The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) is currently seeking nominations for its newly created Data Analytics Project Advisory Panel (the “PAP”).

Background to the IAASB’s Work on Data Analytics

The IAASB established the Data Analytics Working Group (DAWG) to inform the Board as to how and when to respond to developments in technology, in particular data analytics, most effectively in the public interest. Since its inception in mid-2015, the DAWG has performed outreach with various stakeholders, including accounting firms, National Auditing Standard Setters (NSS), audit regulators and oversight authorities, International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) member bodies and representatives of the IFAC Small and Medium Practices Committee. In September 2016, the IAASB released the DAWG’s Request for Input, Exploring the Growing Use of Technology in the Audit, with a Focus on Data Analytics, which provides insights into the opportunities and challenges with the use of data analytics in a financial statement audit and outlines the insights gained from the DAWG’s activities to date. The Request for Input is open for public comment through February 15, 2017, feedback from which will help the IAASB further consider its next steps.

Overview of Plans for a Project Advisory Panel (PAP)

A PAP provides the opportunity for the IAASB to further engage directly with subject matter experts and other interested parties on a particular topic. The objective of this PAP is to provide the IAASB’s DAWG and staff with additional expert insight on strategic and technical aspects related to using data analytics in a financial statement audit. The composition of the PAP is intended to provide the DAWG with perspectives from practitioners who have expertise in the area of data analytics, and others with a particular expertise or interest in data analytics more broadly. This may include, for example, financial statement preparers, users of financial statements, internal auditors, audit committee members, regulators, audit oversight authorities, academics, NSS, and IFAC member bodies.

How the PAP Will Contribute to the IAASB’s Work on Data Analytics

It is anticipated that the PAP would contribute to further informing the IAASB’s work on data analytics by:

• Advising the DAWG (and other IAASB Task Forces and Working Groups as necessary) on the developments in the use of data analytics in the audit, thereby further informing the IAASB’s thinking and approach to its standard-setting activities in this area. For example, the PAP could provide input on matters relevant to how data analytics can be used in risk assessment, a matter being considered as part of the IAASB’s project to revise International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 315 (Revised), Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement through Understanding the Entity and Its Environment.
• Serving as a technical resource to the IAASB and DAWG and providing an external perspective related to making use of data analytics in a financial statement audit.
• Acting as a sounding board to the DAWG in its consideration of feedback from the Request for Input and when exploring the potential way forward, including the implications of various course of action and the timing in which those actions should be undertaken.
• Providing input to the development of any guidance or materials the IAASB may determine is necessary.

As the role of the PAP is of an advisory nature, there is no need for consensus to be reached on issues, or for votes to be taken; however, input from all members will be considered by the DAWG.

Submitting Nominations

The membership of the PAP is likely to consist of between 15-20 individuals with diverse experiences from various geographic locations. The ideal candidates will have a background in technology or subject matter expertise in field of data analytics. Please submit a brief profile citing why you are interested in being a member of the PAP to IAASBmeetings@iaasb.org by no later than October 15, 2016. The IAASB expects to inform those individuals who have been selected to be a member of the PAP by December 15, 2016.

The PAP will not hold physical meetings, but will conduct its discussions and information sharing via teleconferences or electronically. The PAP teleconferences will be convened and chaired by Bob Dohrer, IAASB member and Chair of the DAWG. At present, the PAP is anticipated to utilize quarterly teleconferences, although the frequency of the teleconferences may change as the IAASB’s Data Analytics initiative involves. In the future, the IAASB may decide to conduct seminars, roundtables, public forum, or other meetings with interested stakeholders to explore aspects of making use of data analytics in a financial statement audit. To the extent a PAP member is invited to one of these events, any travel, accommodation or other related costs are to be met by the member, the member’s employer, or other organization sponsoring the member.

For More Information

More information and updates on the project are available on the IAASB's project page.

About the IAASB
The 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 CAG, which provides public interest input into the development of the standards and guidance. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IAASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

Enhanced collaboration across the accountancy profession’s global, regional, and national levels is a key success factor in achieving strong, sustainable professional accountancy organizations (PAOs), which are crucial to healthy economies. To encourage and support mutually beneficial partnerships that create stronger PAOs and strengthen the accountancy profession, the International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®) today released Counting on Each Other: Establishing & Maintaining Effective PAO Partnerships.

