Current issues in pensions financial reporting Q3 2023

This briefing note is for those involved in preparing and auditing pension disclosures under Accounting Standards FRS102 (UK non-listed), IAS19 (EU listed) and ASC715 (US listed) as at 30 September 2023.

It covers the current topical issues as well as the considerations for company directors when preparing disclosures, and for auditors in determining whether the assumptions are appropriate.

Download now

Key insights

• IAS19 liabilities fall, but balance sheet impact mixed. Since 30 September 2022, most schemes have likely seen a fall in the value of their IAS19 liabilities, with corporate bond yields generally rising by between 0.1% p.a. and 0.7% p.a., depending on duration.
• Surpluses. The improvements in funding levels mean many schemes may find themselves with accounting surplus at the next balance sheet date, possibly for the first time under the current versions of the accounting standards.
• Impact of Covid-19 on demographics is unlikely to reduce liabilities. The CMI estimates there have been 200,100 more deaths than would have been expected since the start of the pandemic, but this is unlikely to significantly reduce pension scheme liabilities.

Further topics featured include:

• IAS19 disclosure requirements
• Setting discount rates under the accounting standards
• Inflation based on RPI and CPI
• Mortality assumptions