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Last Updated on 12/12/2023

What are the steps to be taken by a European Citizen to obtain an accounting warrant, practising certificate in auditing or register an accountancy or audit firm?

Accounting Warrant:

Subject to the applicant satisfying the requirements set out in article 3 of the Accountancy Profession Act Cap 281 of the Laws of Malta and the respective provisions of the Accountancy Profession Regulations SL.281.01 s/he must;

1. Be of good conduct and repute

2. Is of full legal capacity

3. Has successfully completed the course leading to the award of the professional accountancy degree organized by the University of Malta; or attained university entrance or equivalent level, then completed a course of theoretical instruction recognised by the Board

4. Satisfies the Board that s/he has adequate experience in the practice of accountancy for an aggregate period of three years, of which an equivalent of at least one year’s experience shall be gained after s/he has obtained the academic qualifications

The following is the documentation to be sent (When the process prompts for uploading documents, they must be in pdf format):

 a. Application form including payment of €25

b. Qualification certificates including transcripts of results

c. Police conduct certificate, issued in the last 3 months

Practising Certificate in Auditing:

Subject to the applicant satisfying the requirements set out in article 3 of the Accountancy Profession Act Cap 281 of the Laws of Malta and the respective provisions of the Accountancy Profession Regulations SL.281.01 s/he must;

 1. Hold a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Warrant

2. Have adequate qualifications in auditing at an advanced level

 3. Have gained the equivalent of three years full time practical training in inter alia auditing of financial statements, at least two-thirds of which shall be with an auditor approved in any Member State: Provided that at least eighteen months of this practical training were gained after obtaining the degree or academic qualification relating to the accountancy profession

The following is the documentation to be sent (When the process prompts for uploading documents, they must be in pdf format):

a. Application form including payment of €25

b. Qualification certificates including transcripts of results

c. Police conduct certificate, issued in the last 3 months

Accountancy and/or Audit Firm Registration:

Subject to the company or partnership registered in Malta satisfying the requirements set out in article 10 of the Accountancy Profession Act Cap 281 of the Laws of Malta. The following is the documentation to be sent (When the process prompts for uploading documents, they must be in pdf format):

1. Application form including payment of €25

2. Either a signed copy of the partnership agreement or in the case of a company the Memorandum of Association (stamped by the Malta Business Registry)

3. Firm’s professional indemnity insurance cover 

4. Individuals who are directors/partners/shareholders and do not hold a warrant or practising certificate in auditing are required to provide the following in pdf format:

a. Copy of Identity Card/Passport

b. Latest curriculum vitae

c. Copy of qualifications, if any

d. Police conduct certificate, issued in the last 3 months.

Name of competent authority responsible for the procedure and contact details

The Accountancy Board is the competent authority responsible for approving/refusing applications for an accounting warrant, practising certificate in auditing and firm registrations.  The Accountancy Board can be contacted through the Contact Us page.

In the event of a dispute, what are the means of redress or appeal?

In the case of a dispute, an appeal can be filed with the registry of the Tribunal within twenty (20) days from the date when the decision was notified to the party appealing. The applicant in his appeal needs to identify the reasons for his appealing the Board’s decision.

Deadlines

Once an application and payment of the application fee of twenty-five Euros (€25) has been made the Accountancy Board will notify, without delay, that the application and application fee have been received.

In the case of an incomplete application form including missing documentation supporting the application form, the Board will inform the applicant, without delay that further information is required and that it will not commence processing such application until it has a complete application form.

For CPA and PCA purposes, the application is deemed to be complete when all supporting documentation, references and employers’ feedback are received.

Once a complete application form is in hand, the Board will determine whether or not to grant or refuse the application within sixty (60) days.

This timeframe can be extended by a period of not more than thirty (30) days, if the Board informs the applicant of the extension and reasons for such extension without delay.