Institute of Chartered Accountants of Cameroon

Cameroon is a member of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) and the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), both of which establish requirements for quality assurance (QA) review systems and delegate responsibility for implementation to national professional accountancy organizations.

ONECCA-Cameroon has established a QA review system and initiated implementation with support from international partners. The institute has conducted QA reviews among member firms, including those serving public interest entities, and continues to develop its monitoring processes and supporting tools. It also provides training to members and reviewers and communicates the results of QA reviews through both general and firm-specific reports to support continuous improvement.

While these activities demonstrate meaningful progress toward fulfilling SMO 1 requirements, available information indicates that the QA review system has been implemented progressively and may not yet be fully operational as a mandatory system covering all audits.

ONECCA-Cameroon is encouraged to continue strengthening its QA system to ensure full alignment with SMO 1, including expanding coverage to all mandatory audits, enhancing the consistency and independence of review processes, and supporting the transition from quality control to quality management standards.

Current Status: Execute

Initial professional development (IPD) requirements for professional accountants in Cameroon are established at the regional level by the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) and implemented nationally by ONECCA-Cameroon.

The CEMAC framework requires candidates to obtain a recognized professional accountancy qualification, which in practice is the French Diplôme d’expertise comptable (DEC). The qualification includes formal education, professional examinations, and a minimum three-year period of practical experience, followed by a final assessment. This framework incorporates key elements of the International Education Standards (IES), and the DEC qualification has been assessed as aligned with earlier versions of the IES.

At the national level, Law No. 2011/009 operationalizes these requirements and mandates additional assessments administered by ONECCA-Cameroon to ensure candidates possess adequate knowledge of the national legal and regulatory environment. ONECCA-Cameroon also supports professional education through INTEC-ONECCA, established in partnership with INTEC-Paris, which delivers the DEC qualification through a structured program aligned with the French accountancy education system.

ONECCA-Cameroon has established continuing professional development (CPD) requirements of 120 hours over a three-year period and monitors compliance. The institute also supports training activities and contributes to the development of accountancy education programs within the jurisdiction.

While the framework incorporates key components of the IES, including education, practical experience, assessment, and CPD, alignment with the most recent IES requirements (including the 2019 revisions and subsequent updates) is not yet fully demonstrated across all elements of initial and continuing professional development.

ONECCA-Cameroon is encouraged to continue working with regional partners to advance ongoing reforms to the professional qualification and education system, including aligning curricula with a competency-based approach and incorporating emerging areas such as information and communications technology and professional skepticism.

Current Status: Execute

Cameroon is a member of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), which is responsible for establishing auditing standards for its member states. In June 2017, OHADA issued Regulation No. 01/2017/CM/OHADA on professional practices in accounting and auditing, which requires that all audits be conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISA) as issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB). The regulation became effective on January 1, 2018 and is applicable in Cameroon.

While the authority for the adoption of auditing standards rests at the regional level, ONECCA-Cameroon supports the implementation of ISA within the jurisdiction. The institute promotes the application of ISA among its members and provides ongoing training, tools, and guidance to support implementation, including continuing professional development activities and technical resources aligned with OHADA requirements.

ONECCA-Cameroon also engages with regional and national stakeholders to support the effective implementation of auditing standards and to ensure that members remain informed of updates to ISA.

Given the institute’s role within the legal and regulatory framework, ONECCA-Cameroon maintains appropriate ongoing processes to support the implementation of ISA.

Current Status: Sustain

Cameroon is a member of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), which is responsible for establishing ethical requirements for professional accountants in member states. In 2017, OHADA issued Regulation No. 01/2017/CM/OHADA on professional practices in accounting and auditing, which requires professional accountants to comply with the OHADA Code of Ethics. The regulation became effective on January 1, 2018.

The OHADA Code of Ethics is based on the 2015 International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants issued by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) and is complemented by relevant provisions in the OHADA Uniform Act on Accounting and Financial Information (AUDCIF). This framework is applicable in Cameroon.

