Assurance on Integrated Reports

The purpose of this webpage is to create a central source of all guidance or other information currently available regarding assurance on integrated reports.

This webpage is in three parts:

  • Related IRBA projects.
  • Links to related websites.
  • Table of publications relating to the assurance of integrated reports.

Registered auditors may find these publications of assistance when providing assurance on integrated reports.

Disclaimer

The linked websites and documents are for information purposes only. The IRBA does not endorse any of the publications, as these have not been subject to the IRBA’s due process.

Related IRBA projects

The Sustainability Standing Committee (the SSC) of the CFAS has prepared a South African Assurance Engagements Practice Statement (SAAEPS) 1, Sustainability Assurance Engagement Concepts: Evaluating the Rational Purpose, the Appropriateness of the Underlying Subject Matter and the Suitability of Criteria. The SAAEPS was issued in September 2018. The SAAEPS is effective for the Acceptance and Continuance - Preconditions for the Assurance Engagement phase of the sustainability assurance engagement for reporting periods beginning on or after 15 December 2020. Early adoption is permitted.

The guidance may be adapted to the acceptance considerations for assurance on integrated reporting engagements.

  • The SAAEPS is available here.
  • The related communique, issued 29 November 2017, is available here.

 

Related IAASB projects

The International Accounting and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) issued a Consultation Paper, Extended External Reporting Assurance, in February 2019. The Consultation Paper includes the first part of draft guidance for practitioners applying International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000 (Revised), Assurance Engagements Other than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information, to Extended External Reporting (EER) assurance engagements. Integrated reporting is a subset of EER.

  • The Consultation Paper is available here
  • The related communique, issued in March 2019, is available here

 

Links to related websites:

Table of publications relating to the assurance of integrated reports

Organisation Nature of organisation Document Date
ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Global body for professional accountants Factors affecting preparers’ and auditors’ judgements about materiality and conciseness in Integrated Reporting 2016
ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Global body for professional accountants The Challenges of Assuring Integrated Reports: Views from the South African Auditing Community 2015
AccountAbility Global consulting and standards firm AA1000 ASSURANCE STANDARD 2008 2008
Accountancy Europe (formerly the FEE (Federation of European Accountants)) International NPO representing institutes of professional accountants and auditors from Europe Discussion Paper: How to respond to assurance needs on non-financial information 2017
Accountancy Europe (formerly the FEE (Federation of European Accountants)) International NPO representing institutes of professional accountants and auditors from Europe Position Paper: EU Directive on disclosure of nonfinancial and diversity information: Achieving good quality and consistent reporting 2016
Accountancy Europe (formerly the FEE (Federation of European Accountants)) International NPO representing institutes of professional accountants and auditors from Europe The Future of Corporate Reporting – creating the dynamics for change 2015
Accountancy Europe (formerly the FEE (Federation of European Accountants))  International NPO representing institutes of professional accountants and auditors from Europe Position Paper: EU Directive on disclosure of non-financial and diversity information The role of practitioners in providing assurance 2015
Accountancy Europe (formerly the FEE (Federation of European Accountants)) International NPO representing institutes of professional accountants and auditors from Europe Fact Sheet: EU Directive on disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups 2014
Accountancy Europe (formerly the FEE (Federation of European Accountants)) International NPO representing institutes of professional accountants and auditors from Europe Discussion Paper for Auditor’s Role Regarding Providing Assurance on Corporate Governance Statements 2009
European Commission An institution of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation DIRECTIVE 2014/95/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 22 October 2014 amending Directive 2013/34/EU as regards disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups 2014 
EY Audit firm Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards 2017 2017 
EY Audit firm Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards 2016 2016 
EY Audit firm Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards 2015  2015 
EY  Audit firm Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards 2014 2014 
EY Audit firm Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards 2013 2013 
Financial Reporting Council UK's and Ireland's independent regulator responsible for promoting high quality corporate governance and reporting Draft amendments to Guidance on the Strategic Report: Non-financial reporting 2017 
Financial Reporting Council UK's and Ireland's independent regulator responsible for promoting high quality corporate governance and reporting Non financial reporting fact sheet 2017 
Financial Reporting Council UK's and Ireland's independent regulator responsible for promoting high quality corporate governance and reporting Guidance on the Strategic Report 2014
Financial Reporting Council UK's and Ireland's independent regulator responsible for promoting high quality corporate governance and reporting The Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2013 2013 
GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) Independent international organisation that has pioneered sustainability reporting since 1997 The External Assurance of Sustainability Reporting 2013 
IAASB’s (International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board) Integrated Reporting Working Group (IRWG)  A working group of the international Board Discussion Paper, Supporting Credibility and Trust in Emerging Forms of External Reporting
Supplemental Information to the Discussion Paper
At a Glance
Comments to the Discussion Paper 
2016 
IAASB’s (International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board) Integrated Reporting Working Group (IRWG) A working group of the international Board Working Group Publication, Exploring Assurance on Integrated Reporting and Other Emerging Developments in External Reporting 2015 
ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales) Institute of chartered accountants

The journey: Assuring all of the annual report?

Milestone 1: Assurance over key performance indicators

Milestone 2: Assurance over risk disclosures

Milestone 3: Assuring the appropriateness of business information

Milestone 4: Materiality in assuring narrative reporting

Milestone 5: Where next with assurance?

2013

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016 

IIRC (International Integrated Reporting Council)  Global coalition of regulators, investors, companies, standard setters, the accounting profession and NGOs Assurance on <IR>: Overview of feedback and call to action 2015
IIRC (International Integrated Reporting Council)  Global coalition of regulators, investors, companies, standard setters, the accounting profession and NGOs Assurance on <IR>: An introduction to the discussion  2014 
IIRC (International Integrated Reporting Council)  Global coalition of regulators, investors, companies, standard setters, the accounting profession and NGOs Assurance on <IR>: An exploration of issues 2014 
IoDSA (Institute of Directors of South Africa) Professional body and a non-profit company (NPC) that exists to promote corporate governance King IV: Report on Corporate Governance for South Africa 2016 2016 
IRCSA (Integrated Reporting Committee of South Africa Voluntary association not for gain to provide direction on matters relating to integrated reporting and integrated thinking Preparing an Integrated Report: A Starter’s Guide 2014 
KPMG  Audit firm The KPMG Survey of Corporate Responsibility Reporting 2017 2017 
KPMG Audit firm The KPMG Survey of Corporate Responsibility Reporting 2015 2015 
KPMG Audit firm The KPMG Survey of Corporate Responsibility Reporting 2013 2013 
NIVRA (Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut van Registeraccountant)  Dutch professional organisation of chartered accountants Counting more than only Euros: A discussion paper about new ways for the accountability and assurance of non-financial information 2009 
Nkonki Audit firm Nkonki 2017 Integrated Reporting Trends in SA Top 100 JSE Listed Companies and SOCs 2017 
Nkonki  Audit firm Insights into the Top 100* JSE Listed Companies: Integrated Reporting Trends 2015 
Nkonki Audit firm Integrated Reporting – A New Era for Public Sector Entities in South Africa 2015 
PwC Audit firm Integrated Reporting: Where to next? 2015 
PwC  Audit firm Implementing Integrated Reporting 2015 
PwC  Audit firm Inspiring Trust Through Insight 2014 
WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development) CEO-led coalition of some 200 international companies in a shared commitment to sustainable development Integrated Reporting in South Africa: From Concept to Practice 2014 

Contact the Standards Department of the IRBA at standards@irba.co.za with any further suggestions of relevant documents that may be included on this page.