The IESBA Code of Ethics: What It Means for Accountants in Ireland

The IESBA Code of Ethics for professional accountants is the international ethics benchmark that most Irish accountancy bodies build their own codes on. If you are a professional accountant working in Dublin, in practice or in business, your obligations come from your professional body's code, which, according to the bodies' own pages, is based on the international one. This guide explains what the IESBA Code is, how it is structured, how the Irish bodies describe their link to it, and what to check in your own situation. It is a plain-English orientation, not a substitute for reading your body's current code. For the related duty to keep your competence up to date, see our guide to IES 7 and CPD for professional accountants.

What IESBA is and what the Code does

According to IESBA's own "About" page (no date shown), the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants is an independent global standard-setting board that develops ethics and independence standards for professional accountants, auditors and assurance providers. Its output is the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, including the International Independence Standards.

The page says the Code is recognised, adopted or converged with in more than 130 jurisdictions. Adoption can happen through legislation or regulation, through national standard setters, or through professional bodies that issue aligned local standards, and enforcement depends on each jurisdiction's legal framework. In other words, how far the Code binds anyone depends on the rules of the jurisdiction and the professional body. It reaches Irish accountants through the rules of the bodies they belong to and, for auditors, through the standard issued by the Irish regulator.

The same page says IESBA is part of the International Foundation for Ethics and Audit, set up in 2023, and that the Public Interest Oversight Board oversees its standard-setting. IESBA's current-edition page links to a 2026 Handbook as the current edition and a 2025 Handbook as the previous one. It shows no date of its own, so check the IESBA site for the edition in force.

How the Code is built

IESBA's Code page (no date shown) describes a principles-based framework with five fundamental principles and a conceptual framework. ACCA's published code, which reproduces Volume 1 of the 2025 IESBA Handbook and takes effect on 1 January 2026, sets out the layout:

• Part 1 covers compliance, the fundamental principles and the conceptual framework, and applies to all professional accountants.
• Part 2 covers professional accountants in business, such as industry, the public sector, education or not-for-profit.
• Part 3 covers professional accountants in public practice.
• Parts 4A and 4B are the independence standards: 4A for audit and review engagements, 4B for other assurance engagements.
• Part 5, in a separate second volume, covers ethics and independence for sustainability assurance practitioners.

That ACCA document also notes that some revisions have their own dates, including tax planning provisions from 1 July 2025 and revisions on using external experts and on sustainability reporting from 15 December 2026, with early adoption of the December 2026 changes permitted.

The five fundamental principles

ACCA's page on the fundamental ethical principles (metadata shows it was last modified on 18 October 2023) lists them. The wording below is a paraphrase of that page, and CPA Ireland's code lists the same five.

• Integrity: being straightforward and honest in all professional and business relationships.
• Objectivity: not letting bias, conflicts of interest or undue influence compromise your judgment.
• Professional competence and due care: maintaining the knowledge and skill needed to give competent service and acting diligently under applicable standards.
• Confidentiality: respecting information obtained through professional and business relationships.
• Professional behaviour: complying with relevant laws and regulations and avoiding conduct that could discredit the profession.

The conceptual framework: identify, evaluate, address

IESBA's Code page describes a three-step conceptual framework: identify threats, evaluate them, and address them. It lists the threat categories as self-interest, self-review, advocacy, familiarity and intimidation. The IFAC "Exploring the IESBA Code" series (no date shown) gives each step its own instalment and also features a newer instalment on technology, including artificial intelligence.

A practical approach, and our suggestion rather than a requirement: when a situation feels uncomfortable, write down which principle is under pressure, which of the five threat types it resembles, and what safeguard or decision you chose. A short note on file is far easier to defend later than a recollection.

How the Irish bodies link to the Code

CPA Ireland

The CPA Ireland Code of Ethics we opened is the August 2022 edition, effective from 1 August 2022. It says it incorporates the IESBA changes "in their entirety and unaltered", applies to all members, and mirrors the same part structure. CPA Ireland may have issued a later edition, so confirm the current one on its site.

Chartered Accountants Ireland

The Institute's Code of Ethics page says that, as an IFAC member, it adopted the IESBA Code and added material it considers relevant. The code applies to members, students and affiliates, and firms must ensure their employees comply. The page links to a December 2020 edition and says Part 5, for insolvency practitioners, was withdrawn with effect from 1 July 2026. Its news listing also shows a headline dated 23 June 2026 about code updates for insolvency practitioners and future revisions, but we could not read the article text.

ACCA

ACCA publishes its Code of Ethics and Conduct as a reproduction of the IESBA Handbook (Volume 1), which it says forms an integral part of its Code.

Statutory auditors and IAASA

Chartered Accountants Ireland says members involved in statutory audits must also follow the Ethical Standards for Auditors issued by IAASA in the Republic of Ireland or the FRC in the UK. The IAASA Ethical Standard we opened says it applies to audit engagements, is based on the UK FRC's Revised Ethical Standard 2024 with amendments for Irish requirements, and becomes effective on 15 December 2026 with early adoption permitted. Chartered Accountants Ireland's news list dates the IAASA publication at 10 April 2025.

What it means for accountants in Dublin

The Code does not change by postcode, so a Dublin accountant follows the same rules as one anywhere in the State. What matters is your role. An accountant in a finance team applies Part 2 principles; one in practice applies Part 3 and, for audit and assurance work, the independence rules. Directors who are also accountants should remember that their company-law duties are a separate matter from the ethics code; our overview of directors' duties in Ireland covers that side.

Some suggested steps for employers and finance leaders:

• Keep a copy of your body's current code and note the edition and effective date.
• Brief new starters on the five principles and where to raise concerns.
• Build ethics scenarios into your annual training plan, and record attendance. Our guide to CPD training for finance professionals in Dublin may help with planning.

Learnsignal's offices are off Baggot Street in Dublin, and we offer in-person training from there. For current details, see our CPD pages.

Frequently asked questions

Is the IESBA Code legally binding in Ireland?

IESBA's own page says enforcement depends on each jurisdiction's legal framework and that adoption can occur through legislation, standard setters or professional bodies. For most Irish accountants, the binding element is their professional body's code, plus the IAASA standard for auditors.

Do the Irish bodies change the IESBA text?

CPA Ireland's August 2022 code says it incorporated the IESBA changes unaltered. Chartered Accountants Ireland says it adopted the IESBA Code and added material of its own. Read your body's current edition to see exactly what applies.

Which edition of the Code is current?

IESBA's page links to a 2026 Handbook as current, while the Irish body pages we read referred to earlier editions. This guide does not quote the Code text itself, so check the body's site and IESBA for the edition and effective dates that apply to you.

Does the Code cover AI and technology?

The IFAC series has an instalment on technology, including AI, but we did not read the Code's technology provisions, so we make no claim about them here.

Whatever your role, start with your own body's current code and treat the IESBA material as the reference point behind it.