The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt markets, businesses, and organizations. This disruption has spawned an environment of uncertainty and unpredictability that may create risks that are new, or intensified, in the circumstances.

To serve the public interest, the IAASB has sought to assist, adapt, and collaborate with its many stakeholders. Now is no time to relax the commitment to the public interest. Our goal is to support the important role auditors must play in sustaining trust in financial and other external reporting. The IAASB has been closely working with its national standard-setting partners and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) to coordinate efforts and has been in regular discussion with regulatory authorities.

The purpose of this note is to update stakeholders on the outputs of our “assist” activities, although our efforts have also focused on adapting our work plan and ways of working, as well as targeted coordination with many of our stakeholders. 

A core element of our COVID-19 response has been the development of a series of specific COVID-19 audit related resources to help our stakeholders, and the larger accountancy community, navigate the application of the International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) in the current circumstances.

Since March, the IAASB has published six “Staff Audit Practice Alerts” which address the following topics:

• Areas of Focus in an Evolving Audit Environment Due to the Impact of COVID-19

Highlights some of the broader areas that may need to be further considered in designing and performing audit procedures to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence, and to report accordingly.

• Going Concern

Highlights key areas of focus when undertaking procedures relating to, and concluding on, the appropriateness of management’s use of the going concern basis of accounting in accordance with the ISAs, as well as reporting requirements where there are material uncertainties related to the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

• Subsequent Events

Highlights key areas of focus when undertaking procedures relating to subsequent events in accordance with the ISAs, i.e., matters related to events occurring between the date of the financial statements and the date of the auditor’s report and the effect, if any, of such on the entity’s financial statements.

• Auditor Reporting

Highlights key areas of focus relevant to auditor reporting in accordance with the ISAs, including modifications to the auditor’s opinion, the ‘material uncertainty related to going concern’-section, key audit matters, emphasis of matter and other paragraphs, as well as interim review reports (in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (ISRE) 2410, Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity).

• Auditing Accounting Estimates

Highlights key areas of focus when undertaking audit procedures relating to accounting estimates and related disclosures in accordance with the ISAs, in particular considering the significant impact of estimation uncertainty and subjectivity in the current environment on accounting estimates.

• Review Engagements on Interim Financial Information

Highlights key matters for consideration when undertaking a review of interim financial information in accordance with ISRE 2410, including the auditor’s work effort and reporting considerations. 

To allow for easier accessibility for the broader audience, the IAASB has established a separate COVID-19 Resource Page, as part of the IAASB website. This page not only houses the topic-specific Staff Audit Practice Alerts, but also provides several other areas of interest, including thought leadership from the IAASB, webinars on related topics, and links to other web-based COVID-19 resources. We encourage all direct users of our standards, as well as the broader financial community, to utilize these resources. 

The IAASB will continue to adapt the way we work for the current evolving environment and provide assistance to those who use our standards. To learn more, and be kept aware of the latest developments, join our mailing list and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, as we will announce updates to our response on all three channels. 

Yours sincerely,

Tom Seidenstein

Chair, IAASB

The International Auditing and Assurance Standard Board (IAASB) invites interested stakeholders to complete an online survey sharing their experience with, and providing feedback relating to, the Auditor Reporting Standards that were issued in 2015. The Survey also asks for input on your experiences with ISA 720 (Revised), The Auditor’s Responsibilities relating to Other Information.

The Auditor Reporting Standards are aimed at enhancing the communicative value and relevance of the auditor’s report. The standards are effective for audits of financial statements for periods ending on or after December 15, 2016.

Stakeholders’ feedback will be an important source of input for the IAASB in carrying out the information gathering activities related to the Auditor Reporting Post-Implementation Review (PIR), which will assist the Board to determine what possible further actions, if any, may need to be undertaken.

“The auditor’s report is the key deliverable addressing the output of the audit process,” said Tom Seidenstein, chair of the IAASB. “Investors and other users of financial statements have called for auditors to provide more relevant information in the auditor’s report based on the audit that was performed. The 2015 revision of the Auditor Reporting Standards was an important step aimed at improving the value of the financial statement audit and the continued relevance of the auditing profession. The IAASB is now seeking comment on whether the revised standards are achieving this goal.”

All interested stakeholders are invited to participate in this global request for input to the PIR, including investors and other users of financial statements, auditors and audit firms, preparers of financial statements, those charged with governance, national standard setters, professional accountancy organizations, and regulators and audit oversight bodies. Stakeholders also are encouraged to share the online survey with their respective networks in their jurisdictions that engage with auditors or use auditor reports.

The link below will direct you to the IAASB webpage for further information on the Auditor Reporting PIR, including the online Survey.

Auditor Reporting Posti-Implementation Review

Stakeholders are invited to complete the Survey until October 23, 2020.