In this video Q&A, IAASB Chairman Prof. Arnold Schilder and IESBA Chairman Stavros Thomadakis discuss topics of mutual relevance to their respective boards.

WATCH VIDEO» 

The deadline for comment is May 16, 2016, for the Invitation to Comment, Enhancing Audit Quality in the Public Interest: A Focus on Professional Skepticism, Quality Control and Group Audits (the ITC). An explanatory video featuring IAASB member and Chair of the Group Audits and Enhancements Working Groups Megan Zietsman reviews the key elements of the ITC and the Overview to the ITC.

COMMENT BY MAY 16 »

The IAASB’s newly released 2014/2015 Biennial Report, Championing Change in the Public Interest, explains how the IAASB is responding to the ever-evolving environment in which audits, assurance and other services are conducted and highlights key outputs over the past two years.

VIEW REPORT » 

Former IAASB Deputy Chair and current chair of the Auditor Reporting Implementation Working Group Dan Montgomery explores the nine most common questions asked by audit committee members and finance executives about the new and revised auditor’s reports.

LEARN MORE »

In late March 2016, the IAASB published ISA 810 (Revised), Engagements to Report on Summary Financial Statements and an accompanying Basis for Conclusions.

VIEW PRONOUNCEMENT »

Highlights from the March 2016 IAASB meeting are available in print and as an audio podcast.

The IAASB has continued its extensive outreach program contemplated in its five-yearStrategy for 2015–2019: Fulfilling Our Public Interest Mandate in an Evolving World. It has compiled a detailed listing of its outreach activities for the period January 2016-May 2016.

LEARN MORE »

Meeting highlights include updates on the Responding to Non-compliance with Laws and Regulations, Structure of the Code, Safeguards, Long Association, and Part C projects.

The IESBA agreed in principle the final provisions in the Code regarding responding to non-compliance with laws and regulations, subject to the deliberations of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board^® (IAASB^®) regarding consequential and conforming amendments to IAASB standards. The new pronouncement is expected to be issued and included in the 2016 Handbook in Q3.

Listen to March Highlights» |  Read March Meeting Summary»

The IESBA Consultative Advisory Group (CAG) meeting included discussions on Safeguards and a presentation on the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland Power of One initiative. On March 8, a joint session with the IAASB CAG included discussions on Responding to Non-compliance with Laws and Regulations and Professional Skepticism, as well as a presentation on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Anti-Bribery Convention.

See Presentations & Papers »

The Exposure Draft includes the first application of the proposed new structure and drafting conventions for the Code. Key features of the proposed restructuring include clearer language; requirements distinguished from application material; increased clarity of responsibility; and reorganized content. See the IESBA Update for implementation implications and the IESBA’s plan for coordinating the restructuring of the Code with its other open projects.

COMMENT BY APRIL 18 »

IESBA Chair Dr. Stavros Thomadakis participated in the IAASB‘s first global audit quality roundtable, which aimed to elicit direct input to its consultation: Enhancing Audit Quality in the Public Interest: A Focus on Professional Skepticism, Quality Control, and Group Audits. The Invitation to Comment highlights, in particular, a joint initiative among the IAASB, IESBA, and International Accounting Education Standards Board^® on professional skepticism.

SUBMIT A COMMENT »

At its March 11-12 meeting, the Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB) approved the re-appointment of IESBA CAG Chair Kristian Koktvedgaard. The PIOB also approved due process for the changes to Part C of the Code Addressing Preparation and Presentation of Information and Pressure to Breach the Fundamental Principles.

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Mr. Koktvedgaard was re-elected for a three-year term effective July 1, 2016 by the IESBA Consultative Advisory Group (CAG) membership.

READ MORE »

The IESBA is re-exposing, on a limited basis, certain revised provisions in Section 290 of the Code dealing with long association of audit personnel with an audit client. The Exposure Draft comment period closes on May 9, 2016.

SUBMIT A COMMENT » 

The IESBA is recruiting a Principal to join its international ethics standards development team based in New York. Visit our website for the full job description and required skills and experience for this role.

