On February 18, the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) proposed changes to the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code). IESBA designed the proposed amendments to help guide the ethical conduct of professional accountants as they deal with changes brought on by technology in the work they do and the services they provide.
Provisions in the Code that would be impacted by these changes, if adopted, include:
- professional competence and confidentiality
- threats to compliance with the Code when using technology
- independence provisions for technology-related non-assurance services or business relationships firms provide to, or enter in with, audit clients
The proposal also states that the independence provisions that apply to assurance engagements also apply to assurance engagements on non-financial information, for example, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures.
Comments are requested by June 20, 2022.
