Following ongoing discussions between the Malta Institute of Accountants and the Accountancy Board, a number of key audit areas have been identified where challenges, inconsistencies, and recurring weaknesses continue to arise during quality assurance reviews. In response, the Institute is organising a six-session Audit Excellence CPE Series jointly with the Accountancy Board, aimed at providing practitioners with practical guidance, greater clarity on expectations, and insight into how these areas are being assessed in practice.

The series has been designed to provide a comprehensive and practical overview of key audit requirements and areas commonly reviewed during quality assurance inspections. The programme combines focused online technical sessions with two practical in-person workshops, ensuring coverage of the audit process from engagement acceptance and planning through to fieldwork, reporting, quality management, ethical and regulatory obligations, and communication responsibilities.

The online sessions will cover a number of core audit areas, including Audit Engagement and Planning, Regulatory and Ethical Requirements (including considerations applicable to PIE Auditors), Audit Field Work, and Incoming and Outgoing Auditor Obligations. These sessions are intended to provide attendees with practical guidance, technical clarification, and a stronger understanding of the regulatory expectations surrounding these key areas.

The two in-person workshops will focus on practical application and case study-based discussions. The first workshop will focus on ISQM 1, including implementation challenges, documentation considerations, regulatory expectations, and examples of good practices identified in practice. The second workshop will focus on practical case studies together with audit follow-up considerations, audit opinion formulation, and practical reporting challenges commonly encountered during audit engagements.

Both workshops will include participation from representatives involved in the quality assurance review process, including the Head of the Quality Assurance Department, who will be joined by practitioners who will be able to give their first hand experience, providing attendees with valuable practical insight into common findings, recurring weaknesses, and regulatory expectations.

Each session within the series may be booked individually, with online sessions priced at €40 each and in-person workshops priced at €50 each.

Alternatively, practitioners may benefit from the following package offers:

• €100 for all six sessions for CPE Unlimited Bundle Holders
• €235 for all six sessions for attendees of the recent joint MIA and Accountancy Board Conference

We believe this series provides a valuable opportunity for practitioners to obtain practical insight into areas currently receiving particular focus during quality assurance reviews, while also assisting firms in strengthening their implementation, documentation, and reporting processes in practice.

To benefit from the package offers or for further information, kindly contact us on cpeevents@miamalta.org.