The IESBA will hold two interactive global webinars in the coming weeks to present the first global ethics standards on tax planning, released earlier this month.

The standards establish a comprehensive ethical framework to guide professional accountants when providing tax planning and related services. The framework stipulates the expected mindset and behaviors of professional accountants when they recommend or otherwise advise on tax planning arrangements to employing organizations or clients. The standards were developed in response to public interest concerns about tax avoidance and the role played by consultants in light of revelations in recent years such as the Paradise and Pandora Papers.

Moving away from a purely mechanical and legalistic approach and towards a principles-based framework will establish a consistent point of reference for all professional accountants when dealing with tax planning to ensure due consideration of public interest as well as potential reputational, commercial, and wider economic consequences for their employing organizations or clients. Beyond just the accountancy profession, all other tax advisers are strongly encouraged to follow the standards.

The 1.5-hour webinar will feature a high-level overview of the standards and provide an opportunity for stakeholders to participate in a questions-and-answers session with the presenters.

The webinars will be held in English and available on YouTube following the session.

Global Webinar #1

Timing:  May 13, 2024 at 10:30 PM, EDT

Registration link

Presenters:

• Laurie Endsley, IESBA Vice Chair
• Andy Mintzer, IESBA Member
• Channa Wijesinghe, IESBA Member
• Carla Vijian, IESBA Principal

Global Webinar #2

Timing:  May 15, 2024 at 12:00 PM, EDT

Registration link

Presenters:

• Jens Poll, Former IESBA Member and Chair of the Tax Planning and Related Services Task Force
• Laurie Endsley, IESBA Vice Chair
• Sanjiv Chaudhary, Former IESBA Member
• Carla Vijian, IESBA Principal

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has released a new publication setting out four key areas where accountants need to update their knowledge to meet the growing demand for high-quality sustainability-related information. Equipping Professional Accountants for Sustainability: What's New and What Hasn't Changed speaks to the vital role accountants play in producing reliable sustainability-related data, reporting and assurance, as well as the importance of education and training in ensuring professional accountants are able to meet society’s needs.

Much of what accountants already do is transferable to sustainability; however, new topics and challenges require new ways of thinking and working. The framework aims to help professional accountants as well as professional accountancy organizations close any gaps between known and needed technical expertise, business acumen, behavioral competence, and ethics and professional values.

The publication was developed following previous sustainability and education research as part of work to revise the International Education Standards and with the support of the IFAC International Panel on Accountancy Education.

The publication is available on the IFAC website and complements IFAC's existing resources on sustainability, including webinars, podcasts, and publications, all of which are available on the IFAC Knowledge Gateway.

About IFAC
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 of 180 members and associates in more than 135 jurisdictions, representing millions of professional accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

About the International Education Standards
The International Education Standards (IESs), issued by the International Federation of Accountants, set forth the principles that professional accountancy organizations should follow to build a national accountancy profession that is fully capable of fulfilling the complex demands economies and societies place on it. The IESs are authoritative and are used by IFAC member organizations when setting education requirements for professional accountants and aspiring professional accountants.

As the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board reaches the midpoint of its public consultation on proposed amendments to its fraud standard, a new four-part video series has been released. The series will help stakeholders understand the proposed changes that strengthen auditor’s responsibilities related to fraud, and the rationale behind them.

Explore the ‘Understanding Proposed Changes to the Fraud Auditing Standard Video Series’:

• Overview of Key Changes: Gain an understanding of the proposed key changes from IAASB Member and Fraud Task Force Chair Julie Corden. Julie also provides brief background information and why these changes are being proposed.
• Spotlight on Auditor’s Responsibilities: Understand auditors’ responsibilities relating to fraud in an audit. IAASB Senior Manager Nathalie Baumgaertener Dutang explains how the proposed changes make these responsibilities clearer and more practical.
• Auditor’s Response to Fraud or Suspected Fraud: How are auditors, and engagement partners, being asked to enhance how they respond to fraud or suspected fraud? IAASB Principal Angelo Giardina outlines the new requirements, relocated requirements, and clarifications.
• Enhanced Transparency in the Auditor’s Report: Join IAASB Director Jasper van den Hout to learn more about how the proposed changes will enhance transparency in the auditor’s report regarding auditors’ responsibilities relating to fraud as well as fraud-related procedures (i.e., Key Audit Matters related to fraud).

