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IESBA: Key Differences Between IESSA and the IESBA Code
- 08 August 2025
- Sustainability Reporting
- South African Accounting Academy
Summary:
The Staff of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) has released an implementation support publication on the Key differences between the International Ethics Standards for Sustainability Assurance (including International Independence Standards) (IESSA) and the provisions of the IESBA Code applicable to the audit of financial statements.
Article:
The purpose of this publication is to help sustainability assurance practitioners understand and apply the International Ethics Standards for Sustainability Assurance (including International Independence Standards) (IESSA).
This is a comparison document outlining the main differences between the IESSA and the corresponding ethics and independence provisions of the IESBA Code applicable to audits of financial statements (Parts 1 to 4A). It is intended to support firms that already follow the Code in understanding and implementing the IESSA for sustainability assurance engagements.
For reference purposes, the publication is accompanied by a marked-up version of the IESSA showing changes from the corresponding sections of the extant Code.
The International Ethics Standards for Sustainability Assurance (including International Independence Standards) (IESSA) establish the same high standards of ethical behaviour and independence for sustainability assurance engagements (SAEs)0F1 as the provisions in the extant International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code) that apply to an audit of financial statements.1F2,2F3
The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) developed the IESSA based on the premise that interests, relationships, and circumstances that might create threats to compliance with the fundamental principles and to independence could also create similar threats in the context of SAEs.
Click here to download the 10-page document:
Relevance to Auditors, Independent Reviewers & Accountants:
- As an accountant, auditor and independent reviewer, you need to be aware of and consider the information contained in publications by various professional bodies and standard-setters, e.g. IESBA, IAASB, etc. – so that you can apply this in the performance of your duties.
- IESSA must be applied by all sustainability assurance practitioners (SAPs), and should also be used by professional accountants (PAs) involved in sustainability reporting.