2024-01-26
Added · Updated
This regulation mandates the adoption of the 2022 Edition International Standards on Auditing, the 2022 Edition International Standards on Quality Management, and the 2023 Edition IESBA Code of Ethics for statutory audits and approved audit firms in Luxembourg, including specific Luxembourg supplements. It repeals CSSF Regulation No 22-01 and establishes mandatory requirements such as closing audit files within 60 days of the report signature and submitting additional reports to audit committees for public-interest entities. The regulation enters into force on the day of its publication in the Journal officiel du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg.
In case of discrepancies between the French and the English texts, the French text shall prevail. CSSF Regulation No 24-02 of 26 January 2024
In case of discrepancies between the French and the English texts, the French text shall prevail. CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 2 CSSF Regulation No 24-02 of 26 January 2024 relating to:
CSSF REGULATION NO 23-06 1/55 (2) The Code of Ethics for the audit profession in Luxembourg which corresponds to the Code of Ethics issued by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) in its version published in the Handbook of the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants – 2023 Edition by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), as well as its Luxembourg supplement shall be mandatory. Article 4. The standards included in Annexes 4 to 9 shall be an integral part of this chapter. Chapter 3: Common provisions Article 5. CSSF Regulation No 22-01 relating to 1) the adoption of auditing standards in the field of statutory audit under the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession, 2) the adoption of standards on professional ethics and internal quality control or on quality management, respectively, under the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession, including its annexes, shall be repealed. Article 6. This regulation shall be published in the Journal officiel du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg and on the CSSF’s website. It enters into force on the day of its publication. Luxembourg, 26 January 2024 Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier Claude WAMPACH Director Marco ZWICK Director Jean-Pierre FABER Director Françoise KAUTHEN Director Claude MARX Director General
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 2 Annex 1 Adoption of auditing standards in the field of statutory audit under Article 33(2) of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession. The following auditing standards shall be applicable and mandatory in the field of statutory audit: 200–299 GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ISA 200, Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with International Standards on Auditing ISA 210, Agreeing the Terms of Audit Engagements ISA 220 (Revised) Quality management for an audit of financial statements ISA 230, Audit Documentation ISA 240, The Auditor's Responsibilities Relating to Fraud in an Audit of Financial Statements ISA 250 (Revised), Consideration of Laws and Regulations in an Audit of Financial Statements ISA 260 (Revised), Communication with Those Charged with Governance ISA 265, Communicating Deficiencies in Internal Control to Those Charged with Governance and Management 300–499 RISK ASSESSMENT AND RESPONSE TO ASSESSED RISKS ISA 300, Planning an Audit of Financial Statements ISA 315 (Revised 2019) Identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement ISA 320, Materiality in Planning and Performing an Audit ISA 330, The Auditor’s Responses to Assessed Risks ISA 402, Audit Considerations Relating to an Entity Using a Service Organization ISA 450, Evaluation of Misstatements Identified during the Audit 500–599 AUDIT EVIDENCE ISA 500, Audit Evidence ISA 501, Audit Evidence—Specific Considerations for Selected Items ISA 505, External Confirmations ISA 510, Initial Audit Engagements—Opening Balances ISA 520, Analytical Procedures ISA 530, Audit Sampling ISA 540 (Revised), Auditing Accounting Estimates and Related Disclosures ISA 550, Related Parties ISA 560, Subsequent Events ISA 570 (Revised), Going Concern ISA 580, Written Representations 600–699 USING THE WORK OF OTHERS
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 3 ISA 600, Special Considerations—Audits of Group Financial Statements (Including the Work of Component Auditors), effective for audits of financial statements for period beginning before December 15, 2023. ISA 600 (Revised), Special Considerations— Audits of Group Financial Statements (Including the Work of Component Auditors), effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2023 ISA 610 (Revised 2013), Using the Work of Internal Auditors ISA 620, Using the Work of an Auditor’s Expert 700–799 AUDIT CONCLUSIONS AND REPORTING ISA 700 (Revised), Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements ISA 701, Communicating Key Audit Matters in the Independent Auditor’s Report ISA 705 (Revised), Modifications to the Opinion in the Independent Auditor’s Report ISA 706 (Revised), Emphasis of Matter Paragraphs and Other Matter Paragraphs in the Independent Auditor’s Report ISA 710, Comparative Information—Corresponding Figures and Comparative Financial Statements ISA 720 (Revised), The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Other Information in Documents Containing Audited Financial Statements
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 4 Annex 2 Luxembourg supplements to auditing standards in the field of statutory audit under Article 33(2) of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession. The following supplements to auditing standards shall be applicable and mandatory in the field of statutory audit: Note: Amendments stemming from Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 on specific requirements for the statutory audit of public-interest entities are generally marked with an “R” after the paragraph number and apply de facto only to the statutory audits of public-interest entities. Amendments arising from the Audit Law or the Audit Directive are generally marked with a “D” after the paragraph number and apply de facto to all statutory audits. Amendments which are not marked with the letter “D” or “R” are amendments which either supplement the paragraph of the standard (indicated by [...]) or amend it and apply to all statutory audits.
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 5 (a) Audit Regulation [AR] – refers to Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. (b) Audit Law [AL] – refers to Law of July 23rd, 2016 related to the audit profession. (c) Competent authority – is defined in Article 1(2) of the Audit Law as “the authorities designated by law that are in charge of the regulation and/or oversight of statutory auditors and audit firms or of specific aspects thereof.” In Luxembourg the competent authority is the CSSF. (d) Key audit partner – is defined in the Audit Law [AL/Article 1(1)] as: (i) the statutory auditor(s) designated by an audit firm for a particular audit engagement as being primarily responsible for carrying out the statutory audit on behalf of the audit firm; or (ii) in the case of a group audit, at least the statutory auditor(s) designated by an audit firm as being primarily responsible for carrying out the statutory audit at the level of the group and the statutory auditor(s) designated as being primarily responsible at the level of material subsidiaries; or (iii) the statutory auditor(s) who sign(s) the audit report. (e) Public-interest entity – is as defined in Article 1(20) of the Audit Law. (f) Statutory audit – is defined in Article 1(6) of the Audit Law as an audit of annual financial statements or annual consolidated financial statements in so far as required by Union law or by national law. Requirements Leadership Responsibilities for Managing and Achieving Quality on Audits 13D-1. For statutory audits of financial statements, the key audit partner(s) shall be actively involved in the carrying-out of the audit, devoting sufficient time to the engagement. [AL/Article 25(1)(2)] Engagement Performance 36R-1 For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the engagement partner shall […] (d) not date the auditor’s report and the additional report to the audit committee1 until the completion of the engagement quality control review. Documentation 41D-1. For statutory audits of financial statements, the auditor shall include in the audit documentation all significant threats to the firm’s independence as well as the safeguards applied to mitigate those threats. (Ref: Para. A120-1) [AL/Article 22] 3. LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 230 AUDIT DOCUMENTATION Requirements Documentation of the Audit Procedures Performed and Audit Evidence Obtained Form, Content and Extent of Audit Documentation 1 ISA 260 (Revised) Communication with those charges with governance, paragraph 16R-1
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 6 8D-1. For statutory audits of financial statements, the auditor shall retain any other data and documents that are important in supporting the auditor’s report as part of the audit documentation. [AL/Article 25(5)] Departure from a relevant requirement 12 […]. Where the ISA requirements reflect the provisions prescribed by the Audit Law or the Audit Regulation, the auditor shall not depart from such relevant requirement. Assembly of the Final Audit File 14D-1. For statutory audits of financial statements, the auditor shall retain any other data and documents that are of importance for monitoring compliance with ISAs and other applicable legal requirements. [AL/Article 25(5)] 14D-2. For statutory audits of financial statements, the audit file shall be closed no later than 60 days after the date of signature of the auditor’s report. [AL/Article 25(5)] 4. LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 240 THE AUDITORS RESPONSIBILITIES RELATING TO FRAUD IN THE AUDIT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Requirements Communications to Management and with Those Charged With Governance 41R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, when an auditor suspects or has reasonable grounds to suspect that fraud with regard to the financial statements of the entity, may occur or have occurred, the auditor shall (unless prohibited by law or regulation) inform the entity and invite it to investigate the matter and take appropriate measures to deal with such irregularities and to prevent any recurrence of such irregularities in the future. (Ref: Para. A63-
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 7 29R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the auditor shall: (a) Report promptly to the competent authorities any information concerning that public interest entity of which the auditor has become aware while carrying out the audit and which may bring about any of the following: (i) A material breach of the laws, regulations or administrative provisions which lay down, where appropriate, the conditions governing authorization or which specifically govern pursuit of the activities of such public-interest entity; or (ii) A material threat or doubt concerning the continuous functioning of the public-interest entity; or (iii) A refusal to issue an audit opinion on the financial statements or the issuing of an adverse or qualified opinion. (b) Report any information referred to in paragraph 29R-1(a)(i)-(iii) of which the auditor becomes aware in the course of carrying out the audit of an undertaking having close links2 with the public-interest entity for which they are also carrying out the audit. [AR/Article 12.1] 29R-2. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, where the entity does not investigate the matter referred to in paragraph 23R-1, the statutory auditor or the audit firm shall inform the authorities responsible for investigating such irregularities. (Ref: Para. A33-1) [AR/Article 7] 6. LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 260 (REVISED) COMMUNICATION WITH THOSE CHARGED WITH GOVERNANCE Definitions 10. For purposes of the ISAs, the following terms have the meanings attributed below: […] (c) Listed entity - is as defined in the Luxembourg supplement to the IESBA Code, entities governed by Luxembourg law whose securities are admitted to trading on a recognized market Requirements Those Charged with Governance 11R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, if an entity which does not fall under the exemption criteria set in article 52 paragraph 5) of the law dated 23 July 2016 on the audit profession does not have an audit committee, the additional report to the audit committee required by paragraph 16R-1 shall be submitted to the body performing equivalent functions within the entity. [AR/Article 11(1)] Matters to Be Communicated Significant Findings from the Audit 16R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the auditor shall submit an additional report to the audit committee of the entity explaining the results of the audit carried out and shall at least: (a) Include the declaration of independence required by paragraph 17R-1(a); (b) Identify each key audit partner(s)3 involved in the audit; 2 ‘Close links’ shall have the meaning assigned to that term in point (38) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council. 3 “Key audit partner” is defined in paragraph 7D-1(d) of the Luxembourg supplement to ISA 220.
