International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board

Assurance Reports on a Service Organization's Controls
To develop a new International Standard on Assurance Engagements: ISAE 3402, Assurance Reports on a Service Organization's Controls.
Contact: Michael Nugent (michaelnugent@ifac.org)

Audit Considerations Relating to Entities Using Service Organizations
To revise ISA 402, Audit Considerations Relating to Entities Using Service Organizations.
Contact: Kathleen Kerrigan (KathleenKerrigan@ifac.org)

Auditing Accounting Estimates, Including Fair Value Accounting Estimates, and Related Disclosures - Exposure Draft Issued
To redraft the close off version of ISA 540 (Revised), Auditing Accounting Estimates and Related Disclosures (Other Than Those Involving Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures), in accordance with the clarity drafting conventions agreed by the IAASB to be applied to all ISAs, and to revise it to include auditing considerations relating to fair value accounting estimates and disclosures.
Contact: Kathleen Kerrigan (KathleenKerrigan@ifac.org)

Clarity of IAASB Standards
The objective of this project is to improve the clarity of the IAASB's International Standards on Auditing (ISAs).
Contact: James Gunn (jamesgunn@ifac.org)

Emphasis of Matter Paragraphs and Other Matter(s) Paragraphs in the Independent Auditor's Report - Exposure Draft Issued
To redraft the close off document of ISA 706 (Revised), Emphasis of Matter Paragraphs and Other Matter(s) Paragraphs in the Independent Auditor's Report, in accordance with the clarity drafting conventions agreed by the IAASB to be applied to all ISAs.
Contact: Kathleen Kerrigan (KathleenKerrigan@ifac.org)

Engagements to Report on Summary Financial Statements - Exposure Draft Issued
To redraft the close off document of ISA 805 (Revised), Engagements to Report on Summary Financial Statements, in accordance with the clarity drafting conventions agreed by the IAASB to be applied to all ISAs.
Contact: Alta Prinsloo (altaprinsloo@ifac.org)

External Confirmations
To revise ISA 505, External Confirmations.
Contact: James Gunn (jamesgunn@ifac.org)

Material Weaknesses in Internal Control
The objective of this project is to develop a clear definition of the threshold at which control deficiencies that come to the auditor's attention during the audit should be communicated to management and those charged with governance, and to provide enhanced guidance to assist the auditor in fulfilling the auditor's communication responsibilities.
Contact: Ken Siong (kensiong@ifac.org)

Materiality in Planning and Performing an Audit and Evaluation of Misstatements Identified during the Audit - Exposure Draft Issued
To redraft the close off documents of ISA 320 (Revised), Materiality in Planning and Performing an Audit, and ISA 450 (Revised), Evaluation of Misstatements Identified during the Audit, in accordance with the clarity drafting conventions agreed by the IAASB to be applied to all ISAs.
Contact: Alta Prinsloo (altaprinsloo@ifac.org)

Modifications to the Opinion in the Independent Auditor's Report - Exposure Draft Issued
To redraft the close off document of ISA 705 (Revised), Modifications to the Opinion in the Independent Auditor's Report, in accordance with the clarity drafting conventions agreed by the IAASB to be applied to all ISAs.
Contact: Kathleen Kerrigan (KathleenKerrigan@ifac.org)

Related Parties - Re-exposure Draft Issued
The objective of this project is to revise ISA 550, Related Parties.
Contact: Ken Siong (kensiong@ifac.org)

Special Considerations - Audits of Special Purpose Financial Statements and Specific Elements, Accounts or Items of a Financial Statement - Exposure Draft Issued
To redraft the close off document of ISA 800 (Revised), Special Considerations - Audits of Special Purpose Financial Statements and Elements, Accounts or Items of a Financial Statement, in accordance with the clarity drafting conventions agreed by the IAASB to be applied to all ISAs.
Contact: Alta Prinsloo (altaprinsloo@ifac.org)

Using the Work of An Expert - Exposure Draft Issued
The objective of this project is to revise ISA 620, Using the Work of an Expert.
Contact: Michael Nugent (michaelnugent@ifac.org)

