IAASA has issued a revised version of ISA (Ireland) 505 – External Confirmations. The main changes to the standard relate to: Clarification on what constitutes an electronic external confirmation. Prohibition on the use of negative external confirmations. Strengthened link with ISA (Ireland) 330 The Auditor’s Responses to Assessed Risks. Enhanced requirements concerning the investigation of exceptions. The revised standard is effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after 15 December 2024, with early adoption permitted. The revised ISA (Ireland) 505 is available here.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023, and the provisions of the Act are starting to be applied. We have prepared an information booklet entitled The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 – Changes in Companies House outlining the first set of changes introduced by Companies House on 4 March 2024.  These include: 1. new rules for registered office addresses; 2. a requirement for all companies to supply a registered email address; and 3. new lawful purpose statements The Act gives Companies House, along with the Registrar of Companies for Scotland and the Registrar of Companies for Northern Ireland, the power to play a more significant role in tackling economic crime and supporting economic growth. Over time, its measures will lead to improved transparency and more accurate and trusted information on its registers.  These changes will apply to incorporated entities, limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships. They will also apply to their members and directors. 

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has proposed changes to IFRS 3 Business Combinations and IAS 36 Impairment of Assets in its recently released Exposure Draft. The objective of the proposed changes are to improve the information that companies provide to investors about company acquisitions. This improved information is then intended to help investors to assess decisions to make acquisitions and the performance of acquisitions. The proposals to amend IFRS 3 and IAS 36 are intended to require companies to disclose better information about their acquisitions and to make targeted changes to the impairment test. The exposure draft remains open to public comment until 15 July 2024.

Background The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (the Department) has recently issued a document1 “Guidance Note for Core Funding Reporting Requirements Transitional Arrangements Year 1 and 2” (“the Department Guidance Note”) to entities providing childcare and early education services regarding the transitional arrangements for the application for funding under a new funding model called ‘Together for Better’.  These transitional arrangements will be in place for the next two reporting periods (years ended 31 August 2023 and 31 August 2024). Reporting regime This reporting regime includes a requirement that the childcare service providers (“client”) engage a professional accountant to submit a document called an ‘Income and Expenditure Template. CCAB-I have made the Department aware of the potential cost implications for an accountant providing this service to their client.  The following matters should be noted: The report is to cover expenses incurred on a cash basis for the year ended 31 August. The requirement is for expenditure incurred in the relevant period only, no accruals or prepayments. Income will be pre-populated in the online platform. Where your client has a different year end, time apportionment is not permitted. Important considerations for CCAB-I members CCAB-I has engaged with the Department over a number of months to discuss the nature and extent of work expected and the respective responsibilities of the client and the professional accountant and, in particular, the concerns regarding the request for the professional accountant to submit the report (as set out in the Department Guidance Note) on behalf of a client. There was positive engagement and much, but not all, of the feedback by CCAB-I on the process was reflected and incorporated into the final guidance. However, given the type of engagement, CCAB-I are making members aware of the potential issues and extant guidance which our members may consult. The Department Guidance Note sets out the responsibility for the data included in the report. See section 2 of the Guidance Note: “The Service Provider is responsible for fully complying with all financial transparency requirements in accordance with their Core Funding contractual obligations. The accountant relies on information provided by the Service Provider, who is responsible for disclosing all relevant information.” The Service Provider/client will make an online declaration on the platform provided by the Department that they have authorised a professional accountant2 to make the submission for them.  CCAB-I members are reminded of the relevant Code of Ethics issued by their professional body.  Independence The Department Guidance Note3 defines an accountant as someone who: "(a) has been admitted as, and is, a member of a prescriber accountancy body, (b) is currently practicing in the profession of accountant, (c) is not and never has been a principal officer or employee, or an owner or part owner, of the licensee in respect of whom he or she is preparing an accountant’s report, and (d) is maintaining such minimum level of professional indemnity insurance as is required by the prescribed accountancy body concerned." .Members should be cognisant of any conflicts with other engagements they may undertake for their clients.  When you are the Auditor  Where the accountant is the statutory auditor the Ethical Standard for Auditors (Ireland)4 applies and Section 5.129 prohibits the audit firm providing accounting services where the services would involve the firm undertaking part of the role of management or initiating transactions.  "S 1.24           In the case of a statutory audit, non-audit services shall not be provided that involve playing any part in management decision-taking of an entity relevant to an engagement. The firm shall not accept any engagement which includes the provision of services where it is probable that an objective, reasonable and informed third party would conclude that the firm or a covered person was playing a part in management decision-taking.  5.128          The provision of accounting services by the firm to an entity relevant to an engagement creates threats to the integrity, objectivity and independence of the firm and covered persons, principally self-review and management threats, the significance of which depends on the nature and extent of the accounting services in question and the level of public interest in the entity. 5.129            The firm shall not provide accounting services to an entity relevant to an engagement where: (a) the entity is a listed entity, relevant to an engagement by the firm, or a significant affiliate of such an entity; or (b) for any other entity: those accounting services would involve the firm undertaking part of the role of management, or initiating transactions; or the services are anything other than of a routine or mechanical nature, requiring little or no professional judgment.” When you are not the Auditor We recommend that members read the Department Guidance Note1 and that an appropriate letter of engagement and representation letter are in place where they undertake these engagements.  Members should refer to guidance documents issued by Chartered Accountants Ireland.  TA 06/2023 Grant Claims5 and the International Standard on Related Service ISRS 4400 (Revised) Agreed-Upon Procedures Engagements6 which give guidance on engagement acceptance and continuance and some general advice on agreeing the terms of engagement.  1 https://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/downloads/download-corefunding/   2 A professional accountant is defined as a member of a Prescribed Accountancy Body that comes within the supervisory remit of IAASA, •              Chartered Accountants Ireland. (CAI) •              Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) •              CPA Ireland (CPA) •              Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)  3 See Section of Guidance Note for Core Funding Reporting Requirements Transitional Arrangements Year 1 and 2. 4 https://iaasa.ie/wp-content/uploads/docs/media/IAASA/Documents/audit-standards/Ethical-Standard-Consultation/Ethical_Standard_Nov_2020_updated_June_3.pdf 5 https://www.charteredaccountants.ie/chariot/account/ta/TA06_2023.html 6 https://www.iaasb.org/publications/international-standard-related-services-isrs-4400-revised  

Welcome to the latest edition of Technical Roundup. In developments since the last edition, the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK recently issued a ‘Dear CEO’ letter detailing action needed in response to common control failings identified in anti-money laundering frameworks. The International Accounting Standards Board published its Exposure Draft Business Combinations-Disclosures, Goodwill and Impairment on 14 March 2024. The ED is open for public comment until 15 July 2024. Read more on these and other developments that may be of interest to members below. Financial Reporting EFRAG (the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group) has issued its February 2024 update. This summarises public technical discussions held and decisions taken in the month. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has issued a call for fieldwork participants to explore the potential effects of the tentative agenda decisions. These tentative decisions relate to the entities who would be subject to the expected credit loss model arising from proposed changes to the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard. The IASB has published its next Exposure Draft Business Combinations-Disclosures, Goodwill and Impairment on 14 March 2024. This is open for public comment until 15 July 2024. The IFRS Foundation has issued its February 2024 monthly news summary, which covers news and events over the past month. Following the publication of the revised UK Corporate Governance Code earlier this year the FRC updated the guidance and for those stakeholders who wish to download or print copies of the guidance in full starting from 6 March 2024, any future updates will be made on the first Wednesday of the month. A link to the updates log is on the UK Corporate Governance page on the FRC website. The Pre-Emption Group (PEG) arm of the Financial Reporting Council has published its first report monitoring the use of its updated Statement of Principles on the disapplication of pre-emption rights for UK listed companies which give existing shareholders rights of a company priority to participate in future share issues thereby protecting their ownership stakes. Auditing IAASA has published its 2023 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 implementation of the International Standard on Quality Management (Ireland) 1 (ISQM 1) which was effective for the first time during this period. IAASA undertook 31 (2022: 35) inspections of audit files, 24 were graded as good audits, (2022: 31) 7 required improvements, (2022: 4) No audit files inspected required significant improvement. The 2023 reports can be accessed here. Anti–money laundering and sanctions The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK recently issued a ‘Dear CEO’ letter detailing action needed in response to common control failings identified in anti-money laundering frameworks. The letter was issued to “Annex 1 Financial Institutions “. These entities carry out activities such as financial leasing and providing payment services. Click here for full details of Annex 1 activities. The letter listed common control failings including for example lack of resources for financial crime and inadequate training. Readers can click here for full details of the dear CEO letter. Sustainability EFRAG has announced the addition of three new entities to the “Friends of EFRAG – Sustainability Reporting” community. Greenomy, osapiens and SISB have joined the group, demonstrating their commitment to sustainability reporting and supporting EFRAG’s mission. Accountancy Europe has issued its March Sustainability Update. Central Bank of Ireland The Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) is conducting a comprehensive review of the Consumer Protection Code 2012 (the Code). It has launched its Consultation Paper which is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback on how CBI is proposing to update the Code. The purpose of the review is to deliver an updated and modernised Consumer Protection Code which is centred around firms securing customers’ interests which CBI says is the key to delivering positive consumer outcomes. You can read more about the review here and the consultation paper here. The consultation is open for feedback for three months until 7 June 2024.  CBI will then consider submissions received and publish the final revised Code in 2025 alongside a feedback statement. CBI also recently launched its first quarterly bulletin of 2024 which you can read here. The Governor of the Central Bank wrote to the Minister for Finance in January 2024 outlining his financial regulation priorities for 2024 and readers can access the letter here. Readers may also find some of the topics in CBI Regulatory & Supervisory Outlook 2024 published recently of interest. The outlook gives an overview of risk themes and risk areas including climate and other environmental –related risks and financial crime risks. It outlines supervisory priorities and under the heading “legal and regulatory” provides a summary of key regulatory initiatives for 2024.It considers various sectors including the credit union sector and the insurance and re-insurance sector. There is also a section on a supervisory perspective on artificial intelligence and a spotlight on financial crime. Other news The Charities Regulator reported in its recent newsletter that it has removed four charities from the Register of Charities for failing to file an annual report despite being required by law to do so. The Regulator also initiated prosecution actions against a further eight charities that have failed to file at least one annual report with the Regulator. These organisations are among over 1,700 charities contacted by the Charities Regulator in a targeted compliance programme to improve compliance with annual reporting obligations. Please click here to read the full article in the Charities Regulators newsletter. Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney TD, has launched Powering Prosperity – Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy.  The strategy’s vision is to build a vibrant and impactful new offshore wind energy (OWE) sector by the end of this decade and hopes to create up to 5,000 jobs in this area. The Business Law Committee of the Law Society has published an in-depth article on revised Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) Administrative Sanctions Procedure (ASP) Guidelines. The FRC has updated the guidance on the revised UK Corporate Governance Code. It is now a live document containing links to relevant publications and this will allow it to be reviewed to ensure it remains accurate and up-to-date. As we approach the European Parliament elections, which are due to take place across Europe in June, Accountancy Europe have announced an upcoming campaign which intends to promote these elections. The first event entitled “Democracy in action: Discussing Inflation and the Sustainability Agenda” will take place on April 16. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that it will investigate the use of personal guarantees in certain UK entities. An Garda Síochána, Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (AGS) has recently produced a booklet Cybercrime Risks and Prevention Tips which it says aims to enhance awareness of this type of crime as AGS sees more people using the online world as their primary means of interacting. Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney TD, and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman TD, have brought the right to request remote working arrangements for all employees and the right to request flexible working arrangements for parents and carers into operation. They have also approved and published the Code of Practice for Employers and Employees Right to Request Flexible Working and Right to Request Remote Working. For further technical information and updates please visit the Technical Hub on the Institute website.      This information is provided as resources and information only and nothing in the information purports to provide professional advice or definitive legal interpretation(s) or opinion(s) on the applicable legislation or legal or other matters referred to in the information. If the reader is in doubt on any matter in this complex area further legal or other advice must be obtained. While every reasonable care has been taken by the Institute in the preparation of the information we do not guarantee the accuracy or veracity of any resource, guidance, information or opinion, or the appropriateness, suitability or applicability of any practice or procedure contained therein. The Institute is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of the resources or information contained herein.  

