Certified accountant

What it means

A certified accountant is an accountant who has passed a series of professional examinations and holds a certificate from a professional body. In Slovakia certification is awarded mainly by the Slovak Chamber of Certified Accountants.

Bookkeeping is not a regulated profession in Slovakia; anyone with a trade licence may do it. Certification is therefore voluntary, but it independently confirms knowledge of accounting, tax, law and financial analysis.

Certification has several levels, from assistant to certified accountant, and requires continuing education and adherence to a code of ethics. It differs from tax advisers and statutory auditors, whose professions are regulated by law.

How it works in practice

When choosing an external accounting firm, certification is one signal of quality alongside experience, references and insurance. For the client it means a lower risk of errors and better awareness of legal changes.

Certified accountants often handle more complex tasks: preparing financial statements, consolidation or audit preparation. Tax advice in the narrow sense, however, may be given only by a tax adviser.

When outsourcing accounting, it is worth naming in the contract who will be responsible for the books and what qualifications they hold, so quality does not slip when staff change.

What to watch out for

A certificate does not replace professional indemnity insurance. Clients should check that the accountant is insured against losses caused by errors and know the sum insured.

The title is sometimes used without a valid certificate or at an outdated level. Checking the chamber's register takes a moment and avoids unpleasant surprises.