Gaylen R. Hansen has been appointed chair of the Consultative Advisory Group (CAG) to the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), effective July 1, 2019. His appointment, which has been approved by the Public Interest Oversight Board, follows his election by IESBA CAG members. He has served on the IESBA CAG representing the US National Association of State Boards of Accountancy since 2010.

As chair, Mr. Hansen will lead the IESBA CAG―an independent body of international organizations from the regulatory, corporate governance, investor, preparer and user communities, and other stakeholders—in providing strategic and technical advice to the IESBA in the public interest. Mr. Hansen will play a key role in ensuring that the CAG’s views are considered in IESBA deliberations.

For over a decade, Mr. Hansen served on the board of directors, and as chair from 2012 to 2013, of NASBA, a key participant in US accountancy profession regulation. He is also a founding member of NASBA’s Center for the Public Trust, and represents NASBA on the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board CAG.

Mr. Hansen is also a member of the American Institute of CPAs’ Auditing Standards Board and a past member of its Professional Ethics Executive Committee. He is a past member of the US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s Standing Advisory Group and a retired audit partner.

“I am honored to have been elected IESBA CAG chair,” said Mr. Hansen. “The CAG plays a vital role in enabling all those concerned in the work of, or services provided by, professional accountants to have a voice in the development and maintenance of standards that ensure a high level of ethical conduct. I look forward to shepherding the CAG’s diversity of experience to assist the IESBA setting robust ethics standards.”

Mr. Hansen will succeed Mr. Kristian Koktvedgaard, who has served as CAG Chair since July 2013. “I congratulate Gaylen on his appointment as CAG chair,” said Mr. Koktvedgaard. “His experience and commitment working on ethics combined with his strong knowledge in audit, assurance and accounting issues is a great asset, and I am confident he will lead the CAG effectively in providing sound strategic and technical advice.”

Commenting on Mr. Hansen’s appointment, Dr. Stavros Thomadakis, IESBA Chairman, said, “Gaylen is a veteran in policy matters relating to the accountancy profession. His experience will serve the CAG well in its objective to provide public interest input to our standards development work. I congratulate Gaylen and I very much look forward to working with him in his new leadership role. On behalf of the IESBA, I also thank Kristian for his outstanding contribution to our work and his strong leadership of the CAG over the years. I wish him continued success in his future endeavors.”

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).

The structures and processes that support IESBA operations are facilitated by IFAC.

Please visit www.ethicsboard.org for more information, and follow us on Twitter @Ethics_Board.

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.

As mounting global economic, social and environmental challenges test financial markets and social stability, IFAC (International Federation of Accountants) today hosted 23 leaders of international organizations dedicated to effective international rulemaking at the Sixth Annual Meeting of the Partnership of international organisations spearheaded by the OECD.

At the meeting, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría launched The Contribution of International Organisations to a Rule-Based International System — a new Brochure, which reveals how international organizations contribute to a rule-based international system in support of better policies and better lives.

Opening the meeting, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría commented: “International organizations contribute to a rich, diverse ecosystem of international rules and standards. Nevertheless, they are not immune from a context where trust in public institutions, evidence, and expert advice is deteriorating. Our Partnership of international organizations is helping to identify the conditions for more successful outcomes in the international rulemaking landscape. The OECD is proud to host such an important initiative, at a time when coordinated action is more crucial than ever to address the issues affecting our citizens.”

Welcoming delegates, IFAC Chief Executive, Kevin Dancey said: “Widely adopted rules and standards supported by international organizations are the most visible sign of our collective efforts to support social and economic stability globally. Moreover, the negotiation, collaboration, and multi-stakeholder engagement that underpins global rule-making truly defines our shared public interest objectives. No laws require nations to adopt and implement the standards IFAC supports. They are adopted because their quality, legitimacy and impact are assured through active, purposeful consultation. IFAC is proud, for example, that International Standards on Audit and Assurance and Ethics have been adopted in over 120 jurisdictions, and that number is increasing. And in the next five years, the forecast is that use of accrual accounting by governments globally will leap from 25% to 65%, resulting in greater public sector transparency and adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards. Unlocking the answers to the world’s biggest challenges will require more, not less, of this collaborative spirit,” he said.

The Partnership of international organizations works to clarify the terminology used for international instruments and identify approaches and practices that support inclusive, evidence-based and coordinated international rulemaking. The Partnership includes over 50 organizations spanning a wealth of sectors, from accounting to animal health. The Brochure is the result of cooperation among international organizations and with country delegates in annual discussions, technical meetings, and a dedicated survey on international rulemaking practices. It offers a broad overview of the internal disciplines needed to underpin the quality of international rules.