The proposed changes to ISA 240 significantly strengthen auditors’ responsibilities relating to fraud. The IAASB encourages all stakeholders to submit their comments using the Response Template, designed to facilitate structured responses and streamline feedback collation and analysis. Stakeholders are invited to share their insights by June 5, 2024.

To assist governments and government entities interested to report in accordance with the accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), IFAC has released a package of training materials collectively titled Implementing IPSAS: A Guide for Trainers for use by trainers to teach others about the standards and how to apply them.  

Implementing IPSAS: A Guide for Trainers is the 2024 edition to Train the Trainer: Introduction to IPSAS released in November 2020. The 2024 edition includes updates to incorporate standards and pronouncements recently issued, including IPSAS 46, Measurement, IPSAS 47, Revenue, IPSAS 48, Transfer Expenses, and IPSAS 43, Leases. 

Implementing IPSAS: A Guide for Trainers contains ten modules separated into topics that can be delivered as individual sessions. Each module includes a manual for the trainer and an accompanying set of slides which can be customized to suit their specific needs. Some modules also contain supplementary video content. 

Access the guide.  

The Staff of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) today released a high-level summary of prohibitions in the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, (including International Independence Standards) (the Code), especially in relation to independence for audits of public interest entities (PIEs). 

The high-level summary is designed to highlight non-assurance services, relationships, interests or circumstances that are prohibited for PIE audits. It will be a useful reference to stakeholders, including regulators and audit oversight bodies, audit firms and individual audit practitioners, the corporate governance community, investors, preparers, and educational bodies or institutions.

The high-level summary is not a substitute for reading the Code. Footnote references to the relevant provisions in the Code have been provided to assist further understanding of the prohibitions. 

About The IESBA

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants^® (IESBA^®) is an independent global standard-setting board. The IESBA’s mission is to serve the public interest by setting ethics (including independence) standards 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 IESBA held interactive global webinars to present the key proposals in the Exposure Drafts on International Ethics Standards for Sustainability Assurance (including International Independence Standards) (IESSA) and Other Revisions to the Code Relating to Sustainability Assurance and Reporting and Using the Work of an External Expert.

The Exposure Draft on IESSA and ethics standards for sustainability reporting proposes a clear framework of expected behaviors and ethics provisions for use by all sustainability assurance practitioners, regardless of their professional backgrounds, as well as professional accountants involved in sustainability reporting. The goal of these standards is to mitigate greenwashing and elevate the quality of sustainability information, thereby fostering greater public and institutional trust in sustainability reporting and assurance.

The Exposure Draft on Using the Work of an External Expert proposes an ethical framework to guide professional accountants or sustainability assurance practitioners, as applicable, in evaluating whether an external expert has the necessary competence, capabilities, and objectivity in order to use that expert’s work for the intended purposes. The proposals also include provisions to aid in applying the Code’s conceptual framework when using the work of an external expert.

These proposed ethics (including independence) standards are especially relevant in a context where sustainability information is increasingly important for capital markets, consumers, corporations and their employees, governments and society at large, and when assurance providers outside of the accounting profession play a prominent role in sustainability assurance.

The webinars will provide useful information and valuable insight on the proposals in the Exposure Drafts for participants from all stakeholder groups, including regulators, preparers of sustainability information, sustainability assurance practitioners from all backgrounds, and investors.

