Accounting Technicians are part of the global accountancy profession, working across all sectors in financial management roles that are essential to a strong and sustainable accountancy profession, private and public sector organizations, and financial markets and economies. When Accounting Technicians, or ATs, are empowered with appropriate technical knowledge and practical skills—and valued by employers—they support the production of reliable financial and non-financial information that drives timely and informed decision making, and delivers transparency and accountability.

The State of Play in Sustainability Assurance benchmarking study captures and analyzes the extent to which companies are reporting and obtaining assurance over their sustainability disclosures, which assurance standards are being used, and which companies are providing the assurance service. The 2019-2021 Trends & Analysis report marks our third annual benchmarking study of global practice in sustainability disclosure and its assurance.

Today, the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) opened the public consultation for a group audit-specific section of the proposed auditing standard for less complex entities (LCEs). The proposed section, Part 10, Audits of Group Financial Statements, is intended to form part of the proposed International Standard on Auditing for Audits of Financial Statements of Less Complex Entities (ISA for LCE) when finalized. The exposure draft is open for public comment until May 2, 2023.

Group audits were not included in the scope of the original Exposure Draft of the ISA for LCE. Given stakeholder feedback, the IAASB reconsidered its decision to exclude group audits and developed proposals that address audits of less complex groups.

With the inclusion of group audits, the IAASB has proposed changes to the Authority of the proposed ISA for LCE. For example, the IAASB removed the prohibition on using the standard when the audit is a group audit unless component auditors are involved, other than in limited circumstances in which a physical presence is needed for a specific audit procedure for the group audit (e.g., for attending a physical inventory count or inspecting physical assets).

The IAASB invites all stakeholder to comment on the exposure draft via the IAASB website. Comments are requested by May 2, 2023.

About the IAASB
The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board develops auditing and assurance standards and guidance for use by all professional accountants under a shared standard-setting process involving the Public Interest Oversight Board, which oversees the activities of the IAASB, and the IAASB Consultative Advisory Group, which provides public interest input into the development of the standards and guidance. For copyright, trademark, and permissions information, please go to permissions or contact permissions@ifac.org.