ˆˇ˘˛ ˇ ˇ˘ ˇ ˛ˆ ˜ ˜– includes a chapter called “tractatus de computis et scripturis...
TRANSCRIPT
the professionof commercialistain italy
Consiglio Nazionale dei Dottori Commercialisti e degli Esperti Contabili
the profession of comm
ercialista in italy
English Version
9 788899 517014
ISBN 978-88-99517-01-4
ISBN 978-88-99517-01-4
© Copyright Fondazione Nazionale dei Commercialisti.Edition July 2015
The translation, adaptation in whole or in part, reproduction by any means (including microfilm, film, photocopies), and electronic storage are reserved in every country.
The professional qualification of Commercialista comprises a wide range of activities that broadly correspond to the following: English: Professional Accountant, Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Accountant, Statutory AuditorFrench: Expert-Comptable, Commissaire aux ComptesSpanish: Contable, Economista, Censor jurado de cuentas
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Table of Contents
Introduction by Gerardo Longobardi, President CNDCEC 4
Members of the board of CNDCEC 6
The National Foundation - FNC 7
Historical overview 9
Entering the profession 13
Roles and activities 23
Practicing the accountancy profession 31
Our governance structure 39
Key figures 57
Territorial Bodies (Ordini Territoriali) 65
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Introduction by Gerardo Longobardi, President CNDCEC
Being a Commercialista
The Commercialisti have taken part to the social, economic, business, and institutional evolution of our country for almost one century now, since the Law that has regulated the accounting Profession for the first time dates back to 1905 and 1929. Over time, and with the evolution of our regulatory models, the Profession consists today of 116,000 members and is organised according to the Legislative Decree 139/2005 and the related regulations.
Nowadays, the daily, medium and long-term challenges that we are facing – in our capacity as citizens and professionals – are of vital importance; they have the faces of cultures and experiences that take form overseas and bring the sound and echo of different languages.
We are an integral and synergic part of an economic system that is increasingly characterised by the presence of new technologies and by the need to promote specialised knowledge, skills, and the ability to communicate about our activity and social mission. This is not an easy passage for professionals who spend most of their working time behind their “traditional” desks, yet many of us today already work in cloud.
The European integration processes, with its founding values such as free movement and free establishment of persons and services, are essential benchmarks for the institutional and professional activity of each of us and have great impact on our way of considering issues, such as independence, market and personal life opportunities.
Through this short publication, we wish to outline the main features of our Profession – how to become a professional accountant, the services we provide, the rules that regulate our activity, and the guarantees for building a reliable relationship based on quality and public interest.
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We are confronted every day with the challenge of bridging the knowledge and expectation gaps between being the Commercialista, intended as both the single professional and the professional being part of the Ordine professionale, and the Commercialista resulting from collective stereotypes. Our activities, our responsibilities and our contribution to the development of a sustainable economy and to the Public Sector go far beyond what users may think.
It is really important for me to introduce this concept because our Profession is based on a cultural mainstay, that is, the sense of social duty guiding our actions and our approach to theoretical research and practice. Behind each document and each file, there is a face. Each situation requires action, which is not technical knowledge but global understanding.
We have promoted an active presence of our Profession at EXPO Milano 2015 – a forum for cultural exchanges, hectic activities, and proposals to “feed the planet” – where we are presenting our proposal for the future of our Country.
Nowadays, the development and the ability to generate changes could be realized only if a joint and well-coordinated effort is made by all stakeholders
– including public entities, governmental agencies, and professionals – towards simplification, assisted by a clear and well-implemented legislation, and by the courage to look ahead.
