Cameroon

Cameroon is a member state of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), a regional body that establishes uniform legal and regulatory frameworks across its member countries. OHADA legislation has a significant impact on the regulation of commercial entities, financial institutions, and the accountancy profession in Cameroon. Once adopted, OHADA Uniform Acts become directly applicable and enforceable at the national level.

Accounting Framework

Accounting standards in Cameroon are established at the regional level by OHADA. In January 2017, the OHADA Commission de Normalisation Comptable adopted the revised Uniform Act on Accounting and Financial Information (AUDCIF), which replaced the previous 2000 accounting framework (SYSCOHADA).

The revised SYSCOHADA serves as the primary accounting framework across OHADA member states and became effective on January 1, 2018 for individual financial statements and January 1, 2019 for consolidated financial statements.

While SYSCOHADA differs from International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), it is generally applied by small and medium-sized entities. The AUDCIF requires listed companies and entities seeking financing in public capital markets to prepare consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS. Other entities may apply IFRS on a voluntary basis.

Auditing Framework

The OHADA Uniform Act Relating to Commercial Companies and Economic Interest Groups (revised 2014) establishes statutory audit requirements in Cameroon. Audits are mandatory for public companies, limited liability companies, and partnerships that exceed defined thresholds related to total assets, turnover, and number of employees. Additional sector-specific legislation requires audits for banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies.

Auditing standards are set at the regional level. In June 2017, OHADA issued Regulation No. 01/2017/CM/OHADA on professional practices in accounting and auditing, which mandates the application of International Standards on Auditing (ISA) as issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB). The regulation became effective on January 1, 2018.

Accordingly, ISA as issued by the IAASB are adopted and effective for all statutory audits in Cameroon.

The accountancy profession in Cameroon is regulated through a regional and national framework, with responsibilities shared between the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) and national authorities.

At the regional level, CEMAC establishes the overarching legal and professional requirements for the accountancy profession. Regulation No. 11/01-UREC-027-CM-07 and Decision No. 30/01-UEAC-027-CM-07, both issued in December 2001, reclassified independent accounting professionals as Public Accountants and mandated the establishment of professional accountancy organizations (PAOs) in each member state to harmonize regulation across the region.

CEMAC is responsible for establishing initial professional development (IPD) requirements, which are transposed and implemented at the national level. Individuals seeking to qualify as Public Accountants must obtain a recognized professional accountancy qualification. In practice, this is the French Diplôme d’expertise comptable (DEC), which requires completion of a structured program consisting of academic studies, professional examinations, and a three-year practical training period, culminating in a final dissertation. Upon completion, candidates must receive authorization from CEMAC and register with a national PAO to practice. Only registered Public Accountants are permitted to conduct statutory audits.

At the national level, the profession is regulated by Law No. 2011/009 Relating to the Practice of the Accounting Profession and the Functioning of the Ordre National des Experts-Comptables du Cameroun (ONECCA-Cameroon). The law operationalizes CEMAC requirements within Cameroon and establishes ONECCA-Cameroon as the professional body responsible for regulating the profession.

Under this framework, candidates must hold a State-recognized professional accounting qualification, complete a minimum of three years of practical experience, and pass written and oral examinations administered by ONECCA-Cameroon to demonstrate knowledge of the national legal, institutional, and fiscal environment. Membership in ONECCA-Cameroon and authorization from CEMAC are required to practice as a Public Accountant.

To support professional education, ONECCA-Cameroon, in partnership with INTEC-Paris, has established INTEC-ONECCA as a national training center delivering the DEC qualification. The program follows a structured pathway (DGC, DSGC, and DEC) aligned with the French accountancy education system and is reported by the institute to be consistent with international standards.

ONECCA-Cameroon is responsible for: maintaining a register of professional accountants; reviewing and approving membership applications; establishing and enforcing continuing professional development requirements; monitoring compliance with applicable standards; implementing quality assurance review and investigative and disciplinary systems; and setting ethical requirements for its members.

Technical standards for accounting and auditing are established at the regional level through OHADA legislation, including the OHADA Uniform Act on Accounting and Financial Information (AUDCIF) and Regulation No. 01/2017/CM/OHADA, which governs professional practices in accounting and auditing.

There is no independent audit oversight authority in Cameroon.

Auditors are regulated through a combination of regional and national arrangements. At the regional level, the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) establishes the framework for the regulation of Public Accountants through Regulation No. 11/01-UREC-027-CM-07 and Decision No. 30/01-UEAC-027-CM-07, both issued in December 2001. Under this framework, only professional accountants authorized by CEMAC and registered with a professional accountancy organization (PAO) in a CEMAC member state may perform statutory audits.

Cameroon is also a member of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), which establishes accounting and auditing standards at the regional level. In June 2017, OHADA issued Regulation No. 01/2017/CM/OHADA on professional practices in accounting and auditing, effective January 1, 2018. The regulation requires that all audits be conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISA) as issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB). It also requires professional accountants to comply with the OHADA Code of Ethics, which is based on the 2015 International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants.

