ASA 2013-2 - Amendments to Australian Auditing Standards - November 2013

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au F2013L01939 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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ASA 2013‑2

(November 2013)

Explanatory Statement

ASA 2013‑2 Amendments to Australian Auditing Standards

Issued by the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board

Obtaining a Copy of this Explanatory Statement

This Explanatory Statement is available on the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AUASB) website: www.auasb.gov.au

Contact Details

Auditing and Assurance Standards Board

Level 7, 600 Bourke Street

Melbourne   Victoria   3000

AUSTRALIA

Phone: (03) 8080 7400

Fax: (03) 8080 7450

E‑mail: enquiries@auasb.gov.au

Postal Address:

PO Box 204, Collins Street West

Melbourne   Victoria   8007

AUSTRALIA


Reasons for Issuing Auditing Standard ASA 2013‑2

The Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AUASB) issues Auditing Standard ASA 2013‑2 Amendments to Australian Auditing Standards, pursuant to the requirements of the legislative provisions and the Strategic Direction explained below.

The AUASB is an independent statutory committee of the Australian Government established under section 227A of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (as amended) (ASIC Act).  Under section 336 of the Corporations Act 2001, the AUASB may make Auditing Standards for the purposes of the corporations legislation.  These Auditing Standards are legislative instruments under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

Under the Strategic Direction given to the AUASB by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the AUASB is required, inter alia, to develop auditing standards that have a clear public interest focus and are of the highest quality.

There is no equivalent International Standard on Auditing to ASA 2013‑2.

Purpose of Auditing Standard ASA 2013‑2 Amendments to Australian Auditing Standards

The purpose of this Auditing Standard is to make amendments to Australian Auditing Standards comprising:

  1. Consequential amendments to other Australian Auditing Standards arising from the revision of Auditing Standard ASA 610 Using the Work of Internal Auditors;
  2. Amendments to ASQC 1 Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Financial Reports and Other Financial Information, and Other Assurance Engagements (as amended, June 2011) arising from a decision taken by the AUASB to incorporate related services engagements into the application and scope of ASQC 1 and to ensure consistency with the international standard ISQC 1 Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Financial Statements, and Other Assurance and Related Services Engagements issued by the IAASB; and
  3. Consequential amendments to other Australian Auditing Standards arising from the changes to ASQC 1.
Main Features

The main proposals covered by these amendments are:

  1. Amendments to Australian Auditing Standards arising from the revision of ASA 610, including:

(a)                A new requirement in ASA 315 for the auditor’s risk assessment procedures to include enquiries of appropriate individuals within the internal audit function (if the function exists).

(b)                New and revised application and other explanatory material in ASA 315 relating to:

(i)                 How enquiries of the internal audit function may inform the external auditor’s risk assessment;

(ii)               Procedures for evaluating the internal audit function; and

(iii)             How the work of the internal audit function may be used in obtaining audit evidence.

(c)                Consequential amendments to other Auditing Standards that do not have an impact on the requirements of the standards.

(d)                Changes necessary to align paragraph and footnote numbering with the equivalent international standard.

2.                   Amendments to Australian Auditing Standards arising from the change to the scope and application of ASQC 1, including:

(a)                Changes to the title of ASQC 1, which is now Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Financial Reports and Other Financial Information, Other Assurance Engagements and Related Services Engagements and to the relevant requirements and related application and other explanatory material in ASQC 1.

(b)                Consequential amendments to other Auditing Standards that do not have an impact on the requirements of the standards.

Operative Date

ASA 2013-2 is operative for financial reporting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2014.  Early adoption is permitted.

Process of making Australian Auditing Standards

The AUASB’s Strategic Direction, inter alia, provides that the AUASB develop Australian Auditing Standards that:

  • have a clear public interest focus and are of the highest quality;
  • use the International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) as the underlying standards;
  • conform with the Australian regulatory environment; and
  • are capable of enforcement.
Consultation Process prior to issuing the Auditing Standard

The AUASB has consulted publicly as part of its due process in developing the Auditing Standard. 

Exposure Draft ED 02/13 Proposed Auditing Standard ASA 610 Using the Work of Internal Auditors was issued on 2 August 2013 with a 60 day comment period.  At the same time, the AUASB issued Exposure Draft ED 03/13 Proposed Auditing Standard ASA 2013‑2 Amendments to Australian Auditing Standards, which makes consequential amendments to Australian Auditing Standards arising from the revision of ASA 610, with a 60 day comment period.

Exposure Draft ED 04/13 Amendments to Auditing Standard ASQC 1 Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Financial Reports and Other Financial Information, and Other Assurance Engagements was issued on 20 September 2013 with a 30 day exposure period.

Submissions were received by the AUASB and these were considered as part of the development and finalisation of the Auditing Standard.