“A healthy economy needs a well-functioning accountancy profession comprised of skilled professionals who contribute to high-quality, decision-useful, and publicly available financial and non-financial information,” commented Alta Prinsloo, Executive Director, Strategy, and Chief Operating Officer. “A strong PAO is essential to the development of skilled professionals. Harnessing the collective knowledge and experience of organizations across the global accountancy profession can help developing PAOs realize their potential.”

The guidance offers practical insights on how to approach partnerships between PAOs, drawing on real experiences and successes. It explores laying the foundations for fruitful collaboration and ideas for managing partnerships effectively.

“The right partnership can support a developing PAO’s journey to reach its full potential and take its place in the global accountancy profession,” continued Ms. Prinsloo. “Effective collaboration can bring clear and sustainable benefits for capacity building, not only to the parties directly involved but also to the broader national, regional, and global accountancy communities. As a profession and community, there is much we can learn from each other.”

The guidance was developed as part of the PAO Capacity Building Series, which includes guidance on PAO governance, PAO advocacy and public policy, and engaging professional accountants in business. The guidance also builds on one of the key findings of the MOSAIC PAO Global Development Report, which cited the effective and efficient nature of knowledge-sharing relationships between PAOs as a means of sharing expertise.

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 almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce. 

Global economic stability can be greatly enhanced by stronger governance across both public and private sectors, and a stable regulatory environment. These principles form the basis of recommendations to the Group of 20 (G-20) by the International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®) today, ahead of the G-20 meeting in China on September 4-5.

“The global economic recovery is uneven, and social and political destabilization risks remain high in many parts of the world. To fortify the recovery, citizens and markets urgently need to see greater transparency across all organizations, which will help restore trust in the institutions that help underpin the world’s financial markets,” said IFAC Chief Executive Officer, Fayez Choudhury.

“The G-20 has new opportunities to create an environment of sustainable, inclusive growth that benefits the world’s citizens. IFAC has consistently urged policy consensus and on-going cooperation between government, business, and the regulatory community. On behalf of the global profession, we renew that call today and ask the G-20 to put trust and transparency at the heart of the world’s economy,” he said.

IFAC calls on the G-20 to address:

• Strengthening governance, which in both the public and private sectors is at the heart of accomplishing the G-20 objectives of recovery, growth, and stability, as well as combatting fraud and corruption and restoring public trust and integrity.
• Promoting and adopting principles for good regulation to create a more consistent, effective international regulatory environment.
• Acknowledging the importance of international standards across all jurisdictions, including international standards for accounting, auditing and assurance, professional ethics and education, and public sector accounting.

IFAC’s full recommendations to the G-20, Trust and Integrity, are posted on the IFAC website.

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 almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB)’s Integrated Reporting Working Group, dedicated to exploring emerging forms of external reporting (referred to as EER), has released a Discussion Paper, Supporting Credibility and Trust in Emerging Forms of External Reporting: Ten Key Challenges for Assurance Engagements.

“The IAASB needs to be at the forefront of the debates on external reporting and how professional accountants and other practitioners can contribute to enhancing credibility and trust,” said IAASB Chairman Prof. Arnold Schilder. “We hope this paper furthers the debate and helps us gain a deeper understanding of how the IAASB, as the global assurance standard setter, can contribute to the quality of different engagements, in the public interest, and where others can or need to play a role.”

The Discussion Paper explores:

• the factors that can enhance credibility and trust, internally and externally, in relation to emerging forms of external reports;
• the types of professional services covered by the IAASB’s international standards most relevant to these reports, in particular assurance engagements;
• the key challenges in relation to assurance engagements; and
• the type of guidance that might be helpful to support the quality of these assurance engagements.

The Discussion Paper also sets out the principal findings from research and outreach regarding developments in EER frameworks and professional services most relevant to EER reports, irrespective of whether such reports are part of the annual report or published as separate reports.

“External reporting is evolving and we know various professional services are being performed, including assurance engagements in accordance with the IAASB’s international standards,” said Merran Kelsall, IAASB member and Integrated Reporting Working Group Chair. “We have identified ten key challenges in relation to assurance engagements that we would like to explore further, recognizing the need for flexibility in these services as the external reporting environment continues to evolve and mature.”