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 8 (c) Where the auditor has made arrangements for any of the auditor’s activities to be conducted by another firm4 that is not a member of the same network, or has used the work of external experts, the report shall indicate that fact and shall confirm that the auditor received a confirmation from the other firm and/or the external expert regarding their independence; (d) Describe the nature, frequency and extent of communication with the audit committee or the body performing equivalent functions within the entity, the management body and the administrative or supervisory body of the audited entity, including the dates of meetings with those bodies; (e) Include a description of the scope and timing of the audit; (f) Where more than one auditor has been appointed, describe the distribution of tasks among the auditors; (g) Describe the methodology used, including which categories of the balance sheet have been directly verified and which categories have been verified based on system and compliance testing, including an explanation of any substantial variation in the weighting of system and compliance testing when compared to the previous year, even if the previous year's audit was carried out by another firm; (h) Disclose the quantitative level of materiality applied to perform the audit for the financial statements as a whole and where applicable the materiality level or levels for particular classes of transactions, account balances or disclosures, and disclose the qualitative factors which were considered when setting the level of materiality; (i) Report and explain judgements about events or conditions identified in the course of the audit that may cast significant doubt on the entity's ability to continue as a going concern and whether they constitute a material uncertainty, and provide a summary of all guarantees, comfort letters, undertakings of public intervention and other support measures that have been taken into account when making a going concern assessment; (j) Report on any significant deficiencies in the entity's or, in the case of consolidated financial statements, the parent undertaking's internal financial control system, and/or in the accounting system. For each such significant deficiency, the additional report shall state whether or not the deficiency in question has been resolved by management; (k) Report any significant matters involving actual or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations or articles of association which were identified in the course of the audit, in so far as they are considered to be relevant in order to enable the audit committee to fulfil its tasks; (l) Report the valuation methods applied to the various items in the annual or consolidated financial statements including any impact of changes of such methods; (m) In the case of an audit of consolidated financial statements, explain the scope of consolidation and the exclusion criteria applied by the entity to the non-consolidated entities, if any, and whether those criteria applied are in accordance with the financial reporting framework; (n) Where applicable, identify any audit work performed by in relation to an audit of consolidated financial statements other than by members of the same network to which the auditor of the consolidated financial statements belongs; (o) Indicate whether all requested explanations and documents were provided by the entity; 4 “Firm” is defined in ISA 220 as a sole practitioner, partnership or corporation or other entity of professional accountants.
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 9 (p) Report: (i) Any significant difficulties encountered in the course of the audit (ii) Any significant matters arising from the audit that were discussed or were the subject of correspondence with management; and (iii) Any other matters arising from the audit that in the auditor's professional judgement, are significant to the oversight of the financial reporting process. Where more than one auditor has been engaged simultaneously, and any disagreement has arisen between them on auditing procedures, accounting rules or any other issue regarding the conduct of the audit, the reasons for such disagreement shall be explained in the additional report to the audit committee. [AR/Article 11(1) (2) (3)] Auditor Independence 17R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the auditor shall: (a) Disclose to the audit committees when the total fees received from a public-interest entity in each of the last three consecutive financial years are more than 15% of the total fees received by the statutory auditor or the audit firm. [AR/Article 4(3)] (b) Confirm annually in writing to the audit committee that the statutory auditor, the audit firm and partners, senior managers and managers, conducting the statutory audit are independent from the audited entity; and (c) Discuss with the audit committee the threats to the auditor’s independence and the safeguards applied to mitigate those threats. [AR/Article 6(2)] The Communication Process Forms of Communication 20R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities: (a) The additional report to the audit committee5 shall be in writing. [AR/Article 11.2] (b) The additional report to the audit committee shall be signed and dated by the engagement partner. [AR/Article 11.4] (c) Upon request by either the statutory auditor or the audit committee, the statutory auditor shall discuss key matters arising from the audit, referred to in the additional report to the audit committee, and in particular deficiencies communicated in accordance with paragraph 16R-1(j). [AR/Article 11.2] (d) Upon request, the statutory auditor shall make available without delay the additional report to the audit committee to the CSSF. [AR/Article 11.5] Timing of communications 21R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public interest entities, the auditor shall submit the additional report to the audit committee not later than the date of submission of the auditor’s report. [AR/Article 11(1)] Documentation 5 Paragraph 16R-1 deals with the auditor’s responsibilities to prepare an additional report to the audit committee.
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 10 23D-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the auditor shall retain any other data and documents that are important in supporting the additional report to the audit committee6. [AL/Article 25(5)] 7. LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 330 THE AUDITOR’S RESPONSES TO ASSESSED RISKS Requirements Audit Procedures Responsive to the Assessed Risks of Material Misstatement at the Assertion Level Substantive Procedures 19R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public interest entities, the auditor shall assess the valuation methods applied to the various items in the financial statements including any impact of changes of such methods. (Ref: Para. A51-1). [AR / Article 11.2(l)] 8. LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 510 INITIAL AUDIT ENGAGEMENTS—OPENING BALANCES Requirements Audit Procedures Required Understanding of Prior Year Responses to Risks 8R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the auditor shall obtain an understanding of the predecessor auditor’s methodology used to carry out the audit, sufficient to enable the auditor to communicate with those charged with governance those matters required by paragraph 16R-1(g) of the Luxembourg supplement to ISA 260 (Revised). [AR/Article 11.2(g)] 8R-2. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the Audit Regulation imposes a requirement on a predecessor auditor to grant the auditor access to the additional report to the audit committee in respect of previous years. [AR/Article 18] 9. LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 570 (REVISED) GOING CONCERN Requirements Evaluating Management’s Assessment 12D-1. In accordance with the supplement to ISA 200,7 the auditor shall maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit and in particular when reviewing future cash flow relevant to the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. [AL/Article 18] Additional Audit Procedures When Events or Conditions are Identified 16R-1 For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the auditor shall also obtain a summary of all guarantees, comfort letters, undertakings of public intervention and other support measures that management have taken into account when making the going concern assessment [AR/Article 11.2.(i)] 6 Paragraph 16R-1 deals with the auditor’s responsibilities to prepare an additional report to the audit committee. 7 ISA 200, “Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with International Standards on Auditing” paragraph 15.
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 11 10. LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 600 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS—AUDITS OF GROUP FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (INCLUDING THE WORK OF COMPONENT AUDITORS), effective for audits of financial statements for period beginning before December 15, 2023. Definitions 9. […] (n) Group auditor – Defined in Article 1(8) of the Audit Law as the statutory auditor(s) or audit firm(s) carrying out the statutory audit of consolidated accounts. Requirements Responsibility 11D-1. For statutory audits of group financial statements, the group auditor shall bear the full responsibility for the auditor’s report on the group financial statements. [AL/Article 34(1)] Understanding the Component Auditor 19D-1. For statutory audits of group financial statements, the group auditor shall request the agreement of the component auditor to the transfer of relevant documentation during the conduct of the audit of the group financial statements, as a condition of the use by the group auditor of the work of the component auditor. [AL/Article 34(3)] Evaluating the Sufficiency and Appropriateness of Audit Evidence Obtained 42D-1. For statutory audits of group financial statements, the group auditor shall: (a) Evaluate the work performed by the component auditor for the purpose of the group audit; and [AL/Article 34(2)] (b) Review the audit work performed by the component auditor for the purpose of the group audit. Where the group engagement team is unable to do so, the group engagement team shall take appropriate measures (including carrying out additional work, either directly or by outsourcing such tasks, in the relevant component) and inform the CSSF. [AL/Article 34(3)] Communication with Group Management and Those Charged with Governance of the Group Communication with Those Charged with Governance of the Group 49D-1. For statutory audits of group financial statements of public interest entities, the group auditor shall bear the full responsibility for the additional report to the audit committee8. [AL/Article 34(1)] Documentation 50D-1. For statutory audits of group financial statements, the group auditor shall include in the audit documentation the nature, timing and extent of the work performed by the component auditor, including, where applicable, the group auditor’s review of relevant parts of the component auditor’s audit documentation. [AL/Article 34(2)] 50D-2. The group auditor shall retain sufficient and appropriate audit documentation to enable the CSSF to review the work of the auditor of the group financial statements. [AL/Article 34(3)] 50D-3. Where: 8 ISA 260 (Revised), paragraph 16R-1 deals with the auditor’s responsibilities to prepare an additional report to the audit committee.
