The Canadian Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AASB) operates in an independent manner in our decision making with the authority and responsibility to set standards for quality management, audit, sustainability assurance, other assurance and related services engagements and guidance in Canada.
We serve the public interest by setting high-quality standards and guidance and supporting their effective application to address evolving needs of Canadians.
We contribute to the development of International Standards. This includes International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), which we adopt as Canadian Auditing Standards (CASs). When we believe it is in the Canadian public interest to do so, we adopt other International Standards as Canadian Standards, including certain International Standards on Assurance Engagements (ISAEs) and International Standards on Sustainability Assurance (ISSAs). We participate in consultations and activities of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) to ensure Canadian needs are considered.
Canadians, including those interested in and affected by the Canadian economy, need reliable information to support their decision-making. The use of our high-quality auditing, sustainability assurance, and other assurance and related services standards lends credibility to financial and non-financial information.
The Auditing and Assurance Standards Oversight Council (AASOC) oversees our activities and ensures we follow our rigorous due process. AASOC appoints our members and provides input on strategy and priorities. AASOC assesses and reports to the public on our performance to ensure we fulfill our public interest mandate.
Our Community
We serve a number of interested and affected parties including:
- members of the public;
- assurance practitioners, including:
- professional accountants; and
- other professionals performing assurance engagements;
- preparers;
- users (e.g. investors, creditors, analysts and bond raters);
- boards and audit committees;
- governments (federal, provincial, municipal, and Indigenous); and
- regulators.
Membership
The AASB is composed of 15 members. View current AASB members.
Our membership consists of a diverse group of individuals with a range of experience from various locations across Canada.
The Board’s support staff includes:
- a Director;
- two Associate Directors;
- six Principals; and
- one Administrative Assistant.
The Board is further supported by dedicated volunteers on our Advisory Groups, Reference Groups, Task Forces, and other Committees. Learn more about our Committees.
Meetings
We normally meet six times a year. Additional meetings may take place.
Our relationship with CPA Canada
Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) provides funding and assigns dedicated staff and other resources to support our activities.
CPA Canada, AASOC, and the AASB function at arm’s length from one another. As a result, we make our standard-setting decisions in an independent manner.
Note: The recent work of the Independent Review Committee on Standard Setting in Canada considered what changes might be appropriate to ensure that the current standard-setting model in Canada is “fit for the future” and continues to serve the public interest. The Committee issued 26 recommendations in March 2023, which aim to ensure the structure and oversight of standard setting continues to have a sustainable funding model, and processes that are effective and responsive to the public interest. Implementation decisions for these recommendations are now underway.