its sustainability reporting standards, S1 and S2, and announced that more than 20 jurisdictions have indicated plans to incorporate these standards into their legal or regulatory frameworks. These jurisdictions collectively represent nearly 55% of global GDP and more than 30% of global market capitalization.

Commenting on the release of the guide and the new data, Tom Seidenstein and Gabriela Figueiredo Dias, IAASB and IESBA Chairs, respectively, said, “On behalf of our Boards, we congratulate the ISSB on the release of its new adoption guide, which will help jurisdictions navigate the adoption journey and promote necessary consistency and quality for sustainability disclosure. As the IAASB and IESBA continue to progress our proposed standards on sustainability assurance and an ethics framework for sustainability reporting and assurance, we welcome all initiatives aiming at building the necessary capacity and understanding to achieve a consistent application of sustainability related standards, including assurance and ethics standards. Our collective goal is to strengthen stakeholders’ trust and confidence in disclosures.”

The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board® (IPSASB®) has issued Improvements to IPSAS, 2023. 

Improvements to IPSAS, 2023 includes improvements to IPSAS in order to align with amendments to IFRS® Accounting Standards based on IASB’s Narrow Scope Amendments projects.

The pronouncement was approved by the IPSASB in March 2024.

About the IPSASB
The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board® (IPSASB®) works to strengthen public financial management globally through developing and maintaining accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards™ (IPSAS®) and other high-quality financial reporting guidance for use by governments and other public sector entities. It also raises awareness of IPSAS and the benefits of accrual adoption. The Board receives support from the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the New Zealand External Reporting Board, and the government of Canada. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IPSASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please go to permissions or contact permissions@ifac.org.

About the Public Interest Committee
The governance and standard-setting activities of the IPSASB are overseen by the Public Interest Committee (PIC), to ensure that they follow due process and reflect the public interest. The PIC is comprised of individuals with expertise in public sector or financial reporting, and professional engagement in organizations that have an interest in promoting high-quality and internationally comparable financial information.