Just like you would hesitate to visit a doctor whose credentials are questionable, an audit firm must also be vetted on its credentials.
Audit is a special profession and auditing businesses or organizations requires special skills learned and honed over the years. Certified audit firms in Kenya provide the best chance for your business to get value out of the audit expenditure.
In Kenya, audit firms and the partners behind them ought to register with different bodies that govern the profession and practice in Kenya.
First, auditors are accountants though with more elevated responsibilities including verifying the accuracy of the accounting procedures, entries, and processes.
Therefore, a good audit should have affiliations to audit organizations and also need to be certified by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Kenya (ICPAK). ICPAK is the official body that certifies accountants in Kenya.
Moreover, an auditor should also have affiliations to both local and international bodies of auditors and accountants. These bodies include the Institute of Internal Auditors in Kenya (IAAK) (locally) and other international bodies such as the Institute of Internal Auditors headquartered in Florida, USA.
Why Consider Certified Audit Firms In Kenya?
Certification of audit firms, as well as their partners, means that the firm and its auditors have the requisite knowledge and skills required to execute audit responsibilities.
Working with a certified audit firm like Taxmart Kenya gives you peace of mind not only because it assures you of dealing with real, trained professionals but also saves you from legal implications of dealing with a quack, non-certified auditors, and accountants.
To verify certification and registration of accounting and audit firms, check with ICPAK Directory for their CPAK certification first. You can do this by following this link to the CPA Firms Directory, entering the name of the organization, and then hitting search.
If the firm is a licensed accounting or audit firm, the details will show up like below. The credentials of the partners will also show up. This way, you are sure to be dealing with a licensed organization.
How auditors get licensed in Kenya
To become an auditor in Kenya, you must have attained the status of CPA(K) status awarded by the ICPAK. This means you must have completed CPA examinations up to section 6 and be awarded the title of a CPA.
CPA examinations and training are currently offered in many colleges although it was initially available at the Kenya College of Accountancy at its Headquarters at Survey of Kenya along Thika Road and in its many regional satellite Colleges.
Why You Should Get certified as an Auditor or Accountant
If you are an accountant and not already certified, you are missing out big. Certifications do many things to your career including:
- It boosts your credibility as an auditor or accountant. Audit and accounting are specialized professions and the more certifications and accreditations to your name, the better.
- Certifications give you a higher bargaining power even in negotiating your salary with a potential employer. You’ll not stand a chance of negotiating the salaries that certified and licensed auditors and accountants fetch.
- It opens more doors for you. A CPAK status opens more doors for you both in public and private practice. You have a chance to work as an individual or found a company to trade with. You have the opportunity to consultancy business as well.
Wrap Up
If you are looking to partner with an audit or accounting firm for your audit or accounting needs, consider choosing among the many certified audit firms in Kenya including Taxmart Kenya.
Certifications and licensing ensure that you are dealing with professionals, therefore, limiting damage due to inadequate skills or lack of professionalism.