In an era where technology is rapidly transforming the landscape of external reporting, the IAASB has reaffirmed its commitment to staying at the forefront of these changes with the adoption of a comprehensive Technology Position Statement.

This Position Statement outlines how the IAASB will integrate technological advancements into its standard-setting activities to ensure that its standards remain relevant, effective, and aligned with the public interest. It also clarifies the IAASB’s new position, which includes:

• Embracing innovation in audit and assurance while ensuring that its standards evolve with the changing environment.
• Removing barriers in existing standards that may prevent using advanced technologies.
• Introducing new requirements and guidance to help practitioners apply technology-enabled procedures effectively.

A Three-Component Framework for Technology Integration

The IAASB's Technology Position is built on a conceptual framework composed of three key components:

1. Technology Position Statement: This core section details the IAASB's overarching stance on the role of technology in audit and assurance practices. It emphasizes the transformative potential of technology in enhancing audit and assurance quality and includes eight actions that the IAASB will take to deliver on its commitment to facilitate and encourage firms and practitioners to use technology.
2. Approach to Operationalizing the Technology Position Statement: The second component of the framework explains how the IAASB will put the Technology Position Statement into action. This includes identifying opportunities for standard-setting and developing non-authoritative materials, all in close consultation with key stakeholders.
3. Approach to Monitoring and Adapting the Technology Position: Recognizing the fast-paced evolution of technology, the IAASB will proactively monitor technological trends and adapt its Technology Position as needed. This ensures the framework remains effective and relevant in a rapidly changing environment.

Commitment to the Public Interest and Enhancing Engagement Quality

The IAASB's Technology Position Statement underscores its commitment to the public interest by focusing on enabling consistently high-quality engagements. As technology becomes increasingly pervasive in all aspects of external reporting, the IAASB has a crucial role in improving audit and assurance quality. The Statement highlights the IAASB’s dedication to developing standards that facilitate and, where appropriate, encourage firms and practitioners to use technology.

IAASB’s Actions to Navigate the Technological Landscape

The Statement includes eight key actions detailing how the IAASB will deliver on its new technological commitment:

1. Embrace Technology-Driven Innovations
2. Remove Barriers in the Standards, Real or Perceived, to Practitioners Using Technology
3. Introduce Requirements and Application Material Relating to Using Technology in Engagements
4. Address the Impact of Technology Used by Reporting Entities
5. Strike the Right Balance When Referring to Opportunities and Risks Associated with Technology
6. Align with Principles of Ethics and Ethical Requirements
7. Ensure Scalability and Proportionality
8. Convene Stakeholders and Foster Ongoing Engagement

Operationalizing the Technology Position

To turn its Technology Position into actionable outcomes, the IAASB is conducting a gap analysis, beginning with a review of its foundational standards: the International Standards on Quality Management and International Standards on Auditing. This analysis will identify potential areas for the IAASB to enhance the standards to better facilitate technological adoption. The findings will inform the IAASB's future work plans. Future work could include opportunities for new standards or revisions to existing ones as well as developing non-authoritative materials, all in close consultation with key stakeholders.

The IAASB is also developing a feedback mechanism to allow stakeholders and partners to provide feedback and insights, including any challenges they encounter when using existing standards and materials.

Ongoing Monitoring and Adaptation

The IAASB's approach to technology is dynamic, with a commitment to continuously monitoring the technological landscape. Through feedback from stakeholders and advisory groups, the IAASB will stay informed of emerging trends and adapt its standards and guidance as necessary. This proactive approach will help the IAASB maintain the relevance and effectiveness of its Technology Position in a rapidly changing environment.

For more information on the IAASB’s Technology Position Statement and to access the full document, please visit the Technology focus area page on the IAASB website.

Emerging economies, including the Global South, present enormous opportunities for economic growth, and their development is important in both local and global contexts. For these economies to grow and achieve prosperity, the active contribution of professional accountants is essential.  

Today, IFAC commenced MOSAIC meetings in Bucharest beginning with the MOSAIC Steering Committee meeting to discuss plans for developing the capacity of the accounting profession in emerging economies. IFAC has again strategically aligned MOSAIC meetings with the INTOSAI Capacity Building Committee and Donor Coordination Committee meetings, all of which are hosted by the Supreme Audit Institution of Romania this year. These events mark the first MOSAIC meetings for new IFAC Chief Executive Officer, Lee White. 

Over the next days, the MOSAIC Steering Committee meeting will bring together the signatories to MOSAIC (the Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Accountancy and Improve Collaboration) Development partners who will join IFAC and SAI representatives for the MOSAIC Forum. Mr. White will join a dynamic synergy session between the MOSAIC signatories and the INTOSAI community.   

MOSAIC serves as a cornerstone for a unified global approach to enhance the capacity of professional accountancy organizations (PAOs) and elevate the quality of financial management systems in emerging economies. The agreement and the collaborative efforts it fosters aim to empower PAOs in partner countries to improve the standards of accountancy and financial management, ultimately amplifying the effectiveness of donor assistance. Acknowledging the complexities of PAO development, MOSAIC is designed to strengthen cooperation and collaboration between IFAC, international donors, and the global development community.  

Today’s discussions were focused on the future of the MOSAIC MoU, exploring strategies to magnify its impact developing the accountancy profession in emerging economies in the years ahead. This comes at a crucial moment, with the rapid evolution of sustainability reporting and assurance in the private sector, and in the context of the continued work of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) to develop sustainability reporting standards for the public sector, where SAIs are key stakeholders.   

Lee White, Chief Executive Officer, IFAC said: “Strengthening capacity among PAOs and throughout the accountancy profession is one of the most effective ways to support sustainable economic and social growth and development, and we outlined a number of areas where accountants can have an impact in our recent publication The Accountancy Profession Enabling Africa's Transformation. It is inspiring to see so many development partners prioritizing capacity building in the accountancy profession.  We look forward to working together with the MOSAIC signatories and INTOSAI Community to strengthen our collective impact and drive meaningful change.”   

Arturo Herrera Gutierrez, World Bank Global Director for Governance said: “Proper accounting is critical for the development of the private sector and enabling access to credit markets and enhancing citizens’ trust in governments' effective use of public resources. The World Bank has a long history of engagement on this foundational agenda. We are committed to supporting emerging issues including sustainability reporting and proper recording of contingent liabilities in the public sector in collaboration with the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and its International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board. We look forward to continuing to work closely with IFAC, MOSAIC, and the INTOSAI communities to strengthen and improve collaboration.” 

Tsakani Maluleke, INTOSAI CBC Chair said: “Professional accountancy organizations and supreme audit institutions should have a shared commitment to excellence in public sector financial management and realize the value of working together to achieve an improved public sector. Sharing insights on how accountability ecosystems across the globe can be strengthened through enabling mechanisms such as improved standard-setting, ongoing auditor professionalization and investment in strong institutional capacity will be critical. Of course, this will require SAIs and PAOs to strategically partner to work to the benefit of citizens in the countries where they operate and, in doing so, play an essential role in achieving the vision of the UN Sustainable Development Goals – to leave no one behind.” 

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 180 members and associates in more than 135 jurisdictions, representing millions of professional accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.