Together with ICAEW, The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) today released the fourth installment in its Anti-Money Laundering: The Basics educational series: Installment 4: Asset Transfers.  

The publication is part of a 6-month short series helping accountants enhance their understanding of how money laundering works, the risks they face, and what they can do to mitigate these risks and make a positive contribution to the public interest. Installment four examines asset transfers, one of the primary ways in which criminals layer or integrate the proceeds of crime into the legitimate economy.

Anti-Money Laundering: The Basics is featured on both the IFAC and ICAEW websites and available for download for free. IFAC is featuring the series on a new landing page alongside other relevant information on anti-money laundering (AML).

To be globally relevant, the Anti-Money Laundering: The Basics  series uses the risk-based approach of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog -- as a starting point. 

For more information about IFAC, visit www.ifac.org.

For more information about ICAEW, visit https://www.icaew.com/.

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).

The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board^® (IPSASB^®) has today released for comment Exposure Draft (ED) 75, Leases and Request for Information, Concessionary Leases and Other Arrangements Similar to Leases. Stakeholder comments on ED 75 and Request for Information sought by May 17, 2021.

ED 75 proposes an IFRS 16, Leases aligned model for lease accounting in the public sector. For lessees, as with the IPSASB’s previous proposals in ED 64, ED 75 proposes a right-of-use model that will replace the risks and rewards incidental to ownership model in International Public Sector Accounting Standard^® (IPSAS^®) 13, Leases. For lessors, ED 75 proposes to substantially carry forward the risks and rewards incidental to ownership model in IPSAS 13 in response to ED 64 comments and practical IFRS 16 implementation experience.

Issued alongside ED 75, the Request for Information will provide the IPSASB with further information on the issues that need to be considered in accounting for concessionary leases and other arrangements similar to leases that are quite common in the public sector. This will then allow the IPSASB to determine the nature and extent of the additional guidance required in phase two of the Leases project.

“In light of the responses to ED 64, Leases, and emerging practical experience with implementing IFRS 16, the IPSASB decided to revise its overall approach to the Leases project,” said IPSASB Chair Ian Carruthers. “The proposals in ED 75 will improve the transparency of lease accounting in the public sector, while allowing it to benefit from the private sector experience in implementing IFRS 16. The Request for Information will provide the IPSASB with further background on the more complex lease-related transactions common in the public sector, enabling the Board to decide what further guidance is required.”

How to Comment
To access the Exposure Draft, its summary At-a-Glance document, and the Request for Information or to submit a comment, visit the IPSASB website, www.ipsasb.org. Comments are requested by May 17, 2021. The IPSASB encourages IFAC members, associates, and Network Partners to promote the availability of this Consultation Paper to their members and employees.

About the IPSASB
The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) works to strengthen public financial management globally through developing and maintaining accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards® (IPSAS®) and other high-quality financial reporting guidance for use by governments and other public sector entities. It also raises awareness of IPSAS and the benefits of accrual adoption. The Board receives support from the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the New Zealand External Reporting Board, and the governments of Canada and New Zealand. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IPSASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please go to permissions or contact permissions@ifac.org.

About the Public Interest Committee
The governance and standard-setting activities of the IPSASB are overseen by the Public Interest Committee (PIC), to ensure that they follow due process and reflect the public interest. The PIC is comprised of individuals with expertise in public sector or financial reporting, and professional engagement in organizations that have an interest in promoting high-quality and internationally comparable financial information.

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).

Earlier today the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) released updates to two previously published international standard support resources:

• Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) Engagements: A Growth and Value Opportunity (the AUP Publication): Describes AUP engagements, when they are appropriate, and identifies key client benefits. It also covers AUP engagements on financial and non-financial subject matters, provides six short case studies with example procedures that might be applied and two illustration AUP reports from ISRS 4400 (Revised).
• Choosing the Right Service: Comparing Audit, Review, Compilation, and Agreed-Upon Procedures Services (the Brochure): Explains and differentiates the range of audit, review, compilation, and agreed-upon procedures services which practitioners can provide in accordance with relevant international standards. It can help current and prospective clients understand the range of services available, when they are appropriate, as well as their benefits.

Both resources have been updated to reflect International Standard on Related Services 4400 (Revised), Agreed-Upon Procedures Engagements, which was approved by the International Auditing and Assurance Board (IAASB) earlier this year and is effective for agreed-upon procedures engagements for which the terms of engagement are agreed on or after January 1, 2022.

The demand for AUP engagements continues to grow as a broad range of stakeholders, such as regulators, funding bodies, and creditors use agreed-upon procedures reports for a variety reasons. Flexibility is a key benefit of AUP engagements, as they can be tailored to different circumstances and focused on individual items of financial or non-financial subject matters.

