Recognizing the need to keep its stakeholders informed of its progress in relation to audits of Less Complex Entities (LCEs), the IAASB published a Feedback Statement that provides an overview of the key messages from the responses to the IAASB’s Discussion Paper (DP), Audits of Less Complex Entities: Exploring Possible Options to Address the Challenges in Applying the ISAs, and related outreach activities.

A global search has begun for highly qualified volunteers to fill seven volunteer openings on the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) as Board Member for an initial term of up to 3 years, commencing January 1, 2021.

As a result of the IAASB’s normal rotation cycle, the current search, being conducted by a nominating committee, is for one public member, one non-practitioner member and five practitioner members. All stakeholders, including the general public, are invited to apply or nominate candidates. 

For public member and non-practitioner vacancies, the nominating committee is interested in candidates from a wide range of relevant backgrounds, including: users of audited financial statements or assurance reports (e.g. institutional investors and analysts, audit committee members, and individuals from the corporate governance community); regulatory and audit inspection or oversight bodies; preparers of financial reports; academics; and individuals in the government sector.

For practitioner vacancies, nominations of candidates from small- and medium-sized practices (SMPs) are strongly encouraged.

Candidates should have experience with auditing and/or assurance issues and sufficient knowledge of the subject matters considered by the IAASB to be important to contribute effectively to the board’s work. English proficiency is essential and gender balance remains an area of focus for the board. Additionally, nominations from currently underrepresented regions (Latin America, Africa and the Middle East), are strongly encouraged.

The IAASB is an independent standard-setting body that serves the public interest by setting, under its own authority, high-quality international standards. The nominations process, with public interest oversight, aims to select the most suitable candidates for the available positions, while also aiming to achieve gender, regional and professional balance.

For more information and to learn how to submit an application before the January 31, 2020 deadline, please visit the nominating committee’s web page.

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board’s (IAASB) Technology Working Group recently published its second Technology Communiqué (link), which provides an update on the IAASB’s efforts to incorporate the use of technology by auditors in an ever changing audit environment. This communique also includes other relevant news and information relevant to technology.

This Communique does not constitute an authoritative pronouncement of the IAASB, nor does it amend, extend or override the ISAs or other of the IAASB’s International Standards.

To view the Communique, click here.

As part of the IAASB’s technology focus, this is the second in a series of publications that provides an update on efforts to appropriately address the technology related issues in recently and soon-to-be issued standards and exposure drafts. It also includes additional relevant news and information on technology in audit, and recent technology working group activities.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT WHEN DETERMINING ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND RELATED DISCLOSURES

The International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 540 (Revised) Implementation Working Group has prepared an Audit Client Briefing (Briefing) based on the Canadian Auditing Standard (CAS) Audit Client Briefing of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada), published in October 2019 and is used with permission of CPA Canada.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL BRIEFING HERE

The purpose of this Briefing is to make chief financial officers, other senior management responsible for financial statement preparation, and staff directly involved in determining accounting estimates aware of matters to consider in preparing for the auditor’s requests pertaining to ISA 540 (Revised), Auditing Accounting Estimates and Related Disclosures.

This Briefing provides an overview of:

• Management’s responsibilities in determining when accounting estimates are needed;
• Management’s responsibilities regarding the main components of an estimation process; and
• The impact on management because of changes to the auditor’s responsibilities, including broad questions auditors are likely to ask those involved in the detailed aspects of the estimation process.

This Briefing does not constitute an authoritative pronouncement of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), nor does it amend, extend or override the ISAs or other of the IAASB’s International Standards. It is not meant to be exhaustive and reading this Briefing is not a substitute for reading the ISAs.