The Technology Consultation Group of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) today released non-authoritative support material to help address certain frequently asked questions about investigating exceptions and the concept of performance materiality when performing audit procedures using automated tools & techniques (ATT). While not unique to ATT, questions on these topics have become more prevalent with the increasing use of ATT, which enable analyzing data sets with large volumes of information.

The publication does not amend or override the International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), the texts of which alone are authoritative. Reading the publication is not a substitute for reading the ISAs. 

Other technology-related publications are available on the IAASB’s Technology web page.

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) recently held three global webinars on the upcoming Tax Planning and Related Services exposure draft (ED). The ED was released on February 17, and comments are requested by May 18.

During the webinars, members of the Tax Planning and Related Services Task Force explained the key proposals in the ED, among other matters, including:

• Compliance with the fundamental principles, highlighting the types of threats that might be created when providing tax planning activities.
• Understanding the applicable tax laws and regulations, the legislative intent behind the relevant laws and regulations, and the economic purpose and substance of the transaction.
• Exercising professional judgment to establish a credible basis for the tax planning arrangement in circumstances of uncertainty. This includes a consideration of the reputational, commercial, and wider economic consequences arising from the way stakeholders might view the arrangement.
• Communicating relevant matters or concerns with the individual client, management, or those charged with governance, including as part of an escalation process where necessary.
• Developing an appropriate level of documentation throughout the process to substantiate the judgments, decisions, and actions.

Watch the recordings now and learn more about these important proposals. 

Monday, February 27 | 10 am – 11 am EST | Click here, led by Jens Poll

Tuesday, February 28 | 4 pm – 5 pm EST | Click here, led by Andrew Mintzer

Tuesday, February 28 | 9 pm – 10 pm EST | Click here, led by Channa Wijesinghe

At the start of 2023, IFAC’s Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Advisory Group welcomed four new volunteer members nominated by the professional accountancy organizations that make up IFAC’s membership.  

Professional accountants in business comprise a significant part of the profession working in commerce, industry, financial services, education, and the public and not-for-profit sectors. Formed in 1977, the PAIB Advisory Group’s focus is to ensure these accountants meet the future needs of business and the public sector. 

The newest PAIB Advisory Group members are: 

• Esther Bosch, Head of Internal Audit & Risk, Stahl Holdings (Netherlands) 
• Lindawati Gani, Professor in Management Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia (Indonesia) 
• Maria del Dado Alonso Sanchez, Group CFO, Berlin Brands Group (Spain) 
• Muhammad Samiullah Siddiqui, CFO, Oxford University Press Pakistan (Pakistan) 

"Each member brings a unique, valuable perspective of the different roles professional accountants perform in business and finance leadership to the profession and its key stakeholders,” said Sanjay Rughani, Chair, IFAC PAIB Advisory Group. “We are honored to have these new members join us to share their diverse experiences and provide strategic input on opportunities for professional accountants to create value in their roles across the globe.”  

The continuing PAIB Advisory Group members are:  

• Sanjay Rughani, Chair, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Uganda (Uganda)
• Nancy Sau Ling Tse, JP, Deputy Chair, Independent Non-Executive Director [Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China)]
• Zia-Ul-Mustafa Awan, CFO and Business Administrator, Pakistan Expo Centres Private Limited (Pakistan)
• Gregory Bedard, Chief of Staff, Prudential Financial (United States)
• Anastasija Boljević, Secretary General, Institute of Certified Accountants of Montenegro (Republic of Montenegro)
• Ibrahim (Murat) Çağlar, Chief Financial Officer, Sanovel (Turkey)
• Sharon Ditchburn, Managing Director/Founder, Capital Advantage Consultants (Australia)
• Eric Freudenreich, Independent Non-Executive Director (France)
• Tim Herrod, FCPA, FCA, Vice President, Global Procurement, Albemarle Corporation (Canada)
• Nihar Jambusaria, Past President, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (India)
• Catherine Little, Non-Executive Director, Head of the Government Finance Function, and Second Permanent Secretary, HM Treasury (United Kingdom)
• Margaret Muinde, Financial Controller, Kenya Roads Board (Kenya)
• Stephen L. Muscat, Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary, Liquigas Malta Limited (Malta)
• Esteban Quiros, Director of Global Business Services, Procter and Gamble (Costa Rica)
• Milton Segal, Executive Director: Standards, South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (South Africa)
• Ichiro Waki, Group CEO, JBA Group (Japan)
• Gloria Zvaravanhu, Managing Director, Old Mutual Insurance Company (Zimbabwe)

Member expertise is drawn upon to deliver timely reports, articles, and case studies relevant to professional accountants in business across the globe. Explore their latest insights. 

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. IFAC is comprised of 180 members and associates in 135 countries and jurisdictions, representing more than 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce. 

