The Staff of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) today released a questions and answers (Q&As) publication to explain key revisions to the non-assurance services (NAS) provisions of the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code). Together with the recently issued fee-related revisions to the Code, the NAS revisions significantly strengthen the International Independence Standards by addressing public interest concerns about independence when firms provide NAS to their audit clients. The development of the Q&As has been informed by the IESBA’s deliberations in the project to revise the NAS provisions and extensive consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including regulators and audit oversight bodies, the investor and corporate governance communities, national standard setters, firms and professional accountancy organizations.
The publication complements the Basis for Conclusions for the final NAS pronouncement and is intended to assist national standards setters, professional accountancy organizations, and professional accountants in public practice as they adopt and/or implement the revised NAS provisions. The Q&As will also assist other stakeholders, including regulators and audit oversight bodies, those charged with governance, investors, preparers, and academics and other educators better understand the key changes to the NAS provisions of the Code. These changes include the new requirements and guidance that:
Prohibit a firm or a network firm from providing a NAS that might create a self-review threat to an audit client that is a public interest entity.
Explain how firms are to determine when a self-review threat to independence might be created, including in relation to providing advice and recommendations to an audit client.
Are relevant in applying the Code’s conceptual framework to identify, evaluate, and address threats to independence that might be created when an audit firm provides a NAS to an audit client.
Enable and promote more robust communication and engagement about independence matters relating to NAS between audit firms and those charged with governance of public interest entities.
The revised NAS provisions are effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2022.
Click here to access the revised NAS provisions, and the other recently approved changes to the Code.
New Guidance for Auditors of Public Interest Entities
Re: Exposure Drafts – General Sustainability-Related Disclosures and Climate-Related Disclosures
On June 22, 2022 the IESBA submitted a response to the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) on the ISSB’s Exposure Drafts – General Sustainability-Related Disclosures and Climate-Related Disclosures.
The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) has submitted a response to the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) on the ISSB’s Exposure Drafts – General Sustainability-Related Disclosures and Climate-Related Disclosures.
The IESBA believes that to meet the sustainability information needs of investors, customers, employees or potential employees, government agencies and other stakeholders, the infrastructure that supports sustainability reporting and assurance must be underpinned by the highest standards of ethical behavior. Fit-for-purpose, globally applicable standards, such as those set out in the IESBA Code and future, sustainability-related standards that the IESBA has already committed to developing, alongside a robust system of quality management, oversight and enforcement, are essential for consistent, relevant and trustworthy sustainability reporting.
The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) has unanimously resolved to take timely action to develop fit-for-purpose, globally applicable ethics and independence standards as a critical part of the infrastructure needed to support transparent, relevant and trustworthy sustainability reporting. This recognizes the need to respond at pace to match the speed of transformation in the corporate reporting landscape. Demand for sustainability information has risen substantially and rapidly in recent years, and such information is increasingly used to support capital allocation or other decisions by investors, customers, current or potential employees, and other stakeholders. It also recognizes the essential role ethics and independence play in the production, reporting and assurance of sustainability information.
The IESBA has tasked its recently established Sustainability Working Group to develop a strategic vision to guide the IESBA’s standard-setting actions in relation to sustainability reporting and assurance. The Working Group will prepare a project plan by December 2022 as a launchpad for commencement of standard-setting work soon after. This work will proceed in tandem with the development of IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), and sustainability-related International Standards on Assurance Engagements (ISAEs) by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB). The IESBA recognizes the importance of coordinating this work closely with the ISSB and IAASB so that coherent, mutually reinforcing building blocks of standards can be put in place around the same time to support the necessary regulatory infrastructure for sustainability reporting.
“Sustainability has risen to the top of our strategic agenda as societal expectations have unquestionably changed towards the need for companies and organizations to pursue more sustainable business goals, capital has flowed in substantial waves towards Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)-focused investments, and concerns about market integrity have triggered regulatory mobilizations and actions,” said IESBA Chair Gabriela Figueiredo Dias. “Time is of the essence and it is critical that the ethics standards pillar of the infrastructure be strong and ready to support the sustainability information supply chain. Stakeholder expectations are high and we are determined to take the necessary actions to meet the market needs.”
The IESBA has been proactively engaged in outreach to stakeholders to exchange views and insights on the emerging issues in sustainability reporting and assurance, and is actively involved in discussions with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and the IAASB on coordinated plans and actions to respond to the developments.
Pending finalization of the IESBA’s plan of work for sustainability-related ethics and independence standard-setting, IESBA Staff will issue in the near term guidance to draw the attention of professional accountants and other market participants to the fundamental principles and key provisions of the IESBA’s International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) that already apply broadly to sustainability reporting and assurance.
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).
