IRBA Newsletter Issue 52

Issue 52 | October-December 2020 7 STANDARDS cont. ISA Paragraph Effect on the Illustrative Auditor’s Report ISA 805 (Revised), Special Considerations – Audits of Single Financial Statements and Specific Elements, Accounts or Items of a Financial Statement ISA 700 (Revised), Paragraph 40(b) For audits of financial statements of listed entities, state that the auditor provides those charged with governance with a statement that the auditor has complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence and communicates with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on the auditor’s independence, and where applicable, related safeguards actions taken to eliminate threats or safeguards applied. Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements … We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards actions taken to eliminate threats or safeguards applied. The following auditor’s reports have now been updated, as a result of the conforming amendments to the IAASB International Standards: Updated Illustrative Report Relevant Page Numbers Website Link 1. SAAPS 3 (Revised May 2019), Illustrative Reports Illustrative Report 1, pages 13-19. Illustrative Report 4, pages 28-34. Illustrative Report 5, pages 54-58. Illustrative Report 11, pages 83-88. Illustrative Report 12, pages 89-95. Click here. 2. Illustrative Mutual Banks Act Reports (Parts A-F) PART A: Independent Auditor’s Report on DI Returns, pages 3-6. Click here. 3. South African and Consolidated Operations - Revised Illustrative Regulatory Reports A-I PART A: Independent [Auditor’s/Auditors’, delete as appropriate] Report on year-end BA Returns, pages 4-8. Click here. 4. Foreign Operations (BA 610 returns) - Revised Illustrative Regulatory Reports A-H PART A: Independent [Auditor’s/Auditors’] Report on the year-end BA 610 Return, pages 4-8. Click here. The updated illustrative reports are effective as of 16 November 2020. Global Consultation on Fraud and Going Concern in an Audit of Financial Statements: Exploring the Differences Between Public Perceptions About the Role of the Auditor and the Auditor’s Responsibilities in a Financial Statement Audit The IAASB has published, for public comment, a Discussion Paper, Fraud and Going Concern in an Audit of Financial Statements: Exploring the Differences Between Public Perceptions About the Role of the Auditor and the Auditor’s Responsibilities in a Financial Statement Audit ( the Discussion Paper). The auditor’s role in relation to fraud and going concern in audits of financial statements continues to receive heightened public attention. In recent years, this has been amplified by the number of high-profile corporate failures. As a result, the IAASB has recognised the need to further explore these topics. The Discussion Paper sets out the issues and challenges related to the expectation gap (i.e. the difference between what users of financial statements expect and the auditor’s responsibilities in a financial statement audit). It also explores possible actions that the IAASB could undertake to help narrow this gap. In addition, the Discussion Paper is aimed at gathering perspectives from a broad range of stakeholders, across the financial reporting ecosystem, about the role of the auditor in relation to fraud and going concern in an audit of financial statements. Stakeholders are asked for their perspectives on whether the auditing standards related to fraud and going concern need to be updated to reflect the rapidly evolving external reporting landscape; and, if so, in what areas. The feedback collected will inform decisions about possible further actions by the IAASB on these topics. We invite registered auditors and other interested parties to submit comments directly to the IAASB via the IAASB website by 1 February 2021. A copy of the Discussion Paper is available in PDF format and may be downloaded from the Exposure Drafts and Comment Letters page of the IRBA website .