Audit Documentation - Completed
The objective of this project was to revise ISA 230, Documentation. The project resulted in the issue of ISA 230 (Revised), Audit Documentation. ISA 230 (Revised) is effective for audits for financial periods beginning on or after June 15, 2006.
The Basis for Conclusions provides background to the project, main comments received on the exposure draft, and the IAASB's conclusions regarding these comments in developing the final standard.
Contact: Ken Siong (kensiong@ifac.org)

Audit of Group Financial Statements - Completed
The objective of this project was to revise ISA 600, Using the Work of Another Auditor. The project resulted in the issue of ISA 600 (Revised and Redrafted), Special Considerations - Audits of Group Financial Statements (Including the Work of Component Auditors). The ISA is effective for audits of group financial statements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2009.
The Basis for Conclusions provides background to the project, main comments received on the exposure draft, and the IAASB's conclusions regarding these comments in developing the final standard.
Contact: Alta Prinsloo (altaprinsloo@ifac.org)

Auditor's Responsibility to Consider Fraud in an Audit of Financial Statements - Completed
The objective of this project was to revise ISA 240, The Auditor's Responsibility to Consider Fraud and Error in an Audit of Financial Statements. The project resulted in the issue of ISA 240 (Revised), The Auditor's Responsibility to Consider Fraud in an Audit of Financial Statements. ISA 240 is effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2004.
Contact: Alta Prinsloo (altaprinsloo@ifac.org)

Communication With Those Charged With Governance - Completed
The objective of this project was to revise ISA 260, Communication of Audit Matters with Those Charged with Governance. The IAASB approved ISA 260 (Revised and Redrafted), Communication with Those Charged with Governance in September 2007. The ISA will be issued after the Public Interest Oversight Board has confirmed that due process was followed in its development. The ISA will be effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2009.
A Basis for Conclusions will provide background to the project, main comments received on the exposure draft, and the IAASB's conclusions regarding these comments in developing the final standard.
Contact: Michael Nugent (michaelnugent@ifac.org)

Planning an Audit of Financial Statements - Completed
The objective of this project was to revise ISA 300, Planning, in light of the Audit Risk Standards and recent trends in firms' audit methodologies.
Contact: Ken Siong (kensiong@ifac.org)

Quality Control - Completed
The objectives of this project were to:

• Establish basic principles and essential procedures and to provide guidance regarding a firm's responsibilities for its system of quality control for audits and reviews of historical financial information, and other assurance and related services engagements; and
  
• Revise the existing ISA 220, Quality Control for Audit Work, relating to the responsibilities of firm personnel with regard to the quality control policies and procedures applicable to audit engagements.

This project resulted in the issue of the following two Standards:

• International Standard on Quality Control (ISQC) 1, Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Historical Financial Information, and Other Assurance and Related Services Engagements, which requires firms to establish systems of quality control in compliance with the ISQC by June 15, 2005. Firms consider the appropriate transitional arrangements for engagements in process at that date.
  
• International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 220 (Revised), Quality Control for Audits of Historical Financial Information, which is effective for audits of historical financial information for periods commencing on or after June 15, 2005.

ISA 220, Quality Control for Audit Work will be withdrawn when ISA 220 (Revised) becomes effective.
Contact: Ken Siong (kensiong@ifac.org)

Review of Interim Financial Information by the Auditor of the Entity - Completed
The purpose of this project was to establish standards and provide guidance for auditors that review the interim financial information issued by their audit clients.
Contact: Jan Munro (janmunro@janmunro.ca)

The Independent Auditor's Report on a Complete Set of General Purpose Financial Statements - Completed
This project has resulted in the issue of ISA 700 (Revised) and conforming amendments to ISA 200, Objective and General Principles Governing an Audit of Financial Statements, ISA 210, Terms of Audit Engagements, ISA 560, Subsequent Events, ISA 701 (New), Modifications to the Independent Auditor's Report, and ISA 800, The Independent Auditor's Report on Special Purpose Audit Engagements. ISA 700 (Revised) and the conforming amendments to ISAs 560, 710 and 800 are effective for auditors' reports dated on or after December 31, 2006 (early application is not allowed). The conforming amendments to ISAs 200 and 210 are effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2005.
Contact: Jim Sylph (jimsylph@ifac.org)

Written Representations - Completed
The objective of this project was to revise ISA 580, Management Representations.
Contact: Alta Prinsloo (altaprinsloo@ifac.org)