The webinars were held in English and are available on IESBA’s YouTube Channel (link)

Webinar for the Using the Work of an External Expert Exposure Draft

Timing: February 22, 7:00 to 8:00 am EST

Presenters:

• Laurie Endsley, IESBA Vice Chair and Using the Work of an External Expert Task Force Chair
• Kam Leung, IESBA Principal

Webinar #1 for the Sustainability Exposure Draft

Timing: February 27, 9:00 to 11:00 am EST

Presenters:

• Mark Babington, IESBA member and Sustainability Workstream 1 Chair
• Richard Huesken, IESBA member and Sustainability Workstream 2 member
• Laura Leal, IESBA Principal
• Jon Reid, IESBA Principal
• Szilvia Sramko, IESBA Principal

Moderator: Geoff Kwan, IESBA Director

Webinar #2 for the Sustainability Exposure Draft

Timing: March 5, 8:00 to 10:00 pm EST

Presenters:

• Channa Wijesinghe, IESBA member and Sustainability Workstream 1 member
• Richard Huesken, IESBA member and Sustainability Workstream 2 member
• Laura Leal, IESBA Principal
• Jon Reid, IESBA Principal
• Szilvia Sramko, IESBA Principal

Moderator:  Geoff Kwan, IESBA Director

New resources from the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) are now available to help stakeholders understand, implement, and use the new standard for audits of smaller and less complex entities (the ISA for LCE). A comprehensive new three-part video series is now available and registration has opened for a global webinar.

Navigating the ISA for LCE Video Series

The newly released video series details important aspects of the standard.

• Exploring the Benefits: Learn more about the objectives, benefits, and its distinguishing features compared to the full suite of ISAs.
• A Closer Look at Applicability and Use: Understand the conditions under which the standard can be applied, including the role of legislative and regulatory authorities.
• A Step-by-Step Walkthrough: Gain an in-depth understanding of the standard’s design principles, structure, and content layout.

Global Webinar: Understanding the ISA for LCE

Don’t miss the opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of the ISA for LCE.

• Date/Time: April 3, 2024 at 7:00-8:30 am ET
• Venue: Zoom with livestreaming on YouTube and LinkedIn
• Agenda: Key topics include the standard’s purpose, authority, structure and associated benefits
• Speakers include IAASB member Kai Morten Hagen and IAASB staff members Isabelle Raiche, Jasper van den Hout, and Kazuko Yoshimura.

Register here.

In addition to the webinar and video series, the IAASB will also issue supplementary guidance, a fact sheet on adoption, and a first-time implementation guide in 2024. All materials will be available on the IAASB website: www.iaasb.org/ISAforLCE

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) is pleased to welcome five new members following their appointments by the Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB) in November 2023.

• Sami Alshorafa is the Deputy for Supervision, Capital Market Authority Saudi Arabia, where he is based. He leads the supervision of listed entities' financial statements, auditors, and governance as well as compliance of collective investment schemes. He has also worked as an audit partner at two of the big four audit firms.

Mr. Alshorafa: “Being part of the IAASB constitutes an excellent opportunity for accountants and specialists from different backgrounds and different geographical jurisdictions to come together with one main objective in mind, which is serving the public interest of the capital markets by cooperating in the development of high-quality auditing standards.”

• Hernán Casinelli is the Chair of the Accounting and Assurance Standards Board of Argentina, where he is based. He has held positions as a member of the International Accounting Standards Board’s SME Implementation Group and the IAASB's ISA for LCEs’ Reference Group.

Mr. Casinelli: “I look forward to working in the public interest to develop standards that enhance confidence in corporate reporting. I am certainly joining the IAASB at an exciting and challenging time.”

• Vishal Doshi is a Council member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He is also the Vice Chair of ICAI’s Auditing and Assurance Standards Board and a partner in K C Mehta & Co LLP, in India, where he is based.

Mr. Doshi: “The IAASB plays a very important role in global standards setting and I am looking forward to contributing towards the IAASB' s objectives to meet stakeholders’ expectations and serve public interest.”

• Robert Koethner is the retired Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, Mercedes-Benz Group AG, a role he held for more than 20 years. During his career, he worked closely with audit firms as well as governance bodies, including supervisory boards and audit committees, on an international scale. He is based in Germany.

Mr. Koethner: “As a former Chief Accounting Officer for a publicly listed and globally operating company I am looking forward to share my experience from a preparers side with my fellow board members to deliver international high-quality auditing standards.”