On behalf of my 116,000 Colleagues and on my personal behalf, I wish to thank you all for placing every day your faith in our work, for your creativity, your energy, your enthusiasm, and for your entrepreneurial and institutional projects that we follow and support with passion
Gerardo Longobardi
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Members of the Board of CNDCEC
Office Holders
PresidentGerardo Longobardi
Vice PresidentDavide Di Russo
SecretaryAchille Coppola
TreasurerRoberto Cunsolo
Board MembersAdriano BarbarisiMaria Luisa CampiseAndrea Foschi Maurizio G. GrossoVito JaconoAttilio LigaGiorgio LuchettaLuigi Mandolesi Raffaele Marcello Marcello Marchetti Massimo Miani Giovanni G. Parente Ugo Marco Pollice Antonio Repaci Felice RuscettaSandro Santi Maria Rachele Vigani
CEOFrancesca Maione
CNDCECPiazza della Repubblica, 5900185 – RomaTel. 06.47863300Fax. 06.47863349E-mail. [email protected]. www.commercialisti.it
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The National Foundation - FNC
PresidentGiorgio Sganga
Board MembersAlessandro ClòLuigi Carunchio Michele De TavonattiNicolò La Barbera Vittorio RaccamariFrancesco Renne
Board of Statutory AuditorsClaudio SolferiniGaetano AmbrogioMaurizio Napolitano
Scientific DirectorGiovanni Castellani
Scientific CommitteeSalvatore BilardoVincenzo BusaMario CicalaMarco ElefantiCarlo Ricozzi
FNCPiazza della Repubblica, 6800185 – RomaTel. 06.4782901Fax. 06.4874756E-mail. [email protected]. www.fondazionenazionalecommercialisti.it
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Historical overview
The origins of the accounting profession date back to the first forms of bookkeeping. As early as some five thousand years ago, the Sumerians engraved their accounting entries on clay tablets. In Ancient Rome, existed different accounting professions (calculatores or ratiocinatores), which were gathered in the collegia opificium. In the first half of the 12th Century, the profession started being organised as a guild, just like all other intellectual professions of those times. The first professional profile similar to the present Commercialista dates back to the 14th century, when Milan’s city government formally appointed a “Rasonato” as the person in charge of public sector accounting and bookkeeping. During the Renaissance, Father Luca Pacioli gave an essential contribution to the development of the profession. Thanks to his acquaintances
– which included the merchants and trade organisations of Venice, Milan, and Perugia – he had developed his scientific skills and pragmatic approaches to mathematics and accounting. His “Summa de arithmetica, geometria, proportioni e proportionalita” – which is a real mathematical encyclopaedia
– includes a chapter called “Tractatus de computis et scripturis”, where he presented for the first time the concept of double-entry bookkeeping, that became known throughout Europe under the name of “Venetian method”. In 1582, a few years after Pacioli’s death, Venice’s Council of Ten set up the first
“Collegio dei Rasonati” (Institute of bookkeepers), with a view to establishing a list of accountants and improving the Republic’s financial performance and control. A few decades later, in 1620, the “Registro dei Liquidatori giurati” (Roll of sworn liquidators)”, including all practitioners dealing with judicial winding-up proceedings, was established. In early 19th century, a piece of legislation promulgated by the Cisalpine Republic’s Vice-President provided for the requirements to be met in order to become a ragioniere, such as successfully passing a final exam, including a double-entry bookkeeping test. The accounting profession continued being organised as a guild until the Le Chapalier Law of 1791 which provided for the dissolution of all guilds, in the name of the freedom of association and personal independence. However, the
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Le Chapalier Law did not remain in force for long as, as early as 1810, Napoleon re-established the Bar, under the Government’s control. Right afterwards, the old professional associations started being brought back to life; however, they were not the expression of private organised social groups as they had been in the past but, rather, independent public-law entities submitted to the Government supervision.In 1906, a Royal Decree gave formal recognition to the profession of Ragioniere, while the profession of Dottore Commercialista was formally recognised later on, with the opening of a university, specifically dealing with economic subject matters. At first, Milan’s Bocconi University graduates established private associations and, in 1910, they set up the first informal provincial professional bodies. Ever since, the Italian profession has always been characterised by its academic nature. The Roll was established at the first national Congress of Italian “Dottori in scienze commerciali” (“commercial science graduates”), which was held in 1911, while the “Dottore Commercialista” professional qualification was coined in 1913. In 1929, the profession was further regulated thanks to the adoption of two sets of professional rules, one for ragionieri and the other for dottori commercialisti. The advent of Fascism entailed the dissolution of all Professional Associations. Law n.1815 of 1939 provided for the prohibition to practice any professional activity in the form of association. The Constitution of the Italian Republic that was established after the Second World War gave the various professional groups the “public-interest” status. Actually, Article 33 of the Italian Constitution provides for a State Examination to enter the Profession. In 1953, the profession of Dottore Commercialista obtained the official recognition through the establishment of a special professional Roll and of a governing Professional body with the enactment of the Presidential Decree 1067/1953. The same year, the Presidential Decree 1068/1953 recognizes and regulates the professions of Ragioniere and Perito Commmerciale. More than fifty years later, in 2008, the two professional bodies were united in a single Public body and Roll – that of Dottori Commercialisti ed Esperti contabili, thus giving life to a unified profession called “Commercialista”.
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Accessing the profession
Due to historical and cultural reasons, the Accountancy profession in Italy is mainly practiced independently. Hence, most Commercialisti in Italy are self-employed and just a small minority of them are employed in companies and in other organisations. In order to be registered with the Roll of Dottori Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili (Albo), the applicant needs to prove technical knowledge and specific skills, which are mainly gained through university and post-graduate studies. Furthermore, some additional conditions need to be met. The new Roll (Albo) consists of two sections, namely:
› Section A – Commercialisti
› Section B – Esperti contabili
There is also a special section for those who cannot practice the profession.The main difference between the two Sections consists in the range of activities that the practitioners registered in each of them are entitled to carry out, and the registration in Section A or B depends both on the university degree obtained and the relevant State Examination taken.
