No New Ethics Standards as Focus Shifts to Implementation

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If you’re drowning in new standards, here’s some relief: The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) is hitting pause on major new standards to help accountants actually use what’s already on the table. In its 2025–2026 Work Plan, IESBA is shifting gears from pushing out more regulations to helping firms build ethical cultures that prevent scandals, protect reputations, and keep SARS off your back.

What’s New

• A phased rollout of the Firm Culture & Governance framework

• The SMART strategy aiming at the simplification of processes and outputs;

  • Mobilization of stakeholders to act with impact and purpose;

  • Adoption support of the IESBA Code across jurisdictions;

  • Responsiveness to stakeholders in the face of emerging risks and expectations; and

  • Targeted Action by tailoring efforts and engagement to different stakeholders.

• No major new standards before 2027. It is time to catch up, implement, and build trust.

Why This is Important For You

The message is clear:

Strong ethics = stronger client trust = more billable services. This isn’t compliance for compliance’s sake, it’s your edge in a high-risk world.

🔗 Read the full update on the IESBA website.