Non-Compliance with Laws

and Regulations
Financial Services Industry

Moshood Olajide

Strictly private and confidential Discussion Document July 2018

Synopsis

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) has

issued a pronouncement on professional accountants’ Response to Non-
Compliance with Laws and Regulations (NOCLAR). It sets out a framework
that requires professional accountants (PAs) to take actions when they
become aware of any illegal or potential illegal act.
The pronouncement comprises the following:
1. Section 225 concerning PAs in public practice;
2. Section 360 concerning PAs in business; and
3. Consequential and conforming amendments to other sections of the
IESBA Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (the Code).
NOCLAR became effective on 15th July 2017.
In this session, we will articulate the key requirements, obligations and
impact on professional accountants in practice and those in organisations.
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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Learning outcome

At the end of this session, participants should be able to:

• Understand the new pronouncement on NOCLAR

• Explain the purpose of NOCLAR to all stakeholders
• Become aware of potential illegal act in organisations
• Identify key requirements, obligations and impact of NOCLAR on
professional accountants
• Know how to respond to NOCLAR under different scenarios
• Manage the associated risk when responding to NOCLAR

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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Table of Contents

Overview of NOCLAR pronouncement

The scope of NOCLAR pronouncement
Proposed response framework
Possible implications
Conclusions and case study
Questions and answers
Overview of NOCLAR
- Context and background
- Purpose / objectives
Context and background

In August 2012, the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA)
issued an exposure draft (ED) of its proposals, responding to a Suspected Illegal Act.
Respondents from the regulatory community, in particular, were supportive of the
Board’s efforts to provide guidance not only to auditors but also to Professional
Accountants (PAs) in public practice providing services other than audits of financial
statements, and those in business.
As a result of significant concerns across most stakeholder groups regarding the
operability of the proposals, the Board held a series of global roundtables in 2014.
The roundtables were able to solicit further views and input from stakeholders on the
issues. As a result of the significant comments on the ED, the roundtable input and the
Board’s further deliberations and consultations with other stakeholders, the Board
developed an approach for PAs to respond to instances of Non-Compliance with Laws
and Regulations (NOCLAR) or suspected NOCLAR.

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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Purpose and objectives

In providing a professional service to a client or carrying out professional activities for

an employer, Professional Accountants come across various acts or suspected acts of
non-compliance with laws and regulations (NOCLAR).
The PA has a prima facie ethical responsibility not to turn a blind eye to such matters.
At the same time, the IESBA recognised that such a situation can often be a difficult
and stressful one.
In order to provide a solution to the dilemma, the Board approved the NOCLAR
pronouncement to develop enhancements to the IESBA Code to help guide the PAs in
dealing with the situation and in deciding how best to act in the public interest.
When responding to non-compliance or suspected non-compliance, the objective of
the professional accountant should be to comply with fundamental principles of
integrity and professional behaviours while taking public interest into consideration.
In addition, the aim is for the entity to correct the NOCLAR and remediate or prevent
its occurrence where it is still being suspected.
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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Why the Standard was developed

The standard was developed in response to the following issues/concerns-

The duty of confidentiality owed the client which acted as a barrier to

disclosing likely NOCLAR to regulators and public authorities.

Auditors resigning to avoid NOCLAR issues.

No guidance to assist the PA in working out the best response to

potential NOCLAR.

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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
What the Standard aims to achieve

Enhanced ethical conduct:

• Clarifies the appropriate response of a PA to a potential NOCLAR and
emphasises the role of management in addressing in the matter.
• Increase awareness and understanding of the PA’s legal and regulatory
responsibilities when faced with a potential NOCLAR situation.
Protection for stakeholders and the general public
• Stimulate PAs to take a proactive role in responding to NOCLAR towards
obtaining an earlier response from management, lower rates of NOCLAR and
timely intervention from regulators.
Enhanced role and value of the accountancy profession
• Enhances the reputation of the profession and enables the profession playa
greater role in the fight against significant NOCLARs.

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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Definition

Non-compliance can be defined as:

• Any act of omission or commission by the entity, either intentional or unintentional, which are
contrary to the prevailing laws or regulations.

• Such acts include transactions entered into by, or in the name of, the entity, or on its behalf, by
those charged with governance, management or employees.

• Non-compliance does not include personal misconduct (unrelated to the business activities of the
entity) by those charged with governance, management or employees of the entity.’

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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Scope of NOCLAR
- Who is covered?
- What is covered?
- Scenarios / Examples
- Exclusions
Who is covered?

The NOCLAR Pronouncement is applicable to all professional accountants

including:

Professional Accountants in Professional Accountants in

Public Practice Business

• Audit of financial statements • Those working as employees for

• Other assurance services organisations in various roles
• Professional services other than • Senior PAs in business
audit of financial statement e.g. Tax,
Accounting, Training etc

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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
What is covered?

NOCLAR covers:

• Any acts of non-compliance with laws and regulations the PA encounters

or is made aware of

• Suspected acts of non-compliance with laws and regulations

• By employees of the organisation, management and those charged with

governance including third parties under the control of the entity

• Whether international, or not, by omission or commission.

