Guidance for Auditors conducting ABC Audits
The ABC Reporting Standards allow for ABC audits to be conducted by approved auditors (other than ABC staff auditors) in the following sectors:
The ABC Byelaws provide further details on the auditor approval requirements and process, including the preparation of a letter of engagement.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) Audit and Assurance Faculty previously issued a no longer active Technical Release AAF 01/11 “Reporting to the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC)” in September 2011, which provides further guidance, including a model tripartite agreement. That technical release is not actively under review, but is available from the ICAEW Library & Information Service.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI) issued Guidance document M49 “Reporting to the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) in 2009, which can be accessed by members on the ICAI technical hub.
The ABC/ICAEW Audit Forum was set up in 2001 to create a dialogue between ABC, firms carrying out circulation audits, and the Institute.
The Forum is chaired by Adam Edelshain (PWC), attended by Simon Redlich & Mike Saunders (ABC) , and the Audit & Assurance Faculty of the ICAEW, and is open to all auditors who conduct ABC audits.
Via the Forum, we can review how ABC audits are expected to be conducted, and discuss any new issues arising in the industry. In addition, if you have any concerns in relation to the Institute’s auditor guidance, or if you would propose any changes, then we can discuss that through the Forum.
We send newsletter to all auditors conducting ABC audits, in early December, just before the annual audits are due for completion. We will tell you about any Reporting Standards changes, highlight any current risks you should be aware of, and remind you what you need to do to sign off your audit work.
You need to complete an ABC Audit Programme for each publication that you are auditing, and submit that to us. If you are the nominated auditor for a registered publication, we will send you a digital copy of the audit programme at the start of last month of the publication’s audit period (June/December) each year.
When conducting your work and please make sure that you also refer to the detailed relevant requirements in the Reporting Standards.
Please electronically sign and submit your completed audit programmes to , at the same time as signing off each publication’s return in the ABC Returns System. The submission deadline dates are published alongside the relevant Reporting Standards, and you also find a link those dates on the ABC Returns System home page.
The Audit team at ABC are always happy to help if you have any questions before starting or during your audits.
If you have any auditing questions, if you’d like to be added to the newsletter mailing list, or if you’re interested being involved in the ABC/ICAEW Audit Forum, please get in touch with us via , or call +44(1442) 200 770.
