Auditor Oversight Act (AOA)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 11 Independence
1 In addition to the general statutory provisions on the independence of auditors (Article 728 CO), audit firms under state oversight must observe the following principles when providing audit services to public interest entities: a. The annual fees arising from auditing and other services provided for a single company and the companies affiliated to it as a result of unified management (group) must not exceed 10 percent of the audit firm’s total fees. b. If persons who held a decision-making or senior accounting position at a company transfer to an audit firm and take up a senior position there, this audit firm may not provide any audit services to the company concerned for two years from the time of the transfer. c. If persons who have been involved in the accounting at a company transfer to an audit firm, they may not take charge of any audit services for this company for two years from the time of the transfer. 2 A public interest entity may not employ any persons who have been in
Para. 1 — SR 220
Art. 12 Quality control
1 Audit firms under state oversight shall take all measures necessary to ensure the quality of their audit services. 2 They shall ensure that a suitable organisational structure is in place and shall issue written instructions on the following in particular: a. the appointment, basic and continuing education and training, assessment, signatory powers and required conduct of employees; b. the acceptance of new and the continuation of existing assignments for audit services; c. the ongoing control of measures to ensure independence and quality. 3 With regard to individual audit services, they shall guarantee, in particular, that: a. tasks are allocated appropriately; b. work is supervised; c. the applicable regulations and standards on auditing and independence are observed; d. the results of audits are subject to a qualified and independent monitoring.
Para. 2 let. a — The amendment in accordance with the FA of 20 June 2014 on Continuing Education and Training, in force since 1 Jan. 2017, concerns the French and Italian texts only (AS 2016 689; BBl 2013 3729).
Art. 13 Granting of access
1 … 2 Audit firms under state oversight must grant the Oversight Authority access to their business premises at all times.
Art. 13 — Amended by No I of the FA of 20 June 2014 (Bundling of Audit Oversight), in force since 1 Jan. 2015 (AS 2014 4073; BBl 2013 6857). Para. 1 — Repealed by No I of the FA of 20 June 2014 (Bundling of Audit Oversight), with effect from 1 Jan. 2015 (AS 2014 4073; BBl 2013 6857).
Art. 14 Notifications to the Oversight Authority
1 Audit firms under state oversight must update their licensing documents as of 30 June each year and submit them to the Oversight Authority by 30 September. Valid documents that remain unchanged do not have to be resubmitted. 2 …
Para. 2 — Repealed by No I of the FA of 20 June 2014 (Bundling of Audit Oversight), with effect from 1 Jan. 2015 (AS 2014 4073; BBl 2013 6857).