Accountants Association in Poland

The quality assurance (QA) review system for statutory audits in Poland is established and operated by the Polish Agency for Audit Oversight (PANA) under the Act of 11 May 2017 on Statutory Auditors, Audit Firms and Public Oversight. The Accountants Association in Poland (AAP) has no direct responsibility for conducting QA reviews.

However, AAP continues to actively support the quality of audit services delivered by its members who are also members of the Polish Chamber of Statutory Auditors (PIBR) and are therefore subject to the jurisdictional QA review system.

AAP reports that it supports members through continuing professional development activities, seminars, and technical training relevant to audit quality and quality management requirements. It also cooperates with PIBR on training activities for joint members and contributes to the identification of relevant training topics and the development of professional publications relating to statutory audit activities.

In addition, AAP continues to promote awareness of the importance of a robust QA framework among relevant authorities and stakeholders and supports members in understanding developments in quality management and quality assurance standards.

Through these ongoing support, training, and awareness-raising activities, AAP continues to demonstrate sustained fulfillment of Statement of Membership Obligations 1 (SMO 1) within the scope of its no-direct-authority role. Accordingly, the SMO 1 fulfillment assessment remains Sustain.

Current Status: Sustain

Education of accounting professionals other than statutory auditors is not regulated by law in Poland. The Accountants Association in Poland (AAP) has developed its own voluntary certification framework for professional accountants.

AAP currently offers a number of professional certifications, including Accountant, Accounting Specialist, Chief Accountant, and Chartered Accountant, based on successful completion of the relevant examinations and practical experience requirements. AAP reports that the curriculum and competency framework are designed with reference to the International Education Standards (IES), particularly in relation to technical competence requirements.

Members holding higher-level certifications are subject to continuing professional development (CPD) requirements. AAP reports that its CPD framework for Chartered Accountants and other certified members has been developed based on International Education Standard 7 (IES 7). Certified members are required to complete mandatory CPD over a rolling three-year period in accordance with the relevant certification rules.

AAP continues to maintain awareness of labor market needs and professional competency expectations through ongoing curriculum review and engagement with employers and education stakeholders. It also reports active participation in broader national education and qualification framework discussions with relevant public authorities and educational bodies.

AAP has demonstrated ongoing efforts to review and improve its fulfillment of Statement of Membership Obligations 2 (SMO 2).

AAP should continue to focus on evidencing alignment of its initial professional development and CPD requirements with the latest IES requirements across all certification categories, including the revisions effective from 2021 relating to information and communications technology competencies and professional skepticism. The use of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) IES self-assessment tools and implementation support materials would further support this alignment process.

Current Status: Review & Improve

The Accountants Association in Poland (AAP) has no direct responsibility for the adoption of International Standards on Auditing (ISA) in the jurisdiction.

Nevertheless, AAP continues to support awareness and implementation of ISA among its members and the broader profession. AAP reports that, historically, it contributed directly to the translation of ISA until 2010, thereby supporting the implementation of international auditing standards in Poland.

AAP continues to raise awareness of the activities and pronouncements of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) by disseminating information on new and revised standards and organizing conferences, seminars, and training activities on ISA and related auditing developments as needed.

AAP also reports participation in training initiatives organized by development partners, including the World Bank, in relation to ISA implementation and broader auditing reforms.

AAP has demonstrated continued commitment to fulfilling Statement of Membership Obligations 3 (SMO 3) within the scope of its no-direct-authority role.

AAP should continue to support timely awareness and implementation of newly issued IAASB pronouncements and, where feasible, consider supporting translation and dissemination efforts to help reduce the time lag between the issuance of new IAASB standards and their effective application in Poland.

Current Status: Review & Improve

Unlike statutory auditors, accountants in Poland are not subject by law to mandatory ethical requirements.

However, the Accountants Association in Poland (AAP), as a voluntary professional accountancy organization, requires its members to comply with its Code of Professional Ethics in Accounting (CPEA). AAP reports that the CPEA is supplementary to the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) issued by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) and translated by the Polish Chamber of Statutory Auditors (PIBR), and that it is designed to reflect the fact that its membership is primarily comprised of accountants rather than auditors.

All AAP members are signatories to the CPEA and, in accordance with the association’s statute, are required to comply with its provisions. Professional ethics are also embedded within AAP’s certification and training programs.