The Activities
Only the Commercialisti – enrolled in Section A based on their skills and competencies– are allowed to perform the following activities:
› Auditing, expressing opinions or providing other assurance attestations on the financial statements of public and private companies or entities not subject to statutory audit, when it is provided for by the law, ordered by a judge or an administrative court, or required by private individuals, also for purposes, such as access to public and EU subsidies and funds; and to certify any reports on the use of public financial resources.
› Company’s appraisals.
› Defending and representing clients before tax courts.
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› Acting as receivers, court-appointed receivers and liquidators in bankruptcy, judicial, and administrative proceedings, as well as in receivership procedures (procedure di amministrazione straordinaria); acting as receivers pendente lite, administrators, and liquidators in legal procedures.
› Statutory audit of companies and public entities (also as members of audit committees – Collegio sindacale)
› Acting as inspectors and court-appointed receivers according to Article 2409 of the Italian Civil Code.
› Produce papers and research studies dealing with financial issues, also including future performance forecasts.
› Assessing, in view of granting the legal status of foundations and associations, the suitability of their funds against their purposes;
› Carrying out sale operations for movable and immovable assets, and preparing the scheme of arrangement/distribution, when they are delegated such powers by a court (giudice dell’esecuzione).
› Financial consulting activities for local governments.
› Technical assessment of business projects and certification of business plans to obtain public funds.
› Monitoring the use of public funds obtained by businesses and tutoring services for these businesses.
› Preparing and certifying environmental, social, and sustainability reports for businesses and other private/public sector entities.
› Certifying investments for promoting environmental sustainability, in order to benefit from any administrative relief provided for by the Law.
› All the activities of Esperti Contabili.
According to the relevant professional regulations, Esperti Contabili – enrolled in Section B – based on their skills and competencies are allowed to perform the following activities:
› Preparing and keeping accounting and tax books, and employees’ ledgers, auditing and certifying the financial statements of associations, natural or legal persons other than corporations.
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› Preparation and filing of tax returns, and other tax fulfilments.
› Issuing visto di conformità (compliance certifications) for tax returns.; tax certifications, including for purposes related to studi di settore1; and any other certification provided for by tax laws.
› Performing the audit function or being members of other audit committees, and auditing the accounts according to Article 2409-bis of the Italian Civil Code.
› Auditing the accounts of businesses and entities receiving Governmental subsidies, or participated by public entities.
› Filing and registering deeds and documents requiring digital signatures with public or private organisations.
› Providing tax advice to taxpayers who are not self-employed and do not own any business.
Education, Training and Registration Requirements
The access pathway is the following:
› Three-year Bachelor’s degree in scienze dell’economia e della gestione aziendale (Economics and Business Management Sciences); or a five-year Master’s Degree (laurea magistrale) in science of economics or economic-business management sciences; or any five-year laurea (Bachelor’s Degree + Master’s Degree) obtained from a School of Economics according to the previous university system.
› 18-month professional training;
› Passing the State Examination (Esame di Stato);
› Being registered with the professional Roll (to this end, the practitioner shall have the residence or professional domicile according to geographical competency criteria).
1 T.N.: Statistical and estimate method used by the tax authorities to estimate the taxes due by professionals and firms operating in specific business areas.
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EDUCATION/TRAINING SCHEME
Sections Education Length Training Length State Exams
A - Commercialisti 5 years (3 + 2) 18 months 3 written tests (one practical)1 oral exam
B - Esperti contabili 3 years 18 months 3 written tests (one practical)1 oral exam
In order to be registered with the Roll of Commercialisti ed Esperti contabili, applicants have to meet the following general requirements:
› Being an Italian or EU citizen, or a citizen of a country that has entered into a reciprocity agreement with Italy
› Fully enjoying civil rights
› Irreproachable conduct
› Having residence or professional domicile in the geographical area covered by the Roll’s Section where the applicant wishes to be transferred/registered
› Absence of any final judgement sentencing the applicant for an offence that, pursuant to the professional regulations in force, would entail the applicant’s striking off the Professional Roll
Special requirements for registration in Section A – “Commercialisti” – include:
› Having a Master’s Degree (laurea magistrale) in science of economics or economic-business management sciences (classes LM 770 or LM 56)
› 18-month professional training
› Passing the State Examination (Esame di Stato) allowing practicing as a Commercialista
Special requirements for registration in Section B – “Esperti contabili” – include:
› Having a degree in the fields of science of economics and business management, or in the field of economic sciences (degree classes L18 or L33)
› 18-month professional training
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› Successfully passing the State Examination (Esame di Stato) allowing practicing as Esperto contabile
REQUIREMENTS TO BE MET TO REGISTER WITH THE ROLL (SECTIONS A AND B)
Being an Italian or a EU citizen, or citizen of a Country that has entered into a reciprocity agreement with Italy
Fully enjoying civil rights
Irreproachable conduct
Having residence or professional domicile in the geographical area covered by the Roll’s Section where the applicant wishes to be transferred/registered
Absence of any final judgement sentencing the applicant for an offence that would entail the applicant’s striking off the Professional Roll
Section A - Commercialisti Section B - Esperti Contabili
Master’s Degree (laurea magistrale) in science of economics or economic-business management (classes LM 770 or LM 56)
3-year university degree (laurea triennale)in the fields of science of economics and business management , or in the field of economic sciences (degree classes L18 or L33)
18-month professional training 18-month professional training
Successfully passing the State Examination (Esame di Stato)
Successfully passing the State Examination (Esame di Stato)
Professional Training
The most intense and structured period of the education of a professional is represented by the university studies in economics and business management. The relevant degrees are essential preconditions to qualify and practice as a dottore commercialista or esperto contabile and the Italian Law does not foresee any other option. Professional training is mandatory and lasts 18 months. It consists of theoretical and practical training, aiming at developing the skills required to practice and organise the professional activity. A precondition to access professional training is being registered in the trainees register (registro del tirocinio) kept by the local professional body. In order to register with the Roll, it is necessary to hold the university degree or any other diploma required by the law, notwithstanding any additional university rule.
