The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) today released revisions to the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code) addressing the objectivity of an engagement quality reviewer (EQR) and other appropriate reviewers. This project dovetailed with the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board’s (IAASB’s) development of International Standard on Quality Management (ISQM) 2, Engagement Quality Reviews, which was finalized in December 2020.

The revisions provide guidance that supports ISQM 2 in addressing the eligibility of an individual to serve in an EQR role, focusing on the critical attribute of objectivity. Among other matters, the guidance:

• Elaborates on the need to identify, evaluate and address threats to compliance with the fundamental principle of objectivity that might arise in the appointment of an individual as an EQR for a given engagement;
• Explicitly refers to and supports the requirement in ISQM 2 for a firm to establish, as a condition for eligibility, a cooling-off period of two years before an engagement partner can assume the EQR role on the same engagement; and
• Emphasizes that this cooling-off requirement in ISQM 2 serves the dual objective of supporting compliance with the fundamental principle of objectivity and the high quality of engagements.

The guidance may also apply in situations where, as a safeguard to address identified threats to compliance with the fundamental ethics principles, an individual is appointed as an appropriate reviewer for work performed.

“It is in the public interest that individuals trusted to serve as engagement quality reviewers act with unquestioned objectivity, given the nature and importance of that role,” said IESBA Chairman Dr. Stavros Thomadakis. “This new guidance is intended to reinforce the guardrails around this important function. I commend the extensive coordination efforts between the IESBA and IAASB in finalizing this guidance, and acknowledge the Public Interest Oversight Board’s useful advice on this project.”

The enhanced guidance will become effective December 2022. 

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).

These revisions address the objectivity of an engagement quality reviewer (EQR) and other appropriate reviewers. This project dovetailed with the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board’s (IAASB’s) development of International Standard on Quality Management (ISQM) 2, Engagement Quality Reviews, which was finalized in December 2020.

Yaoshu Wu became a member of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants in January, 2021. She was nominated by the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CICPA).

Ms. Wu currently serves as the Director of the Professional Standards and Technical Guidance Department of CICPA, where she chaired her team in responsibility of developing professional standards and ethical rules for CPAs in China, as well as monitoring and reviewing implementation of standards.

Ms. Wu previously worked as the Deputy Director of the Quality Assurance Department of CICPA, where she was in charge of quality review of accounting firms for over 10 years. From 2012 to 2013, Ms. Wu was seconded as a financial analyst in the World Bank in Washington D.C, and during that time she passed the Uniform CPA Examination of US and got a CPA license of Virginia in the United States.

Ms. Wu received her master degree in Accounting of the Central University of Finance & Economics in China. Now she is a non-practicing member of CICPA.

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) today released a Report, Ethics and Trust – Breaking New Ground summarizing the Board’s Accomplishments from June 1, 2016 to July 31, 2020. The Report includes an update on the IESBA’s current projects and initiatives, and highlights the Board’s extensive efforts in promoting awareness, adoption, and implementation of the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards).  The Report also touches on the outreach activities undertaken by the Board to extend and deepen its dialogue with stakeholders about issues relevant to elevating global ethics and building public trust in the accounting profession.

“Ethics is the foundation on which public trust in the accounting profession is built,” said IESBA Chairman Dr. Stavros Thomadakis. “IESBA has been diligently focused on strengthening and enhancing the Code during the period covered by the report. The revised and restructured Code, which has been effective since June 2019, reflects these important enhancements. Our current work program builds on that strong foundation and includes projects to further strengthen the International Independence Standards.”

The Report includes messages from the former Chair of the IESBA’s Consultative Advisory Group (CAG), Mr. Kristian Koktvedgaard, and the current CAG Chair, Mr. Gaylen Hansen. The CAG messages outline the work of the CAG in providing advice to the IESBA in setting standards in the public interest. 

Click here to learn more about IESBA, and to access the Report.

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).

A global search has begun for highly qualified individuals to fill seven volunteer openings, including one of more vacancies for public members[1], on the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) for an initial term of service of up to 3 years, commencing January 1, 2022.

The IESBA is an independent standard-setting board that develops, in the public interest, high-quality ethical standards and other pronouncements for professional accountants worldwide.