The Working Group is seeking input from investors, preparers, those in governance roles, standard setters, practitioners, internal auditors, regulators, academics, and other stakeholders in the external reporting supply chain. The input will assist the IAASB in effectively responding to these developments in the public interest, including whether new or revised international standards or guidance may be necessary.

The Working Group has also developed materials to supplement the Discussion Paper, including FAQs. This material, as well as more information and updates on the project, are available on the IAASB’s project page.

Comments to the Discussion Paper are requested by February 3, 2017.

About the IAASB
The 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 structures and processes that support the operations of the IAASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please go to Permissions or contact permissions@ifac.org.

Recognizing the essential role of professional accountants in business in strong and sustainable organizations, financial markets, and economies, the International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®) today released Engaging Professional Accountants in Business: How to Build a More Relevant PAO and Profession. The guidance will assist professional accountancy organizations (PAOs) in strengthening engagement with accountants in business, the public sector, and academia as a means to expand their reach, influence, and contribution.

“Professional accountants in business drive sustainable organizational success,” said Alta Prinsloo, IFAC Executive Director, Strategy, and Chief Operating Officer. “Their engagement at the global, regional, and local levels will enhance the relevance of the profession and help build a deeper engagement with business and government, ultimately supporting the profession’s contribution to stronger economies.”

Professional accountants in business represent a broad spectrum of expertise and work in many sectors across all types and sizes of organization. Their diversity is a strength and an opportunity, but can make it difficult for PAOs to connect with them. This lack of connection is a detriment to the individual accountants, the profession, the PAO, and—ultimately—the public interest. This guidance supports a stronger connection by incorporating these members into the PAO’s governance and decision-making structures.

The guidance was developed as part of the PAO Capacity Building Series with the help of the IFAC Professional Accountants in Business Committee. It includes a case study from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan.

About IFAC
The International Federation of Accountants^® (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 over 175 members and associates in over 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board^® (IPSASB^®) has published IPSAS^® 39, Employee Benefits, which will replace IPSAS 25, Employee Benefits, on January 1, 2018, with earlier adoption encouraged.

This limited-scope project was part of the IPSASB’s strategy to maintain its existing standards, including updating them for relevant changes made to the equivalent International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The main differences between IPSAS 39 and IPSAS 25 are:

• Removal of an option that allowed an entity to defer the recognition of changes in the net defined benefit liability (the “corridor approach”);
• Introduction of the net interest approach for defined benefit plans;
• Amendment of certain disclosure requirements for defined benefit plans and multi-employer plans;
• Simplification of the requirements for contributions from employees or third parties to a defined benefit plan when those contributions are applied to a simple contributory plan that is linked to service; and
• Removal of the requirements for Composite Social Security Programs.

The first four changes above reflect those made by the International Accounting Standards Board to its equivalent standard, International Accounting Standard (IAS) 19, Employee Benefits, up to December 2015. The fifth change, removal of the Composite Social Security Programs section, reflects the IPSASB’s conclusion that the section was unnecessary in practice.

Exposure Draft (ED) 59, Amendments to IPSAS 25, Employee Benefits, proposed significant changes to IPSAS 25 to converge with IAS 19. After considering constituents’ responses and a revised version of IPSAS 25, the IPSASB decided to issue a new standard, IPSAS 39, which reflects the revisions proposed in ED 59 in a more user-friendly format.

“IPSAS 39, Employee Benefits, ensures that financial statements provide faithfully representative and relevant information about the financial impact of employee benefits, particularly defined benefit pension plans, while maintaining convergence with IFRS,” said IPSASB Chair Ian Carruthers. “The issuance of a new standard is intended to present the new accounting requirements more clearly.”

An At-a-Glance summary of IPSAS 39 is also available. 

About the IPSASB
The IPSASB develops accounting standards and guidance for use by public sector entities. It receives support (both direct financial and in-kind) from the Government Accounting Standards Board, the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the South African Accounting Standards Board, the New Zealand External Reporting Board, and the governments of Canada, New Zealand, and Switzerland.

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.

About IFAC
The International Federation of Accountants^® (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 almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) today released for comment a Consultation Paper (CP), Public Sector Specific Financial Instruments.

