MyWorkpapers by Bright, a leading provider of cloud-based working papers for accountants, and Chartered Accountants Ireland, the largest professional body on the island of Ireland have agreed a partnership to drive the digital transformation of the Irish accounting sector, enabling professionals to stay ahead of the curve with cutting-edge tools and streamlined processes. Backed by Bright Software Group this partnership brings a host of technological advancements designed to optimise the work of chartered accountants, offering solutions that improve efficiency, compliance, and collaboration. Key Benefits for accountants and auditors Technological Advantages Boosted Efficiency: Digitised workflows and automated manual processes Streamlined compliance tasks with standardised templates Seamless integrations across accounting systems Real-time collaboration and comprehensive digital audit trails With MyWorkpapers, chartered accountants and auditors across the island of Ireland can now automate routine tasks, reduce errors, and enhance productivity—all while ensuring compliance with the latest regulatory standards. Regulatory Support Staying Ahead of Regulations: Up-to-date local legislation insights Region-specific tax and financial regulation updates Compliance standard alignment The partnership ensures that industry professionals can stay well-informed of evolving regulations, helping them maintain compliance with ease. Platform Capabilities The integrated MyWorkpapers platform now offers: Templates based on the Chartered Accountants Ireland Procedures for Quality Audit (PQAs) and Audit Exempt programme Localised legislative checklists for up-to-date regulatory compliance Methodology-specific workflows designed to enhance accuracy and efficiency Automated compliance tracking for seamless reporting Conal Kennedy, Head of Practice Consulting, Chartered Accountants Ireland said “For many years, our Excel-based PQAs and Audit Exempt packages have been very popular with our members in practice. We are delighted now to offer this choice to members, which will shorten the learning curve by allowing them to use familiar templates and work programs from the existing packages and will give them the extra functionality of the MyWorkpapers platform. Anyone involved in statutory audit or accounts preparation in either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland should take a look at this.” Ben Bishop, Bright’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, said “This partnership allows us to deliver a digitised and rules-driven version of the guidelines directly in line with the work being undertaken by the accountant. Helping to ensure high quality, compliant and repeatable output every time; the digitally delivered updates will help keep practice staff on point with any changes to process or compliance. Together, we are empowering accounting professionals to deliver even greater value to their clients while staying compliant and ahead of industry trends. As part of the Bright family, MyWorkpapers continues to drive innovation in the accounting sector, offering solutions that evolve with the needs of modern accountants.” Accounting and audit professionals can access the integrated platform immediately at www.myworkpapers.com/eu

IAASA has published its 2024 quality assurance review reports in respect of seven firms that perform statutory audits of public-interest entities (PIEs) in Ireland. The reports summarise IAASA’s inspection of each firm’s internal system of quality management. The reports include any findings and recommendations made by IAASA to the firms regarding these systems. The reports also summarise the results arising from IAASA’s inspection of a sample of audits of public-interest entities performed by each firm, including the grades assigned to the audits inspected and any key recommendations made to the firm.

Technical Alert 02/2025 – Illustrative Management Representation Letter in respect to the provision of Limited Assurance under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive This Technical Alert provides an illustrative example of a management representation letter that may be used by the assurance provider when conducting a limited assurance engagement required under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”) as transposed in Ireland into Part 28 of the Companies Act 2014. The International Standard on Assurance Engagements (Ireland) 3000 Assurance Engagements Other Than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information – Assurance of Sustainability Reporting in Ireland (ISAE (Ireland) 3000) as issued by the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority is the applicable assurance standard to be used for CSRD sustainability reporting in Ireland. ISAE (Ireland) 3000 paragraph 56-57 provides that: “56. The practitioner shall request from the appropriate party(ies) a written representation: That it has provided the practitioner with all information of which the appropriate party(ies) is aware that is relevant to the engagement. Confirming the measurement or evaluation of the underlying subject matter against the applicable criteria, including that all relevant matters are reflected in the subject matter information. 57. If, in addition to required representations, the practitioner determines that it is necessary to obtain one or more written representations to support other evidence relevant to the subject matter information, the practitioner shall request such other written representations.”   Click here  to access the TA.  Click ISAE (Ireland) 3000 to access the standard.