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 12 • the group engagement team is subject to a quality assurance review or an investigation concerning the group audit; and • the CSSF is unable to obtain audit documentation of the work carried out by any component auditor from a non-EEA member state; and • the CSSF requests delivery of any additional documentation of the work performed by that component auditor for the purpose of the group audit (including the component auditor’s working papers relevant to the group audit), the group engagement team shall, in order to properly deliver such documentation in accordance with such request, either: (a) Retain copies of the documentation of the work carried out by the relevant component auditor for the purpose of the group audit (including the component auditor’s working papers relevant to the group audit); or (b) Obtain the agreement of the relevant component auditor that the group engagement team shall have unrestricted access to such documentation on request; or (c) Retain documentation to show that the group engagement team has undertaken the appropriate procedures in order to gain access to the audit documentation, together with evidence supporting the existence of any impediments to such access; or (d) Take any other appropriate action. [AL/Article 34(4)] 11. LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 600 (Revised) SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS—AUDITS OF GROUP FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (INCLUDING THE WORK OF COMPONENT AUDITORS) - effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2023 Requirements Responsibility 16D-1. For statutory audits of group financial statements, the group auditor shall bear the full responsibility for the auditor’s report on the group financial statements. [AL/Article 34(1)] Understanding the Component Auditor 24D-1. For statutory audits of group financial statements, the group auditor shall request the agreement of the component auditor to the transfer of relevant documentation during the conduct of the audit of the group financial statements, as a condition of the use by the group auditor of the work of the component auditor. [AL/Article 34(3)] Evaluating the Sufficiency and Appropriateness of Audit Evidence Obtained 51D-1. For statutory audits of group financial statements, the group auditor shall: (c) Evaluate the work performed by the component auditor for the purpose of the group audit; and [AL/Article 34(2)] (d) Review the audit work performed by the component auditor for the purpose of the group audit. Where the group engagement team is unable to do so, the group engagement team shall take appropriate measures (including carrying out additional work, either directly or by outsourcing such tasks, in the relevant component) and inform the CSSF. [AL/Article 34(3)] Communication with Group Management and Those Charged with Governance of the Group
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 13 Communication with Those Charged with Governance of the Group 57D-1. For statutory audits of group financial statements of public interest entities, the group auditor shall bear the full responsibility for the additional report to the audit committee9. [AL/Article 34(1)] Documentation 59D-1. For statutory audits of group financial statements, the group auditor shall include in the audit documentation the nature, timing and extent of the work performed by the component auditor, including, where applicable, the group auditor’s review of relevant parts of the component auditor’s audit documentation. [AL/Article 34(2)] 59D-2. The group auditor shall retain sufficient and appropriate audit documentation to enable the CSSF to review the work of the auditor of the group financial statements. [AL/Article 34(3)] 59D-3. Where: • the group engagement team is subject to a quality assurance review or an investigation concerning the group audit; and • the CSSF is unable to obtain audit documentation of the work carried out by any component auditor from a non-EEA member state; and • the CSSF requests delivery of any additional documentation of the work performed by that component auditor for the purpose of the group audit (including the component auditor’s working papers relevant to the group audit), the group engagement team shall, in order to properly deliver such documentation in accordance with such request, either: (e) Retain copies of the documentation of the work carried out by the relevant component auditor for the purpose of the group audit (including the component auditor’s working papers relevant to the group audit); or (f) Obtain the agreement of the relevant component auditor that the group engagement team shall have unrestricted access to such documentation on request; or (g) Retain documentation to show that the group engagement team has undertaken the appropriate procedures in order to gain access to the audit documentation, together with evidence supporting the existence of any impediments to such access; or (h) Take any other appropriate action. [AL/Article 34(4)] 12. LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 610 (REVISED 2013) USING THE WORK OF INTERNAL AUDITORS Introduction Scope of this ISA 5-1. The use of internal auditors to provide direct assistance is prohibited in a statutory audit of financial statements conducted in accordance with ISAs. For a group audit this prohibition extends to the work of any component auditor which is relied upon by the group auditor, including for overseas components. Accordingly, the requirements set out in paragraphs 27- 35 and 37 and related application material set out in paragraphs A32-A41 in this ISA relating to direct assistance are not applicable. 9 ISA 260 (Revised), paragraph 16R-1 deals with the auditor’s responsibilities to prepare an additional report to the audit committee.
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 14 13. LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 620 USING THE WORK OF AN AUDITOR’S EXPERT Requirements The Competence, Capabilities and Objectivity of the Auditor’s Expert 9R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, where the auditor uses the work of an auditor’s external expert, the auditor shall obtain a confirmation from the auditor’s external expert regarding his independence. [AR/Article 11.2(c)] Documentation 16D-1. The auditor shall document any request for advice from an auditor’s expert, together with the advice received. [AL/Article 25(3)] 14. LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 700 (REVISED) FORMING AN OPINION AND REPORTING ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Introduction Scope of this ISA 3. For the purpose of the Luxembourg’s statutory audit of financial statements, this ISA applies to an audit of a complete set of general purpose financial statements and is written in that context. [AL/Article 33(2)] Requirements Auditor’s Report 20R-1. The auditor’s report shall be in clear and unambiguous language. [AR/Article 10.3] 24e) For the purpose of Luxembourg’s statutory audit, the Opinion in the auditor’s report shall specify the date of and the period covered by the financial statements. [AL/Article 35(2)a)] 28c). […] In Luxembourg, the firm and its personnel are subject to ethical requirements from three sources: the IESBA Code including the Luxembourg supplement, the Audit Regulation (for PublicInterest entities) and the Audit Law (thereafter the “Luxembourg ethical requirements” or “Luxembourg ethical standards”). Key Audit Matters 30. For statutory audits of complete sets of general purpose financial statements of public-interest entities the auditor shall communicate key audit matters in the auditor’s report in accordance with ISA 701. [AR/Article 10.2(c)] Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements 40. The Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements section of the auditor’s report also shall: […] (c) For audits of financial statements of public-interest entities state that, from the matters communicated with those charged with governance, the auditor determines those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. The auditor describes these matters in the auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter.
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 15 (d) For audits of financial statements of entities other than public-interest entities for which key audit matters are communicated in accordance with ISA 701, state that, from the matters communicated with those charged with governance, the auditor determines those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. The auditor describes these matters in the auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, the auditor determines that a matter should not be communicated in the auditor’s report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication. 40R-1. For audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the auditor’s report shall: (a) State by whom or which body the auditor(s) was appointed; [AR/Article 10.2(a)] (b) Indicate the date of the appointment and the period of total uninterrupted engagement including previous renewals and reappointments of the firm; [AR/Article 10.2(b)] (c) Explain in the “Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements” section to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud; [AR/Article 10.2(d)] (d) Confirm that the audit opinion is consistent with the additional report to the audit committee10. Except as required by this paragraph, the auditor’s report shall not contain any crossreferences to the additional report to the audit committee. [AR/Article 10.2(e)] (e) Declare that the non-audit services prohibited by the Luxembourg ethical standards were not provided and that the firm remained independent of the entity in conducting the audit; and [AR/Article 10.2(f)] (Ref: Para A52-1) (f) Indicate any services, in addition to the audit, which were provided by the firm to the entity and its controlled undertaking(s), and which have not been disclosed in the management report or financial statements. [AR/Article 10.2(g)] Other Reporting Responsibilities 43.ESEF. For entities that are required to prepare their financial statements in compliance with the relevant statutory requirements set out in the ESEF regulation11, the auditor shall in the auditor’s report: (a) State, in the section “Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements”, whether, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit, the financial statements comply with the relevant statutory requirements set out in the ESEF Regulation; (b) Explain the related management’s responsibilities in the section “Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Financial Statements”; (c) Explain the related auditor’s responsibility in the section “Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements”; Name of the Engagement Partner 46. The name of the engagement partner shall be included in the auditor’s report on financial statements. [AL/Article 35(4)] 10 ISA 260 (Revised), “Communication with Those Charged with Governance,” paragraph 16R-1. 11 Delegated Regulation 2019/815 on European Single Electronic Format (“ESEF Regulation”)
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 16 Signature of the statutory auditor 47D-1 The audit report shall be signed and dated by the statutory auditor. Where an audit firm carries out the statutory audit, the audit report shall bear the signature of at least the statutory auditor(s) carrying out the statutory audit on behalf of the audit firm. [AL/Article 35(4)] Auditor’s address 48D-1. For statutory audits of financial statements, the auditor’s report shall identify the place of establishment of the firm. [AL/Article 35.2(g)] 15. LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 701 COMMUNICATING KEY AUDIT MATTERS IN THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT Scope of this ISA 5. For the purposes of Luxembourg, this ISA applies to audits of complete sets of general-purpose financial statements of public interest entities and circumstances when the auditor otherwise decides to communicate key audit matters in the auditor’s report. This ISA also applies when the auditor is required by law or regulation to communicate key audit matters in the auditor’s report. Definition 8. For the purposes of the Luxembourg supplement to ISAs, the following term has the meaning attributed below: Key audit matters – Those matters that, in the auditor’s professional judgment, were of most significance in the audit of the financial statements of the current period. Key audit matters are selected from matters communicated with those charged with governance. (Ref: Para. A.8-1.). For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, key audit matters include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement, including assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud. [AR/Article 10.2(c)] Requirements Communicating Key Audit Matters 11 (a) Key audit matters are those matters that, in the auditor’s professional judgment, were of most significance in the audit of the financial statements [of the current period] and include for statutory audit of financial statements of public-interest entities, the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) identified by the auditor. [AR/Article 10.2(c)] Description of Individual Key Audit Matters 13R-1. For statutory audit of financial statements of public-interest entities, in describing each of the key audit matters in accordance with paragraph 13, the auditor’s report shall provide, in support of the audit opinion: a) A description of the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud); b) A summary of the auditor’s response to those risks; and c) Where relevant, key observations arising with respect to those risks. Where relevant to the above information provided in the auditor’s report concerning each significant assessed risk of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud), the auditor’s report shall include a clear reference to the relevant disclosures in the financial statements. [AR/Article 10.2(c)]
