Membership of SOEL
Prerequisites for registration
Article 10 of Presidential Decree 226/92 is available in the Greek language.
3) See articles 3 to 10, 12 and 40 of law 3693/2008, as well as the relevant ELTE regulatory acts.
4) In accordance with the correct interpretation of article 6, paragraph 1 of Law 3693/2008 it is required that, in addition to the high school diploma the applicant has successfully completed the Panhellenic examinations for entry into a Higher Education Institution in Greece or abroad.
The individual wishing to follow the profession of Certified Public Accountant may become a Trainee Certified Public Accountant if he/she meets the following requirements:
- Has Greek citizenship or is ethnic Greek formerly resident abroad, or a citizen of a member state of the European Union who is a permanent resident of Greece.
- There is a legal obstacle in accordance with annex 1 of Presidential Decree 226/92, with regards to the provisions on the employment of formerly non-resident ethnic Greeks in the first part of the present paragraph or of foreigners who have the right to reside in Greece.
Rights and Obligations
Registration
Trainee Certified Public Accountants can, depending on the situation, be enrolled in:
-The Trainee Certified Public Accountant Registry.
-The National Academic Recognition Information Center (NARIC) waiting list for those waiting for the approval of their degree by NARIC.
-The Candidate Registry for those who have not yet served or been released from mandatory military service.
- The Temporary Registry for those individuals possessing a practicing license for the profession of Certified Public Accountant or Auditor from the United States of America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand or the members of recognized professional associations of Certified Public Accountants and Auditors of the member states of the European Union.
Voluntary Suspension from Public Practice of the Profession
Trainee Certified Public Accountants may suspend the exercise of the profession whenever they wish. It is obligatory that this suspension be announced to the Supervisory Council, and recorded in a Special Registry in case of a temporary suspension.
Trainee Certified Public Accountants can exercise their profession at audit firms outside Greece.
For the duration of their employment abroad, they must announce the fact to the Supervisory Council and be recorded in the Registry of those practicing the profession outside Greece.
For the duration of the voluntary suspension they may have access to the social security fund of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants, to the scientific work produced by the Institute, and to the journal of economic thought published by the Institute.
Deregistration
Trainee Certified Public Accountants may deregister from SOEL in case of change of profession.
Notification of Changes in Information
Professionals are obliged to inform the Institute of Certified Public Accountants immediately in case of change of audit firm, departure from an audit firm or any change in the basic information relating to their person (change of audit firm, change of address etc.).
Participation in Examinations
The right to participate in professional examinations is granted immediately upon registration in the Registry of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Promotion
For promotion to the grade of Certified Public Accountant (Legal Auditor) candidates must have:
- Successfully completed the professional entrance examinations prescribed by law.
- If graduates of Universities or Institution of Technical Education have professional experience of at least three years, two of which should take place after the successful completion of the professional entrance examinations. (ELTE Regulatory Act 005/2009).
- If Secondary Education graduates who successfully complete the Panhellenic Exams for admission to University, six years of professional experience, four of which should take place after the completion of the professional entrance exam (ELTE 005/2009).
- Professional experience should be acquired under the supervision of a statutory auditor and be composed of at least 1000 hours of audit work per annum in statutory audits under the direct supervision of a statutory auditor.
Necessary Documentation
For registration in any of the registers, the following legally mandated documents are required:
- Certificate of employment in an audit firm.
- Validated photocopy by the audit firm of the official notification of employment (in accordance with law 2656/53 and 763/70), or of registration with the social security fund of OAEE)
- Validated photocopy of the certificate of membership of the Hellenic Chamber of Commerce for those who are compulsory members.
- Certificate of registration in the registry of males and the general registry of municipal citizens (for women). A validated photocopy of the identity card dispensed by the Ministry of Public Order and Citizen Protection is required for non-resident ethnic Greeks and foreigners.
- A cheque payable to SOEL or cash to the amount of 200 euro, or a deposit made to Alpha Bank Account Number: 802002001000999 or to the National Bank of Greece (Ethniki) Account Number 129/480358-24.
- A photocopy of the identity card of the individual.
- Two photographs suitable for identity cards.
Additional Documentation That May Be Required
Registry of Trainee Certified Public Accountants
- Validated photocopy of a University or Institution of Technical Education degree (for university degrees gained abroad, recognition of equivalence from the National Academic Recognition Information Center (NARIC) is required.) or a certificate of attendance at a University or Institution of Technical Education.
- Certificate of completion of military service obligations (Type B) or a validated copy of the said certificate.
- Certificate of placement on the NARIC waiting list.