This Technical Alert (TA) has been prepared to assist members reporting on the limited assurance engagements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”) and in compliance with International Standard On Assurance Engagements (Ireland) 3000 Assurance Engagements Other Than Audits Or Reviews Of Historical Financial Information – Assurance Of Sustainability Reporting In Ireland (ISAE (Ireland) 3000) Click here Technical Alert 04 2024 Limited Assurance Report on Sustainability Statement to access the TA.  Click ISAE (Ireland) 3000 to access the standard.  

Earlier this year the FRC published an update to its Ethical Standard for auditors, effective from 15 December 2024. The updated ethical standard simplifies the existing ethical standard and provided additional clarity in a limited number of areas. the new standard takes into account recent revisions made to the international IESBA Code of Ethics. there is a new targeted restriction on fees from entities related by a single controlling party. Following feedback to their consultation, the FRC have amended the proposals to ensure that the requirements in the standard are better targeted and proportionate. For example, additional requirements in respect of ethical breach reporting by audit firms to the regulator have been removed. With regard to tax services provided to the controlling shareholders of unlisted companies the FRC is enhancing the independence risk assessment around these services rather than specifically prohibiting them. Alongside the revised Ethical Standard, the FRC has also released guidance for auditors on the application of the Objective, Reasonable and Informed Third Party test, which forms a key part of many requirements in the Ethical Standard. Read the updated Ethical Standard. Read the feedback statement and impact statement. CAI responded to the FRC consultation and you can read our response here.  

The IAASB has published the much anticipated ISSA 5000 International Standard on Sustainability Assurance 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements.  This standard is a comprehensive, stand-alone standard suitable for any sustainability assurance engagements. It will apply to sustainability information reported across any sustainability topic and prepared under multiple frameworks. The standard is also profession agnostic, supporting its use by both professional accountants and non-accountant assurance practitioners. The draft standard was subject to a public consultation in 2023 and Chartered Accountants Ireland's response can be read here. 

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has announced  that the four largest audit firms (Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC), have concluded the transition period of operational separation. Throughout the three-year transitional period, all four firms have made significant improvements to their governance to prioritise the delivery of audit quality. This includes the creation of independent audit boards chaired by Audit Non-Executives, improved transparency on financial transactions between the audit and non-audit business, and greater accountability at firm level for the delivery of operational separation outcomes. The firms have also developed audit specific cultures, with behaviours focussed on challenge, openness and professional scepticism. All four firms have met the 2024 deadline set by the FRC to implement the principles of operational separation. As set out in the Operational Separation Principles, the FRC will publish an assessment of the firms’ compliance each year, following the transition period.

IAASA has published its annual Observations paper highlighting matters that management, Audit Committees and auditors should consider when preparing, approving and auditing financial statements for 2024 year end dates. The Observations paper addresses financial reporting matters and, for the first time, sustainability reporting matters. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is in force for certain larger entities for the first time in 2024. IAASA has responsibility for examining issuers’ sustainability statements in much the same manner as it already has responsibility for examining issuer’s periodic financial reports. The paper sets out the approach IAASA will take in conducting sustainability statement examinations in 2025. Read the full paper here.

IAASA has updated the auditing standards to reflect the conforming amendments required due to the revision of ISA (Ireland) 600, Audits of Group Financial Statements (Including the Work of Component Auditors) in February 2023. The revised standard is effective for financial periods beginning on or after 15 December 2023. The standards that have been updated to reflect the conforming amendments are: ISA (Ireland) 220, Quality Management for an Audit of Financial Statements ISA (Ireland) 230, Audit Documentation ISA (Ireland) 240, The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Fraud in an Audit of Financial Statements ISA (Ireland) 250, Section A – Consideration of Laws and Regulations in an Audit of Financial Statements ISA (Ireland) 260, Communication with Those Charged with Governance ISA (Ireland) 300, Planning an Audit of Financial Statements ISA (Ireland) 315, Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement ISA (Ireland) 320, Materiality in Planning and Performing an Audit ISA (Ireland) 402, Audit Considerations Relating to an Entity Using a Service Organization ISA (Ireland) 501, Audit Evidence - Specific Considerations for Selected Items ISA (Ireland) 510, Initial Audit Engagements—Opening Balances ISA (Ireland) 550, Related Parties ISA (Ireland) 610, Using the Work of Internal Auditors ISA (Ireland) 700, Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements ISA (Ireland) 701, Communicating Key Audit Matters in the Independent Auditor’s Report ISA (Ireland) 705, Modifications to the Opinion in the Independent Auditor’s Report ISA (Ireland) 706, Emphasis of Matter Paragraphs and Other Matter Paragraphs in the Independent Auditor’s Report ISA (Ireland) 710, Comparative Information— Corresponding Figures and Comparative Financial Statements ISA (Ireland) 720, The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Other Information ISA (Ireland) 805, Special Considerations – Audits of Single Financial Statements and Specific Elements, Accounts or Items of a Financial Statement ISQM (Ireland) 2, Engagement Quality Reviews In addition, ISQM (Ireland) 1 was updated in September to reflect both the conforming amendments arising from ISA (Ireland) 600 and the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Directive. The updated standards are available on IAASA’s website.

