| CNCC | CSOEC | |
|---|---|---|
| Membership | Yes, mandatory | Yes, mandatory |
| No. of members | 13,132 | 20,634 |
| Institute staff | 68 | 131 |
| Date of establishment | 1966 | 1945 |
| Local branches | Yes, 33 Compagnies régionales des commissaires aux comptes (CRCC) | Yes, 25 Conseils régionaux de l’Ordre des Experts-comptables (CROEC) |
| Subject to public oversight | Yes | Yes |
| Oversight authority | High Council for Statutory Audit (H3C) | Ministry of Finance |
| Involvement in Qualification and Market Access | CNCC | CSOEC |
|---|---|---|
| Initial education | Yes (practical training and final examination) | Yes (master degree DSCG, practical training, final examination) |
| Examination | Yes | Yes |
| Approval and registration | Yes | Yes |
| Continued Professional Development | Yes (with H3C) | Yes, legal base (Code of Ethics published by decree, 27 Sept. 2007) |
| Activities | CNCC | CSOEC |
|---|---|---|
| Standard setting | Yes (with H3C) | Yes, under the supervision of the Ministry of Budget |
| Quality assurance | Yes (only audits of non-PIEs, PIEs: H3C) | Yes |
| Disciplinary measures | No (H3C) | Yes, at a regional and national levels; in both case, court chaired by a judge |
| Professions | Professional Accountant (Expert-comptable) | Statutory Auditor (Commissaire aux comptes) |
|---|---|---|
| Professional body | CSOEC | CNCC |
| Protected title | Yes. Delivered after registration on the professionals list “Tableau de l’Ordre des experts-comptables” drawn up by each Regional Council of the Ordre des Experts-comptables. | Yes. Delivered after registration on the professionals list drawn up by the Court of Appeal for each administrative region |
| Reserved activities | Contractual audits, reviews and compilation of financial statements; accountancy services to business enterprises | Statutory audit leading to the expression of an audit opinion and specific verifications; additional tasks related to the overall mission |
| Included authorisations | Tax, social, financial and legal advices when they are retained as accounting advisers to a client. Since a short time, they are authorised to provide assistance to individuals | Related assignments stated in specific laws |
| Professional Accountant | Statuary Auditor | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulated profession | Yes | Yes |
| Supervision | Yes | Yes |
| Competent authority | High Council for Statutory Audit (H3C) | Competent authority: The Ministry of Justice, www.justice.gouv.fr And an oversight authority: The Haut Conseil du Commissariat aux Comptes (H3C) set by the Ministry of Justice |
| Professional Accountant | Statuary Auditor | |
|---|---|---|
| No. of qualified professionals | 20,634 | 13,132 |
| No. of new trainees per year | Approximatively 1700 | 71 |
| No. of people taking the professional examination | Information not available | Information not available |
| No. of people passing the professional examination | Information not available | Information not available |
| Professional Accountant | Statuary Auditor | |
|---|---|---|
| General initial education steps (without possible exemptions) | • University degree (master, 5 years): Diplôme supérieur de comptabilité et de gestion (DSCG); • 3 years practical training organised and controlled by the profession; • Diploma of Expertise Comptable (DEC) delivered by the Ministry of Higher Education: final examination (2 written tests in audit and ethics, and a thesis). | • Main route : Diploma of Expertise Comptable (DEC). • Full reciprocity if 2/3 of the 3 years practical training has been realized in an accounting and auditing firm with a statutory auditor (Audit Directive). • Specific route : Certificat d’aptitude aux fonctions de commissaire aux comptes (being modernised). • Mastered by the Ministry of Justice. • Equivalent to the DSCG + 3 years practical training. |
| Professional Accountant | Statuary Auditor | |
|---|---|---|
| Registration required | Yes | Yes |
| Competent authority for registration | OEC, Regional Councils | Courts of Appeal |
| Cost of appointment/ registration | Membership annual dues includes: a national amount: 2010-2011: 672 € including professional and liability insurance; + a regional amount fixed by the Regional Council; + social contribution. | Same approach: a national amount: 2010-2011 : 405 € |
| Oath required | Yes | Yes |
| Insurance required | Yes (insurance group contracted at a national level ) | Yes (insurance group contracted at a national level) |
| Professional address required | Yes | Yes |