OBJECTIVE

The objective of the IESBA’s Benchmarking Working Group is to compare the International Independence Standards (IIS) that are applicable to PIEs (including the pending revisions arising from the Non-assurance Services and Fees Projects) to the relevant independence requirements that apply in major jurisdictions, starting first with the requirements of the US Securities

This publication was developed by the Staff of the Australian Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board (APESB) under the auspices of a Working Group formed by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) and national ethics standard setters (NSS) from Australia, Canada, China, South Africa, the UK and the US1.

Earlier today, the Staff of the Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board (APESB) and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) released a new publication, Applying the Code’s Conceptual Framework in COVID-19 Circumstances: Scenarios in Taxation and Valuation Services, providing guidance to professional accountants in applying  the conceptual framework in the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code) during certain circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The publication uses four hypothetical scenarios covering services or activities relating to taxation and valuation services. Two scenarios include guidance for professional accountants in public practice, and two scenarios are focused on professional accountants in business.  

The publication was developed by the Staff of the APESB as one of the initiatives 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. The Group’s mandate is to develop implementation support resources to assist accountants effectively apply the Code when facing circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Group is chaired by the IESBA Deputy Chair, Mr. Richard Fleck, with support from IESBA and NSS staff. Working Group organizations comprise: APESB (Australia); Chartered Professional Accountants Canada; the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants; the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (South Africa); the UK Financial Reporting Council; and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (US).

The publication can be found on the IESBA’s COVID-19 resource page which serves as the landing page on the IESBA’s website for topics related to COVID-19. The Working Group has committed to developing additional COVID-19 guidance in the coming weeks.

About APESB

Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board (APESB) was formed in 2006 as an independent national standards setter in Australia with the primary objective of developing professional and ethical standards in the public interest for the members of the three Australian Professional Accounting Bodies, namely Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, CPA Australia and the Institute of Public Accountants. The three Professional Accounting Bodies are the members of APESB.

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).

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) today welcomed the Monitoring Group’s recently released Paper: Strengthening the International Audit and Ethics Standard-Setting System, aimed at enhancing governance arrangements of the two standard-setting boards. 

The enhancements reflected in the Monitoring Group’s Paper will support the core mission of the two Boards to promulgate high quality international audit, assurance, related services and ethics standards for the accountancy profession, for worldwide application and developed in the public interest.

“The Monitoring Group’s conclusions highlight the importance of high-quality international standards, set by independent and technically expert bodies with effective oversight,” said IAASB Chairman Tom Seidenstein. “We support change that can advance our ability to deliver enhanced standards in the public interest.”  

“The task now at hand is to draw the most benefit from these changes,” said IESBA Chairman Dr. Stavros Thomadakis. “We are committed to collaborating with the Monitoring Group and others to achieve a smooth transition and effective implementation of the new arrangements.”

The Monitoring Group’s Paper encompasses items to be developed during a transition planning phase, and provides for a subsequent implementation period of approximately three years. This will allow for an orderly advancement of the Monitoring Group’s conclusions while avoiding disruption to delivery of IAASB’s and IESBA’s current Strategies and Work Plans.

For more about the International Auditing and Assurance Standard Board, visit the Board’s website at www.iaasb.org.

For more about the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants, visit the Board’s website at www.ethicsboard.org.