Regulatory Impact Analysis

Regulation Impact Assessments (RIAs) have been prepared in connection with the preparation of ASA 2013-2.  The RIAs have been cleared by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR).

STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

Legislative Instrument: Auditing Standard ASA 2013-2 Amendments to Australian Auditing Standards

This Legislative Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview of the Legislative Instrument

Background

The AUASB is an independent statutory committee of the Australian Government established under section 227A of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, as amended (ASIC Act).  Under section 336 of the Corporations Act 2001, the AUASB may make Auditing Standards for the purposes of the corporations legislation.  These Auditing Standards are legislative instruments under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

Purpose of Auditing Standard ASA 2013-2

The purpose of ASA 2013-2 is to make amendments to Australian Auditing Standards.

Main Features

The main features of this Auditing Standard are:

  1. Consequential amendments to other Australian Auditing Standards arising from the revision of Auditing Standard ASA 610 Using the Work of Internal Auditors;
  2. Amendments to ASQC 1 Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Financial Reports and Other Financial Information, Other Assurance Engagements and Related Services Engagements (June 2011) arising from a decision taken by the AUASB to incorporate related services engagements into the application and scope of ASQC 1 and to ensure consistency with the international standard ISQC 1 Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Financial Statements, and Other Assurance and Related Services Engagements issued by the IAASB; and
  3. Consequential amendments to other Australian Auditing Standards arising from the changes to ASQC 1.
Human Rights Implications

This Legislative Instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms due to the nature and content of the amendments to Australian Auditing Standards.

Conclusion

This Legislative Instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

 

Overview

The Auditing Standard ASA 2013-2 Amendments to Australian Auditing Standards, issued by the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AUASB), was enacted to address the need for updating and aligning Australian Auditing Standards with international standards and to incorporate related services engagements into the scope of ASQC 1. The AUASB, an independent statutory committee established under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, has the authority to make these Auditing Standards under the Corporations Act 2001. The amendments include consequential changes arising from the revision of ASA 610 Using the Work of Internal Auditors and adjustments to ASQC 1 to reflect the inclusion of related services engagements, ensuring consistency with the international standard ISQC 1. The purpose of these amendments is to enhance the quality and clarity of auditing standards, thereby maintaining a high level of public interest focus in line with the AUASB's Strategic Direction provided by the Financial Reporting Council.

Scope and Application

The Auditing Standard ASA 2013-2 Amendments to Australian Auditing Standards, issued by the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AUASB), applies to auditors and audit firms engaged in the preparation and execution of audits in Australia, ensuring that they adhere to the updated auditing standards. The AUASB, an independent statutory committee established under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, has the mandate to develop these standards to maintain the highest quality of auditing practices across the nation. This legislative instrument primarily amends existing Australian Auditing Standards to incorporate changes in the scope of work and to align Australian standards with international practices, specifically focusing on the revision of ASA 610 Using the Work of Internal Auditors and the expansion of the scope of ASQC 1 Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Financial Reports and Other Financial Information, Other Assurance Engagements and Related Services Engagements. The amendments are effective for financial reporting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2014, with early adoption permitted. The AUASB has ensured the compatibility of these amendments with human rights, concluding that they do not raise any human rights issues and are therefore in alignment with international human rights standards.

Key Provisions

Auditing Standard ASA 2013-2 (ASA 2013-2) amends Australian Auditing Standards, with main sections including amendments to ASA 610 Using the Work of Internal Auditors, ASQC 1 Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Financial Reports and Other Financial Information, Other Assurance Engagements, and consequential changes to other Auditing Standards. These amendments primarily aim to align Australian standards with international practices and enhance the quality of audits by incorporating related services engagements into the scope of ASQC 1, ensuring consistency with the IAASB’s ISQC 1. For example, ASA 2013-2 introduces a new requirement in ASA 315, mandating that auditors include enquiries of appropriate internal audit personnel in their risk assessment procedures, if an internal audit function exists (Section 1(a)). Additionally, it makes changes to the title and requirements of ASQC 1 to include related services engagements, thereby broadening its scope (Section 2(a)). The ASA 2013-2 imposes several obligations on the parties governed by the Auditing Standards. Auditors must ensure their risk assessment procedures include enquiries of internal audit personnel (Section 1(a)) and must evaluate the internal audit function to determine how its work can be used in obtaining audit evidence (Section 1(b)(iii)). Firms performing audits must now include related services engagements within the scope of their quality control systems, aligning with international standards (Section 2(a)). These obligations are designed to ensure higher quality and more consistent auditing practices across Australia. Breaches of the Auditing Standards established by ASA 2013-2 can lead to significant consequences. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the explanatory statement, general provisions under the Corporations Act 2001 and the ASIC Act may apply. These could include fines, disqualification from practising as an auditor, or legal action for professional misconduct. The intent is to maintain high standards of auditing practices to protect the public interest and ensure financial transparency and accountability.

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