Earlier today, the IESBA’s Long Association Post-Implementation Review (LAPIR) Working Group released a questionnaire seeking stakeholder feedback on key matters relating to Phase 1 of the LAPIR.

The questionnaire forms part of the Working Group’s information gathering and will help inform the IESBA’s review of the implementation of the five-year cooling-off requirement for engagement partners on audits of public interest entities. This review is being undertaken before the “jurisdictional provision” in the standard expires for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2023. The jurisdictional provision permits jurisdictions to apply a cooling-off period less than five years subject to specified conditions.

Click here to download an update of the LAPIR released in March 2021.

How to Participate in the Questionnaire

Click here to access the questionnaire. Please provide your response by May 31, 2021.

If you have any queries about the questionnaire or Phase 1 of the LAPIR, please contact Geoff Kwan, Principal, IESBA, at geoffkwan@ethicsboard.org.

The IESBA today released an update on its Long Association Post-Implementation Review (LAPIR). This update provides an overview of Phase 1 of the LAPIR which will review the implementation of a specific partner rotation provision for engagement partners around the world with respect to audits of public interest entities. Phase 1 commences with information gathering activities. Phase 2 is due to commence in Q2 2023.

Click here to download this update.

At its March 2021 meeting last week, the IAASB approved Non-Authoritative Guidance on Applying ISAE 3000 (Revised) to Extended External Reporting (EER) Assurance Engagements. This guidance marks a significant step forward in supporting the evolving field of assurance for non-financial reporting. To help stakeholders understand the role of both the guidance and ISAE 3000 (Revised), which is the IAASB’s authoritative pronouncement, IAASB Chair Tom Seidenstein has published a new article detailing the guidance and how it supports the application of ISAE 3000 (Revised), growing demands for non-financial information reporting and assurance thereon, and the IAASB’s ongoing commitment to the consistent performance of quality engagements. The guidance will be published in April.

Read more on the IAASB website.

Together with ICAEW, The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) today released the sixth installment in its Anti-Money Laundering: The Basics educational series: Installment 6: Businesses in Difficulty.  

The publication is part of a 6-month short 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 six looks at businesses experiencing financial difficulties and the increased risk a professional accountant may face to inadvertently facilitate money laundering.

The installment series, with its focus on accessibility and ease of use, 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/.

The IESBA today released a new staff publication providing additional context to the Board’s recently proposed revisions to the definition of a public interest entity (PIE). This staff publication supplements the guidance material in the explanatory memorandum of the Exposure Draft Proposed Revisions to the Definitions of Listed Entity and Public Interest Entity in the Code (PIE ED), which was released in January.

This staff publication will assist local regulators, national standard setters or other relevant local bodies in considering and planning adoption of the revised PIE definition when finalized and issued by the IESBA. The IESBA recognizes that there may be refinements to the proposals as a result of the comments received on exposure.

In addition to the staff publication, the IESBA will provide two opportunities on March 25 and 29 for stakeholders to attend a webinar to learn more about the proposals in the PIE ED. Register for either one of the webinars here.

Click here to download the staff publication.

About 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 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 Code).

The March, 2021 Edition of The IESBA eNews has been released and is available HERE. 

The 2-page newsletter includes highlights of the various activities going on in and around the IESBA. In this edition, learn more about the search for the next IESBA Chair, the upcoming virtual Board Meetings, and much more. 

Today IFAC completed its inaugural series—Exploring the IESBA Code—a unique, educational resource developed in collaboration with the staff of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA). Launched in November 2019, each installment of the series highlights important concepts and topics in the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards).

The final installment, released today, explains the “building blocks” structure of the Code and its interconnected nature. This installment is intended to help readers better understand how to use and navigate the Code so that they can quickly identify and access the ethics and independence standards and guidance relevant to them. Other topics covered in the series include: the fundamental principles, the conceptual framework, auditor independence, conflicts of interest, inducements, non-compliance with laws and regulations (NOCLAR), pressure, and the role and mindset expected of the professional accountant with a focus on bias.

“The Exploring the IESBA Code series is a very useful tool to complement the IESBA eCode,” said Dr. Stavros Thomadakis, IESBA Chairman. “Each installment provides a summary of important aspects of the Code with cues on how to read and apply its authoritative text. This final installment spotlights the purpose of the Code, how it is structured, and how it should be used—by accountants in business (PAIBs) and public practice (PAPPs), including auditors. The successful completion of this initiative demonstrates once again how IESBA’s and IFAC’s  partnership is valuable in supporting the global adoption and implementation of the Code.”

