Role of the RAB
The Federal Audit Oversight Authority (RAB / ASR) grants the licences required to provide statutory audit services in Switzerland and maintains the public register of licensed persons and audit firms.
Comparable foreign qualifications can be taken into account subject to the statutory requirements. For foreign qualifications, relevant professional experience, knowledge of Swiss law, reciprocity or an applicable international agreement, and entitlement to the corresponding licence in the country of origin may be decisive.
Main licensing categories
RAB procedures concern in particular:
- Licensed auditors
- Licensed audit experts
- Audit firms and state-supervised audit firms
- Recognition and assessment of comparable foreign qualifications
- Professional-experience, good-repute and Swiss-law requirements
A foreign diploma alone does not create a Swiss audit licence; the complete licensing requirements must be satisfied.