Accounting and Auditing Assessment
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Publication
Reporting by Audit Oversight Bodies
(World Bank, Vienna, 2018)A wave of accounting scandals beginning about fifteen years ago, including Enron, WorldCom, and Parmalat, created a consensus among policymakers across the globe that independent auditors were not adequately challenging the financial reporting by their clients and could not be trusted to regulate themselves. Beginning with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in the U.S., there has been a global movement away from self-regulation of the auditing profession and towards independent oversight. Perhaps the most important milestone in this movement was the 2006 Audit Directive of the European Union, which required all EU members and accession candidates to implement independent oversight. A key goal of independent oversight is to provide relevant and reliable information to investors, lenders, audit committees, regulators, other stakeholders, and the general public about auditors and the audit market, among other matters. This paper aims to provide a brief synopsis on the topic of reporting by audit oversight bodies (AOBs) through their annual and inspection reports. It outlines international principles and legislative requirements, highlights certain good practices and shares results from a focused survey across EU-REPARIS and STAREP countries. -
Publication
Myanmar Report on Observance of Standards and Codes: Accounting and Auditing Module
(Washington, DC, 2017-06)Since launching fundamental political and economic reforms in 2011, Myanmar has been undergoing a major transformation aimed at increasing openness, empowerment and inclusion. The economic transition has witnessed an acceleration in growth, buoyed by improved macroeconomic management, increased gas production and exports, and stronger performance in the non-gas sectors as the economy opened up. Medium-term economic growth is projected to average 7.1 percent per year. The new Government’s economic objectives envisage Myanmar’s economy becoming more competitive and with the ability to attract increased foreign direct investment. The objectives include the development of an integrated capital market and a modern financial sector. A fundamental foundation for any market-based economy is high quality financial reporting and auditing practices. This plays a vital role in promoting improved transparency and accountability thereby ensuring a level playing field and promoting investor confidence. The Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) are a joint World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) initiative that helps member countries strengthen their financial systems by improving compliance with internationally recognized standards and codes. The ROSC was developed in the wake of the financial crisis of the late 1990s as part of a series of measures to strengthen the international financial architecture. The global financial community believed the implementation of internationally recognized standards and codes will provide a framework to strengthen domestic institutions, identify potential vulnerabilities, and improve transparency. -
Publication
Pakistan Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes: Accounting and Auditing
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2017)Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes Accounting and Auditing (ROSC A&A) assess financial reporting and auditing practices in participating countries. These reports form part of a joint initiative implemented by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to review the quality of implementation of internationally recognized standards and principles in 12 key areas (the ROSC program) with a view to promoting financial and economic stability. This report provides an assessment of financial reporting and auditing requirements and practices within the corporate sector in Pakistan and sets forth areas of consideration for improving the institutional environment for accounting and auditing. The ROSC A&A used international benchmarks of good practice governing financial reporting and auditing in the assessment, including International Financial Reporting Standards and International Standards on Auditing. As an update to an earlier assessment that was published in 2005, this report was undertaken following a formal request from the Government of Pakistan. -
Publication
Vietnam Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes: Accounting and Auditing Module
(Hong Duc Publishing House, Hanoi, 2016)Vietnam's rapid economic growth since the late 1980s has brought it quickly to middle income–country status, a performance surpassed only by China. This growth has slowed in recent years, however, due to the weaker external environment and a slowdown in reforms. Vietnam has the potential to join the ranks of upper middle income countries in the next twenty years, but this will require tough choices and actions to deepen market institutions, create a level playing field for the private sector and the state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and build a modern financial sector. Vietnam is embarking on a process of implementing a broad range of reforms designed to realize its aspiration of becoming high-income country. As outlined in the recently published World Bank report 'Vietnam 2035', Vietnam compares well with upper-income-countries in Government effectiveness and political stability, but ranks poorly for voice and accountability and regulatory quality (which measures the perceptions of the capacity of the state to formulate and implement policies aimed at private-sector development). -
Publication
Poland: Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes on Accounting and Auditing Update
(World Bank, Vienna, 2015-08-27)Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) Accounting and Auditing (AA) assess accounting and auditing practices in participating countries. They form part of a joint initiative that is implemented by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to review the quality of implementation of twelve internationally recognized core standards (the ROSC Program). These standards and their related codes are relevant to economic stability, and private and financial sector development. The program was developed at the end of the 1990s, in the wake of financial crises that affected many countries in several regions of the world. In the case of the ROSC AA for Poland, the international standards used as benchmarks are (i) relevant portions of European Union legislation (also called the acquis communautaire), (ii) International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), (iii) clarified International Standards on Auditing (ISA), (iv) the International Federation of Accounts (IFAC) Code of Ethics, and (v) other international good practice in the field of accounting and auditing regulation. This is the third ROSC AA for Poland. The first two were conducted in 2002 and 2005. This report updates the findings of the 2005 report, and assesses the extent to which prior recommendations have been implemented. Since its inception in the early 2000s, the ROSC AA program has concluded evaluations in more than one hundred countries around the world. ROSC AA reports have been produced for all countries of the Europe and Central Asia region, except the Russian Federation. This ROSC AA serves three main objectives: (i) to support Poland’s development strategy, particularly regarding the enhancement of economic competitiveness, (ii) to assess progress achieved under the Financial Reporting Technical Assistance Program (FRTAP), and (iii) to update the findings of the 2005 ROSC AA. The FRTAP is a Swiss-funded program aimed at strengthening accounting and auditing practices in Poland through the implementation of high quality standards in these areas. -
