Frankie Chia
Managing Partner
Managing Partner's Message
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the January 2026 edition of BDO Spotlight. In this edition, we look at the latest developments shaping the corporate, regulatory, and sustainability landscape for businesses in Singapore and beyond.
This issue opens with a deep dive into evolving financial reporting. We focus on IFRS 18/SFRS(I) 18, which replaces IAS 1. This new framework changes how companies present and disclose financial information in annual reports. IFRS 18 emphasises consistency, clarity, and comparability. It calls for robust financial communication before its 1 January 2027 effective date.
We also explore changes to the scope of Singapore’s Accounting Standards Council for FRS 119. Now, not only subsidiaries, but also small entities without public accountability are included. This offers relief through streamlined disclosures while keeping alignment with the full Standards.
Shifting to sustainability practices, our spotlight is on GHG emissions disclosures, where SGX-listed companies are making strong progress—especially in Scope 1 and 2 reporting. However, challenges remain in reporting depth, data quality, and Scope 3 disclosures under the new SGX and international climate regimes.
At the same time, the importance of ESG governance is growing. Companies are embedding environmental, social, and governance oversight at the board level. ESG is not just a buzzword. It signals strategic resilience, transparency, and long-term value creation for stakeholders.
We also continue our series on Singapore’s legal profession in transformation. This article covers regulatory reform, digital innovation, and new specialised practice areas— including sustainability law. These changes are reshaping the sector as Singapore raises its global legal profile.
We hope this edition gives you timely insights. Use them to navigate evolving standards, reporting requirements, and governance expectations in 2026 and beyond.
Frankie Chia