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Accounting Alert

IASB issues revised 'Practice Statement on management commentary'

Overview

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has issued a revised ‘Practice Statement on management commentary’ (the Practice Statement). The objective of the revision is to provide a global benchmark for the preparation of management commentary accompanying financial statements including sustainability-related financial disclosures by adopting an objectives-based framework with the following six key areas of content:

  1. the entity’s business model focusing on how the entity creates value and generates cash flows
  2. management’s strategy for sustaining and developing that business model, including the opportunities management has chosen to pursue
  3. the resources and relationships on which the business model and strategy depend, including resources not recognised as assets in the entity’s financial statements
  4. risks that could disrupt the business model, strategy, resources or relationships
  5. factors and trends in the external environment that have affected or could affect the business model, strategy, resources, relationships or risks, and
  6. the entity’s financial performance and financial position—including how they have been affected or could be affected in the future by the matters discussed for the other areas of content.

Each area of content has predetermined disclosure objectives which comprise a headline objective—describing the overall information needs of users for the area of content; and specific objectives—describing the detailed information needs of users for the area of content. The Practice Statement is non-mandatory but designed to be used alongside IFRS Accounting Standards and IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards.

Background

The Practice Statement was originally issued in 2010 to provide a broad, non binding framework for the presentation of management commentary that relates to financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS Accounting Standards).

The revised Practice Statement was designed to improve the quality and consistency of management commentary globally by addressing shortcomings in current practice, particularly around the clarity and connectivity of narrative reporting and thereby provides a global benchmark for regulators to update or develop national guidance. For the key elements and other details of the Practice Statement, kindly refer to the attached.

Effective date

This Practice Statement supersedes ‘Practice Statement 1 Management Commentary’ for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 23 June 2025. Earlier application is permitted. If an entity applies this Practice Statement for an earlier period, it must disclose that fact.

P&A Grant Thornton Accounting Alert issued on July 18, 2025

P&A Grant Thornton Accounting Alert issued on July 18, 2025

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