IESBA underlines importance of objectivity for engagement quality reviewers and other appropriate reviewers through enhanced guidance
Jan 14, 2021
On January 14, 2021, the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) released revisions to the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code) addressing the objectivity of an engagement quality reviewer (EQR) and other appropriate reviewers. This project dovetailed with the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board’s (IAASB’s) development of International Standard on Quality Management (ISQM) 2, Engagement Quality Reviews, which was finalized in December 2020.
The revisions provide guidance that supports ISQM 2 in addressing the eligibility of an individual to serve in an EQR role, focusing on the critical attribute of objectivity. Among other matters, the guidance:
- Elaborates on the need to identify, evaluate and address threats to compliance with the fundamental principle of objectivity that might arise in the appointment of an individual as an EQR for a given engagement;
- Explicitly refers to and supports the requirement in ISQM 2 for a firm to establish, as a condition for eligibility, a cooling-off period of two years before an engagement partner can assume the EQR role on the same engagement; and
- Emphasizes that this cooling-off requirement in ISQM 2 serves the dual objective of supporting compliance with the fundamental principle of objectivity and the high quality of engagements.
The guidance may also apply in situations where, as a safeguard to address identified threats to compliance with the fundamental ethics principles, an individual is appointed as an appropriate reviewer for work performed.
The enhanced guidance will become effective December 2022.
Review the press release and revisions on the IESBA's website.