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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
What is covered?
Scenarios and examples

Examples include laws and regulations that deal with:

Fraud, corruption and bribery

Money laundering, terrorist financing and proceeds of crime

Securities markets and trading

Banking and other products and services

Data protection

Tax and pension liabilities and payments

Environmental protection

Public health and safety

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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Scope exclusion

NOCLAR does not apply to the following although the framework may be
applied in dealing with them:

• matters that are clearly inconsequential, judged by their nature and

impact, financial or otherwise (disclosure etc). For example: trying to
cajole a traffic officer to ignore penalties for a traffic violation.

• personal misconduct unrelated to the business activities- For example: A

top employee getting drunk or driving under the influence of alcohol.

• non-compliance other than by the employing organisation or any of its

other stakeholders- For example: Conducting a due diligence on a
company on instructions of another company.

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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
The proposed response
framework
Response framework

PAs in public practice Response

1. Become aware(see it, but do not seek it)
Audit of financial
2. Obtain an understanding of the matter (nature of the act
statements
and the circumstances), discuss with management, may
seek legal counsel.
When a professional
accountant in public practice 3. Addressing the matter (rectify, remediate, mitigate,
becomes aware of an non- deter, disclose)
compliance or suspected 4. Communication with respect to groups (for financial
non-compliance, the statements audit)
following steps are to be 5. Determine whether further action is needed (timely
taken. response, appropriate steps taken by entity etc, consider
withdrawing from engagement)
6. Determine whether to disclose the matter to appropriate
authority
7. Documentation- comply with ISA and PwC audit
documentation
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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Response framework

PAs in public practice Response

1. Become aware (see it, but do not seek it)
Non-audit services 2. Obtain an understanding of the matter

When a professional accountant in 3. Address the issue with management and

public practice becomes aware of an those charged with governance
non-compliance or suspected non- 4. Communicate the matter to the entity’s
compliance, the following steps are to external auditor
be taken. 5. Consider whether further action is needed in
the public interest e.g. disclosing to
authorities or withdrawing from the
engagement
6. Documentation – the matter, result of
discussion with management or those
charged with governance, actions taken.

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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Response framework

PAs in business Response

1. Subject to established protocols and
Professional Accountants procedures, inform an immediate superior to
other than Senior enable the superior to take appropriate action.
Professional Accountants
2. If the PA’s immediate superior appears to be
involved in the matter, inform the next higher
When an organizations have
level of authority within the organisation.
established protocols and
procedures regarding how non- 3. In exceptional circumstances, the PA may
compliance or suspected non- decide that disclosure of the matter to an
compliance should be raised appropriate authority is an appropriate course
internally. The professional of action.
accountant is expected to consider
them in determining how to 4. Documentation – matter, discussion, response
handle non-compliance. by superior, and decision taken.

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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Response framework

PAs in business Response

1. Become aware (see it, but do not seek it)
Senior Professional 2. Obtain the understanding of the matter
Accountants (SPAs)
3. Address the matter
SPAs are directors, officers or senior 4. Determine whether further action is
employees able to exert significant needed
influence over, and make decisions 5. Determine whether to disclose the
regarding, the acquisition, matter to an appropriate authority
deployment and control of human, 6. Documentations
financial, technological, physical and
intangible resources.

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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Possible Implications
- Practical considerations
- Legal implications
- Some examples
Responsibilities of Professional Accountants

When a professional accountant becomes aware of information regarding non-

compliance or suspected non-compliance, the accountant is expected to obtain
understanding of the matter, apply professional judgement and expertise, but not
expected to have a level of understanding of laws and regulations beyond that which is
required of his role with the employing organisation.
In exceptional cases, the professional accountant may disclose an act of non-compliance
to appropriate authority and such act will not be considered as breach of confidentiality
but an act of good faith in the interest of the public.
Factors to consider include:
1. The legal and regulatory framework
2. The urgency of the matter
3. The pervasiveness of the matter throughout the organisation
4. Whether there is confidence in the integrity of those charged with governance
5. Whether non-compliance is likely to recur
6. Actual or potential harm to the interest of the organisation, investors, creditors,
employees or general public.
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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Responsibilities of management and those charged
with governance

It is the responsibility of the employing organisation’s management and those

charged with governance, to ensure that their business activities are
conducted in accordance with laws and regulations and to identify any form
of non-compliance by any of its stakeholders.

Non-compliance may result in fines, litigation, or other consequences for the

employing organisation that may have a material effect on its financial
statement and may also affect negatively investors, creditors, employees or
general public.

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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Questions!

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Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Thank you!

This is a proposal document and does not constitute a contract of engagement with PricewaterhouseCoopers Nigeria. The information set out in it is an indication of
the terms on which we propose to carry out outsourced internal audit services for you but the proposal is subject to the terms of any subsequent engagement contract
that may be entered in to between us. In the event that our proposal to you is successful, our acceptance of the engagement will be contingent upon the completion of all
our internal engagement acceptance procedures.

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