• Chrystelle Richard is Associate Professor in Accounting, ESSEC Business School, and is based in France. Dr. Richard teaches financial accounting and sustainable reporting in bachelor, master, and executive programs. Her primary research interests focus on firms' oversight and new forms of economic governance, including public-private partnerships and financial industry regulation.

Dr. Richard: “I feel very privileged to serve the IAASB at such an exciting time. The challenges of sustainability as well as technological developments present the IAASB with an ambitious and demanding agenda in 2024 and beyond. I am deeply honored to provide my academic expertise to the IAASB, and I am fully committed to serve it with the highest sense of the public interest.”

The IAASB is also pleased to share that two members were re-appointed by the PIOB for terms that also began on January 1, 2024:

• Edo Kienhuis is PwC’s Global Standards Leader and a partner in the Audit and Assurance practice in Amsterdam, where he is a member of the National Office Methodology team and serves as an engagement quality review partner on several listed entities; and
• Wendy Stevens is the National Practice Leader for Quality & Risk Management (QRM) at Mazars in the US, the Mazars Group International Quality Management leader, and a member of the Mazars Group QRM Board.

The PIOB’s Invitation for Application for IAASB members for terms of service beginning in January 2025 is open until February 9, 2024. The IAASB encourages qualified candidates to apply.

About the IAASB
The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board develops auditing, assurance, related services, and quality management standards and guidance in the public interest that support consistent performance of quality engagements. Along with the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants, the IAASB is part of the International Foundation for Ethics and Audit. The Public Interest Oversight Board oversees IAASB and IESBA activities and the public interest responsiveness of the standards. For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please visit Permissions.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) today released a literature review, Educating Accountants for a Sustainable Future: A Literature Review of Competencies, Educational Strategies, and Challenges for Sustainability Reporting and Assurance. The review highlights key themes in current sustainability-related education, learning and development to provide insights on how the global accountancy profession can meet stakeholder demands for relevant and reliable sustainability reporting.

Recent years have seen a significant shift in demand for relevant sustainability-related disclosure, reporting, and assurance and the accountancy profession is working to prepare current and future professionals to meet these stakeholder demands. The literature review identifies the new and existing competencies required of professional accountants to provide these services; educational strategies to develop them; and the challenges the accountancy education community will face. The literature review also informed IFAC’s decision to make sustainability-related revisions to the International Education Standards  and will contribute to the forthcoming proposed revisions, expected in Q2 2024.

In addition to the literature review, IFAC will host a joint webinar with the International Association for Accounting Education & Research (IAAER) on February 7, 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM EST, featuring a discussion with the review’s lead author. Register for the webinar here.

About IFAC
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 of 180 members and associates in more than 135 jurisdictions, representing millions of professional accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

Today, the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) launched a consultation process on proposed narrow scope amendments to achieve greater convergence with the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ (IESBA) International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (Including Independence Standards). These proposed revisions have two key objectives. First, they would align definitions and requirements in IAASB standards with new definitions for publicly traded and public interest entities in the IESBA Code. Second, the amendments would extend the applicability of existing differential requirements for listed entities to meet heightened stakeholder expectations regarding audits of public interest entities (PIE).

Key proposed revisions include extending the scope of the entities included under the International Standards on Quality Management and the International Standards on Auditing such that they will be subject to:

• Engagement quality reviews;
• Providing transparency in the auditor’s report on specific aspects of the audit, including auditor independence, communicating key audit matters, and the engagement partner’s name; and
• Communicating with those charged with governance to help them fulfill their responsibility overseeing the financial reporting process, (e.g., communicating about quality management and auditor independence).

How to Comment

The IAASB invites all stakeholders to provide feedback on the Exposure Draft using the digital Response Template, which is available on the IAASB website. Feedback is requested by April 8, 2024.

About the IAASB

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board develops auditing, assurance, related services, and quality management standards and guidance in the public interest that support consistent performance of quality engagements. Along with the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants, the IAASB is part of the International Foundation for Ethics and Audit. The Public Interest Oversight Board oversees IAASB and IESBA activities and the public interest responsiveness of the standards. For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please visit Permissions.