Understanding the New International Ethics Standards

The new International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) standard on noncompliance with laws and regulations (NOCLAR) has been adopted by over 100 countries, including Canada and Mexico and is well on the way to becoming the global standard for accounting ethics. U.S. accounting professionals may become subject to the IESBA standard by working in a country or jurisdiction that has adopted the standard, working as part of a professional network that has adopted the standard, or performing services for a company that is part of a group governed by IESBA standards. While the IESBA standard resembles U.S. standards, it is more inclusive. U.S. standards exclude from consideration illegal acts (similar to NOCLAR) that do not have a material effect on the financial statements, while IESBA standards includes NOCLAR even when not mate-rial. Accounting professionals should recognize that they may have broader responsibilities for resolving NOCLAR when working under IESBA standards.