IFAC strongly supports international standards for audit & assurance, ethics, education and public sector accounting. The standards are prepared in an oversight environment focused on the public interest. IFAC and its members are experts in providing adoption and implementation guidance and support —crucial to ensuring the standards effectively support the nations in which they are embraced.

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 over 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.

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) presents the board’s strategy and priorities toward the setting of high-quality, future-ready ethics standards for professional accountants that are widely adopted around the world.  Building on the newly revised and restructured International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code), which will come into effect in June 2019, the IESBA’s Strategy features three inter-related strategic themes:

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) today released its Strategy and Work Plan, 2019-2023. Titled Elevating Ethics in a Dynamic and Uncertain World, the publication describes the board’s strategy and priorities toward the setting of high-quality, future-ready ethics standards for professional accountants that are widely adopted around the world.  

Building on the newly revised and restructured International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code) which will come into effect in June 2019, the IESBA’s Strategy features three inter-related strategic themes:

• Advancing the relevance and impact of the Code, through maintaining a global Code fit for purpose in the evolving environment, and further raising the bar on ethics;
• Deepening and expanding the Code’s influence, through increasing global adoption and effective implementation of the Code; and
• Expanding the IESBA’s perspectives and inputs, through proactively engaging and seeking cooperative avenues with stakeholders.

Supporting the achievement of these strategic themes is a comprehensive and ambitious Work Plan. The Plan outlines commitments, priorities, planned actions of the Board and key milestones, including continued strong coordination with the IAASB as and where needed.

“This new Strategy and Work Plan embodies our clear determination to pursue global public interest objectives and outcomes, underpinned by our firm belief in the centrality of Ethics and in a unified Code for all professional accountants,” said IESBA chairman Dr. Stavros Thomadakis, adding, “The priorities and actions in the SWP have been calibrated to safeguard the relevance of the Code in an era of changing technologies, business methods and public expectations, and to reinforce its role as a linchpin of public trust in the profession.”

The development of the Strategy and Work Plan was informed by broad-based stakeholder input over the last two years, including a survey of stakeholders and a public consultation paper.

To learn more about the board and its work, visit www.ethicsboard.org.

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).

The structures and processes that support IESBA operations are facilitated by IFAC. Please visit www.ethicsboard.org for more information, and follow us on Twitter @Ethics_Board.

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.

In June 2019, the IESBA will launch its eCode—a bold innovation that offers professional accountants a new way to engage with the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards). The document below provides a refresher on the Code’s architecture and explains the objective of, and the rationale for, the eCode. It also highlights the eCode’s key features and provides launch timing information.

Watch the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ webinar supporting the rollout of its International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards).

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) today released for public comment Exposure Draft, Proposed Revisions to Part 4B of the Code to Reflect Terms and Concepts Used in ISAE 3000 (Revised). Part 4B of the revised and restructured International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) comprises the independence standards for assurance engagements other than audit and review engagements, as defined in the Code.

The proposed revision fulfills a pre-commitment the IESBA announced in its proposed Strategy and Work Plan, 2019-2023 to review Part 4B of the Code for any changes needed to make the provisions in that Part consistent with the revised assurance terms and concepts in the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board’s International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000 (Revised), Assurance Engagements Other than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information.

The proposals in the Exposure Draft include:

• Changes in key terminology, including a revised definition of the term “assurance client”;
• Enhanced and clarified independence requirements for attestation engagements;
• Clarification of the types of assurance engagement addressed in Part 4B; and
• Simplified guidance on assurance engagements that refer to the definitive source of explanatory material on such engagements in IAASB literature.

The proposals were developed in close cooperation with representatives of the IAASB, as part of the coordination program of the two standard-setting boards.

Comments on the Exposure Draft are requested by June 26, 2019 from all stakeholders.

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).

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.

00:10 - Introduction: Diane Jules, IESBA Deputy Technical Director
00:54 - Highlights & Key Developments: Stavros Thomadakis, IESBA Chairman
03:24 - Role & Mindset: Richard Fleck, IESBA Deputy Chair
05:17 - Non-Assurance Services: Richard Fleck, IESBA Deputy Chair
08:06 - Fees: Ian McPhee, IESBA Member
10:35 - Alignment of Part 4B with ISAE 3000: Liesbet Haustermans, IESBA Member
14:05 - Technology: Patricia Mulvaney, IESBA Member
18:06 - eCode: Brian Friedrich, eCode Working Group Chair
19:44 - Final thoughts: Stavros Thomadakis, IESBA Chairman
21:16 - Closing Remarks: Diane Jules, IESBA Deputy Technical Director

The IPSASB held its first meeting of 2019 from March 12-15, 2019 in Washington, D.C., USA.