APES 315 Compilation of Financial Information

Objective

APES 315 Compilation of Financial Information sets out mandatory requirements and guidance for members in public practice who perform an engagement to compile financial information. The Standard also encourages application to engagements to compile non-financial information.

Scope and application

APES 315 took effect on 1 January 2010 and with its latest revision effective 1 April 2023. It requires members in public practice in Australia to adhere to its mandatory requirements when they compile financial information. Members in public practice outside Australia, must follow the requirements of APES 315 as long as local laws and/or regulations do not prevent them from doing so. The revised Standard applies to engagements commencing on or after 1 April 2023.

Activities that fall outside the scope of the standard include preparation of a taxation return and financial information prepared solely for inclusion in the tax return, analysis of figures provided by the client to report to the client, relaying of information to the client without collection, classification or summarisation of the information and assurance engagements.

Fundamental responsibilities of members

APES 315 requires members to observe and comply with their public interest obligations when they perform a compilation engagement. The Standard also reminds members of their professional obligations established in APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including Independence Standards), Section 113 – Professional Competence and Due Care.

APES 315 states that independence is not a requirement for a compilation engagement, however, where a member in public practice is not independent, they have to make an explanatory statement to that effect in the compilation report.

Procedures

Depending on the terms and nature of the compilation engagement, APES 315 requires the member to obtain a sufficient understanding of the client's business, its operations, and accounting principles and practices. Procedures such as verification of relevant matters or information, assessment of internal controls, and assessments of reliability, accuracy and completeness of information provided are not required unless the member has reason to believe information supplied by the client includes a misstatement. If the client refuses to provide further information required to address any potential misstatements, the member should refer to the firm's policies and procedures established in accordance with APES 320 Quality Management for Firms that Provide Non-Assurance Services or ASQM1 Quality Management for Firms that Perform Audits or Reviews of Financial Reports and Other Financial Information, or Other Assurance or Related Services Engagements in determining whether to continue acting for the client.

Responsibility of the client

A member in public practice who undertake a compilation engagement needs to obtain an acknowledgement in writing from their client of their responsibility for the reliability, accuracy, and completeness of the accounting records and disclosures to the member of all material and relevant information.  That responsibility includes application by the client of the judgement required for the preparation and presentation of the financial information, including the selection and application of appropriate accounting policies and, where needed, developing reasonable accounting estimates.

Reporting on a compilation engagement

A member must issue a compilation report where:

• the member's or firm's name is identified with the compiled financial information
• external parties other than the intended user can associate the member with the compiled financial information, and there is a risk that the level of the member's involvement with the information may be misunderstood
• the intended user may not understand the nature and scope of the member's involvement
• the compiled information is required under applicable law or regulation, or it is required to be publicly filed.

Where the member compiles financial information for internal use only by a client, the member should issue an accountant's report disclaimer, and on each page of the compiled financial information include a reference to the fact that the information is restricted for internal use only and should be read in conjunction with the accountant's report disclaimer.

Where a member issues a compilation report in relation to financial statements prepared in accordance with a regulation or contract, the member shall describe in the compilation report the purpose for which the financial statements are prepared or refer to a note in the financial statements that contains that information.

Mandatory elements to be included in a compilation report are:

• a title of the report, and the addressee statement that the engagement is performed in accordance with the Standard
• a statement that the compilation engagement was performed in accordance with APES 315 and the member has complied with relevant ethical requirements.
• if applicable, a statement that the member is not independent from the client
• identification of the compiled financial information, and if applicable, noting that it is based on the financial information provided by the client
• the basis of any forecast information and key assumptions (applicable to prospective financial information only) a statement that the client is responsible for the financial information compiled by the member
• a statement that neither an audit nor a review has been carried out and that no assurance is expressed on the compiled financial information
• if a member is reporting on the compilation of SPFS, a statement to that effect as well as stating the specific purpose for which the SPFS have been prepared, and that the SPFS are only suitable for the purpose they have been prepared and may not be suitable for any other purpose
• the date of the compilation report, the member's or firm's name, address and signature
• an appropriate disclaimer of liability
• a description of the responsibilities of the client in relation to the compilation engagement, and in relation to the financial information.

Refer to the standard for information concerning

• scope
• application
• objectives
• definitions
• public interest
• professional competence and due care
• professional independence
• confidentiality
• planning
• applicable financial reporting framework
• documentation and quality control
• responsibility of the client
• reporting on a compilation engagement
• communication of significant matters
• subsequent discovery of facts
• decision trees to determine whether an engagement is a compilation engagement
• when a compilation report should be issued
• examples of an engagement letter
• compilation reports
• accountant's report disclaimer.