APPLY NOW »

• April 18, 2016: Comment Period for Structure Exposure Draft Closes
• April 25, 2016: IESBA Conference Call
• May 9, 2016: Comment Period for Long Association Exposure Draft Closes
• June 27-29, 2016: IESBA Meeting, New York, NY
• September 14, 2016: IESBA CAG Meeting, New York, NY

For more info, or to register to attend an IESBA meeting as an observer, visit Ethics Board Meetings and Ethics Board CAG Meetings.

The IFAC Guide to Review Engagements is being translated into French by CPA Canada. In addition, the Guide to Compilation Engagements is being translated into French by Institut des Experts-comptables et des Conseils Fiscaux – Instituut Van de Accountants en de Belastingconsulenten under the new cooperation framework signed by IFAC and Fédération International des Experts-comptables Francophones (FIDEF). Additional translations will be forthcoming. 

The single, authorized Spanish translation of both Volumes 1 and 2 of the IAASB^® 2013 Handbook of International Quality Control, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance, and Related Services Pronouncements is available for the first time.

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New translated content is available on IFAC’s Global Knowledge Gateway, including the article, “An Abundance of Resources to Fight Financial Reporting Fraud,” in Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish. Coming soon: Arabic. Thanks to the efforts of translating individuals and organizations.

READ MORE  » 

Recently published 2015 editions of handbooks from the IAASB, IAESB™, IESBA^®, and the IPSASB^®, are available for translation. Please submit your requests via our online system.

READ MORE »

A meeting for Gulf Cooperation Council Accountancy and Auditing Organization professional accountancy organizations interested in Arabic language translations is being planned for April 20, 2016 in Kuwait City. For more information, contact permissions@ifac.org.

Our newly interactive translations database is more user-friendly and searchable. Check it out!

READ MORE  » 

Connect with other translating bodies and related stakeholders all over the world! Please post questions, share your experience, or offer suggestions so that both you and your fellow translators can benefit.

JOIN THE FORUM »

• Arabic translations of the 2015 edition of Handbook of International Quality Control, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance, and Related Services Pronouncements and Handbook of International Public Sector Accounting Pronouncements
• French translation of Handbook of International Public Sector Accounting Pronouncements, 2013 Edition
• Russian translation of Handbook of International Quality Control, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance, and Related Services Pronouncements, 2014 Edition, Volumes II and III
• Spanish translations of International Public Sector Accounting Standards 33 – 38 and Recommended Practice Guidance 3
• Spanish translations of a suite of eight International Good Practice Guidance and summaries of IFAC Policy Position Papers 1-8

The deadline for commenting on the Invitation to Comment, Enhancing Audit Quality in the Public Interest: A Focus on Professional Skepticism, Quality Control and Group Audits (the ITC) is May 16, 2016.

The IAASB also has released a companion document, an Overview of the ITC, designed to solicit feedback from investors, audit committees, and preparers.

Downloadable templates for responding to the ITC and Overview are available.

SUBMIT COMMENT »

A recently released publication highlights the audit issues arising from the shift to Expected Credit Loss models when accounting for loan losses.

VIEW PROJECT PROPOSAL »

The revised “Focus on Audit Quality” page contains new resources, including templates for commenting on the ITC and the Overview.

VISIT SITE » 

The IAASB continues its extensive outreach program as part of its five-year Strategy for 2015–2019: Fulfilling Our Public Interest Mandate in an Evolving World.

LEARN MORE »

Earlier this year, the IAASB announced several staff promotions and appointments.

READ THE NEWS ALERT »

• March 14-18, 2016: IAASB Meeting, New York, NY
• April 26, 2016: IAASB Conference Call
• May 16, 2016: Deadline for Invitation to Comment, Enhancing Audit Quality in the Public Interest.
• June 20-24, 2016: IAASB Meeting, New York, NY

For more info, or to register to attend an IAASB meeting as an observer, visit IAASB Meetings and IAASB CAG Meetings.

The Exposure Draft includes the first application of the proposed new structure and drafting conventions for the Code. See the IESBA Update for implementation implications and the IESBA’s plan for coordinating the restructuring of the Code with its other open projects. 

COMMENT BY APRIL 18 »

Key features of the Exposure Draft include: more robust requirements related to the application of the conceptual framework in the Code, including an assessment of judgments and conclusions made; a clearer description of the concept of safeguards; and new and enhanced guidance.