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 17 13R-2. In describing why the matter was determined to be a key audit matter in accordance with paragraph 13R-1, the description shall indicate that the matter was one of the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) identified by the auditor. Circumstances in Which a Matter Determined to Be a Key Audit Matter Is Not Communicated in the Auditor’s Report 14R-1 For statutory audits of financial statements of public interest entities the auditor shall describe each key audit matter in the auditor’s report unless law and regulation preclude public disclosures about the matter. 16. LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 705 (REVISED) MODIFICATIONS TO THE OPINION IN THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT Form and Content of the Auditor’s Report When the Opinion Is Modified Consideration When an Auditor Disclaims an Opinion on the Financial Statements 29R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, when the auditor disclaims an opinion on the financial statements, the auditor’s report shall include a Key Audit Matter section in accordance with ISA 701. [AR/Article 10.2(c)] 17. LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 720 (REVISED) THE AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES RELATING TO OTHER INFORMATION Introduction Scope of this ISA 1-1. For statutory audits of financial statements, this Luxembourg supplement to ISA 720 deals with the obligation imposed by the Luxembourg law on the auditor to report on other statutory information based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit. Definitions 12 (d). Other statutory information – For statutory audits of financial statements, those documents or reports that are required to be prepared and issued by the entity in relation to which the auditor is required to report publicly in accordance with law or regulation. In Luxembourg, the other statutory information are the management report and the corporate governance statement. Requirements Reading and Considering the Other Information 14D-1. For entities that are required to prepare other statutory information, the auditor shall read it, and in doing so shall consider, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit, whether the other statutory information appears to be materially misstated. (Ref: Para. A36-1-A36-4) 14D-2. For entities that are required to prepare other statutory information, as the basis for the consideration required by paragraphs 14(a), 14(b) and 14D-1, the auditor shall perform such procedures as are necessary in the auditor’s professional judgment to identify: (a) Any material inconsistencies between the other statutory information and the financial statements; (b) Any material inconsistencies between the other statutory information and the auditor’s knowledge obtained in the audit, in the context of audit evidence obtained and conclusions reached in the audit; and
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 18 (c) Whether the other statutory information appears to be materially misstated in the context of the auditor’s understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the other statutory information. Reporting Management’s report 22D-1. For entities that are required to prepare a management report, the auditor shall in the auditor’s report: (a) State whether based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: (i) The information given in the management report for the financial year for which the accounts are prepared is consistent with those accounts; and (ii) The management report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements; (b) State whether, in the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, the auditor has identified material misstatements in the management report; and (c) If applicable, give an indication of the nature of each of the misstatements referred to in paragraph 22D-1(b). [AL / Article 35(2)e)] Corporate governance statement 22D-2. For entities that are required to prepare a Corporate governance statement in respect of a financial year, the auditor shall in the auditor’s report: • State whether based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: (i) the information required by article 68ter (1) c) and d) of the accounting of the law of December 19, 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings, as amended, given in the corporate governance statement is consistent with those accounts; and (ii) the information required by article 68ter (1) c) and d) of the law of December 19, 2002 on the register of commerce and companies and the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings, as amended, given in the corporate governance statement has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements; • State whether, in the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, the auditor has identified material misstatements in the corporate governance statement referred to in paragraph 22D-2(a); and • If applicable, give an indication of the nature of each of the misstatements referred to in paragraph 22D-2 (b).
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 19 Annex 3 Luxembourg guidelines on the auditors’ involvement on financial statements in European Single Electronic Format (ESEF) (effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2020) Objective The European Commission Interpretative Communication 2020/C379/01 states that Union law requires statutory auditors (hereafter “auditors”) to provide an audit opinion on whether the financial statements included in the annual financial reports comply with the relevant statutory requirements12 laid down in the ESEF Delegated Regulation,13 i.e. with the provisions of the ESEF Delegated Regulation that apply to financial statements14. In the absence of auditing standard(s) dealing specifically with ESEF reporting applicable in the whole European Union, the objectives of these guidelines are to describe the expectations of the CSSF15 regarding:
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CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 22 Engagement letter 15. The auditors shall include specific arrangements in relation to ESEF in the engagement letter. Use of an expert 16. When the auditors decide to use the work of an expert, the provisions on the use of experts for an audit of financial statements shall apply equally in this regard. Communication 17. Before issuing the audit report, the auditors shall communicate to management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance,24 any misstatements identified or noncompliance, other than those that are clearly trivial. Written representation 18. The auditors shall request specific provisions in relation to ESEF in the written representation. The auditors may determine that it is appropriate to request specific written representation from management to cover specificities of ESEF, or to include such specificities in the written representation. Documentation 19. General provisions for documentation in an audit of financial statements shall apply to procedures performed on financial statements in ESEF. 24 Including the persons who are responsible for financial statements presented in ESEF
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 23 Annex 4 Adoption of standards on quality management by the cabinets de révision agréés (approved audit firms) pursuant to letter (b) of Article 36(3) of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession. The following standards shall be applicable and mandatory in the field of quality management for the cabinets de révision agréés (approved audit firms): • International Standard on Quality Management (ISQM) 1, Quality management for firms that perform audits or reviews of financial statements, or other assurance or related services engagements • Luxembourg supplement to ISQM 1 (Annex 5) • Luxembourg supplement to ISQM 1 on the retention of the working papers of the réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) (Annex 6) • International Standard on Quality Management (ISQM) 2, Engagement Quality Reviews • Luxembourg supplement to ISQM 2 (Annex 7)
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 24 Annex 5 LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON QUALITY MANAGEMENT 1, QUALITY MANAGEMENT FOR FIRMS THAT PERFORM AUDITS OR REVIEWS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR OTHER ASSURANCE OR RELATED SERVICES ENGAGEMENT Definitions 16. In this ISQM 1, the following terms have the meanings attributed below: […] (j) Listed entity – is, as defined in the Luxembourg supplement to the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (IESBA Code), entities governed by Luxembourg law whose securities are admitted to trading on a recognized market. (t) Relevant ethical requirements – In Luxembourg, the firm and its personnel are subject to ethical requirements from three sources: the IESBA Code including the Luxembourg supplement, the Audit Regulation (for Public-Interest entities) and the Audit Law (thereafter the “Luxembourg ethical requirements” or “Luxembourg ethical standards”). 16D-1. In Luxembourg, the following terms have the meanings attributed below: (a) Audit Regulation [AR] – refers to Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. (b) Audit Law [AL] – refers to Law of July 23rd, 2016 related to the audit profession. (c) Competent authority – is defined in Article 1(2) of the Audit Law as “the authorities designated by law that are in charge of the regulation and/or oversight of statutory auditors and audit firms or of specific aspects thereof”. In Luxembourg, the competent authority is the CSSF. (d) Key audit partner – is defined in Article 1(1) of the Audit Law as: (i) The statutory auditor designated by an audit firm for a particular audit engagement as being primarily responsible for carrying out the statutory audit on behalf of the audit firm; or (ii) In the case of a group audit, at least the statutory auditor designated by an audit firm as being primarily responsible for carrying out the statutory audit at the level of the group and the statutory auditor(s) designated as being primarily responsible at the level of material subsidiaries; or (iii) The statutory auditor who sign(s) the audit report. (e) Public-interest entity – is as defined in Article 1(20) of the Audit Law. (f) Statutory audit – is defined in Article 1(6) of the Audit Law as an audit of annual financial statements or annual consolidated financial statements in so far as required by Union law or by national law. System of Quality Management 19D-1. The firm shall have: (a) Sound administrative and accounting procedures; (b) Internal quality control mechanisms that shall be designed to secure compliance with decisions and procedures at all levels of the firm’s working structure; (c) Effective procedures for risk assessment; and
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 25 (d) Effective control and safeguard arrangements for the firm’s information processing systems. [AL/Article 24(1)b)] Specified Responses 34 (f) The paragraph is completed as follows: (iv). Audits of financial statements of public-interest entities 34D-1. The firm shall include the following responses: Relevant Ethical Requirements (a) The firm shall establish appropriate policies and procedures to ensure that its owners or shareholders, as well as the members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies of the firm, or of a network firm, do not intervene in the carrying out of a statutory audit in any way which jeopardizes the independence and objectivity of the engagement team. [AL/Article 24(1)a)] (b) The firm establishes appropriate and effective organizational and administrative arrangements: (i) For dealing with and recording incidents which have, or may have, serious consequences for the integrity of the firm’s audit. [AL/Article 24(1)i)] (ii) To prevent, identify, eliminate or manage and disclose any threats to the firm’s independence required by the Luxembourg Ethical Standard. [AL/Article 24(1)e)] Acceptance and Continuance of Client Relationships and Specific Engagements (c) Before accepting or continuing an engagement for a statutory audit engagement, the firm assesses: (i) Whether the firm complies with relevant independence and objectivity requirements in the Luxembourg Ethical Standard; (ii) Whether there are threats to the firm’s independence, and the safeguards applied to mitigate those threats; (iii) Whether the firm has the competent personnel, time and resources needed in order to carry out the audit in an appropriate manner; and (iv) Whether the key audit partner is eligible for appointment as a statutory auditor. [AL/Article 22] (d) Before accepting or continuing an audit engagement for a statutory audit engagement of a public-interest entity, the firm shall assess, in addition to the requirements in letter (c), the following: (i) Whether the firm complies with the audit fees and the prohibition of the provision of nonaudit services requirements in the Luxembourg Ethical Standard; (ii) Whether the conditions for the duration of the audit engagement in accordance with the Audit Regulation are complied with; and (iii) Without prejudice to Luxembourg anti-money laundering requirements25, the integrity of the members of the supervisory, administrative and management bodies of the public interest entity. 25 Implemented pursuant to Directive 2015/849/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the 20 May 2015
