All public accountants in Germany had to undergo an external quality control (Peer Review) according to § 57a WPO (Professional Rules for Public Accountants) by the end of the year 2005. The Peer Review should guarantee that the firm of solicitors has a quality assurance system corresponding to the standards of the profession and that this system is consequently implemented in the daily routine.

Our office had already implemented a quality management system in the year 2003 and in the same year was certified according to § 57a WPO. Our quality standards correspond to the standards developed by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants (VO 1/1995). We created a quality manual for the documentation of these quality standards. Our certification ensures that we are also allowed to carry out annual audits after the year 2005.

Our public accountants, Ms Claudia Niemeyer and Mr Andreas Niemeyer are registered as auditors for quality assurance at the Chamber of Certified Public Accountants. Therefore, we can carry out the inspections of the quality control system for other public accountants.

With the seventh WPO Amendment (Work Supervision Reform Law) the limitation of the certification of participation for a conducted quality inspection for chartered accountancies/certified public accountancies that do not audit listed companies, was extended in relation to vocational law from three to six years.