International Public Sector Accounting Standards™ do not currently provide guidance on how to account for a number of monetary items that the IPSASB has termed “public sector specific financial instruments.” The lack of guidance leads to reporting that is inconsistent between entities and, as a result, users may not have the information they need for accountability and decision-making purposes.

“For entities responsible for public sector financial instruments, the topics in this Consultation Paper are critically important because users need better information to evaluate the impact of these significant items on government finances,” said IPSASB Chair Ian Carruthers. “This Consultation Paper is the first step in developing consistent financial reporting for public sector specific financial instruments. We look forward to receiving constituents’ views on the accounting approaches identified for each topic.”

The CP includes three main topics related to accounting for public sector financial instruments:

• Currency in Circulation. The CP considers currency in circulation by reference to the definitions of the elements of a liability and revenue in The Conceptual Framework for General Purpose Financial Reporting by Public Sector Entities (the Conceptual Framework). The key issue is whether the issuance of currency gives rise to a present obligation, with two accounting approaches proposed, which depends on whether a liability should be recognized and, if not, alternatives for recognizing revenue.
• Monetary Gold. The CP considers which gold assets meet the proposed definition of monetary gold and the appropriate measurement bases for initial and subsequent measurement of such assets. Two accounting approaches are proposed for monetary gold, each linked to the intention of a monetary authority in holding such assets:
• Approach 1—Measurement at market value linked to an intention to hold gold because it can be traded in the global liquid markets; and
• Approach 2—Measurement at historical cost when the intention is to hold gold for an indeterminate period of time to support economic stability.
• International Monetary Fund (IMF) Quota Subscription and Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). The CP is informed by the Conceptual Framework, and puts forward the IPSASB’s view of the appropriate recognition and measurement of the IMF Quota Subscription, SDR holdings, and SDR allocations.

How to Comment

To access the Consultation Paper and the At-a-Glance document, which provides a summary of the Consultation Paper, or to submit a comment, please visit the IPSASB website at www.ipsasb.org/. Comments on the Consultation Paper are requested by December 31, 2016. The IPSASB encourages IFAC members, associates, and regional accountancy bodies to promote the availability of this Consultation Paper to their members and employees.

About the IPSASB
The IPSASB develops accounting standards and guidance for use by public sector entities. It receives support (both direct financial and in-kind) from the Government Accounting Standards Board, the Asian Development Bank, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the South African Accounting Standards Board, the New Zealand External Reporting Board, and the governments of Canada, New Zealand, and Switzerland.

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.

About IFAC
The International Federation of Accountants^® (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 almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) today released a survey consultation, The IAASB’s Work Plan for 2017‒2018 and Continuing Relevance of Its Strategic Objectives. Feedback to this consultation will assist the board in evaluating its priorities for 2017–2018 and allocating its resources—a full-time Chairman supported by a 17-person volunteer board and ten-person technical staff—in the best way possible.

“Our extensive outreach and consultation, most recently through our Invitation to Comment, leads us to believe we are already addressing the most pertinent topics in the public interest. We are prioritizing standard setting in relation to the fundamental topics of accounting estimates, professional skepticism, quality control, risk assessment, and group audits—while at the same time actively debating the implications for practitioners of developments in data analytics, integrated reporting, and emerging forms of external reporting,” explained Prof. Arnold Schilder, IAASB Chairman. “At the same time, we recognize we will soon be at the mid-point of our five-year strategy, so it is helpful to pause and reflect with our stakeholders about whether anything in the external environment indicates a need to change course or re-prioritize.”

The IAASB and its Consultative Advisory Group have considered a number of other topics that could warrant IAASB attention, which are highlighted in the survey. Respondents are asked for their views on how topics should be prioritized, recognizing that much of the board’s current standard-setting efforts will carry on into 2017 and beyond unless the IAASB decides to modify its current work plan. The IAASB would also like to understand whether its current strategic initiatives remain appropriate given its mandate.

“We look forward to hearing from a wide range of our stakeholders, and hope that by using a survey, we will hear from many around the world,” Kathleen Healy, IAASB Technical Director, noted. “We have designed the survey to allow respondents to quickly flag key priorities or, alternatively, tell us when certain topics are less relevant—as this will be helpful in deciding whether our focus should change from any of our current priorities to those that might be deemed more relevant from a public interest perspective.”