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 26 (e) For audits of financial statements, where the auditor ceases to hold office as statutory auditor, or ceases to be eligible for appointment as a statutory auditor, the firm provides the successor statutory auditor with access to all relevant information concerning the entity, including information concerning the most recent audit. [AL/Article 28(5)] Engagement Performance (f) For statutory audits of financial statements, the firm: (i) Establishes an internal quality control system to ensure the quality of the audit which covers at least the policies and procedures required by paragraph 34D-1(f)(iii) [AL/Article 24(1)g)]; (ii) Ensures that operational responsibility for the internal quality control system lies with a person who is qualified as a réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) [AL/Article 24(1)g)]; (iii) Establishes appropriate policies and procedures for carrying out audits, coaching, supervising and reviewing the activities of the firm’s personnel and organizing the structure of the audit file26 [AL/Article 24(1)f)]; and (iv) Uses appropriate systems, resources and procedures to ensure continuity and regularity in the carrying out of the firm’s audit activities [AL/Article 24(1)h)]. Engagement Performance – Differences of Opinion (g) For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the firm shall establish procedures for determining the manner in which any disagreement between the key audit partner(s) and the engagement quality control reviewer are to be resolved. [AR/Article 8.6] Engagement Performance— External Monitoring of Group Audits (h) Where the firm is subject to a quality assurance review or an investigation concerning a group audit, the firm shall be responsible for complying with, and shall establish policies and procedures which require the group engagement team to comply with, any request by the competent authority: (i) For relevant audit documentation retained by the group engagement team concerning the work performed by any component auditor for the purposes of the group audit (including any relevant component auditor’s working papers relevant to the group audit); (ii) To deliver any additional documentation of the work performed by any component auditor for the purposes of the group audit, including that component auditor’s working papers relevant to the group audit, where the competent authority is unable to obtain audit documentation of the work carried out by that component auditor. [AL/Article 34(4)] (i) The firm shall establish policies and procedures, which require that, in order to comply with any request under paragraph 34D-1(h)(ii), the group engagement team shall either: (i) Retain copies of the documentation of the work carried out by the relevant component auditor for the purpose of the group audit (including the component auditor’s working papers relevant to the group audit); or 26 ISA 230, paragraph 14 sets out the requirement to assemble the audit documentation in an audit file. Paragraph 58D1 (a)-(b) of this Luxembourg supplement to ISQM 1, paragraphs 30R-2(a) of ISQM2, paragraphs 8D-1 and 14D-1 of ISA 230 and paragraph 23D-1 of ISA 260 (Revised) set out requirements in respect of documentation for statutory audits.
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 27 (ii) Obtain the agreement of the relevant component auditor that the group engagement team shall have unrestricted access to such documentation on request; or (iii) Retain documentation to show that the group engagement team has undertaken the appropriate procedures in order to gain access to the audit documentation, together with evidence supporting the existence of any impediments to such access; or (iv) Take any other appropriate action. [AL/Article 34(4)] Resources—Human Resources (j) The firm: (i) Establishes appropriate policies or procedures that ensure that the firm’s personnel and any other individuals whose services are placed at the firm’s disposal or under the firm’s control, and who are directly involved in audit activities, have appropriate knowledge and experience for the duties assigned [AL/Article 24(1)c)]; and (ii) Has in place adequate remuneration policies, including profit-sharing policies, providing sufficient performance incentives to secure audit quality, including provision that the amount of revenue that the firm derives from providing non-audit services to the audited entity shall not form part of the performance evaluation and remuneration of any person involved in, or able to influence the carrying out of, the audit [AL/Article 24(1)j)]. (k) For each statutory audit of financial statements, the firm: (i) Designates at least one key audit partner; [AL/Article 25(1)] (ii) Applies as its main criteria in selecting such a key audit partner the need to secure: a. The quality of the audit; and b. The firm’s independence and competence in carrying out the audit [AL/Article 25(1)]; (iii) Ensures the key audit partner is actively involved in carrying out the audit. (l) For statutory audits of financial statements, the firm provides the key audit partner(s) with sufficient resources and with personnel that have the necessary competence and capabilities to carry out the firm’s duties appropriately [AL/Article 25(1)]. Resources—Service Providers (m) The firm establishes appropriate policies or procedures that ensure that outsourcing of important audit functions is not undertaken in such a way as to impair the quality of the firm’s internal quality control and the ability of the competent authority to supervise the firm's compliance with the obligations laid down in the Audit Law and, where applicable, in the Audit Regulation. Any outsourcing of audit functions shall not affect the responsibility of the firm towards the audited entity. [AL/Article 24.1(d)] Information and Communication (n) The firm shall establish policies or procedures designed to maintain the confidentiality, safe custody, professional secrecy, integrity, accessibility and retrievability of engagement documentation or any information entrusted to the firm, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. [AL/Article 28] 34D-2. When complying with the requirements set out in paragraphs 19D-1, 34D-1, 35D-1, 56D-1 and 58D-1(d)(ii) the firm shall: (a) Take into consideration the scale and complexity of the firm’s activities; and
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 28 (b) Be able to demonstrate to the competent authority that the firm’s policies and procedures designed to achieve compliance with the applicable requirements of this Luxembourg supplement to ISQM1 are appropriate given the scale and complexity of the firm’s activities. Monitoring and Remediation Process 35D-1. For statutory audits of financial statements, the firm shall monitor and evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of the firm’s systems, internal quality control mechanisms and arrangements established in accordance with this Luxembourg supplement to ISQM1 and take appropriate measures to address any deficiencies. Evaluating the System of Quality Management 56D-1. For statutory audits of financial statements, the firm shall carry out an annual evaluation of the internal quality control system, referred to in paragraph 34D-1(f)(i). Documentation 58D-1. For statutory audits of financial statements, the firm shall: (a) Retain engagement documentation that is important for monitoring compliance with this Luxembourg supplement to ISQM1 and other applicable legal requirements [AL/Article 25(5)]; (b) Document: (i) Whether the firm complies with the independence and objectivity requirements as set out in the relevant ethical requirements; (ii) Whether there are any threats to the firm’s independence, and the safeguards applied to mitigate those threats; (iii) Whether the firm has the competent personnel, time and resources needed in order to carry out the audit in an appropriate manner; and (iv) Whether the key audit partner(s) is eligible to be appointed as a statutory auditor. [AL/Article 22] (c) Maintain a client account record which includes in respect of every statutory audit: (i) The audited entity’s name, address and place of business; (ii) The name of the key audit partner or, where there is more than one key audit partner, the names of all the key audit partners; and (iii) The fees charged for the statutory audit and for other services in any financial year [AL/Article 25(4)]. (d) Keep records of: (i) Any complaints made in writing about the performance of the audit engagements carried out [AL/Article 25(6)]; (ii) The findings of the evaluation required by paragraph 56D-1 and any proposed measure to modify the internal quality control system [AL/Article 24(1)k)]; (iii) Any breaches (other than breaches which the firm reasonably considers to be minor breaches) of professional standards and applicable legal and regulatory requirements; and (iv) Any consequences of any breach recorded in accordance with paragraph 58D-1(d)(iii), the measures taken to address such a breach and to modify the firm’s internal quality control system; and
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 29 (e) Prepare an annual report containing an overview of any measures taken under paragraph 58- 1(d)(iv) and communicate that report internally. 60R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements, the firm shall establish policies and procedures that require retention of audit documentation for a period that is not less than any period necessary to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws or regulation relating to data protection and to meet the requirements for any applicable administrative and judicial proceedings, and that is in any case not less than six years from the date of the auditor’s report. [AR/Article 15]
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 30 Annexe 6 LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO ISQM 1 ON THE RETENTION OF THE WORKING PAPERS OF THE RÉVISEUR D’ENTREPRISES AGRÉÉ (APPROVED STATUTORY AUDITOR)
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 31 The following provisions shall apply to audit engagements referred to in point (34)(a) of Article 1 of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession (hereinafter the “Audit Law”). The professional establishment of the réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) shall have an infrastructure suited to the exercised activities, within which a central location for the retention of physical files has been arranged. In accordance with the requirements under the Audit Law, this professional establishment shall be located in Luxembourg. During the audit engagement, the transportation of physical working files between the different locations where they are used shall be limited to a minimum. The réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) shall ensure the working files in the different locations where they are used are safe and restricted, as far as possible, their access to the sole members of his/her team and the persons who must access the files according to the standards. In general, the working files cannot be kept, even on a temporary basis, outside the Luxembourg territory. In case where the réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) must travel abroad with his/her working files, s/he shall ensure their confidentiality, security and integrity. In the case of an audit team, the signatory partner of the report shall be responsible for deciding on the need to transport the files abroad and for ensuring their confidentiality, security and integrity. After the finalisation of the engagement documentation and if the réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) keeps the physical files him/herself, the latter must be stored in the central location for retention of files. The management of access to this central retention location must be organised so as to ensure the traceability of all access to the physical files. The working files may be kept by a third party (which may be the audit client itself) on Luxembourg territory, insofar as this third party ensures the application of the minimum requirements laid down in paragraphs 34D-1(n) and 60R-1 of the Luxembourg supplement to ISQM 1. For reasons of accessibility and confidentiality of the physical files, it is not permitted to keep the physical files abroad. 3.2. Electronic files The IT function varying from one réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) to another, the latter shall ensure the appropriate application of the requirements laid down in paragraphs 34D-1(n) and 60R-1 of the Luxembourg supplement to ISQM 1 with respect to electronic files and have internally the necessary IT competences in order to understand at least the implemented IT retention solution(s). The electronic files may be kept by a third party (which may be the audit client itself) on Luxembourg territory and, possibly, outside Luxembourg territory, insofar as this third party ensures the application of the minimum requirements laid down in paragraphs 34D-1(n) and 60R-1 of the Luxembourg supplement to ISQM1 and insofar as the conditions under Section 3.3 are met (except when the third party is the audit client itself). 3.3. Outsourcing the retention of working files Outsourcing the retention of working files poses a number of risks, among which in particular the risk to compromise the confidentiality of data included in the files. The Audit Law provides for the lifting of the professional secrecy obligation of the réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) only in limited cases laid down in Article 28(3), (4) and (5) of the above-mentioned law. It does not apply to a third party (even with a PFS status in Luxembourg) or another entity (located in Luxembourg or abroad) of the network to which the réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) belongs.