The nominations process, with public interest oversight, aims to select the most suitable candidates for the available positions. Transition to a multi-stakeholder model in line with the Monitoring Group reforms[2] will be taken into consideration during the selection process.

All stakeholders, including the general public, are invited to apply or nominate candidates. The Nominating Committee is interested in candidates from a wide range of relevant backgrounds, in the private or public sector, including:

• preparers of financial statements;
• users of audited financial statements or assurance reports (including institutional investors, investor representatives and analysts, audit committee members, and those charged with corporate governance);
• academics;
• auditors and assurance providers;
• regulators;
• national standard setters; and
• policy makers.

Candidates should ideally have experience with issues relating to ethics and independence, and sufficient familiarity with the matters considered by the IESBA to be able to contribute effectively to the board’s standard-setting and outreach work. English proficiency (both written and oral) is essential.

Nominations of highly qualified candidates from all regions are encouraged, with a particular emphasis from the Australia–Oceania, Africa–Middle East, and Latin America–Caribbean regions. Striving for gender parity remains an area of focus, and nominations of female candidates are strongly encouraged.

Financial support to cover travel costs for attending board meetings is available for qualifying individuals and public members who do not have a nominating organization.

For more information and to learn how to submit an application before the February 15, 2021 deadline, please review the Call for Nominations for IESBA in 2022, also available in Arabic, French, and Spanish.

About the 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).

Earlier today, the Staff of the South African Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors, (IRBA) the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) and the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) jointly released the publication, Navigating the Heightened Risks of Fraud and Other Illicit Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic, including Considerations for Auditing Financial Statements.

The publication highlights the heightened risks of fraud arising from the disruptive and uncertain COVID-19 environment and the implications for professional accountants in business, including accountants in government, and professional accountants in public practice, including auditors.

Concurrently, the Staff of Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) and IESBA jointly released a Staff Alert, COVID-19 and Evolving Risks for Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Cybercrime. This document highlights the heightened risks of money laundering, terrorist financing and cybercrime in the COVID-19 environment. It describes the implications for both professional accountants in business and public practice.

The documents were developed by the IRBA and CPA Canada Staff under the auspices of a Working Group formed by the IESBA and national ethics standard setters (NSS) from Australia, Canada, China, South Africa, the UK, and the US. Chaired by Mr. Richard Fleck, IESBA Deputy Chair, the Working Group’s mandate is to develop implementation support resources to assist accountants effectively apply the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) when facing circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The publications benefited from input from IESBA and IAASB Staff.

Both documents can be found on the IESBA COVID-19 resource page.

About the IESBA-NSS Working Group

The Working Group organizations comprise: Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board (Australia); CPA Canada; the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants; IRBA (South Africa); the UK Financial Reporting Council; and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (US).

About IRBA

The Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA) is the statutory body controlling that part of the accountancy profession involved with public accountancy in South Africa. Its strategic focus is to protect the financial interests of the public by ensuring that only suitably qualified individuals are admitted to the auditing profession and that registered auditors deliver services of the highest quality and adhere to the highest ethics standards.

About CPA Canada

Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) is one of the largest national accounting organizations in the world and is a respected voice in the business, government, education and non-profit sectors. CPA Canada is a progressive and forward-thinking organization whose members bring a convergence of shared values, diverse business skills and exceptional talents to the accounting field. Domestically, CPA Canada works cooperatively with the provincial and territorial CPA bodies who are charged with regulating the profession. Globally, it works together with the International Federation of Accountants and the Global Accounting Alliance to build a stronger accounting profession worldwide. As one of the world’s largest national accounting bodies, CPA Canada carries a strong influential voice and acts in the public interest.

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).

About IAASB

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (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 Staff of CPA Canada and IESBA jointly released this publication, which highlights the heightened risks of money laundering, terrorist financing and cybercrime in the COVID-19 environment. It describes the implications for both professional accountants in business and public practice. 

The Staff of CPA Canada and IESBA jointly released this publication, which highlights the heightened risks of money laundering, terrorist financing and cybercrime in the COVID-19 environment. It describes the implications for both professional accountants in business and public practice. 

The Staff of the South African Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors, (IRBA) the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) and the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) jointly released this publication highlighting the heightened risks of fraud arising from the disruptive and uncertain COVID-19 environment and the implications for professional accountants in business, including accountants in government, and professional accountants in public practice, including auditors.