Ordre National des Experts Comptables et des Comptables Agréés du Mali

At the regional level, West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) Regulation No. 01/2009/CM/UEMOA authorizes the Conseil Permanent de la Profession Comptable (CPPC) to establish a quality assurance (QA) review system. In addition, in June 2017, the Organisation pour l’Harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des Affaires (OHADA) issued Regulation No. 01/2017/CM/OHADA on professional practices in accounting and auditing in OHADA member states, mandating professional accountancy organizations within OHADA member states, including Mali, to develop and implement QA review systems.

ONECCA-Mali has established a Quality Assurance Commission and has made significant progress in operationalizing its QA review system. Following the pilot quality assurance reviews conducted with support from the African Development Bank, the institute now indicates that all member firms are subject to a mandatory QA review at least once every three years. The Action Plan further notes that annual inspections of three to five firms are being conducted on an ongoing basis, with corrective action plans collected from reviewed firms and implementation monitored by the Quality Assurance Commission.

To support implementation, ONECCA-Mali continues to provide members with guidance materials, templates, the OHADA-issued QA manual, and recurring training on quality management standards, including International Standard on Quality Management 1 (ISQM 1), International Standard on Quality Management 2 (ISQM 2), and International Standard on Auditing 220 (Revised). Translated versions of these standards have been shared with members, and the institute is actively monitoring the implications of these standards for the regional OHADA QA framework.

The institute has demonstrated substantial progress in implementing a functioning QA review system and is now focused on reviewing its effectiveness and strengthening alignment with Statement of Membership Obligations 1 (SMO 1) best practices and evolving regional requirements.

As part of its continued improvement efforts, ONECCA-Mali should prioritize strengthening the linkage between inspection findings and remediation processes, ensuring full alignment with the latest SMO 1 requirements and regional updates to the OHADA QA manual to reflect the quality management standards.

Current Status: Review & Improve

With initial professional development (IPD) requirements established at the regional level by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), the role of ONECCA-Mali is to implement the regional educational requirements and establish continuing professional development (CPD) requirements for its members.

The regional IPD framework continues to require completion of the Diplôme d’Études Supérieures de Comptabilité et de Gestion Financière (DESCOGEF) for Certified Accountants and the Diplôme d’Expertise Comptable et Financière (DECOFI) for Chartered Accountants in order to qualify for professional practice within WAEMU member states. ONECCA-Mali has continued to support efforts to strengthen access to these qualifications at the national level, including engagement with universities in Mali to support assessment and accreditation of local programs capable of offering the DESCOGEF and DECOFI curriculum. This initiative is expected to reduce the cost barriers to entry into the profession and strengthen the local talent pipeline.

In support of curriculum relevance and quality, ONECCA-Mali continues to engage with universities and academic institutions to ensure that educators are trained on newly issued standards and regional legislative changes. The institute has also continued to participate in regional discussions and reforms led through the WAEMU and OHADA frameworks to improve alignment of the Chartered Accountant diploma and professional education pathway with the International Education Standards (IES), including competency-based requirements.

At the national level, ONECCA-Mali maintains a structured CPD framework requiring members to complete at least 40 hours annually. The institute provides recurring training on international standards and emerging professional topics, including taxation, business law, anti-money laundering, banking, microfinance, and quality management standards. The CPD Commission monitors compliance and reports accepted hours to the Board, and annual renewal of membership registration is linked to fulfillment of CPD obligations.

ONECCA-Mali has demonstrated meaningful progress in implementing and monitoring CPD requirements and in supporting national and regional reforms to strengthen IPD alignment with IES.

As part of its continued improvement efforts, ONECCA-Mali should continue to work with regional bodies and academic institutions to strengthen alignment of the IPD framework with the latest International Education Standards, particularly competency-based learning outcomes, information and communications technology skills, and professional skepticism requirements.

Current Status: Review & Improve

The Organisation pour l’Harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des Affaires (OHADA) has established the regional regulatory framework requiring adoption of the International Standards on Auditing (ISA). In June 2017, OHADA issued Regulation No. 01/2017/CM/OHADA on professional practices in accounting and auditing in OHADA member states, which requires that all statutory audits be conducted in accordance with ISA issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), effective January 1, 2018. This requirement is in force in Mali.

ONECCA-Mali reports that auditors in the jurisdiction apply ISA as issued by the IAASB and are also required to adhere to a national audit guide issued by the Office of the Comptroller General and the Ministry of Finance, which is based on ISA.

The institute has demonstrated a sustained commitment to supporting implementation of ISA in the jurisdiction, including advocacy efforts prior to regional adoption, ongoing training seminars for members and firms, dissemination of technical guidance and tools, and regular communication on new and revised standards issued by the IAASB. ONECCA-Mali has specifically indicated that recent changes, including key audit matters and the suite of quality management standards, have been communicated to members and supported through recurring seminars and guidance activities.

Given the well-established and ongoing processes in place to support implementation and continued application of ISA in Mali, ONECCA-Mali is assessed as Sustain for SMO 3.

Current Status: Sustain

The Organisation pour l’Harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des Affaires (OHADA) has established the regional ethical framework applicable to professional accountants in member states. In June 2017, OHADA issued regulations requiring member states, including Mali, to apply the OHADA Code of Ethics, which is based on the 2015 International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants issued by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), together with relevant ethical provisions contained in the Acte uniforme relatif au droit comptable et à l’information financière (AUDCIF).