- A validated photocopy and translation of a degree from an institution of higher education abroad (University or Institution of Technical Education), as well as a receipt for its deposit at the National Academic Recognition Information Center (NARIC).
- Validated photocopy of the practicing license for the profession of Certified Public Accountant or Auditor from the United States of America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand or validated photocopy of the certificate of membership of recognized professional associations of Certified Public Accountants and Auditors of the member states of the European Union.
- Proof of professional experience (certificates from employers)
Registration of Certified Public Accountants
Prerequisites for Registration-Granting of Practicing License
The title of Certified Public Accountant is granted to the trainee Certified Public Accountant who has successfully completed the professional entrance examinations prescribed by law.
If graduates of Universities or Institution of Technical Education, they should have professional experience of at least three years, two of which should take place after the successful completion of the professional entrance examinations. (ELTE Regulatory Act 005/2009).
If Secondary Education graduates who successfully complete the Panhellenic Exams for admission to University, six years of professional experience, four of which should take place after the completion of the professional entrance exam (ELTE 005/2009).
Professional experience should be acquired under the supervision of a statutory auditor and be composed of at least 1000 hours of audit work per annum in statutory audits under the direct supervision of a statutory auditor.
Prerequisites for Registration as Certified Public Accountant for Persons Originating from European Union Member States
For registration as Certified Public Accountant (Statutory Auditor) the following are required:
- To have successfully completed the legally mandated professional entrance examinations, and to have available all necessary documentation demanded by law.
Rights and Obligations
Voluntary Suspension from Public Practice of the Profession
The Certified Public Accountant who wishes to suspend the exercise of the profession is obliged to announce this intention in writing to the Supervisory Council, and recorded in a Special Registry for Certified Public Accountants in temporary suspension. For the duration of the period of Voluntary Public Suspension the Certified Public Accountant may use his professional title, indicating however, that he is in Voluntary Public Suspension.
For the duration of the period of Voluntary Public Suspension the bar is removed from involvement in activities irreconcilable with the profession of Certified Public Accountant. The Certified Public Accountant who returns to active exercise of his profession after the end of the period of Voluntary Public Suspension cannot be engaged as a Certified Public Accountant to any enterprise or organization to which s/he had rendered any service whatsoever during the period of Voluntary Public Suspension.
Certified Public Accountants can exercise their profession at audit firms outside Greece.
For the duration of their employment abroad, they must announce the fact to the Supervisory Council and be recorded in the Registry of those practicing the profession outside Greece.
For the duration of the voluntary suspension they may have access to the social security fund of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants, to the scientific work produced by the Institute, and to the journal of economic thought published by the Institute.
Deregistration
Certified Public Accountants may deregister from SOEL in case of change of profession.
In addition to this, Certified Public Accountants are deregistered if:
- They have incurred disciplinary sanction in the form of permanent cessation of professional functions or twice with the penalty of temporary cessation of professional activities.
- They have been rendered intellectually incapable of exercising their functions.
- Have been convicted by decision of a penal court to any sentence for one or more crimes mentioned in Annex 1 of Presidential Decree 226/92.
- If they completed their 70th year of age, or have received their pension earlier.
- The practicing license of the statutory auditor or of the audit firm is revoked temporarily or permanently by a regulatory act of ELTE, following the recommendation of this course of action by the Qualitative Control Council.
- The practicing license of the statutory auditor or of the audit firm is revoked in case of serious question over the audit firm’s or the auditor’s moral character, and if the necessary measures demanded by ELTE to remove this doubt are not taken in the timeframe determined by ELTE.
Notification of Changes in Information
Professionals are obliged to inform the Institute of Certified Public Accountants immediately in case of change of audit firm, departure from an audit firm or any change in the basic information relating to their person (change of audit firm, change of address etc.). Certified Public Accountants are allowed to participate in only one audit firm.
Necessary Documentation for Registration (Granting of Practicing License)
In order to be granted the practicing license for the profession of Statutory Auditor (Certified Public Accountant) the applicant is legally obliged to provide the following documents:
- Academic Titles (if they have not already been submitted at registration)
- Certificate of successful completion of the professional entrance examinations. (It will be demanded by SOEL)
- Certificate by a supervising Statutory Auditor regarding the acquisition of the necessary professional experience.
- Certificate from the social security fund with which the individual wishing to be registered is insured.
- Copy of the applicant’s criminal record. (It will be demanded from SOEL).
- Submission of Analytical and Recapitulatory Annual Reports on Professional Experience (Annexes C and D) completed in accordance with Annex B, with 1000 of professional experience per audit period.
