Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer (Institute of Auditors)
Auditing profession and auditing standards
The auditing profession is led by the Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer (Institute of
Auditors), with a membership of some 13,000 qualified Wirtschaftsprüfer and
accounting firms. Membership in the Institute is voluntary. Membership in the
Chamber of Wirtschaftsprüfer is compulsory for the some 17,000 Wirtschafts-
prüfer and firms.
Admission is open to those holding a university degree, who
have served for three years with a qualified auditor or who can demonstrate
other, equivalent practical experience, and who have passed a rather difficult
exam.
Qualified Wirtschaftsprüfer are the only people permitted to act as the
auditors of companies required to publish their statutory financial statements,
although other qualified professionals, for example tax advisors, may perform
special-purpose audits and investigations or numerous other accounting
services
EU Forecast
euf:ba18e:119/nws-01