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Worldwide Update May 2019

April 29, 2019

Periodic roundup of recent and upcoming actions and activities by audit and accounting organizations throughout the world.

International

IASB– International Accounting Standards Board (www.ifrs.org)

IFRS for SMEs Modules, published March 5, 2019, is a series of 35 modules developed over the past couple years to assist those interested in “learning about, applying, or reading financial statements prepared using, the IFRS for SMEs Standard. Included with each module are sections covering requirements, significant estimates and other judgments, comparison with full IFRS Standards, test your knowledge and apply your knowledge.

 

IFAC– International Federation of Accountants (www.ifac.org)

International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB)– Exposure Draft, Proposed Revisions to Part 4B of the Code to Reflect Terms and Concepts Used in ISAE 3000 (Revised), issued March 27, 2019, proposes “changes in key terminology, including a revised definition of the term “assurance client”; enhanced and clarified independence requirements for attestation engagements; clarification of the types of assurance engagement addressed in Part 4B; simplified guidance on assurance engagements that refers to the definitive source of explanatory material on such engagements in IAASB literature.”… Read More

PCAOB Implements New Directions on Audit Oversight

April 29, 2019

Outlook for inspections and new audit report content put in place

When the PCAOB issued the Inspections Outlook for 2019in December, the term “transformation,” a word more often found in religious contexts, was used to describe the wide sweeping reassessment of the approaches for planning, conducting and reporting on the Board’s periodic examinations of audits and auditors. While some of the anticipated results will address longer range aspects, a number are to be implemented in 2019.

Following up, on March 14, 2019, the Staff Inspections Outlook for Audit Committees (Outlook) was published, spelling out the Board’s more robust intent for engagement with audit committees, along with delineation of key areas of inspection focus, as well as suggested questions audit committees may want to ask the auditors during the year.… Read More

Corporate and Audit Failures Lead Call for New British Regulator

April 29, 2019

Audit watchdog with more muscle to replace beleaguered Financial Reporting Council

The last issue of the Audit & Accounting Alert reported on the innovative, forward looking approach of the United Kingdom’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) in tackling the challenges of financial reporting in the age of artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, the auditor watchdog role of the FRC has not fared as well in keeping pace with the rapid changes in the accounting and reporting complexities of organizations subject to its oversight.

With collapses like that of Carillion plc, the second largest construction company in the United Kingdom, in early 2018, and severe criticism of the company’s audits performed by KPMG, the government commissioned an independent review of the FRC (known as the Kingman Review) to determine what went wrong, and the appropriate actions to take.… Read More

New Framework Addresses Audit Quality Disclosures

March 12, 2019

Useful guidance for audit firms of all sizes

The Center for Audit Quality (CAQ), an AICPA affiliate, describes itself as an autonomous public policy organization dedicated to enhancing investor confidence and public trust in global capital markets by fostering, among other things, high-quality performance by public company auditors. Time and time again, polls have given high marks for the public trust of accountants in various regards. For example, a January 2019 survey taken by three international accounting bodies found a much higher trust level in accountants than in governmental tax systems. Maintaining the high confidence of the public is critical for public accountants who hold the exclusive franchise for audit reports on financial statements.

Even though the resources generated by the CAQ are specifically directed toward public company auditors, they provide beneficial insights and tools that can be helpful to private company auditors as well.… Read More

Artificial Intelligence and Corporate Reporting

March 12, 2019

Financial Reporting Council report considers the impact

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is the regulator of auditors in the United Kingdom, as well as the standard setter for corporate governance. The FRC’s goal is to promote transparency and integrity in business for the investors and others who rely on company reporting.

In response to the call for improved corporate reporting, the FRC established the Financial Reporting Lab (Lab) in 2011, as a means for investors and companies to together develop pragmatic solutions. To address technology related challenges, the Lab initiated two projects. Digital Present looked at the current state of technology tools and how to best employ them. Digital Future, building on the results of Digital Present, “is designed to identify what benefits the new mediums and technologies should offer, consider which technologies might do this and how companies can make the most of the digital opportunity.”… Read More