Why Audit Communication Is Back in Focus

Communication between auditors and those charged with governance (TCWG) is a critical element of audit quality, particularly in areas such as audit planning, risk assessment, and significant judgements. Recent regulatory reviews have brought renewed focus to how these long-standing requirements are being applied in practice. The NFRA circular issued on 7 January 2026 is a timely reminder in this context. It does not introduce new obligations. Instead, it draws attention back to a standard that applies to every audit, across listed and unlisted entities, alike SA 260. This article revisits SA 260 through the lens of the NFRA circular and recent regulatory observations, focusing on how communication between auditors and those charged with governance is expected to be structured, the roles envisaged for Boards and Audit Committees in enabling this communication, and why renewed attention to this area is timely.