COMMENT BY MARCH 21 »

The IESBA will re-expose on a limited basis certain revised provisions in Section 290 of the Code dealing with long association of audit personnel with an audit client. The Exposure Draft will open in the coming weeks with a 90-day comment period. 

LEARN MORE »

The most recent IESBA meeting was held November 30–December 4 in New York. Meeting highlights include updates on the Responding to Non-compliance with Laws and Regulations, Structure of the Code, Safeguards, and Long Association projects.

READ MORE »

The IESBA has approved changes to Part C of the Code addressing professional accountants in business, including revisions to Section 320 on the preparation and presentation of information, a new Section 370 on pressure to breach the fundamental principles, and related conforming amendments to other sections. The changes will now be redrafted to align with the new format developed under the Structure project. See timeline.

READ MORE »

IESBA staff have developed a new publication, Ethical Considerations Relating to Audit Fee Setting in the Context of Downward Fee Pressure, highlighting important considerations in the Code for auditors in relation to the setting of audit fees. It responds to stakeholder concerns regarding downward pressure on fees as a factor that can potentially adversely impact audit quality.

READ MORE »

At its most recent meeting, the IESBA discussed significant comments from among the 76 responses received on the Exposure Draft, Responding to Non-Compliance with Laws & Regulations. The IESBA will consider and aim to finalize the revised provisions at its March 2016 meeting. The provisions will then be redrafted to align with the new format for the Code developed under the Structure project. See timeline. 

LISTEN HERE »

Additions and changes to provisions in the 2015 Handbook of the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (log in required) come into effect in April 2016. Register or log in for access to the web-based Handbook or to purchase print copies.

ACCESS HERE»

IESBA Chairman Dr. Stavros Thomadakis recently spoke with the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants about his vision for the IESBA and the role of accountants in deterring corrupt behavior, among other topics. The article first appeared in IS Chartered Accountant in November 2015.

ACCESS HERE »

The Call for Nominations for the Independent Standard-Setting Boards in 2017 sets out upcoming opportunities for membership on the IESBA. The deadline for nominating qualified candidates along with their completed applications is January 31, 2016.

LEARN MORE»

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board^® (IAASB^®) invites comment on Enhancing Audit Quality in the Public Interest: A Focus on Professional Skepticism, Quality Control, and Group Audits, which highlights potential standard-setting activities the IAASB could take to enhance audit quality. The Invitation to Comment highlights, in particular, a joint initiative among the IAASB, IESBA, and International Accounting Education Standards Board^® on professional skepticism.

COMMENT BY May 16»

The IESBA is recruiting at the Senior Technical Manager level for its staff team based in New York. Visit our website for the full job description and required skills and experience for this role. 

APPLY NOW»

• January 31, 2016: Deadline for Submitting Nominations for New IESBA members
• March 7, 2016: IESBA CAG Meeting, Paris, France
• March 14–16, 2016: IESBA Meeting, Madrid, Spain
• March 21, 2016: Comment Period for Safeguards Exposure Draft closes
• April 18, 2016: Comment Period for Structure Exposure Draft closes

For more info, or to register to attend a meeting as an observer, visit Ethics Board Meetings and Ethics Board CAG Meetings.

An important milestone was achieved recently when the International Federation of Accountants^® and Fédération Internationale des Experts Comptables et Commissaires aux Comptes Francophones (FIDEF) signed a formal cooperation framework for French-language translations of IFAC publications during the IFAC annual Council Meeting in Singapore.

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Volume 1 of the 2014 edition of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board^® handbook includes International Standard on Quality Control 1 and the International Standards on Auditing™. This Russian translation was performed by the National Organization for Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards Foundation (NOFA Foundation). See the Translations Database for additional Russian translations.

READ MORE »

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’^® Handbook of the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, 2014 Edition, has been translated into Spanish. This edition incorporates several revised pronouncements that were published previously and are now effective—addressing a breach of a requirement of the IESBA Code, conflicts of interest, and the definition of “those charged with governance.” It also contains the revised definition of “engagement team.”