At the national level, ONECCA-Mali is authorized under Law No. 08-015 / AN-RM of June 4, 2008 to propose ethical requirements to the Ministry of Finance for approval and application by its members. The institute indicates that the OHADA Code of Ethics is applied in the jurisdiction as the minimum benchmark and that revised bylaws intended to harmonize the applicable ethical requirements with the 2018 International Code of Ethics have been submitted and remain pending approval by the Ministry of Finance.

While formal adoption of the updated Code remains pending, ONECCA-Mali continues to actively support implementation of ethical requirements through recurring training sessions, dissemination of French-language guidance and publications on the Code, and regular communications to members highlighting updates and tools issued by IFAC, FIDEF, and OHADA. The institute also continues to promote awareness of ethical obligations and professional conduct requirements among members.

ONECCA-Mali should continue to prioritize engagement with the Ministry of Finance and relevant regional stakeholders to secure approval of the revised bylaws and further advocate for alignment of the OHADA framework with the most current International Code of Ethics, including recent revisions on non-assurance services, fees, and professional mindset.

Current Status: Execute

At the regional level, West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) Regulation No. 09/2009/CM/UEMOA establishes the public sector accounting framework applicable to member states, including Mali. The regional framework has undergone revisions aimed at integrating a significant number of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), and Mali has adopted the WAEMU directive through Decree No. 2014-0774/P-RM.

At the national level, public sector accounting standards continue to be determined by government authorities and are currently based on national standards applied on a cash basis, with intentions to transition to accrual accounting over time.

ONECCA-Mali does not have direct standard-setting authority in this area and indicates that its members do not work in the public sector. However, the institute maintains a collaborative relationship with government authorities and continues to support public financial management reform initiatives. In particular, the institute reports that it has representation on the government steering commission established to support the transition and eventual implementation process related to IPSAS and broader public sector financial management reforms.

Given the nature of its mandate, membership composition, and the legal and regulatory environment, ONECCA-Mali has no direct responsibility for standard setting or implementation of public sector accounting standards in Mali. Nevertheless, the institute continues to maintain constructive engagement with relevant authorities and provides technical support where appropriate. Accordingly, ONECCA-Mali is assessed as Sustain for SMO 5.

Current Status: Sustain

At the national level, Law No. 08-015 / AN-RM of June 4, 2008 establishes the legal framework for investigation and disciplinary (I&D) procedures applicable to the profession in Mali through the Ordre National des Experts Comptables et Comptables Agréés du Mali (ONECCA-Mali).

ONECCA-Mali has established an operational disciplinary framework through its Disciplinary Commission, which is responsible for investigating complaints and making recommendations to the Board. The Board may impose sanctions including warnings, reprimands, and temporary suspension of licenses. Depending on the severity of the matter, cases may be referred to the National Chamber of Discipline, which may impose additional sanctions including removal of practicing rights, loss of professional designation, and exclusion from membership. The National Chamber also serves as an appeal body, with further appeals referred to the Administrative Chamber of the Supreme Court.

The institute has demonstrated that an I&D system is established and operational for its members. At the same time, ONECCA-Mali has identified specific areas where further strengthening is required to fully align with Statement of Membership Obligations 6 (SMO 6), including stronger linkage with the quality assurance review system, public interest considerations, composition of the disciplinary chamber, and regular reviews of the effectiveness of the procedures. Accordingly, ONECCA-Mali is assessed as Review & Improve for SMO 6.

ONECCA-Mali should prioritize strengthening the formal linkage between the quality assurance review system and the disciplinary process, incorporating public interest considerations, and establishing a periodic review mechanism to assess the effectiveness and independence of the I&D framework.

Current Status: Review & Improve

As a member state of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the Organisation pour l’Harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des Affaires (OHADA), Mali’s corporate financial reporting framework is established through regional legislation. In January 2017, the Commission de Normalisation Comptable de l’OHADA (CNC-OHADA) adopted the Acte uniforme relatif au droit comptable et à l’information financière (AUDCIF), replacing the previous OHADA Uniform Act on Organizing and Harmonizing Company Accounting Systems. The earlier framework had established the Système Comptable OHADA (SYSCOHADA).

The AUDCIF revised SYSCOHADA, including the OHADA general accounting plan and the rules governing consolidated and combined financial statements, creating a single accounting reference framework applicable across OHADA member states. The revised standards became effective on January 1, 2018 for individual financial statements and on January 1, 2019 for consolidated and combined financial statements. SYSCOHADA continues to differ from International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS Accounting Standards) and is generally applied by small and medium-sized entities. However, the AUDCIF requires that listed companies and companies seeking financing from a public capital market prepare consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. All other companies are permitted, but not required, to use IFRS Accounting Standards.

Within the scope of its authority, ONECCA-Mali continues to actively support implementation of the regional framework and IFRS requirements. The institute reports that it has participated in OHADA-led trainings on the revised standards and subsequently organized training sessions for its members. In addition, ONECCA-Mali continues to disseminate implementation manuals, case studies, and guidance materials issued by OHADA to support application of the standards in practice.

ONECCA-Mali has demonstrated continued progress in supporting implementation of IFRS-related requirements within the OHADA framework and remains actively engaged in awareness raising and capacity building activities for members and relevant stakeholders. Accordingly, ONECCA-Mali is assessed as Review & Improve for SMO 7.

ONECCA-Mali should continue to strengthen implementation support for members and relevant entities applying IFRS Accounting Standards, including ongoing training, dissemination of French-language IFRS materials, and engagement with regional stakeholders to support continued convergence with international reporting standards.

Current Status: Review & Improve