About the Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Advisory Group 
Professional accountants in business comprise a significant part of the profession working in commerce, industry, financial services, education, and the public and not-for-profit sectors. The Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Advisory Group focuses on ensuring these accountants meet the future needs of business and the public sector. 

Earlier today, the IESBA released "Continuing with the Development of Global Ethics and Independence Standards for Sustainability Reporting and Assurance," a publication providing an overview of the sustainability-related decisions made by the Board at it's recent meeting and how those decisions will shape the Board's work in 2023 and beyond.

On December 2, 2022, the Board unanimously approved two new projects that will deliver the following:

Sustainability Project

• Profession-agnostic independence standards for use by all sustainability assurance practitioners
• Specific ethics provisions relevant to sustainability reporting and assurance 

Experts Project

• Specific ethics and independence provisions addressing the use of experts by organizations as well as in the context of audit and assurance engagements (including sustainability assurance) 

Read more here.

The Invitations for Applications for vacancies on the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) and the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) have been issued by the Public Interest Oversight Board’s (PIOB) Standard-Setting Boards Nominations Committee for terms beginning January 1, 2024. The application period is open until February 10, 2023.

The Invitations for Applications are open to all individuals and interested organizations, including those representing investors and the corporate governance community, regulatory bodies, national standard setters, audit practitioners, professional accountancy organizations and public sector organizations, and those in academia. Individuals may also make nominations on their own behalf.

These vacancies are exciting opportunities for experienced individuals from diverse backgrounds to contribute to the evolving multi-stakeholder and multi-cultural composition of each board. Importantly, there is a tremendous opportunity to take part in the IESBA´s project to gain further global recognition and acceptance of its ethics and independence standards as a cornerstone of trustworthy reporting and assurance of financial and sustainability information, thereby contributing to safeguarding the proper functioning of financial markets and economies worldwide.

As the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) is adopted or used in more than 130 jurisdictions worldwide, geographical balance is key to equipping the IESBA with the necessary regional experience and insights to develop relevant and globally operable ethics and independence standards. In this context, considering the current composition of the IESBA, applications are particularly, but not exclusively, sought from Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Oceania.

For additional information on IAASB or IESBA nominations, please see the PIOB’s nominations web page or email SSBNomination@ipiob.org.

About the IESBA

The 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 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).

Gaylen R. Hansen has been reappointed as the chair of the Consultative Advisory Group (CAG) to the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), effective October 1, 2022. Mr. Hansen’s reappointment, approved by the Public Interest Oversight Board, follows his re-election by IESBA CAG members at the September 2022 CAG meeting.

The IESBA CAG is an independent body comprising regulators, preparers, international investors and user groups, and other stakeholders interested in developing and maintaining high-quality international ethics (including independence) standards for professional accountants and designed to serve the public interest.

"It is an honor to be re-elected by my colleagues," said Mr. Hansen. "I am confident that the IESBA CAG will continue to play an important role in providing invaluable advice not only on IESBA's key projects for the coming year but also on its future strategic vision and goals."

"Under Gaylen’s stewardship, the CAG has made significant contributions to the IESBA's standard-setting projects. The CAG’s perspectives, insights, and suggestions have enriched the IESBA’s considerations and deliberations in the broadest possible sense, enabling the board to advance high-quality ethics and independence standards in the public interest," said Gabriela Figueiredo Dias, IESBA Chair.

Mr. Hansen will serve as IESBA CAG Chair until December 31, 2023, when the IESBA CAG and the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) CAG will both be transitioned to a new IAASB and IESBA Stakeholder Advisory Council (SAC). The creation of the SAC¹  is one of the outcomes of implementing the Monitoring Group’s recommendations regarding strengthening the international audit and ethics standard-setting system.

About Mr. Hansen

Mr. Hansen retired as an audit partner of EKS&H in 2018 following over forty years of engagement in the accounting profession. His career has encompassed lengthy periods in public practice as an auditor and quality control partner and briefly as the controller of a small private company that went public during his tenure. Since 2010, he has represented the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) on the Consultative Advisory Groups (CAGs) for the IESBA and the IAASB.

Previously he has served on the AICPA's Auditing Standards Board, which promulgates practice standards for the audits of all U.S. non-issuers, as a chair of NASBA and on the Colorado State Board of Accountancy, which regulates and disciplines all the state's certified public accountants and their firms. He has also served on the AICPA's Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC), establishing and enforcing the ethics and independence requirements in the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct. He is a former member of the PCAOB's Standing Advisory Group (SAG) and, during 2007 – 2008, served on the U.S. Treasury's Advisory Committee on the Auditing Profession (ACAP).