While the authority for setting ethical requirements rests at the regional level, ONECCA-Cameroon supports implementation of the Code within the jurisdiction. The institute provides training, guidance, and tools to its members to promote understanding and compliance with ethical requirements, including continuing professional development activities and supporting materials on independence and other key areas.

ONECCA-Cameroon has also undertaken advocacy efforts to support the adoption of updated ethical standards at the regional level and has previously developed a national Code of Ethics aligned with earlier versions of the IESBA Code.

While these activities demonstrate that the institute is undertaking implementation support, the applicable ethical framework is based on a pre-2018 version of the IESBA Code and does not incorporate the most recent revisions.

ONECCA-Cameroon is encouraged to continue strengthening its advocacy efforts with regional standard-setters to support the adoption of the latest International Code of Ethics, and to expand implementation support to members to facilitate readiness for the updated requirements once adopted.

Current Status: Execute

Public sector accounting in Cameroon is established at the regional level by the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), which issues directives governing public financial management and accounting. These frameworks are implemented nationally by the government and are not based on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

Responsibility for the adoption and implementation of public sector accounting standards rests with government authorities. ONECCA-Cameroon does not have a direct role in setting public sector accounting standards.

Within its mandate, ONECCA-Cameroon supports the advancement of public sector accounting through advocacy, training, and collaboration with relevant stakeholders. The institute has engaged with national and regional authorities, as well as international partners, to promote awareness of IPSAS and strengthen public sector competencies.

Given the nature of its mandate, ONECCA-Cameroon is carrying out appropriate activities to support the adoption and implementation of high-quality public sector accounting standards.

Current Status: Sustain

Law No. 2011/009 Relating to the Practice of the Accounting Profession and the Functioning of ONECCA-Cameroon provides the legal basis for an investigation and discipline (I&D) system and authorizes ONECCA-Cameroon to investigate and discipline its members for breaches of professional standards and misconduct.

ONECCA-Cameroon has established an Investigation and Disciplinary Committee, as well as a Trial and Appeals Chamber. The latter is chaired by a magistrate of the Supreme Court, appointed by the President of the Supreme Court, providing an element of independence in the disciplinary process.

The institute operates its I&D system in practice, including receiving and processing complaints, conducting investigations, and applying disciplinary measures. It also provides training to members and committee participants and communicates the outcomes of disciplinary actions to support transparency and public confidence.

ONECCA-Cameroon has assessed its I&D system against the requirements of SMO 6 and identified areas for improvement, including strengthening the independence of the system through broader representation, ensuring full separation between investigative and disciplinary functions, and enhancing the regular review of procedures.

While an I&D system is established and operational, it does not yet fully meet all SMO 6 requirements.

ONECCA-Cameroon is encouraged to continue strengthening its I&D system, particularly by enhancing independence and governance arrangements and working with relevant stakeholders to address legal or regulatory constraints that may limit full alignment with SMO 6.

Current Status: Execute

The corporate financial reporting framework in Cameroon is established at the regional level by the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), whose legislation is directly applicable in member states.

In January 2017, the OHADA Commission de Normalisation Comptable adopted the revised Uniform Act on Accounting and Financial Information (AUDCIF), which updated the SYSCOHADA framework. The revised framework became effective on January 1, 2018 for individual financial statements and January 1, 2019 for consolidated and combined financial statements, and serves as the primary accounting framework across OHADA member states.

SYSCOHADA differs from International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and is generally applied by small and medium-sized entities and other non-public interest entities. The AUDCIF requires listed companies and entities seeking financing in public capital markets to apply IFRS in their consolidated financial statements, while other entities may apply IFRS on a voluntary basis.

While responsibility for the adoption of accounting standards rests at the regional level, ONECCA-Cameroon supports the implementation of financial reporting standards within the jurisdiction. The institute has undertaken activities to raise awareness of new and revised standards, disseminate regulatory updates, and provide training and guidance to members and stakeholders. It also engages with academic institutions and other stakeholders to support the development of financial reporting competencies.

Given the nature of its mandate, ONECCA-Cameroon is carrying out appropriate activities to support the implementation of high-quality financial reporting standards.

Current Status: Sustain