Auditors are reminded of their obligations under auditing standard ASA 250 Consideration of Laws and Regulations in an Audit of a Financial Report. Under this standard, an auditor is required to report non compliance with relevant laws and regulations which come to the auditor’s attention, to those charged with governance of the client and to management. This would include a duty to report contraventions of the Commonwealth Criminal Code, which contains the offence of bribing a foreign public official (sections 70.2 –70.6). 
 
The Chartered Accountants Advisory Group is available on a free and confidential basis to offer guidance to members who encounter such pressures. Contact your Regional Manager to be assigned to a member of the CAAG group who will make contact with you within 48 hours to give you appropriate counselling and support. 
 

• The Institute: Return to article, Professional Conduct: Doing business overseas