A18. While a premise of this IES is that Engagement Partners have already developed the professional
competence to assume that role, Engagement Partners operate in an environment of significant
change. Pressure for change can come from many sources, including, but not limited to (a)
increased regulation, (b) developments in financial and non-financial reporting, (c) emerging
technologies, (d) increasing use of business analytics, and (e) business complexity. Change
requires Engagement Partners to maintain and further develop professional competence
throughout their careers.