دانلود رایگان مقاله انگلیسی اصلاح روش های اطمینان برای پاسخگویی به نیازهای گزارش یکپارچه - امرالد 2018

Purpose: Traditional methods of assurance outlined by current professional standards are risk-based models where the emphasis is on the veracity of published data rather than on the rigour of the interpretation or analysis of information provided to users. As such, they are not well suited for expressing an opinion on qualitative, subjective or forward-looking assessments typically included in integrated reports. In this context, this research describes an alternate approach to assurance and identifies the initial elements of an ‘interpretive assurance model’. Design/methodology/approach: The research is exploratory/interpretive. It relies on detailed interviews with experienced auditors and preparers to develop an initial approach for providing some level of assurance over an integrated report. Findings: The research identifies elements of an interpretive assurance model which focuses on providing assurance on the interpretation and analysis of information included in an integrated report rather than on underlying data. These include an examination of (1) the completeness of the explanation of the value creation process provided in an integrated report; (2) the methods used to support management discussion and analysis and (3) the reasonability of the review process used to ensure the reliability of qualitative, subjective and forward-looking representations contained in an integrated report. Research limitations/implications: The study is conducted in South Africa. While limiting the study to a single jurisdiction may be seen as a limitation, local preparers and auditors have had at least five years of experience with the application of an integrated reporting framework and are in a strong position to provide detailed insights. Practical implications: An interpretive assurance model shifts the focus from objective verification of data using defined test procedures to evaluation of the interpretation and analysis process used to prepare an integrated report. Application of the proposed model will require practitioners and auditing students to be trained extensively in qualitative analytical techniques. The inherent complexity of contemporary business models and the multidimensional focus of integrated reports will also result in changes in the composition of audit teams which are currently dominated by experts in financial reporting rather than integrated or strategic business management. Originality/value: The paper is the first to offer a practical approach for providing assurance over an integrated report. It responds to calls form the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) and International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) for more innovative assurance models for addressing the reporting needs of contemporary organisations.

5: Conclusion and recommendations

As integrated reports become the primary method for organisations in some jurisdictions to communicate with providers of financial capital (IIRC, 2014c; Atkins and Maroun, 2015; King, 2016), it comes as no surprise that there have been calls for some type of ‘assurance’ that the information found in these documents is reliable (see IOD, 2009; IIRC, 2013; IIRC, 2014b; IAASB, 2015; IIRC, 2015). Unfortunately, current professional guidance on assurance engagements is not entirely suited for the inherently subjective representations contained in integrated reports necessitating an innovative approach to assurance (Cohen and Simnett, 2015; Maroun and Atkins, 2015; Simnett and Huggins, 2015).

In this spirit, this paper has presented an initial outline of an ‘interpretive assurance model’. Traditional models of assurance are risk-based and focused on the veracity of data being reported to users. These have a role to play in an integrated reporting context, especially when it comes to financial statements and other factual reports which are material for stakeholders. For the purpose of dealing with more judgement-based analysis contained in an integrated report, an interpretive model focuses on the methods and processes used to support management representations instead of using predefined procedures (as per ISA and ISAE’s) to test accuracy of the data itself. The model is made up of three primary elements.