READ MORE » 

New Spanish language documents created via the IberAm™ Project include:Staff Q&As on Professional Skepticism and International Standards on Auditing™ PowerPoint module presentations for the IAASB, as well as the series of articles, Pricing on Purpose: How to Implement Value Pricing in Your Firm, Parts I-III. Available via theTranslations Database.

The Global Knowledge Gateway welcomes translated content. Viewpoints in Russian andSpanish are available on the site and commentary in more languages, such as Arabic, Chinese, French, and Polish, will be added soon. Thanks to the relevant translating organizations for their efforts.

More translated publications in various languages are expected in 2016. These include updated versions of the handbooks from the IAASB^®, IAESB™, IESBA^®, and the IPSASB^®, as well as the Guide to Using International Standards on Auditing in the Audits of Small- and Medium-Sized Entities, Guide to Practice Management for Small- and Medium-Sized Practices,Guide to Review Engagements, and Guide to Compilation Engagements.

A number of third party organizations have license agreements in place with IFAC for authorized use of specific IFAC-copyrighted content in certain of their commercial products.

READ MORE »

The recently published 2015 edition of the Handbook of International Education Pronouncements is available for translation. It contains the suite of newly revised and redrafted International Education Standard™ and the revised Framework for International Education Standards for Professional Accountants and Aspiring Professional Accountants developed by the International Accounting Education Standards Board™.

GET INFO »

This is a reminder about IFAC’s policies that require all interested parties to request permission to reproduce or translate our publications. In order for us to most effectively assist you, please request permission via our Online Permission Request and Inquiry (OPRI) system.

READ MORE »

Our newly interactive translations database includes 50 languages and is more user-friendly and searchable. Check it out!

READ MORE »

To receive IFAC news in Spanish, login to ifac.org, click “Manage Subscription Preferences.” Under the IFAC and Standard-Setting Boards tabs, select “Español,” “Comunicados de Prensa y Noticias Electrónicas.”

READ MORE »

Connect with other translating bodies and related stakeholders around the world! We encourage you to join the Forum, post your questions, share your experience or offer your suggestions so that not only you but also your fellow translators may benefit.

JOIN THE FORUM »

IFAC appreciates the efforts of its designated translating bodies which have recently finalized the following translations:

• Bulgarian (ICPAB) - 2015 Handbook of the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants
• Croatian (CAC) - selections of the 2013 Handbook of the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants
• Dutch (IBR-IRE) - Good Practice Checklist for Small Business, 2nd Ed
• French (IBR-IRE) - Good Practice Checklist for Small Business, 2nd Ed
• German (WPK) - 2014 Handbook of the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants
• Greek (ELTE) - International Standard on Assurance Engagement (ISAE) 3420, Assurance Engagements to Report on the Compilation of Pro Forma Financial Information Included in a Prospectus
• Hungarian (CHA) - Glossary of Terms (from Volume I) and International Framework for Assurance Engagements (from Volume II) from the 2014 Handbook of International Quality Control, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance, and Related Services Pronouncements
• Japanese (JICPA) - Auditor Reporting-Key Audit Matters and Auditor Reporting-Illustrative Key Audit Matters
• Korean (KICPA) - Framework for International Education Standards for Professional Accountants and Aspiring Professional Accountants
• Lithuanian (LCA) - selected standards of the 2014 Handbook of International Quality Control, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance, and Related Services Pronouncements
• Polish (AAP) - Statements of Membership Obligations (SMOs) 1-7 (Revised)
• Romanian (CAFR) - Exploring Assurance on Integrated Reporting and Other Emerging Developments in External Reporting
• Russian (PWC Russia) - 2014 At a Glance: A Framework for Audit Quality
• Russian (PWC Russia) - At a Glance: New and Revised Auditor Reporting Standards and Related Conforming Amendments
• Russian (PWC Russia) - The New Auditor’s Report: Greater Transparency into the Financial Statement Audit
• Spanish (FACPCE) - Establishing and Developing a Professional Accountancy Body
• Thai (FAP) - excerpts from Fact Sheet Reporting on Audited Financial Statements – New and Revised Auditor Reporting Standards and Related Conforming Amendments
• Thai (FAP) - ISRE™ 2400 (Revised), Engagements to Review Historical Financial Statements and  ISRS™ 4410 (Revised), Compilation Engagements from the 2014 Handbook of International Quality Control, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance, and Related Services Pronouncements
   

The Conceptual Framework for General Purpose Financial Reporting by Public Sector Entities (the Conceptual Framework), approved at the IPSASB’s September 2014 meeting, has since been translated into Spanish. Additionally, the IPSASB produced a multimedia overview of the Conceptual Framework in February 2015.

