Welcome to International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) eNews.
In This Issue:
1. Focus on Auditor Reporting—Feedback on June 2012 Invitation to Comment
2. IAASB Proposes Standard Enhancing Auditor Responsibilities for Disclosures Beyond the Financial Statements
3. IAASB Staff Q&A Publication Addresses Proportionate Application of ISQC 1
4. Directions in Auditing and Assurance: Challenges and Opportunities
5. Upcoming IAASB Meeting
6. Other Relevant IFAC Initiatives
7. Share IAASB eNews with Your Colleagues
1. Focus on Auditor Reporting—Feedback on June 2012 Invitation to Comment
Auditor reporting continues to be the IAASB’s foremost priority, and significant resources will be dedicated to the topic during 2012–2014. To solicit feedback on its June 2012 Invitation to Comment (ITC): Improving the Auditor’s Report, the IAASB held three well-attended global roundtables in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. More than 190 investor, analyst, regulatory and oversight, preparer, academic, those charged with governance, standard-setter, and firm representatives from more than 20 countries participated in the roundtables. Information, including audio recordings, is available on the IAASB’s Auditor Reporting Roundtables page.
To date, more than 160 comment letters have been received on the ITC. The IAASB’s discussion of these comments will commence at its December 2012 meeting, followed by an additional IAASB meeting planned for February 2013 to enable continued rapid progress toward an exposure draft of revised auditor reporting standards in 2013. To access the ITC comments, please visit the IAASB’s ITC web page.
2. IAASB Proposes Standard Enhancing Auditor Responsibilities for Disclosures Beyond the Financial Statements
The IAASB has released for public comment proposed International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 720 (Revised), The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Other Information in Documents Containing or Accompanying Audited Financial Statements and the Auditor’s Report Thereon.
The proposed standard clarifies and enhances the scope and focus of auditor efforts on “other information”—that is, information included in documents containing or accompanying the entity’s audited financial statements. The proposals recognize that significant changes in financial reporting have occurred over the last two decades regarding the information issued in connection with an entity’s financial statements and the manner in which it is shared with users. The proposals extend the scope of the extant standard and the auditor’s responsibilities and include suggested auditor reporting responsibilities.
The deadline for comments is March 14, 2013. To submit a comment, click here.
3. IAASB Staff Q&A Publication Addresses Proportionate Application of ISQC 1
IAASB Staff released a Questions & Answers (Q&A) publication titled Applying ISQC 1 Proportionately with the Nature and Size of a Firm. The publication highlights how the design of International Standard on Quality Control (ISQC) 1, Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Financial Statements, and Other Assurance and Related Services Engagements, enables it to be applied in a proportionate manner.
ISQC 1 applies to firms of all sizes that provide services covered by the IAASB’s international standards, including International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), International Standards on Review Engagements (ISREs), International Standards on Assurance Engagements (ISAEs), and International Standards on Related Services (ISRSs).[k1]
While ISQC 1 applies to all firms, the Q&As focus on matters that are likely to be of particular relevance to the application of ISQC 1 in the context of smaller firms. Smaller firms, as well as smaller public sector audit organizations, should find the publication helpful in achieving an effective and efficient implementation of ISQC 1.
This initiative follows the 2009 IAASB Staff Q&A publication, Applying ISAs Proportionately with the Size and Complexity of an Entity.
4. Directions in Auditing and Assurance: Challenges and Opportunities
IAASB Chairman Prof. Arnold Schilder recently was a guest speaker at a seminar in Melbourne, Australia, hosted by the Australian Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. His presentation–Directions in Auditing & Assurance: Challenges and Opportunities–focused on the impact of the global environment on the relevance of an audit, and included the response of the IAASB to these challenges. Particular topics included the IAASB’s Invitation to Comment on auditor reporting, the IAASB’s projects on audit quality and disclosures, and alternatives to audits aimed at meeting the needs of small- and medium-sized entities (SMEs).
Other challenges and opportunities to enhance relevance were also discussed, including how to reinforce and support professional skepticism, and how to deal with emerging developments, such as integrated reporting.
5. Upcoming IAASB Meeting
The IAASB will meet in New York, USA, December 10–13, 2012. As a reminder, all meeting agenda materials are publicly available and posted on the IAASB's website in advance of IAASB meetings.
Topics that will be discussed include: auditor reporting, audit quality, disclosures, using the work of internal auditors, and the revision of International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000, Assurance Engagements Other than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information.
In addition, meeting highlights, a summary podcast, and complete audio recordings are posted after each meeting. Visit the IAASB Meetings page.
6. Other Relevant IFAC Initiatives
Initiatives of IFAC committees and other independent standard-setting boards supported by IFAC may be of interest to those who follow the work of the IAASB, including the following:
Responding to a Suspected Illegal Act―IESBA Proposes Changes to Code of Ethics to Address Illegal Acts
PAIB Committee Response to the IAASB Invitation to Comment: Improving the Auditor’s Report
IFAC and the IIRC Sign MoU on Cooperation, Collaboration For IR
7. Share IAASB eNews with Your Colleagues
The IAASB issues regular eNews updates to keep you apprised of the board's activities and recent publications. Please forward this eNews to any interested colleagues and let them know they can register and subscribe to this and other eNews bulletins.