About the IESBA CAG

The IESBA Consultative Advisory Group (CAG) is an integral and important part of the IESBA's formal process of consultation. Representatives of CAG member organizations provide advice on numerous areas, including the IESBA's agenda, project timetable (work program) and priorities, and technical advice on projects and other matters of relevance to the activities of the IESBA.

About the IESBA

The 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 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).

Today, the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) released its Technology Working Group’s final report, IESBA Technology Working Group Phase 2 Report (the Report).

Building on the February 2020 Phase 1 Report, the Report documents the impacts of disruptive and transformative technologies on the work of professional accountants, and provides extensive analysis and insights into the ethical dimension of those developments. The report also discusses the relevance and importance of the overarching principles and specific provisions in the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code) in laying out the ethical guardrails for professional accountants as they face opportunities and challenges in their work as a result of rapid digitalization.

The Report surveys the technology landscape and summarizes the outcomes of the Working Group’s fact-finding into the ethics implications of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and cloud computing. It explores -- through the ethical lens -- various related issues, including data governance, cybersecurity, and reliance on, or use of, experts, and provides insights into those issues and the questions they raise. The Report includes ten recommendations which the IESBA will further consider, some of which it is already addressing in developing technology-related revisions to the Code.

The Report has been informed by the IESBA’s Technology Expert Group and the input of a diverse group of stakeholders, including investors, regulators, those charged with governance, firms, national standard setters, professional accountancy organizations, public sector organizations, and academics. 

Stakeholders, including the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) (and its member organizations), national standards setters, academics, firms, and others are encouraged to study and leverage the Report’s comprehensive findings as they consider how best to reinforce public trust in the work of professional accountants in business and in public practice in the age of digitalization.

Learn more on the IESBA’s Technology Initiative by clicking here.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has selected Mrs. Olivia Kirtley of the United States and Mr. Edward Olowo-Okere of Nigeria as the 2022 recipients of the IFAC Global Leadership Award, recognizing their contributions to the advancement of the global accountancy profession and capital markets.

Mrs. Olivia Kirtley

Mrs. Kirtley is an internationally known expert in accounting, risk management, and governance. She served as the first female Chair of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and later became Chair of the AICPA Board of Examiners administering the U.S. CPA Exam.

While serving as the first female Deputy President and later President of IFAC, Mrs. Kirtley worked on important reforms to IFAC’s constitution and support for Professional Accountants in Industry. As President, she focused on promoting diversity within the profession, capacity building, strong governance structures and public sector financial management.

Since leaving IFAC, Mrs. Kirtley has continued breaking the glass ceiling for women with ongoing service on corporate boards, including current service as Director of Papa John’s International, Inc., a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ; Lead Independent Director of U.S. Bancorp, the parent company of US Bank, a NYSE and Fortune 500 company; and Director and Audit Committee Chair of Bexion Pharmaceuticals.

Mrs. Kirtley is a member of the Accounting Hall of Fame and an AICPA Gold Medal winner, which is the highest honor granted by the AICPA. In addition, in 2020, she was named the first recipient of the American Woman's Society of CPAs (AWSCPA) Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes women who have demonstrated leadership and a strong record of accomplishment in furthering the advancement of women in the accounting profession.

“It is a privilege to present this award to Olivia, IFAC's first female president," said President Alan Johnson. "Through her leadership of the AICPA and IFAC, and work on many corporate boards, Olivia has used her expertise in accounting, risk management, and governance to lead the development of the profession across the world, including as a role model for aspiring female accountants, and has continually enhanced the reputation and trust of our profession. Her international reach and steadfast commitment to the public interest have been of immeasurable service to the profession."

Mr. Edward Olowo-Okere

Mr. Olowo-Okere has over three decades of experience working on development issues around the world. He is Senior Adviser in the Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions (EFI) Vice Presidency at the World Bank.

Previously, Mr. Olowo-Okere was the Global Director for the Governance Global Practice where he led the Practice to support client countries in building accountable, transparent, and inclusive institutions to facilitate private-sector growth and build trust in governments. He joined the World Bank in 1998 and has held various positions in operations, including Director of Governance overseeing Africa, MENA and ECA regions, and Director of the Core Operational Services Department in the Africa region. Before joining the Bank, he worked in Nigeria, Britain, and New Zealand.

Mr. Olowo-Okere was instrumental in establishing Pan African Federation of Accountants, playing a crucial role in facilitating engagements amongst the key stakeholders that culminated in the organization’s launch in Senegal in May 2011. Specifically, he facilitated several conversations, provided guidance on drafting the PAFA constitution, and presided over the launch event. Over the years, Ed has actively supported PAFA, especially by speaking at various forums, providing advisory input to the Board and leadership, and, more recently, serving as a 10-year PAFA advisory committee member. PAFA currently has a membership of 56 Professional Accountancy Organizations from 45 countries. Amongst other contributions, Ed served on the IFAC’s Developing Nations Committee (DNC) and a Group that transformed DNC to Professional Accountancy Organization Development Committee (PAODC).