The Conceptual Framework has been a powerful tool in IPSASB project development. In particular, the objective of financial reporting, with its focus on the primary class of users (service recipients and resources providers and their representatives), ensures that the IPSASB develops pronouncements in the public interest, emphasizing the role of financial reporting in providing information essential for accountability and decision-making purposes.

With the approval and publication of the Conceptual Framework, more staff resources and agenda space are now available to focus on standard-setting in the period forward from 2015, including developing requirements and guidance in areas where there are gaps, notably social benefits, public sector combinations, and heritage assets. 

In October, the IPSASB released Exposure Drafts (ED)—ED 57, Impairment of Revalued Assets, which proposes to bring property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets on the revaluation model within the scope of the IPSASB’s two standards on impairment; and ED 58, Improvements to IPSASs 2015, which will consider broader improvements rather than focusing solely on those to maintain convergence with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Comments are due by January 15, 2016.

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Ian Carruthers, an IPSASB member since 2010, has been appointed chair for a three-year term commencing January 1, 2016. Nominated for the position by Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), he replaces Andreas Bergmann, who has served as IPSASB chair with great distinction since 2010. 

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An archived version of the recent IPSASB webinar, “Social Benefits: An Overview of the IPSASB Consultation Paper,” is now available. During this webinar, IPSASB Technical Manager Paul Mason and IPSASB member Bob Dacey, Chief Accountant with the US Government Accountability Office, review some of the key issues raised in the IPSASB’s recent Consultation Paper.

WATCH HERE »

The latest meeting was held September 22-25 in Toronto, Canada. Highlights included an announcement of the new IPSASB chair, approval of two Exposure Drafts, and progress on projects such as Revenue, Non-Exchange Expenses, Public Sector Combinations, Heritage Assets, Emissions Trading Schemes, and Public Sector Financial Instruments.

READ MORE »

The IPSASB is recruiting for a Technical Manager for its staff team based in Toronto. For complete job description and required skills and experience, see Working at IFAC.

Kevin Simpkins, who played an instrumental role in developing the original International Public Sector Accounting Standards and led the exploratory work on social policy obligations, passed away in October. Kevin was a tireless advocate for public sector financial management reform and, after stepping down from the Public Sector Committee (IPSASB’s predecessor), became one of the most important and influential global advocates for IPSAS and for using IPSAS as the basis of financial reporting for the public benefit sector in New Zealand.

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• December 8 - 11, 2015:  IPSASB Board Meeting, Toronto, Canada. Full details are available on the IPSASB Meetings page. Members of the public may register as observers with registration closing one week prior to the first day of the meeting.
• January 15, 2016: Comments Due on Exposure Draft 57, Impairment of Revalued Assets and ED 58, Improvements to IPSASs 2015.

IESBA Chairman Stavros Thomadakis and Deputy Chair Wui San Kwok are interviewed by Singapore’s Business Times.

READ MORE »

New interviews in the ongoing “We are IESBA” series from Deputy Chair Wui San Kwok and IESBA members Claire Ighodaro and Peter Hughes.

The most recent IESBA meeting was held in September in New York. Meeting highlights include updates on the Structure of the Code, Safeguards, and Part C of the Code projects.

READ MORE » 

The comment period for the Exposure Draft, Responding to Non-Compliance with Laws & Regulations, closed on September 4, 2015. Seventy-six comment letters were received. The board will discuss significant comments and related Task Force proposals at its December meeting. 

READ MORE »

The 2015 edition of the Handbook of the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants is available. Register or log in for access to the web-based IESBA Handbook for personal use or to purchase print copies.

ACCESS HERE »

Following the global financial crisis, the IESBA worked to enhance responsiveness to emerging issues amidst heightened scrutiny on ethics, while delivering on its existing strategic commitments.

