Current Issues

Please see my notes here https://opentuition.com/topic/current-issues-44/

Except for the 5 exam technique articles which are pinned to the top of this list, the most recent are at the top of this page: https://www.accaglobal.com/an/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/p7/technical-articles.html

So I suggest you should be reading the data analytics article – also the specialised industries, ISA 540, evaluation of misstatements and NOCLAR – i.e. 4 preceding articles. Although these have all been examined recently that doesn’t mean they won’t get examined again. I would actually look back further to any topics where you think wider reading might help you – e.g. re disclosures, QC, professional scepticism – these topics are of ongoing relevance.

Audit quality is a perpetual “current” issue but, for example, the most recent EDs of IAASB pronouncements are not examinable until September 2020 – because of the examinable documents “cut-off” rule. Even if the Brydon report were to be considered as an examinable document it would not be examinable until September 2021 (because it was published in December 2019 after the cut-off date for the 2020-21 exam docs).
So NO – I don’t think anyone reading this post needs to be worried about not having read the Brydon report.

Provision of non-audit services is another perpetual “current” issue – I don’t think any candidate would be expected to specifically refer to this case because it is still ongoing. Also, as “case law” is peculiar to to only some legal systems (e.g. in England) it is not “international” – so it wouldn’t be considered examinable unless it had some really significant impact. Caparo, for example, redefined concepts of third party liability.

As NARP role could conceivably be relevant to a Q about provision of NAS, some such current comment might be awarded a mark. But I think you should be wary of looking for opportunities to convey up-to-date knowledge of current issues – more than a sentence and you are probably not answering the Q set.