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 32 Consequently, any outsourcing shall be treated with caution and in complete compliance with the following conditions:
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 33 4. Duration of the retention of working files For the purposes of the public oversight exercised by the CSSF, réviseurs d'entreprises agréés (approved statutory auditors) and cabinets de révision agréés (approved audit firms) shall keep the working files of the audit engagements for 7 years at least, the minimum frequency for quality assurance reviews laid down in the law being 6 years. As regards civil professional liability claims, Article 11 of the Audit Law lays down that these claims brought against a réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) shall be time-barred after 5 years as from the date of the audit report.
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 34 Annexe 7 LUXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON QUALITY MANAGEMENT 2, ENGAGEMENT QUALITY REVIEWS Definitions 13. In this ISQM 2, the following terms have the meanings attributed below: […] (c) Relevant ethical requirements –In Luxembourg, the firm and its personnel are subject to ethical requirements from three sources: the IESBA Code including the Luxembourg supplement, the Audit Regulation (for Public-interest entities) and the Audit Law (thereafter the “Luxembourg ethical requirements” or “Luxembourg ethical standards”). 13D-1. In Luxembourg, the following terms have the meanings attributed below: (a) Audit Regulation [AR] – refers to Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. (b) Audit Law [AL] – refers to Law of July 23rd, 2016 related to the audit profession. (c) Competent authority – is defined in Article 1(2) of the Audit Law as “the authorities designated by law that are in charge of the regulation and/or oversight of statutory auditors and audit firms or of specific aspects thereof”. In Luxembourg, the competent authority is the CSSF. (d) Key audit partner – is defined in Article 1(1) of the Audit Law as: (i) The statutory auditor designated by an audit firm for a particular audit engagement as being primarily responsible for carrying out the statutory audit on behalf of the audit firm; or (ii) In the case of a group audit, at least the statutory auditor designated by an audit firm as being primarily responsible for carrying out the statutory audit at the level of the group and the statutory auditor(s) designated as being primarily responsible at the level of material subsidiaries; or (iii) The statutory auditor who sign(s) the audit report. (e) Public-interest entity – is as defined in Article 1(20) of the Audit Law. (f) Statutory audit – is defined in Article 1(6) of the Audit Law as an audit of financial statements or consolidated financial statements in so far as required by Union law or by national law. Requirements Appointment and Eligibility of Engagement Quality Reviewers 18R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the engagement quality review shall be performed by an engagement quality reviewer who shall: a) Be an approved statutory auditor (réviseur d’entreprise agréé); and b) Not be involved in the performance of the audit to which the engagement quality review relates. [AR/Article 8.2]
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 35 Where the audit is carried out by a firm and all the statutory auditors of that firm were involved in the conduct of the audit, the firm shall arrange for another firm to perform an engagement quality review. Documents or information disclosed to the engagement quality reviewer for this purpose shall be subject to professional secrecy. [AR/Article 8.3] 19-R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, a cooling-off period of 3 years shall be observed before the key audit partner can assume the role of engagement quality reviewer. Performance of the Engagement Quality Review 24R-1 (b). For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, before the auditor’s report and the additional report to the audit committee27 are issued, the firm shall require that an engagement quality control review shall be performed to assess whether the key audit partner(s) could reasonably have come to the opinion and conclusions expressed in the draft of these reports. [AR/Article 8.1] 25R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the engagement quality reviewer, on performing an engagement quality review required by paragraph 24R-1, shall at least assess the following elements: (a) The independence of the firm from the entity; (b) The significant risks which are relevant to the audit and which the key audit partner(s) has identified during the performance of the audit and the measures that the key audit partner(s) has taken to adequately manage those risks; (c) The reasoning of the key audit partner(s), in particular with regard to the level of materiality and the significant risks referred to in paragraph 25R-1(b); (d) Any request for advice to external experts and the implementation of such advice; (e) The nature and scope of the corrected and uncorrected misstatements in the financial statements that were identified during the carrying out of the audit; (f) The subjects discussed with the audit committee and the management and/or supervisory bodies of the entity; (g) The subjects discussed with competent authorities and, where applicable, with other third parties; and (h) Whether the documents and information selected from the file by the engagement quality reviewer support the opinion of the key audit partner(s) as expressed in the draft of the auditor’s report28 and the additional report to the audit committee29. [AR/Article 8.5] 25R-2. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the engagement quality reviewer shall discuss the results of the review, including the elements assessed in paragraph 25R1, with the key audit partner(s). [AR/Article 8.6] Documentation 30R-1. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the engagement quality reviewer shall also record: 27 ISA 260 (Revised), “Communication with Those Charged with Governance,” paragraph 16R-1 deals with the auditor’s responsibilities to prepare an additional report to the audit committee. 28 ISA 700 (Revised), “Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements.” 29 ISA 260 (Revised), “Communication with Those Charged with Governance,” paragraph 16R-1
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 36 (a) The oral and written information provided by the key audit partner(s) to support the significant judgements as well as the main findings of the audit procedures carried out and the conclusions drawn from those findings, whether or not at the request of the engagement quality reviewer; and [AR/Article 8.4(a)] (b) The opinions of the key audit partner(s), as expressed in the draft of the reports required by ISA 260 (Revised) and ISA 700 (Revised). [AR/Article 8.4(b)] 30R-2. For statutory audits of financial statements of public-interest entities, the auditor shall keep a record of the results of the engagement quality review, together with the considerations underlying those results in the audit documentation. [AR/Article 8.7] / [AL/Article 25(5)]
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 37 Annex 8 Adoption of the standard on professional ethics pursuant to letter (b) of Article 36(3) of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession. This standard shall be applicable and mandatory in the field of professional ethics:
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 38 Annex 9 Luxembourg supplement to the Code of Ethics issued by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) in its version published in the Handbook of the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants – 2023 Edition by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) (hereinafter the “Code of Ethics”) The purpose of this Luxembourg supplement to the Code of Ethics is to compile the legal and regulatory obligations concerning ethics and independence of réviseurs d'entreprises (statutory auditors) (“RE”), réviseurs d'entreprises agréés (approved statutory auditors) (“REA”), cabinets de révision (audit firms) (“CR”) and cabinets de révision agréés (approved audit firms) (“CRA”) as arising from the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession, on the one hand, and from Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on specific requirements regarding statutory audit of public-interest entities (“PIEs”), on the other hand, and to attach these obligations to the corresponding sections of the Code of Ethics. Table of contents PART 1 - COMPLYING WITH THE CODE, FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 110 The Fundamental Principles PART 3 - PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS IN PUBLIC PRACTICE 320 Professional appointments 325 Objectivity of an engagement quality reviewer and other appropriate reviewers 350 Custody of client assets PART 4A – INDEPENDENCE FOR AUDIT AND REVIEW ENGAGEMENTS 400 Applying the conceptual framework to independence for audit and review engagements (effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning before December 15, 2024) 400 Applying the conceptual framework to independence for audit and review engagements (effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2024) 410 Fees 420 Gifts and hospitality 510 Financial interests 520 Business Relationships 524 Employment with an audit client 540 Long association of senior personnel (including partner rotation) with an audit client
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 39
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 40 Audit Clients that are Public-Interest Entities In relation with the handover file in the event of a replacement of an approved statutory auditor (“réviseur d’entreprises agréé”) or approved audit firm (“cabinet de revision agréé”) by a new approved statutory auditor (“réviseur d’entreprises agréé”) or approved audit firm (“cabinet de revision agréé”), paragraph R320.8 is completed as follows: “Subject to the provisions in relation with the safekeeping of audit documentation, the réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) shall also provide the incoming réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) with the previous years’ additional reports to the audit committee and all information communicated to competent authorities, in relation with:
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 41 SECTION 400 APPLYING THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK TO INDEPENDENCE FOR AUDIT AND REVIEW ENGAGEMENTS (effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning before December 15, 2024) Requirements General Paragraph R400.16 is completed as follows: “When carrying out a statutory audit, the réviseurs d’entreprises agréés (approved statutory auditors), the cabinets de révision agréés (approved audit firms), the audit firms, and any natural person in a position to directly or indirectly influence the outcome of the statutory audit, shall be independent of the audited entity. They shall not be involved in the decision-taking of the audited entity. Independence shall be required at least during both the period covered by the financial statements to be audited and the period during which the statutory audit is carried out. The réviseurs d’entreprises agréés (approved statutory auditors), the cabinets de révision agréés (approved audit firms) and the audit firms shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that, when carrying out a statutory audit, their independence is not affected by any existing or potential conflict of interest or business or other direct or indirect relationship involving the réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or the audit firm carrying out the statutory audit and, where appropriate, his, her or its network, managers, auditors, employees, any other natural persons whose services are placed at the disposal or under the control of the réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or audit firm, or any person directly or indirectly linked to the réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or audit firm by control. The réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or the audit firm shall not carry out a statutory audit if there is any threat of self-review, self-interest, advocacy, familiarity or intimidation created by financial, personal, business, employment or other relationships between: – the réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm), the audit firm, his, her or its network, and any natural person in a position to influence the outcome of the statutory audit, and – the audited entity, as a result of which an objective, reasonable and informed third party, taking into account the safeguards applied, would conclude that the independence of the réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or the audit firm is compromised.” [AL/Article 20(1)]. Mergers and acquisitions When a Client Merger Creates a Threat In paragraph R400.73 (a), the deadline of six months is shortened to three months [AL/Article 20(6)]. SECTION 400
