Chartered Accountants Ireland has recently responded to a joint stakeholder survey by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) on their proposed strategy and work programme for the period 2028–2031.
Responding to international consultations and stakeholder engagement is a key means for the Institute to influence the development of global standards that ultimately shape professional obligations and day‑to‑day professional work in Ireland, UK, and internationally. We have consulted with our members in forming this response and it draws directly on member experience, allowing us to advocate for standards that are robust, proportionate and workable in practice.
Why this representation matters to members
The IAASB and IESBA set the international audit and ethics standards that underpin trust in corporate reporting and the work of professional accountants worldwide. Their mission, which we support, is to serve the public interest by developing high‑quality, globally operable standards that enhance confidence in information and support well‑functioning markets. Their priorities directly affect how Chartered Accountants apply professional judgement, deliver audit and assurance services, and uphold ethical standards across all sectors – whether in practice, business or the public sector.
It is important that Chartered Accountants Ireland contributes to outreaches such as these, both to represent the experience, expertise, and insight of members. By doing so we support standard setters to ensure that standards remain practical, proportionate and scalable, and capable of being applied consistently across organisations and jurisdictions.
Engagement in this process ultimately supports the development of standards that reinforce trust, deliver high-quality outcomes, and work effectively for all stakeholders in the public interest. Chartered Accountants Ireland also collaborates with other professional bodies under the auspices of, for example; the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), Global Accounting Alliance, Accountancy Europe, or Chartered Accountants Worldwide to represent our members views and inform global policy positions on standard developments.
Decisions taken by these standard setters influence how ethical principles are interpreted, how audit and assurance engagements are undertaken, how professional judgement is exercised and how accountability is demonstrated.
Our core message: focus on making standards work
Over recent years, there has been significant expansion in ethics, audit, sustainability reporting and quality management requirements. While many changes were necessary, their cumulative effect has been increased complexity and implementation burden.
Our position is that the next strategy period for IESBA and IAASB should focus less on adding new layers and more on ensuring existing standards operate effectively. This means:
- reaffirming a principles‑based approach that supports professional judgement and works across different legal and regulatory systems;
- prioritising post‑implementation reviews to assess how standards work in practice and whether they are delivering better outcomes;
- focusing on implementation, consistency and real-world effectiveness to help ensure standards work as intended and strengthen confidence in their effectiveness; and
using practical, application‑focused guidance, particularly in fast‑moving areas such as technology or sustainability, rather than defaulting to new standards.
Global coherence and member relevance
The Institute also highlighted in its response the growing risk of fragmentation. Differences in adoption, definitions and interpretation across jurisdictions increase costs, reduce comparability and undermine confidence in global standards. Greater coordination between IAASB and IESBA, and better alignment with other international standard setters, is essential to maintaining coherence.
For members in business, this matters directly. The Code of Ethics forms provides a foundation for leadership, governance, decision‑making and public trust across organisations. Clear, scalable and stable frameworks help members meet their ethical responsibilities with confidence, particularly in complex or evolving environments.
Our position reflects a concern shared by many members that the increasing weight of regulation and standards will present challenges to the attractiveness and sustainability of the profession. Clear and proportionate standards support the profession in its role as a business leader.
Influencing standards in the public interest
By responding to consultations and making representations such as this, Chartered Accountants Ireland is helping to shape global standards in a way that supports quality, trust and professional sustainability. Member input is critical to this process and remains key to ensuring that international standards reflect real‑world experience while continuing to serve the public interest.
READ INSTITUTE’s RESPONSE TO THE JOINT IAASB and IESBA SURVEY ON STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR 2028-2031 HERE
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