Following public consultation IAASA has adopted ISAE (Ireland) 3000, Assurance Engagements Other Than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information – Assurance of Sustainability Reporting in Ireland as the standard to be applied by auditors performing sustainability assurance engagements required by the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The Irish standard is based on ISAE 3000 (Revised) issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) with limited amendments. Chartered Accountants Ireland responded to the consultation in April. Updates to ISQM (Ireland) 1 ISAE (Ireland) 3000 requires auditors to comply with ISQM (Ireland) 1, Quality Management for Firms that Perform Audits or Reviews of Financial Statements, or Other Assurance or Related Services Engagements. IAASA has updated ISQM (Ireland) 1 to reflect the requirements of the CSRD as transposed in Ireland. Additional minor amendments were made to ISQM (Ireland) 1 to make conforming amendments for ISA (Ireland) 600, which was revised in February 2023 and is effective for financial periods starting on or after 15 December 2023. The remaining ISA (Ireland) 600 conforming amendments will be published on IAASA’s website in October. Additional information IAASA’s Statement on Scope and Authority of Audit and Assurance Pronouncements has also been updated to reflect the adoption of ISAE (Ireland) 3000. An explanatory video is available here on IAASA’s YouTube Channel. IAASA published feedback on the Consultation in June. Effective date ISAE (Ireland) 3000 applies to assurance reports issued on or after 15 December 2024. Amendments to firms’ systems of quality management related to the assurance of sustainability reporting must be designed and implemented by 15 December 2024. An evaluation of the updated system of quality management must be performed within one year of this date. Engagement letters for CSRD engagements TA 02/2024 - Sample Engagement Letter Terms in respect to the provision of Limited Assurance under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD’’) was issued in June 2024. These sample engagement letter terms were prepared to assist members in drafting engagement letters in respect of limited assurance engagements under the CSRD prior to its implementation. Therefore, they may be useful to implement a contract with the entity but following transposition of the CSRD they are currently being reviewed for any required amendments. Please monitor the Institute’s regular news channels for any updates to this TA. 

Following public consultation to obtain stakeholders’ views earlier this year IAASA has published a Feedback Paper and the responses received on its Consultation on the Adoption of a Sustainability Assurance Standard in Ireland.  IAASA intends to adopt the International Standard on Assurance Engagements 3000 Revised (ISAE 3000), Assurance Engagements Other Than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information. Adoption will take place when the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is transposed into Irish law giving IAASA the statutory power to adopt sustainability assurance standards in Ireland.  The effective date of the standard will be for the assurance of sustainability reporting for years starting on or after 1 January 2024, as required by the CSRD.  The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is currently working on the transposition of the CSRD into Irish law.  It is not intended to insert any additions Irish-specific requirements in IASAE 300 beyond any required to ensure that it applies to sustainability assurance engagements in Ireland and that sustainability assurance providers are subject to appropriate ethical and quality management requirements.    The Feedback Paper is available on this link. The Responses Received are available on this link.

Technical Alert 02/2024 – Sample Engagement Letter Terms in respect to the provision of Limited Assurance under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive A Technical Alert (TA) has been issued to provide assistance to members when drafting engagement letters in respect to limited assurance engagements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”) which has yet to be transposed into Irish legislation. Until this transposition occurs (expected July 2024), in the interim and to allow engagement planning to commence, these engagement letter terms may be used to implement a formal contract with the entity. Addendums and/or replacement engagement letter terms may be required where significant changes are necessary; members are advised to note the important caveats in the preface to this TA. The engagement letter terms have been drafted based on current guidance in issue which may change as the CSRD regulatory landscape changes. In addition the applicable standard used is the International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000 (Revised) issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB). This may be subject to change, depending on the assurance standard that is specified for use in Ireland for CSRD sustainability assurance engagements by the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA). You can access the TA here.