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 42 APPLYING THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK TO INDEPENDENCE FOR AUDIT AND REVIEW ENGAGEMENTS (effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2024) Introduction General Provisions of paragraph 400.14 are repealed. Requirements General Paragraph R400.18 is completed as follows: “When carrying out a statutory audit, the réviseurs d’entreprises agréés (approved statutory auditors), the cabinets de révision agréés (approved audit firms), the audit firms, and any natural person in a position to directly or indirectly influence the outcome of the statutory audit, shall be independent of the audited entity. They shall not be involved in the decision-taking of the audited entity. Independence shall be required at least during both the period covered by the financial statements to be audited and the period during which the statutory audit is carried out. The réviseurs d’entreprises agréés (approved statutory auditors), the cabinets de révision agréés (approved audit firms) and the audit firms shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that, when carrying out a statutory audit, their independence is not affected by any existing or potential conflict of interest or business or other direct or indirect relationship involving the réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or the audit firm carrying out the statutory audit and, where appropriate, his, her or its network, managers, auditors, employees, any other natural persons whose services are placed at the disposal or under the control of the réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or audit firm, or any person directly or indirectly linked to the réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or audit firm by control. The réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or the audit firm shall not carry out a statutory audit if there is any threat of self-review, self-interest, advocacy, familiarity or intimidation created by financial, personal, business, employment or other relationships between: – the réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm), the audit firm, his, her or its network, and any natural person in a position to influence the outcome of the statutory audit, and – the audited entity, as a result of which an objective, reasonable and informed third party, taking into account the safeguards applied, would conclude that the independence of the réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or the audit firm is compromised.” [AL/Article 20(1)]. Public Interest Entities
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 43 Provisions of the paragraph R400.22 are replaced by the following provisions: “For the purposes of this Part, a firm shall treat an entity as a public interest entity when it falls within the definition laid down in article 1 (20) of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession.” Provisions of paragraphs 400.22 A1, R400.23, 400.23A1, 400.23 A2 and 400.24 A1 are repealed. Public Disclosure – Application of Independence Requirements for Public Interest Entities Provisions of paragraph R400.26 are repealed. Related Entities Provisions of the paragraph R400.27 are replaced by the following provisions: “As defined, an audit client that is a publicly traded entity includes all of its related entities. For all other entities, references to an audit client in this Part include related entities over which the client has direct or indirect control. When the audit team knows, or has reason to believe, that a relationship or circumstance involving any other related entity of the client is relevant to the evaluation of the firm’s independence from the client, the audit team shall include that related entity when identifying, evaluating and addressing threats to independence.” Mergers and acquisitions When a Client Merger Creates a Threat In paragraph R400.73 (a), the deadline of six months is shortened to three months [AL/Article 20(6)]. SECTION 410 FEES Requirements Level of Audit Fees Paragraph R410.6 and R410.9 are completed as follows: “The fees for statutory audit cannot be influenced or determined by the provision of additional services to the audited entity and cannot be based on any form of contingency.” [AL/Article 27] Total Fees – Proportion of Fees for Services Other than Audit to Audit Fee – Cap of 70% for non-audit services For Audit Clients that are Public-Interest Entities, paragraph 410.11A1 to A3 are replaced by the following provisions: “When the réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) provides to the audited entity, its parent undertaking or its controlled undertakings, for a period of three or more consecutive financial years, non-audit services other than those referred to in Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, the total fees for such services shall be limited to no more than 70 % of the average of the fees paid in the last three consecutive financial years for the statutory audit(s) of the audited entity and, where applicable, of its parent undertaking, of its controlled undertakings and of the consolidated financial statements of that group of undertakings.
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 44 For the purposes of the limits specified above, non-audit services (other than those referred to in Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014) required by Union or Luxembourg legislation shall be excluded. On reasoned request, the CSSF may exceptionally relieve the réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) from the obligation to comply with the limits set in the first subparagraph of this paragraph for a maximum period of two financial years”. [AR/Article 4(2) and AL/Article 49] Total Fees – Fee Dependency Audit Clients that are Public-Interest Entities Provisions of paragraph R410.18 are replaced by the following provision: “When the total fees received from a public-interest entity in each of the last three consecutive financial years are more than 15 % of the total fees received by the réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or, where applicable, by the group auditor carrying out the statutory audit, in each of those financial years, such a réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or a cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or, as the case may be, group auditor, shall disclose that fact to the audit committee and discuss with the audit committee the threats to their independence and the safeguards applied to mitigate those threats. The audit committee shall consider whether the audit engagement should be subject to an engagement quality control review by another statutory auditor or audit firm prior to the issuance of the audit report”. [AR/Article 4(3)] Provisions of paragraph R410.20, R410.21 and 410.21 A1 are replaced by the following provision: “Where the fees received from such a public-interest entity continue to exceed 15% of the total fees received by such the réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or, as the case may be, by a group auditor carrying out the statutory audit, the audit committee shall decide on the basis of objective grounds whether the réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or the group auditor, of such an entity or group of entities may continue to carry out the statutory audit for an additional period which shall not, in any case, exceed two years.” Transparency of Information Regarding Fees for Audit Client that are Public Interest Entities Communication About Fee-related Information with Those Charged with Governance Fee Dependency Provisions of paragraphs R410.28 are repealed. Public Disclosure of Fee-related Information Provisions of paragraph R410.30 are replaced by the following provision: "If laws and regulations do not require an audit client to disclose audit fees, fees for services other than audit paid or payable to the firm, the firm shall discuss with those charged with governance of an audit client that is a public interest entity: (a) The benefit to the client’s stakeholders of the client making such disclosures that are not required by laws and regulations in a manner deemed appropriate, taking into account the timing and accessibility of the information; and
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 45 (b) The information that might enhance the users’ understanding of the fees paid or payable and their impact on the firm’s independence.” Provisions of paragraph R410.31 are replaced by the following provision: “After the discussion with those charged with governance as set out in paragraph R410.30, to the extent that the audit client that is a public interest entity does not make the relevant disclosure, subject to paragraph R410.32, the firm shall publicly disclose: (a) Fees paid or payable to the firm for the audit of the financial statements on which the firm expresses an opinion; (b) Fees, other than those disclosed under (a), charged to the client for the provision of services by the firm during the period covered by the financial statements on which the firm expresses an opinion. For this purpose, such fees shall only include fees charged to the client and its related entities over which the client has direct or indirect control that are consolidated in the financial statements on which the firm will express an opinion; (c) Any fees, other than those disclosed under (a) and (b), charged to any other related entities over which the audit client has direct or indirect control for the provision of services by the firm when the firm knows, or has reason to believe, that such fees are relevant to the evaluation of the firm’s independence.” SECTION 420 GIFTS AND HOSPITALITY Requirements Paragraph R420.3 is completed as follows: “The réviseurs d’entreprises agréés (approved statutory auditors), the cabinets de révision agréés (approved audit firms), the audit firms, their key audit partners, their employees, and any other natural person whose services are placed at the disposal or under the control of such réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or audit firm and who is directly involved in statutory audit activities, and persons closely associated with them within the meaning of Article 3(1) point 26 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and the council on market abuse of 16 April 2014 (market abuse regulation), shall not solicit or accept pecuniary and non-pecuniary gifts or favours from the audited entity or any entity related to an audited entity unless an objective, reasonable and informed third party would consider the value thereof as trivial or inconsequential.” [AL/Article 20(5)] SECTION 510 FINANCIAL INTERESTS Requirements Financial Interests – Other Circumstances Provisions of paragraph 510.10 A1 to 510.10 A12 are replaced by the following provision:
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 46 “The réviseurs d’entreprises agréés (approved statutory auditors), the cabinets de révision agréés (approved audit firms), the audit firms, their key audit partners, their employees, and any other natural person whose services are placed at the disposal or under the control of such réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or audit firm and who is directly involved in statutory audit activities, and persons closely associated with them within the meaning of Article 3(1) point 26 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and the council on market abuse of 16 April 2014 (market abuse regulation):
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 47 “A réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or a key audit partner who carries out a statutory audit on behalf of a cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or an audit firm shall not, before a period of at least one year, has elapsed since he or she ceased to act as réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or key audit partner in connection with the audit engagement:
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 48 “In respect of an audit of a public interest entity, an individual shall not act in any of the following roles, or a combination of such roles, for a period of more than seven cumulative years (the “timeon” period): (a) The engagement partner; (b) The individual appointed as responsible for performing the engagement quality review; or (c) Any other key audit partner role. After the time-on period, the individual shall serve a “cooling-off” period in accordance with the provisions in paragraphs R540.11 to R540.20.” Provisions of paragraph R540.7, R.540.8 and R540.9 are repealed. Cooling-off period The delay of 2 years as per paragraph R540.13 is extended to 3 years in order to participate again in the statutory audit of the audited entity. [AR/Article 17(7)] The section is completed as followed: External rotation Audit Clients that are Public-Interest Entities “In relation with statutory audits of Public-Interest Entities: • Neither the initial engagement of a particular réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or audit firm, nor this in combination with any renewed engagements therewith shall exceed a maximum duration of 10 years; • The maximum duration of a statutory audit of a public-interest entity may be of 20 years, where a public tendering process for the statutory audit is conducted in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 5 of Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014. The maximum duration shall be extended only if, upon a recommendation of the audit committee, the administrative or supervisory body, proposes to the general meeting of shareholders or members, in accordance with Luxembourg law, that the engagement be renewed and that proposal is approved. After the expiry of the maximum duration, the public-interest entity may, on an exceptional basis, request that the CSSF grant an extension to re-appoint the statutory auditor or the audit firm for a further engagement where the conditions in points (a) or (b) of paragraph 4 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 are met. Such an additional engagement shall not exceed two years. • After the expiry of the maximum 10-year duration of engagements (20 years in case of a public tendering process for the statutory audit is conducted in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 5 of Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014), neither the réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or the audit firm nor, where applicable, any members of their networks within the Union shall undertake the statutory audit of the same public-interest entity within the following four-year period.
