Discussion points included:

• Professional Skepticism

Review the highlights on the IESBA's Web site.

Discussion points included:

• Structure of the Code and Safeguards
• Part C of the IESBA Code
• Professional Skepticism
• Future Strategy and Work Plan 
• Restructured Code - Roll-out Initiatives
• Joint IAASB and IESBA Board Meeting
• Joint Executive Session IAASB and IESBA Board Meeting

Review the highlights and the podcast on the IESBA's Web site.

Dis­cus­sion points in­cluded:

• Introduction and Opening Remarks
• Part C of the Code
• Structure of the Code
• Safeguards
• Fees
• Professional Skepticism
• Part C - Applicability

Re­view the high­lights on the IESBA's Web site.

Discussion points included:

• Professional Skepticism
• Technology and Innovation
• Part C of the Code
• Strategy and Work Plan
• Future Strategy and Work Plan
• Fees
• Long Association
• IFAC Anti-Corruption Initiative

Review the highlights and the podcast on the IESBA's Web site.

Discussion points included:

• Structure of the IESBA Code
• Safeguards
• Part C of the IESBA Code
• Professional Skepticism

Review the highlights and the podcast on the IESBA's Web site.

The proposed comprehensive framework covers all forms of inducements and applies to both professional accountants in business and professional accountants in public practice. It also provides enhanced guidance on the offering and accepting of inducements by professional accountants’ immediate or close family members.

Among other matters, the proposals also require professional accountants to address any threats to compliance with the fundamental ethical principles in accordance with the Code’s conceptual framework where there is no improper intent.

Comments are requested by December 8, 2017.

Review the press release and the Exposure Draft on the IESBA's website.

The outcome of the first phase is a new structure and drafting convention, as well as a major restructured portion of the Code. The IESBA now enters the final stage of this project. Comprised of three Exposure Drafts (EDs), this final stage sets out new proposals that:

• Restructure select sections of the Code, including recently finalized provisions addressing accountants’ response to non-compliance with laws and regulations (NOCLAR), long association of audit firm personnel with an audit or assurance client, and ethical issues that professional accountants in business (PAIBs) often face (Structure ED-2);
• Revise the safeguards-related provisions in the independence sections of the Code pertaining to non-assurance services provided to audit and other assurance clients (Safeguards ED-2); and
• Clarify the applicability of PAIB provisions to professional accountants in public practice (Applicability ED).

Comments on Safeguards ED-2 and the Applicability ED are requested by April 25, 2017. Comments on Structure ED-2 are requested by May 25, 2017.

Review the press release on the IESBA's website.

“We have seen 1,500 global companies adopt Integrated Reporting around the world, with its implementation already becoming mainstream in countries such as Japan and South Africa,” said IIRC CEO Richard Howitt in a statement. “This rapid adoption demonstrates the market view of the International <IR> Framework as a ground-breaking and beneficial tool. It’s now time for us to further assess how this tool is being used to assist the quality of the reporting, reinforce its relevance to new challenges and ensure it remains fully in tune with market needs.”

The IIRC also plans to convene focus groups around the world, in Australia, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, with other locations to be announced later. The IIRC is asking for feedback by April 30, 2017.

Review the press release on the IIRC's website.

The consultation paper is entitled Recommendations of Liquidity Risk Management for Collective Investment Schemes, and builds on the guidance set out in IOSCO´s 2013 report Principles of Liquidity Risk Management for Collective Investment Schemes (CIS). It also addresses the structural vulnerabilities identified by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) regarding liquidity risk management in the asset management industry in its final recommendations published in January 2017. The FSB asked IOSCO to take forward the recommendations regarding the mismatch between fund investments and redemption terms for open-ended funds.

IOSCO´s consultation paper on the recommendations proposes revisions that supplement the 2013 liquidity report with additional recommendations and detailed guidance on several issues, including those highlighted in the FSB report. Topics covered in the consultation paper include disclosure to investors, the alignment between asset portfolio and redemption terms, availability and effectiveness of liquidity risk management tools and fund level stress testing. In addition, IOSCO includes additional recommendations on contingency planning and requests specific public comments on issues affecting exchange traded funds.

On the same date, IOSCO also published another paper, Open-ended Fund Liquidity and Risk Management – Good Practices and Issues for Consideration, that provides practical information, examples and good practices regarding open-ended fund liquidity risk management, to supplement its recommendations.

Re­view the press release on the IOSCO's web­site.

Mr. Mohin is six months into his role as chief executive officer of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting framework, with a mission to encourage more firms to report on the progress they’re making to report on their economic, environmental, and social impact.

Despite rapid growth in the uptake of sustainability reporting, companies often gripe about the extra workload that comes with the need to report, while critics wonder if the practice really brings about positive change in the world.

In this conversation with Eco-Business, Mohin talks about how effective sustainability reporting is at driving real change, its relevance for small to medium-size enterprises in Asia, the danger of companies using sustainability reports to greenwash, and what he calls the “transformative power of transparency.”

Review the article on Eco-Business' website and the GRI Sustainability Disclosure Database on the GRI's website.