AAP has developed a wide range of activities to raise awareness of ethical requirements and support implementation by members. These include the Bank of Ethical Dilemmas, which provides case studies and practical scenarios as an educational tool, the Ambassador of Professional Ethics in Accounting initiative to promote ethical behavior by individuals and firms, newsletters and communications on ethics topics, and participation in regional and international conferences.

AAP also monitors developments and pronouncements issued by IESBA and communicates relevant updates to members and other stakeholders. In addition, the Ethics Commission has undertaken analysis comparing the CPEA with the IESBA Code and concluded that the AAP framework is substantially aligned in principle, while continuing to update members on revisions to the international requirements.

AAP has demonstrated ongoing efforts to fulfill Statement of Membership Obligations 4 (SMO 4) within the scope of its no-direct-authority role.

AAP should continue to strengthen its processes to ensure timely alignment of the CPEA with the most recent IESBA pronouncements and continue to work with relevant stakeholders to raise awareness of the importance of extending robust ethical requirements across the broader profession.

Current Status: Review & Improve

The Accountants Association in Poland (AAP) has no direct responsibility for the adoption of public sector accounting standards in the jurisdiction.

AAP reports that it continues to use its best endeavors to promote awareness of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), which have not yet been adopted in Poland.

In support of this role, AAP monitors the activities and pronouncements of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board and promotes awareness of public sector reporting developments through its technical and research activities, including participation in public finance forums and professional discussions relating to the public sector.

AAP also reports that the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has considered adoption of IPSAS as part of broader public sector reporting reform and that the MoF has approached AAP to support training and professionalization efforts in the public sector.

Through its advocacy, awareness-raising, and support activities with the MoF and other stakeholders, AAP continues to demonstrate sustained fulfillment of Statement of Membership Obligations 5 (SMO 5) within the scope of its no-direct-authority role.

Current Status: Sustain

The Accountants Association in Poland (AAP) has established an investigation and discipline system for its members through its internal peer court framework.

AAP reports that it has undertaken a review of its investigation and discipline mechanisms, which resulted in amendments to its regulations and by-laws in order to clarify the rules and operating procedures of the system and improve alignment with Statement of Membership Obligations 6 (SMO 6).

Within the AAP structure, two levels of peer courts operate: the Main Peer Court and the Regional Peer Court. These bodies hear disciplinary cases relating to breaches of generally applicable law, the AAP statute, and the Code of Professional Ethics in Accounting (CPEA), including conduct affecting the dignity of the profession and professional behavior.

AAP reports that the peer courts operate independently and autonomously, hear cases on an ongoing basis without undue delay, and that members are elected on a four-year cycle.

The disciplinary framework includes a range of sanctions, including warning, reprimand, suspension of membership rights for defined periods, and exclusion from AAP membership.

AAP has also adopted detailed by-laws governing the disciplinary process, including jurisdiction and composition of the courts, independence and exclusion of panel members, evidentiary proceedings, deadlines, decisions and penalties, suspension and discontinuation of proceedings, appeal procedures, enforcement of decisions, and administrative support arrangements. AAP has therefore demonstrated that an operational investigation and discipline system is in place and continues to review and improve its framework.

AAP should continue to assess the extent of alignment of its system with all SMO 6 best practice requirements, particularly in relation to public interest considerations, independent review processes, and periodic effectiveness reviews, and incorporate any identified improvement actions into its ongoing workplan.

Current Status: Review & Improve

The Accountants Association in Poland (AAP) has no direct responsibility for establishing accounting standards in the jurisdiction.

However, AAP continues to play an active role in supporting financial reporting developments in Poland, including through its engagement with the Accounting Standards Committee and its ongoing support for implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards Accounting Standards (IFRS Accounting Standards).

AAP reports that from 2001 to 2016 it maintained a licensing agreement with the IFRS Foundation and was responsible for translating and publishing IFRS Accounting Standards in Poland. While this formal role has since changed, AAP continues to support implementation by disseminating International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) developments to its members and through updates on its website.

AAP also incorporates IFRS Accounting Standards into its education and certification framework. Candidates for higher-level certifications are required to complete modules covering IFRS Accounting Standards, and the curriculum is updated on an ongoing basis to reflect current developments.

In addition, AAP continues to organize training courses, seminars, and outreach events to promote awareness and application of IFRS Accounting Standards, including cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and the Polish Chamber of Statutory Auditors (PIBR) where appropriate.

Through these education, training, and awareness-raising activities, AAP continues to demonstrate sustained fulfillment of Statement of Membership Obligations 7 (SMO 7) within the scope of its no-direct-authority role.

Current Status: Sustain