Welcome to the latest edition of Technical Roundup. In developments since the last edition, IAASA has published a consultation paper on its proposal to adopt a Sustainability Assurance Standard in Ireland. The effective date of the standard will be for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2024. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has announced the appointment of Owen Mapley as its new Chief Executive Officer as the current CEO, Rob Whiteman, prepares for retirement. Read more on these and other developments that may be of interest to members below. Financial Reporting EFRAG, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group, is inviting feedback on the Post-Implementation Review of IFRS 16 Leases via a survey which remains open until 15 April 2024. EFRAG’s survey on the IASB Exposure Draft on Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Equity remains open until 8 March 2024. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published a consultation on proposed revisions to Technical Actuarial Standard 200 (TAS 200).  The proposed revisions include changes to support practitioners in considering the implications for actuarial work of the FCA’s Consumer Duty principle and the removal of provisions that are already sufficiently addressed in the FRC’s General Actuarial Standards. The FRC has announced the successful signatories to the UK Stewardship Code following the latest round of applications. There are now 273 signatories to the Code, representing £43.3 trillion assets under management. With the publication of the revised Corporate Governance Code, the FRC is undertaking a fundamental review of the UK Stewardship Code 2020 (the Code) to ensure it supports growth and the UK’s competitiveness. The IFRS Foundation has published a summary of evidence gathered by national standards-setters on the effects of guidance on materiality judgements in IFRS Accounting Standards. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has published a webcast which highlights the importance of industry-specific disclosures to investors. In addition to this, educational material which is designed to help companies using the SASB Standards meet the requirements of IFRS S1, has also been published. Accountancy Europe has issued its February 2024 Newsletter detailing publications, updates and topical items in the month. Anti–money laundering and sanctions The headquarters of AMLA, the EU’s new Anti-Money Laundering Authority, has been awarded to Frankfurt. The new authority is the centrepiece of an anti-money laundering package from the European Commission that aims to protect communities across Europe from criminal and terrorist activities by denying them access to the financial system. Click here for an Irish government statement on the selection. There has been a recent change in the law in relation to UK domestic politically exposed persons (PEPs). New regulations which took effect on 10 January 2024, provide that for the purpose of assessing risk, the starting point is that domestic (i.e.UK) PEPs present a lower level of risk than non-domestic PEPs. If no enhanced risk factors are present, the extent of enhanced customer due diligence measures to be applied in relation to that customer or potential customer is less than the extent to be applied in the case of a non-domestic PEP. Please click here for an article with links to the new regulation. On the sanctions front, the UK government has recently published its UK first sanctions strategy (22 February 2024). The strategy addresses how it uses sanctions as a foreign and security policy tool. It sets out the continued investment, partnerships and structures that support UK government sanctions and the cross-government architecture built to deliver sanctions. It outlines the partnerships developed with the private sector, NGOs, and international partners, and the steps being taking to strengthen sanctions implementation and enforcement. Sustainability EFRAG has launched three educational videos which are dedicated to the ESRS Listed SME and Voluntary SME Exposure drafts, which were released for public consultation in January. IAASA has published a Consultation paper on its proposal to adopt a Sustainability Assurance Standard in Ireland. The effective date of the standard will be for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2024.  IAASA has identified three possible options for a sustainability assurance standard in Ireland and is seeking stakeholders’ views on the appropriate choice. