The US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) recently announced a number of new members joining its Investor Advisory Group (IAG) for terms through 2018, including the immediate past chair of the IAASB Consultative Advisory Group (CAG), Linda de Beer.

The IAG is a forum for the investor community to provide views and advice on matters affecting investors and the work of the PCAOB.

Ms. de Beer was IAASB CAG Chair from 2010 to 2015 and currently serves as a non-executive director on the board of three companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. She chairs the audit committees of all three companies, serves as Deputy Chair on one board, and as a member of the remuneration committee and the nomination committee of another board.

Prior to serving as Chair of the CAG, she represented the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) on the group and still represents the WFE on the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ CAG.  

“We congratulate Linda on this prestigious appointment,” said current IAASB CAG Chair Matt Waldron. “We view it as a positive step that the PCAOB recognizes her contributions to international standard setting, as interaction between the IAASB and PCAOB on relevant auditing and assurance issues is in the public interest."  

IAASB Technical Director Kathleen Healy hosts the March 2016 audio podcast featuring Chairman Arnold Schilder, Deputy Chair Chuck Landes, and IAASB members Rich Sharko and Brendan Murtagh to discuss key activities and events from the board's March 14-18, 2016, meeting in New York. 

:13 – Introduction

:37 - Chairman's Overview

4:27 - ISA 540

7:12 - ISA 315 (Revised)

8:12 - Data Analytics

8:45 - NOCLAR

10:28 – Professional Skepticism

17:50 - Integrated Reporting

19:35 - Agreed upon Procedures

20:43 - Closing remarks and next meeting

Highlights from the IESBA's March 14-16, 2016, meeting in Madrid, Spain.

:10 - Introduction: Ken Siong, Technical Director

:36 - Opening remarks/Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations: Stavros Thomadakis, Chair

3:40 - Safeguards: Gary Hannaford, Member

7:13 - Part C, Professional Accountants in Business: Helene Agélii, Member

10:40 - Next meeting: Ken Siong, Technical Director

Kristian Koktvedgaard has been re-appointed Chair of the Consultative Advisory Group (CAG) to the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants^® (IESBA^®, the Ethics Board), the independent standard-setting body that develops the globally applicable Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, now adopted or in use in 100+ jurisdictions around the world.

Mr. Koktvedgaard has served as IESBA CAG Chair since 2013 and was re-elected for a three-year term effective July 1, 2016 by the IESBA CAG membership. The re-appointment has been approved by the Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB), which oversees the activities of the Ethics Board and of the CAG.

The IESBA CAG is an integral part of the IESBA’s standard-setting process and plays an important role in helping the board fulfill its public interest remit. An independent body currently consisting of  23 member and 3 observer organizations—including regulators, international investor and preparer groups, and other stakeholders with an interest in international ethical standards for professional accountants—the CAG provides advice on technical and public interest matters during the development of the Ethics Board’s standards and strategy and work plan.

Kristian Koktvedgaard stated, “It’s been very gratifying to lead such a diverse group, championing their shared interests in the development and maintenance of high-quality ethical standards for the global accountancy profession. We’ve seen, in some cases, a patchwork of regulation develop across jurisdictions in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. This is why it’s even more imperative for the IESBA to play a leadership role in the harmonization of standards in the areas of ethics and independence globally, while taking into account the diverse viewpoints from its various stakeholders. It’s an honor to be re-elected by my colleagues to lead the IESBA CAG, and I look forward to continuing the serve the public interest in this capacity.”

Mr. Koktvedgaard is Head of VAT, accounting, and auditing with the Confederation of Danish Industry. He represents BUSINESSEUROPE, a European growth and competitiveness advocacy group, on the IESBA CAG and the CAG of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. He is a member of the Danish Accounting Council and the Danish disciplinary tribunal for State Authorized and Certified Public Accountants. He is also actively involved in the Danish Accounting Forum, a body that brings together Danish stakeholders to discuss accounting issues. In addition, he is a member of the BUSINESSEUROPE Accounting Sounding Board and serves as Chair of its VAT Policy Group. Previously, Mr. Koktvedgaard served on the Danish Supervisory Authority on Auditing.

As Chair, Mr. Koktvedgaard provides leadership to the IESBA CAG and plays a key role in ensuring that its views are heard and considered in the IESBA’s deliberations.

Commenting on the re-appointment, IESBA Chair Dr. Stavros Thomadakis said, “In his first three years as Chair, Kristian has demonstrated leadership, expertise, and tireless commitment to his role. The CAG has worked very effectively under his leadership and has provided valuable public interest input to the development of the Ethics Code. I appreciate and value Kristian’s dedication and contributions, and I look forward to continuing our constructive working relationship.”

About the IESBA
The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) is an independent standard-setting board that develops and issues, in the public interest, high-quality ethical standards and other pronouncements for professional accountants worldwide. Through its activities, the IESBA develops the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, which establishes ethical requirements for professional accountants. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IESBA are facilitated by IFAC. Please visit www.ethicsboard.org for more information.

About IFAC
The International Federation of Accountants^® (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 more than 175 members and associates in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.

About the PIOB
Established in 2005 as the oversight board for the global accountancy profession, the PIOB oversees the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants^®, the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board^®, the International Accounting Education Standards Board™, and their CAGs, as well as IFAC’s Compliance Advisory Panel, with the objective of increasing the confidence of investors and others that their activities are properly responsive to the public interest. PIOB members are nominated by international institutions and regulatory bodies.

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) has released ISA 810 (Revised), Engagements to Report on Summary Financial Statements, which deals with the auditor’s responsibilities relating to an engagement to report on summary financial statements derived from financial statements audited in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) by that same auditor.

The limited amendments to ISA 810 (Revised) leverage the additional transparency in the auditor’s report on the audited financial statements resulting from the IAASB’s new and revised Auditor Reporting standards issued in January 2015, in particular ISA 700 (Revised), Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements, and new ISA 701, Communicating Key Audit Matters in the Independent Auditor’s Report.

“The issuance of ISA 810 (Revised) represents the culmination of the IAASB’s work on auditor reporting that began in 2006. Feedback from our stakeholders has helped us finalize our proposals to meet the public interest calls from investors and others to enhance auditor reporting,” noted IAASB Chairman Prof. Arnold Schilder. “We already see positive momentum growing around the world to implement these standards.”

ISA 810 (Revised) will become effective at the same time as the auditor reporting standards addressing general purpose financial statements—for engagements to report on summary financial statements for periods ending on or after December 15, 2016.

“Through our Auditor Reporting Implementation Working Group, the IAASB and its staff remain committed to promoting awareness of our new and revised auditor reporting standards and facilitating their effective implementation,” explained IAASB Technical Director Kathleen Healy. “For example, the IAASB has recently published an article on our dedicated auditor reporting page that explores common questions asked by audit committee members and finance executives about the new and enhanced auditor’s reports.”

For more information, visit www.iaasb.org/auditor-reporting.

About the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB)
The IAASB 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. The structures and processes that support the operations of the IAASB are facilitated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

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. It is comprised of more than 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.