Assurance on Integrated Reporting and other EER – IAASB [Completed]

Last up­dated:

August 2021

Overview

The Integrated Reporting Working Group (IRWG) of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) was initially formed to monitor the demand for assurance engagements on integrated reporting. The focus of the Working Group includes initial thinking on the nature of such engagements, the scope of the subject matter information and the suitability of criteria, and other matters related to assurance, including the IAASB’s existing assurance standards.

The objective of the IRWG is to: (i) explore emerging developments in integrated reporting and other emerging developments in external reporting; (ii) gather further information on the demand for assurance, the scope of the assurance engagement and the key assurance issues; and (iii) explore how the IAASB most effectively can respond via International Standards or non-authoritative guidance (including Staff publications) and in what timeframe.

On April 6, 2021, the IAASB published Non-Authoritative Guidance on Applying ISAE 3000 (Revised) to Extended External Reporting (EER) Assurance Engagements. This marks a significant step forward in supporting assurance for non-financial reporting.

The Guidance responds to ten key stakeholder-identified challenges commonly encountered in applying International Standard on Assurance Engagements 3000 (Revised), Assurance Engagements Other than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information. The guidance promotes consistent high-quality application of ISAE 3000 (Revised) in extended external reporting assurance engagements to:

  • strengthen the influence of such engagements on the quality of extended external reporting;
  • enhance trust in the resulting assurance reports; and
  • increase the credibility of extended external reports so that they can be trusted and relied upon by their intended users.

The Guidance addresses a number of overarching matters, including applying appropriate competence and capabilities, exercising professional skepticism and professional judgement, and the preconditions for an assurance engagement, as well as more specific technical matters. The Guidance also provides further explanation and examples to better understand the distinction between limited assurance and reasonable assurance engagements.

 

Other Developments

August 2021

On August 3, 2021, the AASB issued non-authoritative guidance to support Canadian practitioners’ use of the IAASB’s "Non-Authoritative Guidance on Applying ISAE 3000 (Revised) to Extended External Reporting (EER) Assurance Engagements" in Canada, applying Canadian Standard on Assurance Engagements (CSAE) 3000.

April 2021

On April 6, 2021, the IAASB published Non-Authoritative Guidance on Applying ISAE 3000 (Revised) to Extended External Reporting (EER) Assurance Engagements.

March 2020

On March 13, 2020, the IAASB released for feedback its draft non-authoritative EER Guidance. This is in response to organizations that are increasingly reporting about their broader performance or impact (“Extended External Reporting” or “EER”) either voluntarily or as required by law or regulation, and the growing demand for assurance engagements on such reporting. Comments are requested by July 13, 2020.

February 2019

On February 28, 2019, the IAASB issued for comment a Consultation Paper entitled “Extended External Reporting Assurance” re Phase I of this project. Comments are due by June 21, 2019.

January 2018

On January 8, 2018, the IAASB released Guidance on Key Challenges in Assurance Engagements Over Emerging Forms of External Reporting (“EER”).

November 2016

In November 2016, the IAASB changed the comment letter deadline to the Discussion Paper it released in August 2016. Comments to the Discussion Paper are requested by February 3, 2017.

August 2016

On August 18, 2016, the IAASB released for public comment a Discussion Paper, “Supporting Credibility and Trust in Emerging Forms of External Reporting: Ten Key Challenges for Assurance Engagements”. The Discussion Paper, prepared by the IRWG, sets out the principal findings from research and outreach regarding developments in emerging forms of external reporting (referred to as EER) frameworks and professional services most relevant to EER reports, irrespective of whether such reports are part of the annual report or published as separate reports.  Comments on the Discussion Paper are requested by December 15, 2016.

July 2015

On July 16, 2015, the IRWG of the IAASB released a publication, Exploring Assurance on Integrated Reporting and Other Emerging Developments in External Reporting, to inform stakeholders about the Board’s ongoing work in this area.

 

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