In 2021, Mr. Olowo-Okere was recognized by the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Agile Governance as one of the world’s 50 most influential people driving agile initiatives to ensure governments can effectively navigate disruptions like COVID-19 and the climate crisis.

"I am honored to present this award to Ed, a passionate global leader with over thirty years of significant global contributions to the accountancy profession and the public sector," said President Alan Johnson. "Ed was instrumental in the development of the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) in 2011 and has played a leading role in developing a strong accountancy profession across the world."

Established in 2017 by the IFAC Board, the IFAC Global Leadership Award in Honor of Robert Sempier recognizes individuals who make outstanding contributions to the global accountancy profession. The award honors the contributions of Robert Sempier, IFAC’s first executive director who greatly contributed to the development of the profession worldwide.

The Global Leadership Award was presented during IFAC’s Council meeting, held on November 15, 2022.

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. IFAC is comprised of 180 members and associates in 135 jurisdictions, representing more than 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the voice of the global accountancy profession, announces the election of Asmâa Resmouki as its President. Mrs. Resmouki is the first IFAC President from the Africa-Middle East region and the third female President. She will serve a two-year term through November 2024, serving previously as IFAC Deputy President since November 2020.

“I am honored to have been elected IFAC’s next president, and proud to be the organization’s first president from the Africa – Middle East Region.  This is a clear example of IFAC leading by example in the area of diversity,” said Mrs. Resmouki.  “I look forward to continuing to work with IFAC’s Board and management to deliver on our public interest mandate, and to progress our positive impacts on a strong and sustainable accountancy profession, strong and sustainable private and public sector organizations, and strong and sustainable financial markets and economies.”

Mrs. Resmouki joined the IFAC Board in November 2017, originally nominated by the Ordre Des Experts Comptables—Morocco. She served as the Governance Committee Chair in 2020, before taking the role of the Planning and Finance Committee (PFC) Chair in 2021 and 2022. In addition to her work with IFAC, she was the first female President of the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA), after serving on the PAFA Board for six years.

Mrs. Resmouki has over 30 years of experience in the profession, including as a Big-4 Audit partner at EY and Deloitte. In 2020, she started her consultancy practice where she has been assisting different organizations in projects relating to the profession and to advisory services.  

Jean Bouquot Named Deputy President

IFAC also announced the election of Jean Bouquot as Deputy President.  Mr. Bouquot joined the IFAC Board in November 2020, nominated by Compagnie Nationale des Commissaires aux Comptes (CNCC) and Conseil National de l'Ordre des Experts-Comptables . Mr. Bouquot served as president of the CNCC from 2017 to 2020 and was also a President and Deputy President of the Compagnie des Commissaires aux Comptes (CRCC) de Versailles from 2015 to 2017. He currently serves as a Board member of the Fédération Internationale des Experts Comptables et Commissaires aux Comptes Francophones (FIDEF).

Mr. Bouquot has over 42 years of experience as an auditor in various positions with a wide exposure to international activities. He was a Partner with EY from 2002 until 2020 and was in charge of the company’s assurance service line for France/Luxembourg/Maghreb from 2008 to 2015.

New Board Members Elected

IFAC also announced new board members, maintaining a female-majority board for the fourth consecutive year. IFAC places a priority on diversity in professional, gender, and geographic representation on its board and advisory groups.

The new and reappointed IFAC Board members and their nominating member organizations are:

New appointments:

• Ms. Kathryn Byrne (AICPA, USA)
• Mr. Francisco A. M. Sant’Anna (CFC / IBRACON, Brazil)
• Prof. Sidharta Utama (IAI, Indonesia)

Reappointments:

• Mrs. Fiona Wilkinson (CCAB (ICAEW), UK)
• Mr. Yeong Kyun Ahn (KICPA, Korea, Republic of)
• Ms. Joan Curry (CAI, Ireland)
• Ms. Caroline Gardner (CIPFA, UK)
• Dr. Winnie Nyamute (ICPAK, Kenya)
• Mr. Ismaila Zakari (ICAN, Nigeria)

New IFAC Member Organizations Admitted

In addition to the election of new Board members, the IFAC Council also approved a new member and new associate member organizations.

New IFAC Member:

• Ordre National des Experts-Comptables et des Comptables Agréés du Burkina Faso

New Associates:

• Association of Professional Financial Managers (Azerbaijan)
• Ordre National des Experts Comptables et des Comptables Agréés du Mali
• Qatari Association of Certified Public Accountants
• Auditors' Chamber of Ukraine

The new appointments and membership decisions were approved at IFAC’s 2022 Council meeting, held on November 15.

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. IFAC is comprised of more than 180 members and associates in 135 jurisdictions, representing more than 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.