Publication
Sri Lanka Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes: Accounting and Auditing Update
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2015-06)The Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes, Accounting and Auditing (ROSC AA) in Sri Lanka aims to assess the progress made on implementation of the policy recommendations of the first ROSC AA in 2004 and supports the Government of Sri Lanka in preparing a country action plan. This will further enhance the quality of corporate financial reporting, and thereby contribute toward the country’s goal of improving the investment climate, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), and fostering business development. The ROSC review, requested by the Minister of Finance and Planning, entailed an evaluation exercise that assesses the strengths and weaknesses of existing institutional frameworks that underpin financial accounting and auditing practices; determines the comparability of national accounting and auditing standards; and evaluates the effectiveness of enforcement mechanisms for ensuring compliance with existing national standards, rules, and regulations. The review was conducted from December 2013 to September 2014 using the World Bank’s multi-layered review methodology. All findings reflect this time period of the review; some stated future events may have been achieved by publication date. The data and information used for the review was gathered from a diagnostic questionnaire completed by stakeholders; by reviewing accountancy profession-related documents; and through interviews with many stakeholders from government, regulatory and accountancy bodies, accounting and auditing firms, banks, insurance companies, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), and academia. The review focused on assessing the institutional framework underpinning accounting and auditing practices in the private sector and in SOEs of the country in comparison with international standards and good practice. -
Publication
Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes on Accounting and Auditing Update: Republic of Serbia
(World Bank, Vienna, 2015-06)This report on observance of standards and codes in accounting and auditing (ROSC A & A) provides an assessment of accounting, financial reporting, and auditing requirements and practices within the enterprise and financial sectors of Serbia and sets forth areas of consideration with a view to improving the country’s institutional environment for corporate financial reporting. To assess Serbia’s compliance with standards and codes, this report uses international benchmarks of good practice, including international financial reporting standards (IFRS), international standards on auditing (ISA), the statements of membership obligations (SMO) of the international federation of accountants (IFAC), and - because Serbia is seeking accession to the European Union (EU) - relevant provisions of the EU acquis communautaire (the acquis) governing financial reporting. The assessment focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of the A and A environment that influence the quality of corporate financial reporting, and includes a review of both statutory requirements and actual practice. It updates an earlier assessment published in 2005. ROSC A and A assess accounting and auditing practices in participating countries. -
Publication
Bangladesh Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes: Accounting and Auditing
(World Bank, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2015)The Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes - Accounting and Auditing (ROSC A&A) program is part of a 12-module joint World Bank-IMF initiative to assist member countries to strengthen their financial systems by improving their capacity to comply with internationally recognized standards and codes. The ROSC A&A program focuses on the institutional framework underpinning national accounting and auditing practices, and degree of conformity with international standards and good practices. This 2014 update to the Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes – Accounting and Auditing (ROSC A&A) assesses the degree to which the policy recommendations of the 2003 ROSC A&A review have been implemented, identifies issues that have emerged since the last review, and proposes a number of policy recommendations aimed at further improving the quality of corporate financial reporting and auditing which contributes to improving country’s business climate, investors’ confidence and economic growth potential of Bangladesh. The policy recommendations should form the basis for a prioritized, stakeholder-driven Country Action Plan (CAP), aimed to assist in further enhancing financial reporting processes in accordance with international standards and good practices, taking into account Bangladesh’s country specific circumstances. -
Publication
Republic of Ghana Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes: Accounting and Auditing
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-12)This 2014 Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes in Accounting and Auditing (ROSC A&A) is the second review for Ghana. Its main objectives are to: assess the degree to which the policy recommendations of the 2004 review have been implemented, identify any emerging issues since the last review and develop policy recommendations that, once implemented, would further enhance the quality of financial reporting in the country. While growth has been spurred by favorable commodity prices for gold and cocoa, the start of commercial production of oil and a booming services sector, there is still room for improvement in the business environment, business confidence and financing of the economy. The implementation of the policy recommendations contained in this report will contribute to improved business environment and investor confidence, an essential factor for economic growth. -
Publication
Jamaica Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes: Accounting and Auditing
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-06-13)This Report on Observance and Codes-Accounting and Auditing (ROSC-A&A) assesses the corporate sector accounting, financial reporting, and auditing practices in Jamaica. It builds on its predecessor, a 2003 ROSC-A&A, and its aims to assist the Government of Jamaica's efforts to strengthen accounting and auditing practices and to enhance financial transparency in the corporate sector, so as to support the Government's economic reform program and provide greater confidence to current and potential investors with respect to the financial reporting environment. Jamaica has embarked on an economic reform program whose main objectives are to contain the country's growing economic and external vulnerabilities and address economic imbalances, while putting the country on a path to sustainable growth. Important reforms include: (a) strengthening public finances, including through comprehensive tax reform, expenditure rationalization, and improved public debt management and public financial management; (b) enhancing the resilience of the financial sector through strengthened supervisory, regulatory, and crisis-management frameworks; and (c) improving growth generating efficiency through enhancements to the business environment and strengthened institutional capacity and governance.