One of IFAC’s three strategic objectives is contributing to and promoting the development, adoption, and implementation of high-quality international standards. There are numerous additional guidance and support resources available on the dedicated ‘Supporting International Standards’ section of the IFAC Knowledge Gateway.

IFAC applauds the publication today of Reporting on Enterprise Value, Illustrated with a Prototype Climate-Related Financial Disclosure Standard, a new report from leading sustainability and integrated reporting organizations CDP, CDSB, GRI, IIRC, and SASB.

The report represents another milestone in the journey to enhancing corporate reporting, and stands to advance the dialogue between companies and their investors and stakeholders through reporting of sustainability-related information.

In September 2020, IFAC published The Way Forward, a call for the creation of an international sustainability standards board. Earlier this month, IFAC issued its response to the IFRS Foundation Consultation Paper on Sustainability Reporting, where we reiterated our view that the IFRS Foundation should establish a new sustainability standards board alongside the IASB, to focus on reporting requirements that address enterprise value creation, and to deliver at speed by leveraging the expertise and standards that already exist as a result of work by CDP, CDSB, GRI, IIRC, SASB as well as the TCFD.

Today’s report not only provides a valuable starting point for this IFRS initiative, but also clearly demonstrates the collaborative intent and effort of these organizations—now and going forward.

IFAC encourages our members and stakeholders to respond to the IFRS Consultation Paper by December 31. IFAC will continue to speak out on behalf of the global accountancy profession in support of a global solution for reporting sustainability information.

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 International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) today submitted its response to the IFRS Foundation’s Consultation Paper on Sustainability Reporting, issuing a resounding “yes” to the question of whether an international sustainability standards board is needed to lead a coherent global system of interconnected corporate reporting that will rationalize the current fragmented ecosystem for sustainability information.

Reiterating the themes of its September 2020 call-to-action, Enhancing Corporate Reporting: The Way Forward, IFAC calls for the creation of the new board alongside the IASB under the IFRS Foundation. The proposed board would address the urgent and growing demand from investors, policy makers and regulators for a reporting system that delivers consistent, comparable, reliable, and assurable information relevant to enterprise value creation, sustainable development, and evolving stakeholder expectations.

“This is a significant opportunity to bring new relevance to professional accountants’ work in corporate reporting and assurance and will advance the public interest,” said IFAC CEO Kevin Dancey. “The accountancy profession must continue to play an active role in helping companies, economies, and societies achieve a more sustainable future, made all the more urgent due to the climate emergency. IFAC stands ready to engage with the IFRS Foundation, as well as our member organizations and other stakeholders, to ensure the success of this important initiative.”

IFAC encourages our members and other stakeholders to review our response and engage in this important conversation with the IFRS Trustees.

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 175 members and associates in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing more than 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) has issued Non-Authoritative Amendments to IPSAS 41, Financial Instruments, to clarify the requirements for classifying, recognizing, and measuring a range of important public sector specific financial instruments.

This non-authoritative guidance is the final output from the IPSASB’s Public Sector Specific Financial Instruments (PSSFI) project and applies to four monetary items unique to the public sector: monetary gold, currency in circulation, International Monetary Fund (IMF) quota subscriptions, and Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).

The guidance underlines that public sector items that meet the definition of a financial asset or financial liability should be accounted for by applying existing IPSAS principles. It also clarifies the principles themselves to help improve financial information provided on public sector specific financial instruments.

“The publication of additional non-authoritative guidance in IPSAS 41, Financial Instruments, will enable preparers and users of public sector financial statements to obtain more relevant and comparable information that faithfully represents their public sector specific financial instruments,” said Ian Carruthers, IPSASB Chair. “Now more than ever, high quality financial information will help enhance government decision making as entities consider the use and issuance of these monetary items to address challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”

A Staff Q&A document will be released after this pronouncement to provide additional background information.

About the IPSASB
The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) works to strengthen public financial management globally through developing and maintaining accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards® (IPSAS®) and other high-quality financial reporting guidance for use by governments and other public sector entities. It also raises awareness of IPSAS and the benefits of accrual adoption. The Board receives support from the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the New Zealand External Reporting Board, and the governments of Canada and New Zealand. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IPSASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please go to permissions or contact permissions@ifac.org.

About the Public Interest Committee
The governance and standard-setting activities of the IPSASB are overseen by the Public Interest Committee (PIC), to ensure that they follow due process and reflect the public interest. The PIC is comprised of individuals with expertise in public sector or financial reporting, and professional engagement in organizations that have an interest in promoting high-quality and internationally comparable financial information.