This slide presentation has been prepared by the IAASB’s Auditor Reporting Implementation Working Group to assist IAASB members, national standard setters, auditors and others promote awareness of the new and revised Auditor Reporting standards within their respective jurisdictions.

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) today released its 2014/2015 Biennial Report, Championing Change in the Public Interest. The report highlights key outputs from the board in the past two years, including the Framework for Audit Quality and the new and revised Auditor Reporting standards.

Commentary from IAASB Chairman Prof. Arnold Schilder, IAASB Technical Director Kathleen Healy, and IAASB Consultative Advisory Group Chair Matthew M. Waldron explains how the IAASB is responding to the ever-evolving environment in which audits and other assurance services are conducted.

“As the independent global auditing and assurance standard setter, we have accomplished much in the last two years, delivering against stakeholders’ expectations while adhering to a rigorous due process,” highlighted Prof. Schilder. “Our efforts outlined in our Strategy for 2015 – 2019 are well underway. We continue to forge ahead—intensely focused on outreach and collaboration to understand in particular where our international standards can and should be revisited in order to enhance audit quality.”  

“This report represents our initial attempt to demonstrate integrated thinking in how the board conducts itself and uses its limited resources to best serve the public interest, in light of our focus on innovation in reporting,” noted Ms. Healy. “At the same time, we hope this report will better acquaint investors and audit committees with our mission and efforts, stimulating further interest in our current agenda and opportunities for increased interactions with our stakeholders.” 

The report also outlines the status of the board’s key priorities and provides links to where further information is available on the IAASB’s website.

One of the current priorities is the IAASB’s Invitation to Comment, Enhancing Audit Quality in the Public Interest, which addresses the topics of professional skepticism, quality control, and group audits. The deadline for comments is May 16, 2016.

Additionally, the IAASB is investing substantial efforts in a project to revise the International Standard on Auditing addressing accounting estimates, including fair values.

About the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) 
The IAASB develops auditing and assurance standards and guidance for use by all professional accountants under a shared standard-setting process involving the Public Interest Oversight Board, which oversees the activities of the IAASB and the IAASB Consultative Advisory Group, which provides public interest input into the development of the standards and guidance. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IAASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

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. It 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.

Revisions to this ISA are as a result of new ISA 701, Communicating Key Audit Matters in the Independent Auditor’s Report. ISA 260 (Revised) deals with the auditor’s responsibility to communicate with those charged with governance in an audit of financial statements.

ISA 260 (Revised) is effective for audits of financial statements for periods ending on or after December 15, 2016.

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) 2014/2015 Biennial Report, Championing Change in the Public Interest, explains how the IAASB is responding to the ever-evolving environment in which audits and other assurance services are conducted.

In this video, IAASB Member and Chair of the Group Audits and the Enhancements Working Groups Megan Zietsman reviews the key elements of the Invitation to Comment, Enhancing Audit Quality in the Public Interest: A Focus on Professional Skepticism, Quality Control and Group Audits (the ITC) and the ITC Overview.

The deadline for comment on both documents is May 16, 2016.

The US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) recently announced a number of new members joining its Investor Advisory Group (IAG) for terms through 2018, including the immediate past chair of the IAASB Consultative Advisory Group (CAG), Linda de Beer.

The IAG is a forum for the investor community to provide views and advice on matters affecting investors and the work of the PCAOB.

Ms. de Beer was IAASB CAG Chair from 2010 to 2015 and currently serves as a non-executive director on the board of three companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. She chairs the audit committees of all three companies, serves as Deputy Chair on one board, and as a member of the remuneration committee and the nomination committee of another board.

Prior to serving as Chair of the CAG, she represented the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) on the group and still represents the WFE on the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ CAG.  

“We congratulate Linda on this prestigious appointment,” said current IAASB CAG Chair Matt Waldron. “We view it as a positive step that the PCAOB recognizes her contributions to international standard setting, as interaction between the IAASB and PCAOB on relevant auditing and assurance issues is in the public interest."  

IAASB Technical Director Kathleen Healy hosts the March 2016 audio podcast featuring Chairman Arnold Schilder, Deputy Chair Chuck Landes, and IAASB members Rich Sharko and Brendan Murtagh to discuss key activities and events from the board's March 14-18, 2016, meeting in New York. 

:13 – Introduction

:37 - Chairman's Overview

4:27 - ISA 540

7:12 - ISA 315 (Revised)

8:12 - Data Analytics

8:45 - NOCLAR

10:28 – Professional Skepticism

17:50 - Integrated Reporting

19:35 - Agreed upon Procedures

20:43 - Closing remarks and next meeting

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) has released ISA 810 (Revised), Engagements to Report on Summary Financial Statements, which deals with the auditor’s responsibilities relating to an engagement to report on summary financial statements derived from financial statements audited in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) by that same auditor.

The limited amendments to ISA 810 (Revised) leverage the additional transparency in the auditor’s report on the audited financial statements resulting from the IAASB’s new and revised Auditor Reporting standards issued in January 2015, in particular ISA 700 (Revised), Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements, and new ISA 701, Communicating Key Audit Matters in the Independent Auditor’s Report.

“The issuance of ISA 810 (Revised) represents the culmination of the IAASB’s work on auditor reporting that began in 2006. Feedback from our stakeholders has helped us finalize our proposals to meet the public interest calls from investors and others to enhance auditor reporting,” noted IAASB Chairman Prof. Arnold Schilder. “We already see positive momentum growing around the world to implement these standards.”

ISA 810 (Revised) will become effective at the same time as the auditor reporting standards addressing general purpose financial statements—for engagements to report on summary financial statements for periods ending on or after December 15, 2016.

“Through our Auditor Reporting Implementation Working Group, the IAASB and its staff remain committed to promoting awareness of our new and revised auditor reporting standards and facilitating their effective implementation,” explained IAASB Technical Director Kathleen Healy. “For example, the IAASB has recently published an article on our dedicated auditor reporting page that explores common questions asked by audit committee members and finance executives about the new and enhanced auditor’s reports.”

For more information, visit www.iaasb.org/auditor-reporting.

About the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB)
The IAASB develops auditing and assurance standards and guidance for use by all professional accountants under a shared standard-setting process involving the Public Interest Oversight Board, which oversees the activities of the IAASB and the IAASB Consultative Advisory Group, which provides public interest input into the development of the standards and guidance. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IAASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

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