The survey will be open for responses through September 30, 2016, and must be submitted using the online tool. A PDF version of the survey has been provided to assist organizations that may need to consult internally in preparing their response before submitting it electronically.

About the IAASB
The 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 structures and processes that support the operations of the IAASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please go to permissions or contact permissions@ifac.org.

Almost a decade after the global financial crisis, more than 50 thought leaders from across the public, private, and academic communities called for balanced regulation targeted to specific social outcomes, as well as stronger checks and balances, such as sunset clauses or impact analyses, to measure regulation’s effectiveness and fitness for purpose.

Speaking from the floor during the discussion, Fayez Choudhury, IFAC Chief Executive Officer, noted that, “There is a critical need to review and evaluate regulations on an ongoing basis, and to ensure purpose-built regulation going forward, in order to strengthen the global economy and financial system.”

The group emphasized that—while governments acted decisively and much has been achieved since the crisis—regulation alone cannot solve problems. It must be partnered with stronger corporate governance, and embedding ethics and values in organizations from the top down. These are essential to restore the public’s trust in government and both the public and private sector, which continues to be a vital goal.

“How can we ensure a duty of care to markets and society?” asked roundtable participant Baroness Sharon Bowles. “If you get corporate governance right, it can eliminate the need to regulate every eventuality—the corporate governance space is as important as the regulatory space. And the professions that advise businesses play an important role.”

The current compliance culture, participants said, has replaced responsibility and professionalism with rule-following and “box ticking.” In addition, this culture can lead to overreaction and risk aversion, stifling risk-taking that is essential for entrepreneurialism and growth.

ICAEW Chief Executive Michael Izza said, “We all agree that getting the future of regulation right is vital for the global economy. Regulation must be proportionate. We need to avoid on the one hand growing to a scale where compliance is so complex and costly it is a barrier to all but the largest firms, and on the other obsessive simplicity to the extent that it no longer protects against systemic failure. It will be important for everyone to work together and innovate to find the best solutions.”

The group noted that many responses to the financial crisis were fundamentally national and fragmented, whereas business is increasingly global. Participants called for more coordinated rules and consistent implementation, in line with calls from the G-20 and other global organizations since 2009.

Additional points of consensus from the roundtable included the importance of proportionality to protect small- and medium-sized entities—an engine of global economic growth—from over-regulation and the need for enhanced dialogue across the stakeholder spectrum.

Organized by the International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the roundtable included senior executives and experts from regulatory agencies, financial markets, government, academia, listed companies, investment funds, and the accounting profession.

The roundtable follows a similar meeting in Hong Kong in December 2015, at which 30 senior representatives of the regulatory, government, professional, investor, business, and academic communities identified ten principles to help guide regulators toward better decisions and protect the global economy from the dangers posed by a patchwork approach to regulation. Previously, IFAC issued a discussion paper, From Crisis to Confidence: the Role of Good Regulation, which examined the impact, benefits, and costs of the current regulatory landscape, and compares internationally recognized principles of good regulation.

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

Assessing and understanding the relationship between accountancy expertise and business performance is complex and requires consideration of what accountancy expertise entails, as well as the wide range of performance measures. A new research report released today by the International Federation of Accountants^® (IFAC^®) demonstrates, through a review of existing literature, the positive association between use of professional accountants for expertise and advice, and business performance.

“It has long been assumed that taking advantage of the breadth and depth of experience and expertise of professional accountants helps organizations optimize performance, efficiencies, and more. It is heartening to see robust global evidence in support of this relationship,” said IFAC CEO Fayez Choudhury. “The report finds that organizational development and performance lead to increased use of accountancy expertise, and accountancy expertise leads to superior performance and development.”

The report summarizes the findings by entity size—small- and medium-sized entities (SMEs) and large entities—as important differences exist between studies about each group and in how business performance and accountancy expertise are operationalized and the results interpreted. The research also shows the positive impact professional accountants have on aligning organizations’ goals and actions. Professional accountants are well-suited to play various roles in organizations, including analysis and communication of information, decision making, managing risks, and creating sustainable value—roles that indirectly impact business performance.

Commissioned by IFAC, researchers at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies conducted a literature review of more than 90 academic research papers. The full report details the results while the Key Findings, also released today, summarizes notable insights. The research was facilitated by the University of Dayton in accordance with an agreement with IFAC.

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