At the national level, Law No. 2011/009 Relating to the Practice of the Accounting Profession and the Functioning of ONECCA-Cameroon establishes the legal framework for the regulation of the profession and designates ONECCA-Cameroon as the body responsible for oversight of its members. The institute’s responsibilities include maintaining a register of professional accountants; monitoring compliance with applicable standards; implementing quality assurance review and investigative and disciplinary systems; and establishing ethical requirements.

Ordre National des Experts-Comptables du Cameroun (ONECCA-Cameroon)

ONECCA-Cameroon was established in 1985 under Law No. 85/11 and operates in accordance with Law No. 2011/009 Relating to the Practice of the Accounting Profession and the Functioning of ONECCA-Cameroon. The institute is the national professional accountancy organization responsible for regulating the accountancy profession in Cameroon, in line with regional requirements established by the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC). Membership in ONECCA-Cameroon is mandatory for Public Accountants.

The institute’s responsibilities include: maintaining a register of professional accountants; reviewing and approving membership applications; establishing and enforcing continuing professional development requirements; monitoring compliance with applicable standards; implementing quality assurance review and investigative and disciplinary systems; and establishing ethical requirements for its members.

In addition to its national role, ONECCA-Cameroon is a member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA), the International Federation of Francophone Accountants (FIDEF), and the Association of Accountancy Bodies in West Africa.

At the regional level, the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) establishes requirements for quality control for professional accountants through Regulation No. 11/01-UREC-027-CM-07 of December 2001 and delegates responsibility for quality assurance (QA) reviews to national professional accountancy organizations (PAOs).

In addition, the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) issued Regulation No. 01/2017/CM/OHADA, effective January 1, 2018, which requires PAOs in member states to establish and implement QA review systems aligned with international best practices.

As a member of both CEMAC and OHADA, the Ordre National des Experts-Comptables du Cameroun (ONECCA-Cameroon) is responsible for implementing a QA review system at the national level.

ONECCA-Cameroon has established a QA review system and initiated implementation with support from international partners. QA reviews have been conducted among member firms, including those serving public interest entities. However, available information indicates that the system has been implemented progressively and has not yet been fully operationalized as a mandatory, comprehensive system covering all audits.

While ONECCA-Cameroon reports that its QA review processes are aligned with SMO 1 principles, the system does not yet demonstrably meet all SMO 1 requirements for full implementation across all mandatory audits.

Current Status: Partially Adopted

At the regional level, the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) establishes initial professional development (IPD) requirements for the accountancy profession through Regulation No. 11/01-UREC-027-CM-07 and Decision No. 30/01-UEAC-027-CM-07, both issued in December 2001. These requirements are transposed and implemented by member states.

The CEMAC framework requires candidates to obtain a recognized professional accountancy qualification, which in practice is the French Diplôme d’expertise comptable (DEC). The qualification includes academic study, professional examinations, and a minimum three-year period of practical experience, followed by a final assessment. The DEC qualification has been assessed by French professional bodies as aligned with earlier versions of the International Education Standards (IES).

At the national level, Law No. 2011/009 Relating to the Practice of the Accounting Profession and the Functioning of ONECCA-Cameroon operationalizes these requirements. Candidates must hold a State-recognized qualification, complete practical experience, and pass additional examinations administered by ONECCA-Cameroon to demonstrate knowledge of the national legal and regulatory environment.

ONECCA-Cameroon supports professional education through INTEC-ONECCA, established in partnership with INTEC-Paris, which delivers the DEC qualification through a structured program aligned with the French accountancy education system.

The institute has also established continuing professional development (CPD) requirements of 120 hours over a three-year period in accordance with national regulations.

While the overall framework incorporates key elements of the IES, including education, practical experience, assessment, and CPD, available information indicates that alignment with the most recent IES requirements (2019 and later revisions) is not yet fully demonstrated across all components of initial and continuing professional development.

In addition, regional reforms to the Chartered Accountant qualification and curriculum are under consideration within CEMAC and OHADA to further align accountancy education with international standards and the licence–master–doctorat (LMD) system.

Current Status: Partially Adopted

The Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) Uniform Act Relating to Commercial Companies and Economic Interest Groups (revised 2014) establishes statutory audit requirements in Cameroon. Audits are mandatory for public companies and limited liability companies that exceed defined thresholds, as well as for banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies under sector-specific legislation.

At the regional level, OHADA is responsible for establishing auditing standards. In June 2017, OHADA issued Regulation No. 01/2017/CM/OHADA on professional practices in accounting and auditing, which requires that all audits in member states be conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISA) as issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), including all effective revisions and amendments. The regulation became effective on January 1, 2018.

