Objectives

According to the provisions, the Oversight Board has been assigned two tasks:

• The systematic verification of whether accountants have carried out their work in accordance with the professional requirements applicable (the provisions mention ‘the assessment of the internal system of quality management at AA offices');
• Investigating on the basis of complaints and incidents as to whether an accountant has acted in conflict with the professional requirements.

The creation of the Oversight Board has resulted in a separation of powers in the accountancy profession:

• The Netherlands Order of Accountants and Administrative Consultants (the ‘NOvAA’), the professional body of AA Accountants, acts as governing body and sets the standards that AA Accountants must satisfy in practising their profession;
• The AA’s Professional Oversight Board acts as public prosecutor in situations in which, in the opinion of the Board, an accountant has infringed the standards of his or her profession;
• The disciplinary judge acts as the judicial body and, should the indictment prove to be justified, is authorised to take measures against the accountant concerned.

Return to the oversight board