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 49 For the purposes of this Article, the duration of the audit engagement shall be calculated as from the first financial year covered in the audit engagement letter in which the statutory auditor or the audit firm (including other firms that the audit firm has acquired or that have merged with it) has been appointed for the first time for the carrying-out of consecutive statutory audits for the same public-interest entity.” [AR/Article 17(1)-(6) and (8) and AL/Article 51] SECTION 600 PROVISION OF NON-ASSURANCE SERVICES TO AN AUDIT CLIENT Requirements General The section is completed as followed: Audit Clients that are Public-Interest Entities Prohibition to provide non-audit services “The réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or the audit firm carrying out the statutory audit of a public-interest entity, or any member of the network to which the réviseur d'entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) belongs, shall not directly or indirectly provide to the audited entity, to its parent undertaking or to its controlled undertakings within the Union any prohibited non-audit services in: • the period between the beginning of the period audited and the issuing of the audit report; and • the financial year immediately preceding the period referred to in above-mentioned point in relation to the services listed in point (e) of the below list”. [AR/Article 5 (1)] List of prohibited non-audit services [AR/Article 5 (1) and AL/Article 50] (a) tax services relating to: i. preparation of tax forms (); ii. payroll tax; iii. customs duties; iv. identification of public subsidies and tax incentives unless support from the statutory auditor or the audit firm in respect of such services is required by law (); v. support regarding tax inspections by tax authorities unless support from the statutory auditor or the audit firm in respect of such inspections is required by law (); vi. calculation of direct and indirect tax and deferred tax (); vii. provision of tax advice (*); (b) services that involve playing any part in the management or decision-making of the audited entity; (c) bookkeeping and preparing accounting records and financial statements; (d) payroll services; (e) designing and implementing internal control or risk management procedures related to the preparation and/or control of financial information or designing and implementing financial information technology systems;
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 50 (f) valuation services (*), including valuations performed in connection with actuarial services or litigation support services; (g) legal services, with respect to: i. the provision of general counsel; ii. negotiating on behalf of the audited entity; and iii. acting in an advocacy role in the resolution of litigation; (h) services related to the audited entity's internal audit function; (i) services linked to the financing, capital structure and allocation, and investment strategy of the audited entity, except providing assurance services in relation to the financial statements, such as the issuing of comfort letters in connection with prospectuses issued by the audited entity; (j) promoting, dealing in, or underwriting shares in the audited entity; (k) human resources services, with respect to: i. management in a position to exert significant influence over the preparation of the accounting records or financial statements which are the subject of the statutory audit, where such services involve:
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 51 If his, her or its independence is affected, the réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or the audit firm shall apply safeguards where applicable in order to mitigate the threats caused by such provision of services in a third country. The réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or the audit firm may continue to carry out the statutory audit of the publicinterest entity only if he, she or it can justify, in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 and Article 22 of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession, that such provision of services does not affect his, her or its professional judgement and the audit report." For the purposes of this paragraph: (a) being involved in the decision-taking of the audited entity and the provision of the services referred to in points b), c) and e) of the above-mentioned list shall be deemed to affect such independence in all cases and to be incapable of mitigation by any safeguards. (b) provision of the services referred to in the above-mentioned list other than points b), c) and e) thereof shall be deemed to affect such independence and therefore to require safeguards to mitigate the threats caused thereby.” [AR/Article 5(5)] Approval of non-audit services by the audit committees “A réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), a cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or an audit firm, carrying out statutory audits of public-interest entities, and when the réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor), the cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or the audit firm belongs to a network, any member of such network may provide to the audited entity, to its parent undertaking or to its controlled undertakings non-audit services other than the prohibited non-audit services referred to in the current section (refer to the abovementioned list) subject to the approval of the audit committee after it has properly assessed threats to independence and the safeguards applied in accordance with Article 22 of Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession. The audit committee shall, where applicable, issue guidelines with regard to the authorized services upon the condition that they have been identified by an asterisk in the above-mentioned list of prohibited non-audit services”. [AR/Article 5(4)] Audit Client that Later Becomes a Public Interest Entity Provisions of paragraphs R600.25 (b) are repealed. GLOSSARY Glossary is modified as followed: « Audit client »: An entity in respect of which a réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or a cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) conducts a statutory audit in the meaning of article 1 (6) of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession. When the client is a listed entity, audit client will always include its related entities. When the audit client is not a listed entity, audit client includes those related entities over which the client has direct or indirect control. (See also paragraph R400.27) In the case of a group audit, see the definition of group audit client. (effective for audits of financial statements for period beginning before December 15, 2024).
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 52 « Audit client »: An entity in respect of which a réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or a cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) conducts a statutory audit in the meaning of article 1 (6) of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession. When the client is a publicly traded entity, audit client will always include its related entities. When the audit client is not a publicly traded entity, audit client includes those related entities over which the client has direct or indirect control. (See also paragraph R400.27.) In the case of a group audit, see the definition of group audit client. (effective for audits of financial statements for period beginning on or after December 15, 2024). « Group audit client »: An entity in respect of which a réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or a cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) conducts a statutory audit in the meaning of article 1 (6) of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession. When the entity is a listed entity, the group audit client will always include its related entities and any other components at which audit work is performed. When the entity is not a listed entity, the group audit client includes related entities over which such entity has direct or indirect control and any other components at which audit work is performed. See also paragraph R400.27 (effective for audits of financial statements for period beginning on or after December 15, 2023 but before December 15, 2024). « Group audit client »: An entity in respect of which a réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) or a cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) conducts a statutory audit in the meaning of article 1 (6) of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession. When the entity is a publicly traded entity, the group audit client will always include its related entities and any other components at which audit work is performed. When the entity is not a publicly traded entity, the group audit client includes related entities over which such entity has direct or indirect control and any other components at which audit work is performed. See also paragraph R400.27 (effective for audits of financial statements for period beginning on or after December 15, 2024). « Key audit partner »: In Luxembourg, it corresponds to the definition of « key audit partner » as per article 1 (1) of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession. The individual responsible for the engagement quality review must be included in such definition. « Listed Entity »: In Luxembourg, it means entities governed by the Luxembourg law whose transferable securities are admitted to trading on a recognized market. (effective for audits of financial statements for period beginning before December 15, 2024). « Network »: In Luxembourg, it corresponds to the definition as per article 1 (32) of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession. « Professional Accountant »: In the context of the code of ethics of the audit profession in Luxembourg as adopted by the current regulation, this term corresponds to a natural person or a legal person, which has obtained the title of “réviseur d’entreprises (statutory auditor)” or “cabinet de révision (audit firm)” as per the meaning article 3 of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession.
CSSF REGULATION NO 24-02 53 « Professional Accountant in Public Practice »: In the context of the code of ethics of the audit profession in Luxembourg as adopted by the current regulation, this term corresponds to a natural person or a legal person that is member of the IRE and employed by a cabinet de révision agréé (approved audit firm) or a réviseur d’entreprises agréé (approved statutory auditor) exercising as self-employed the audit profession. « Public-Interest Entity »: This notion shall be understood in Luxembourg as per the definition in article 1 (20) of the Law of 23 July 2016 concerning the audit profession. « Publicly traded entity »: In Luxembourg, it means entities governed by the Luxembourg law whose transferable securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market as defined in the MIFID Directive30, as well as any other regulated, recognized market open to the public that operates regularly. (effective for audits of financial statements for period beginning on or after December 15, 2024). Glossary is completed as followed: « Competent authority »: In Luxembourg, the competent authority for the public oversight of the audit profession is the CSSF. 30 A market on the list of regulated markets prepared by each Member State, that functions regularly characterised by the fact that the regulations issued or approved by the competent authorities set out the conditions of operation and access to the market, as well as the conditions that a given financial instrument must meet in order to be traded on the market, compliance with all information and transparency obligations prescribed in Directive 2014/65/EU.