IRBA Newsletter Issue 53

Issue 53 | January-March 2021 7 ETHICS FINAL AMENDMENTS TO SUBSECTION 115 OF THE IRBA CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT FOR REGISTERED AUDITORS (REVISED NOVEMBER 2018): ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES The IRBA has approved the amendments to Section 115, Professional Behaviour: Signing Conventions for Reports, of the IRBA Code of Professional Conduct for Registered Auditors (Revised November 2018) (IRBA Code). These amendments allow for the use of electronic signatures in an ethical, professional and responsible manner when signing any audit, review or other assurance report. The Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, No. 25 of 2002 (ECT Act), legislates the use of electronic signatures in South Africa. The main objective of the ECT Act is to enable and facilitate electronic communications and transactions in the public interest. The use of ordinary electronic signatures and advanced electronic signatures by registered auditors to sign their audit, review or other assurance reports has become more widespread. This is due to more audited financial statements beingmade available electronically on company websites, fewer paper-based engagement files and remote working arrangements that have been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The IRBA adopted these local amendments following their issue on exposure for public comment via Government Gazette No. 43632 on 21 August 2020 (Board Notice No. 96 of 2020). Changes in Substance The main revisions are as follows: • The inclusion of an introductory section, with a background on the use of electronic signatures, as required by the ECT Act. • Allowing the use of both ordinary and advanced electronic signatures, subject to meeting the requirements described for their use. • Additional clarity regarding what constitutes a “secure ordinary electronic signature”. Effective Date These revisions will become effective on 15 December 2021. Early adoption is permitted. A Board Notice, published in the Government Gazette, advises on the publication of the amendments to the IRBA Code, pursuant to the provisions of Section 10(1)(a) of the Auditing Profession Act. The amendments to the IRBA Code may be downloaded from the IRBA website. REVISIONS TO THE IRBA CODE TO PROMOTE THE ROLE AND MINDSET EXPECTED OF REGISTERED AUDITORS The IRBA draws the attention of all registered auditors to revisions to the IRBA Code of Professional Conduct for Registered Auditors (Revised November 2018) (IRBA Code) to promote the role and mindset expected of registered auditors. The IRBA adopted the amendments made to the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ (IESBA) Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (IESBA Code), issued during 2020, following the issue of proposed amendments on exposure for public comment via Government Gazette No. 42684 in South Africa on 6 September 2019 (Board Notice 160 of 2019). The main revisions: • Reinforce aspects of the principles of integrity, objectivity and professional behaviour; • Raise behavioural expectations of all professional accountants through requiring them to have an inquiring mind, as they undertake their professional activities; • Emphasise the importance of accountants being aware of the potential influence of bias in their judgments and decisions; and • Highlight the supportive role the right organisational culture can play in promoting ethical conduct and business. A Board Notice, which has been included in the Government Gazette, advises on the publication of the amendments to the IRBA Code, pursuant to the provisions of Section 10(1)(a) of the Auditing Profession Act, 2005 (Act No. 26 of 2005). Effective Date These revisions will become effective on 31 December 2021. Early adoption will be permitted. The amendments to the IRBA Code may be downloaded from the IRBA website. PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE DEFINITIONS OF LISTED ENTITY AND PUBLIC INTEREST ENTITY IN THE IRBA CODE The IRBA alerts registered auditors and other relevant stakeholders to the proposed revisions to the Definitions of Listed Entity and Public Interest Entity (PIE) in the IRBA Code of Professional Conduct for Registered Auditors (Revised November 2018) (IRBA Code), arising from the IESBA Exposure Draft, Proposed Revisions to the Definitions of Listed Entity and Public Interest Entity. The proposed amendments were issued on exposure for public comment via Government Gazette No. 44293 in South Africa on 19 March 2021 (Board Notice 15 of 2021). Among other matters, the proposed revisions: • Introduce an overarching objective for additional requirements to enhance confidence in the audit of financial statements of PIEs; • Provide guidance on factors to consider when determining the level of public interest in an entity; • Broaden the definition of PIE to additional categories of entities; • Replace the term “listed entity” with “publicly traded entity” and redefine the PIE category; • Introduce new requirements for firms to determine if additional