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The IESBA has continued to pursue an active outreach agenda in 2015 pursuant to its strategic commitment to engage with its broad range of stakeholders, including a semi-annual meeting with the IESBA Consultative Advisory Group to exchange views on current projects, and emerging issues. 

READ MORE »

The Call for Nominations for the Independent Standard-Setting Boards in 2017 sets out upcoming opportunities for membership on the IESBA. Along with the IFAC-published Developing a Nominations Strategy, it offers guidance in identifying the most qualified candidate for available positions.

READ MORE »

The IESBA is recruiting at the Deputy Director and Senior Technical Manager levels for its staff team based in New York. Visit Working at IFAC for full job descriptions andrequired skills and experience for these roles. 

APPLY NOW »

• November 30-December 4, 2015: IESBA Meeting, New York. 
• March 7, 2016: IESBA CAG Meeting, Paris, France. 

For more info, or to register to attend a meeting as an observer, visit Ethics Board Meetings and Ethics Board CAG Meetings

The following publications have recently been released on the IAASB’s website:

• Final changes to the International Standards on Auditing™ (ISA™), Addressing Disclosures in the Audit of Financial Statements–Revised ISAs and Related Conforming Amendments. These changes aim to focus auditors on disclosures throughout the financial statement audit. The changes will be effective for audits of financial statements for periods ending on or after December 15, 2016. As a complement to these revisions, IAASB staff has also developed a publication for auditors that describes financial reporting disclosure trends and their possible implications from an audit perspective and highlights how the International Standards on Auditing as revised guide the auditor in addressing disclosures.
• An Exposure Draft, Proposed Amendments to the IAASB’s International Standards—Responding to Non-Compliance or Suspected Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations, which focuses on proposed amendments to ISA 250, Consideration of Laws and Regulations in an Audit of Financial Statements (with less extensive changes proposed to seven other standards), in response to the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants^® (IESBA^®) May 2015 Exposure Draft, Responding to Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations. Comments on the IAASB’s Exposure Draft are due by October 21, 2015.
• An Exposure Draft, Proposed International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 810: Engagements to Report on Summary Financial Statements. The proposed amendments are a result of the IAASB’s new and revised Auditor Reporting Standards, which address auditor reporting on general purpose financial statements. The deadline for comments is November 2, 2015.
  • A Staff Audit Practice Alert addressing the Responsibilities of the Engagement Partner in Circumstances when the Engagement Partner Is Not Located Where the Majority of the Audit Work is Performed. This publication is an initial response to concerns, including those raised by certain regulators and audit oversight bodies, and serves to remind auditors of the responsibilities of the engagement partner described in the ISAs.
  • A publication, Exploring Assurance on Integrated Reporting and Other Emerging Developments in External Reporting, issued by the IAASB’s Integrated Reporting Working Group. The IAASB established the Working Group to guide it in responding to these developments most effectively in the public interest.

The IAASB last met in New York in June 2015. Meeting highlights and a podcast summary of key meeting outcomes can be found on the IAASB’s Meetings page.

At this meeting, the IAASB agreed to issue a combined Discussion Paper addressing key topics in its Work Plan for 2015–2016 relevant to enhancing audit quality, in particular quality control, group audits, special audit considerations relevant to financial institutions, and professional skepticism. The IAASB intends to issue the Discussion Paper in December 2015 with a 150-day comment period, supported by outreach in 2015 and 2016. Feedback from the Discussion Paper will inform the development of standard-setting project proposals, expected to be presented to the IAASB and the IAASB Consultative Advisory Group in September 2016.  Discussion on the planned approach and issues relating to the four topics continues to be a prominent feature of the IAASB’s outreach activities.

During its June 2015 meeting, the IAASB also hosted a panel discussion on the topic of professional skepticism. IAASB member Annette Köhler, who chairs the Professional Skepticism Working Group, introduced the topic. The panel was comprised of: Jeremy Justin, Canadian Public Accountability Board; Helen Munter, US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; Doug Prawitt, Brigham Young University; and Cindy Fornelli, Center for Audit Quality. The Professional Skepticism Working Group is comprised of representatives from the IAASB, the IESBA, and the International Accounting Education Standards Board^TM in acknowledgement that actions by the three independent standard-setting boards may be appropriate to enhance professional skepticism.

