May 2023
IFAC releases new placemat to guide audit committees to oversee sustainability-related disclosure
(New York, New York, May 24, 2023)
To implement the International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB’s) standards and jurisdictional standards and regulatory requirements, organizations must ensure effective oversight arrangements to deliver high quality, cost effective and decision useful reporting. As reporting and assurance of sustainability-related disclosure evolves, audit committees have a critical role to play in expanding their existing oversight responsibilities for financial reporting and compliance to sustainability-related disclosures.
Because many professional accountants serve on and are accountable to audit committees, the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), has released Key Questions for Audit Committees Overseeing Sustainability-Related Disclosure to prepare audit committees with effective questions to ask when overseeing sustainability and ESG related disclosures.
The key questions for audit committees cover:
- Roles and responsibilities across the organization
- Data collection, processes and controls
- What’s being reported?
- Audit and assurance
“Professional accountants serving on boards and audit committees play critical roles in the oversight of sustainability-related disclosures, and this release will help prepare audit committees step up their roles to advance sustainability,” said Kevin Dancey, IFAC CEO. “We also encourage professional accountancy organizations (PAOs) to utilize these key questions to help their members stay up to date with, and prepare for, expanding oversight responsibilities in relation to sustainability.”
Access the placemat to find out the essential questions.
Source: ifac.org