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has released its February 2024 update and podcast, which reflects on topical matters in the month. Around 1,000 companies, investors and regulators met on 22 February at the IFRS Sustainability Symposium in New York City to exchange insights on the introduction of the ISSB. To support regulators as they plan their journey to adopt the Standards the IFRS Foundation has published the Preview of the Inaugural Jurisdictional Guide for the adoption or other use of ISSB Standards. The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), in conjunction with AICPA & CIMA, has published an updated report entitled “The State of Play: Sustainability Disclosure and Assurance 2019-2022, Trends & Analysis”. The report notes some positive trends in 2022 in relation to sustainability reporting, it also highlighted the need for companies worldwide to move toward a global system of sustainability disclosure requirements. Legislation recently enacted and draft The Irish Digital Services Act 2024 was passed into law on 11 February 2024 and came into force from 17 February 2024. Read more about this legislation and the European regulation commonly also referred to as the Digital Services Act which applies in full in all Member States from 17 February 2024 in our recent news item on the digital services legislation. The Credit Union (Amendment) Act 2023 which amends the Credit Union Act 1997 was signed into law in December 2023. Statutory instrument No. 57 of 2024 was issued on 21 February 2024 and commences the 2023 Act in phases, the first two of which are 22 February and 8 April 2024. Please click the link for a recent news item which outlines some of the provisions of the 2023 amending legislation which may be of interest to our members, including provisions relating to the accounts, board of directors and corporate credit unions. With European lawmakers reaching provisional agreement on the final text of a new Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) in December 2023, this article by KPMG analyses what the proposed new framework could mean for developers and users of AI systems. The authors write that businesses are now in a position to consider the role AI plays in their organisation and how to mitigate potential risks that may arise as a result of this new legislative advancement. Click here to read the full article. Following on from the information we brought readers in the last couple of editions of round up on the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, please click to go to an article written by Maeve Hunt Grant Thornton (NI ) LLP on the next steps (which article was originally published in Practice News February 2024). Other news In February 2024 DETE issued inward investment screening draft guidance setting out information about the responsibilities and obligations arising for third country investors because of the Screening of Third Country Transactions Act 2023 which will introduce a screening mechanism in Ireland for the first time. The legislation was signed into law on 31 October 2023 and readers can click here for an Institute news item on the legislation. The legislation is expected to commence in Q2 of this year. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has announced the appointment of Owen Mapley as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as the current CEO, Rob Whiteman, prepares for retirement. Members of the Professional Accounting Team will join the Chartered Accountants Ireland Cork Society on Wednesday March 6th at the Members in Practice Conference: Connecting colleagues where we will present some technical updates to members. You can book your place here for the event. Here are the links to register: one member or Early Bird 3 for 2. The material from a webinar on responsible business initiatives held by the Dept. of Enterprise Trade and Employment on 14 February 2024 has now been made available. Click here to access the presentations on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, the OECD guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct and on Eco design for Sustainable Products Regulation. Readers can also click here for the DETE webpage on responsible business which houses a range of publications on Responsible Business obligations in development or underway that businesses must take heed of. For further technical information and updates please visit the Technical Hub on the Institute website.      This information is provided as resources and information only and nothing in the information purports to provide professional advice or definitive legal interpretation(s) or opinion(s) on the applicable legislation or legal or other matters referred to in the information. If the reader is in doubt on any matter in this complex area further legal or other advice must be obtained. While every reasonable care has been taken by the Institute in the preparation of the information we do not guarantee the accuracy or veracity of any resource, guidance, information or opinion, or the appropriateness, suitability or applicability of any practice or procedure contained therein. The Institute is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of the resources or information contained herein.