IFAC’s CEO, Kevin Dancey, said “The ethical foundation of the accountancy profession is one of its most important features. The Exploring the IESBA Code series demonstrates IFAC’s commitment to this ethical foundation and our role in supporting the important work of IESBA, as well as the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) and International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB). I encourage our members, professional accountancy organizations and national standard setters around the world to leverage this new resource—to help raise awareness of the Code and to help professional accountants uphold their public interest responsibility.” 

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 more than 175 members and associates in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

About 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 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 Code).

Today, the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) announced it is holding two global webinars focused on its recently released Exposure Draft: Proposed Revisions to the Definitions of Listed Entity and Public Interest Entity in the Code (PIE ED).

Please click below to register and join us for one of the 60-minute webinars (both will cover the same information and are being offered to accommodate different time zones).

• Thursday, March 25, 2021, 4:00 AM - 5:00 AM EDT
• Monday, March 29, 2021 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM EDT

During the webinars, the PIE Task Force Chair, Mr. Mike Ashley, will explain the IESBA’s key proposals in the ED, including:

• The introduction of an overarching objective for additional independence requirements for audits of PIEs
• Approach to revising the PIE definition and the introduction of a new term “publicly traded entity” to replace “listed entity”
• Anticipated role of regulators, national standard setters and other relevant local bodies to refine the PIE definition as part of the adoption process
• Increased role of firms

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to engage with representatives of the IESBA and learn more about these important proposals which will affect the scope of application of the IESBA’s International Independence Standards.

The IESBA welcomes comments on the PIE ED from all stakeholders, including investors and other users of financial statements, the corporate governance community, the regulatory and audit oversight community, preparers, firms, national standard setters, IFAC member bodies, academics and others.

The comment deadline for the PIE ED is May 3, 2021. 

If you have any questions, please email Geoff Kwan at GeoffKwan@ethicsboard.org.

About 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 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 Code).

Watch the webinar: 

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) applauds the announcement by The Monitoring Group (MG), the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), and the Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB) of the establishment of an Interim Nominating Committee to select the next Chair of the IESBA.

We look forward to the official call for nominations and the formal selection process to find a successor for Dr. Stavros Thomadakis, whose term will be ending at the end of this year.

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) today released for public comment the Exposure Draft, Proposed Revisions to the Definitions of Listed Entity and Public Interest Entity in the Code.

The proposed revisions broaden the definition of a public interest entity (PIE) to include more categories of entities, given the level of public interest in their financial condition, for the purposes of additional independence requirements to enhance confidence in their audits.

“The PIE concept is central to the International Independence Standards as it determines whether the auditor of an entity should comply with additional independence requirements,” said IESBA Chairman Dr. Stavros Thomadakis. “As economies around the world evolve, capturing the appropriate types of entities as PIEs and doing so in a globally operable way is a matter of public interest. I am grateful for the good input provided by the IAASB, under our established arrangements for close coordination.”

Among other matters, the proposed revisions:

• Introduce an overarching objective for additional requirements to enhance confidence in the audit of financial statements of PIEs.
• Provide guidance on factors to consider when determining the level of public interest in an entity.
• Broaden the definition of PIE to additional categories of entities.
• Replace the term “listed entity” with the term “publicly traded entity” and redefine that PIE category.
• Introduce new requirements for firms to determine if additional entities should be treated as PIEs for independence purposes and to publicly disclose if an audit client was treated as a PIE.
• Recognize and encourage local regulators to refine PIE categories in regard to national conditions.

In the holistic approach adopted, the specifications for the PIE categories are set at a high level given the wide diversity in national PIE definitions which necessarily reflect local circumstances. Integral to this approach is the role the IESBA expects regulators, national standard setters or other relevant local bodies to play in refining these high-level categories so that the right entities in the local context are captured. To assist in understanding this prospective role, the IESBA will undertake outreach and education activities over the coming months, including guidance material in February and webinars in March.

How to Comment

The IESBA invites all stakeholders to comment on the Exposure Draft by visiting the IESBA website. Comments are requested by May 3, 2021.

As part of this public consultation, the IAASB invites stakeholders to comment on aspects of the Exposure Draft for its consideration of the possible development of its International Standards.

About the 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).