Cameroon, as an OHADA member state, applies these requirements. While the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) has a role in the regional regulatory framework, OHADA regulations governing auditing standards are in force in the jurisdiction. ONECCA-Cameroon confirms that ISA, as issued by the IAASB, are adopted and effective for application in all statutory audits.

Current Status: Adopted

At the regional level, the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) issued Regulation No. 01/2017/CM/OHADA on professional practices in accounting and auditing to harmonize ethical requirements across member states.

The regulation, effective January 1, 2018, requires professional accountants in OHADA member states to comply with 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), and is complemented by relevant provisions in the OHADA Uniform Act on Accounting and Financial Information (AUDCIF).

Cameroon applies these regional requirements as an OHADA member state. While Law No. 2011/009 authorizes ONECCA-Cameroon to establish ethical requirements for its members, such requirements are subject to regional frameworks, including those established by the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC). ONECCA-Cameroon confirms that the OHADA Code of Ethics is applicable in the jurisdiction.

However, the OHADA Code is based on a pre-2018 version of the IESBA Code and does not incorporate the current International Code of Ethics in effect at the time of the assessment.

Current Status: Not Adopted

Public sector accounting in Cameroon is governed by national legal and regulatory frameworks established by the government, including public financial management laws and regulations. Responsibility for setting public sector accounting standards rests with the Ministry of Finance and other relevant public authorities.

Available information indicates that public sector financial reporting is based on national standards and practices. There is no evidence that accrual-basis International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), cash-basis IPSAS, or IPSAS-based national standards have been adopted for application by public sector entities in Cameroon.

While broader public financial management reforms may be ongoing within the region, IPSAS have not been adopted in the jurisdiction as of the time of the assessment.

Current Status: Not Adopted

At the regional level, the World Bank is supporting the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) in the development of an I&D system for its member states. There is no further information available currently on the status of a regional I&D system. There are provisions within the OHADA’s Uniform Act on Accounting Law and Financial Information (AUDCIF) that stipulate sanctions for non-compliance with the Act and these have been transposed into legislation at the national law.

Furthermore, at the national level, Law No. 2011/009 Relating to the Practice of the Accounting Profession and the Functioning of the ONECCA-Cameroon, authorizes ONECCA-Cameroon to establish an I&D system for professional accountants for breaches of conduct and non-compliance.

ONECCA-Cameroon has established two bodies responsible for the I&D of its members: an Investigation and Disciplinary Committee and a Trial and Appeals Chamber. The Trial and Appeals Chamber is charged by a magistrate of the Supreme Court and is appointed by the President of the Supreme Court.

ONECCA-Cameroon conducted a self-assessment—located within its SMO Action Plan—of its existing I&D mechanisms against the revised SMO 6 requirements. It noted gaps in the areas of: composition of the disciplinary committee to include non-accountants, the full separation of the investigation and disciplinary committees, and regular reviews of its procedures.

Current Status: Partially Adopted

The financial reporting framework in Cameroon is established at the regional level by the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), whose legislation is directly applicable in member states. Cameroon harmonizes its national requirements with OHADA directives.

In January 2017, the OHADA Commission de Normalisation Comptable adopted the revised Uniform Act on Accounting and Financial Information (AUDCIF), which updated the previous SYSCOHADA framework. The revised SYSCOHADA became effective on January 1, 2018 for individual financial statements and January 1, 2019 for consolidated and combined financial statements, and serves as the primary accounting framework across OHADA member states.

SYSCOHADA differs from International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and is generally applied by small and medium-sized entities and other non-public interest entities. However, the AUDCIF requires listed companies and entities seeking financing in public capital markets to prepare consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS. Other entities are permitted, but not required, to apply IFRS.

Accordingly, IFRS are required for application only by a subset of entities and are not applied by all publicly accountable entities.

Current Status: Partially Adopted

Relevant Organizations

Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)

Ordre National des Experts Comptables du Cameroun (ONECCA-Cameroon)

Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA)

Ministry of Finance, Cameroon

Contrôle Supérieur de l’État (CONSUPE)

Relevant Legislation

Law No. 2011/009 Relating to the Practice of the Accounting Profession and the Functioning of ONECCA-Cameroon

HYPERLINK "https://www.ohada.org/en/publication-of-a-new-uniform-act-on-accounting-law-and-financial-reporting-uaafr/"OHADA Uniform Act on Accounting and Financial Information (AUDCIF), 2017

OHADA Uniform Act Relating to Commercial Companies and Economic Interest Groups (revised 2014)

OHADA Regulation No. 01/2017/CM/OHADA on Professional Practices in Accounting and Auditing

Relevant Publications

IFRS Foundation, “IFRS Application Around the World?Jurisdictional Profile: Cameroon”, January 2018.

ONECCA-Cameroon, SMO Action Plan, October 2020

World Bank, Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC)—Accounting and Auditing: Cameroon (2000)