The IAASB has continued the extensive outreach program contemplated in its Strategy. It has compiled a detailed listing of its outreach activities. Recent activity of note includes:

• Annual meeting of the IAASB-National Auditing Standard Setters Liaison Group to exchange views on the IAASB’s current initiatives as well as national developments relevant to the IAASB’s work.
• Continued dialogue with the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators and its Standards Coordination Working Group, and the International Organizations of Securities Commissions on the IAASB’s new projects related to enhancing audit quality.
• Discussions with international supervisors, prudential regulators, and audit leaders in the banking and insurance industries to inform the project relating to special audit considerations relating to financial institutions.
• Participation in various events sponsored by IFAC and its member organizations, including Accounting & Accountability for Regional Economic Growth/Contabilidad y Responsibilidad para el Crecimiento Economico Regional (CReCER), Pan African Federation of Accounting Africa Congress of Accountants, Fédération des Experts Comptables Européens,  Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean, and Institute of Chartered Accountants in India.
• Country-specific outreach to South Africa and the US, including meetings with investors, regulators, accounting firms, public sector organizations, professional accountancy organizations, and other thought leaders.
• Continued engagement with accounting firms, through meetings with the Global Public Policy Committee, Forum of Firms, and Small and Medium Practices Committee, on both strategic and technical matters.

In addition, the IAASB has responded to the US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Staff Consultation Paper on “The Auditor’s Use of the Work of Specialists.”

IFAC has revamped its database of translated international standards, handbooks, and other resources. The new version is searchable and filterable, by language, status, source, and publication year. 

The IAASB is recruiting at both the Senior Technical Manager and Technical Manager levels for its staff team based in New York. For complete job descriptions and required skills and experience for these roles, see Working at IFAC. Qualified candidates should send their resume to jobs@ifac.org.

The IAASB will meet September 21-25, 2015, in New York, USA. The agenda and meeting materials are posted approximately three to four weeks in advance on the IAASB Meetings page. Members of the public may register to observe the meetings and registration closes one week before the first day of the meeting. The next IAASB CAG meeting is scheduled for September 15-16, 2015, in New York, USA.

The IPSASB recently published a Consultation Paper seeking feedback to help it further develop the principles of recognition and measurement for social benefits. The deadline for comments is January 31, 2016. 

Exposure Draft 56, The Applicability of IPSAS™ seeks input to assist the IPSASB in communicating the public sector entities for which it is developing International Public Sector Accounting Standards™ and Recommended Practice Guidelines. Comments are due by November 30, 2015. 

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) has presented the IPSASB with this year's Sir Harry Page Merit Award for its development of the Conceptual Framework for General Purpose Financial Reporting by Public Sector Entities. Established in 1968, the award is given annually for work in public service accounting and financial management. 

In two new videos for the "A Closer Look at:" series, IPSASB Deputy Chair Jeanine Poggiolini of South Africa and IPSASB Member Aracelly Mendéz of Panama discuss their nations' experiences with adopting the suite of IPSAS and accrual accounting. Currently, the series includes five videos (Brazil, New Zealand, Panama, South Africa, and Switzerland) and six publications (Costa Rica [English and Spanish], Guatemala, Malaysia, Malta, Panama, and Switzerland. 

On September 21 at 10 a.m. ET, the IPSASB will present “Social Benefits: An Overview of the IPSASB Consultation Paper.” Technical Manager Paul Mason will leads a discussion of some of the key issues raised in the recent Consultation Paper. Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/530255244251801602

The IPSASB staff recently produced an audio podcast and accompanying publication that highlight how IPSAS reflect the accounting consequences of sovereign debt restructuring transactions. Acting Director John Stanford and Senior Technical Manager Ross Smith discuss issues that may be encountered.

The IPSASB is recruiting at the Technical Manager level for its staff team based in Toronto, Canada. For a complete job description and required skills and experience, see Working at IFAC. Qualified candidates should send their resumes to jobs@ifac.org.

The IPSASB will meet September 22-25, 2015, in Toronto, Canada. The agenda and meeting materials are posted approximately 2-4 weeks in advance on the IPSASB Meetings page. Members of the public may register to observe the meetings and registration closes one week before the first day of the meeting.