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The mentor – who is a Commercialista registered for at least five years – shall make sure that training is suitable to reach the expected goals. Furthermore, pursuant to the professional training regulations in force, trainees may also carry out maximum six months of their training period abroad, with organisations and professionals holding the same degrees and licenced to practice the profession. The first six months of professional training may also take place during the last year of university studies, provided that specific framework agreements are in place. Finally, besides the practical experience gained by working with a senior professional, professional training may also consist in successfully attending selected training courses organised by the local professional bodies. These courses may have a duration of maximum six months.
The State Examination (Esame di Stato)
Passing the State Examination is a precondition to practice a regulated profession, and it is also about checking the qualifications, knowledge, and skills required to practice as a Commercialista and/or Esperto contabile. Those who practice an intellectual profession without passing the State Examination as provided for by Art. 33 of the Italian Constitution are not allowed to call themselves “professionals” (professionisti), as they are mere service providers (prestatori d’opera).Practicing a regulated profession implies to have successfully passed the State Examination referred to in Article 33 of the Italian Constitution, which allows to be registered with the relevant Roll (which entails membership in the professional local body) and practicing the profession. Thanks to this system, the necessary preliminary and regular checks and controls are put in place, to protect the community and guarantee that the commercialisti and esperti contabili– whose work has remarkable public interest impact – have the qualifications and skills required in order to practice the profession.Once the professional training has been successfully completed, the applicants may take the appropriate State Examination to qualify as dottore commercialista or esperto contabile, depending on the university studies.
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The exam is announced through a Decree of the Ministry of University. State Examinations are held every year, and take place at different Italian universities. The State Examination to be registered with the Roll’s Section A - Commercialisti, consists in:
a) Three written tests – one of which is practical – dealing with the following subject matters: theoretical and practical bookkeeping; statutory auditing; industrial and business management; banking; professional knowledge; financial management; private law; business law; bankruptcy law; tax law; labour and social security law; civil procedure.
b) An oral exam aiming at ascertaining the candidate’s knowledge in the areas tackled by the written exams, as well as on the following subject matters: information technology, information systems, political economics, mathematics and statistics, professional legislation and ethics.
The State Examination to registered with the Roll’s Section B - Esperti contabili, consists in:
a) Three written tests – one of which is practical – aiming at ascertaining the theoretical knowledge of the candidates and their ability to practically apply such knowledge in the following areas: accounting; analytical and management accounting; final statements and consolidated financial statements legislation; statutory auditing; civil and business law; bankruptcy law, tax law; labour and social security law; information systems and technology; political economics and business administration; principles of financial management; mathematics and statistics.
b) An oral exam aiming at ascertaining the candidate’s knowledge, in the areas tackled by the written exams, as well as theoretical-practical questions on the activities carried out in the on-the-job training period, and on professional legislation and ethics.
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TESTS TO BE TAKEN TO BE PUT ON THE ROLL
Section A Section B
Written test 1 › Theoretical and practical bookkeeping statutory auditing
› Industrial and business management
› Banking › Professional knowledge › Financial management
› Accounting › Analytical and management
accounting › Financial statements legislation › Consolidated financial statements
legislation › Statutory auditing
Written test 2 › Private law › Business law › Bankruptcy law › Tax law › Labour and social security law › Civil procedure
› Civil and business law › Bankruptcy law › Tax law › Labour and social security law › Information systems and technology › Political economics and business
administration › Principles of financial management › Mathematics and statistics
Written test 3 › Practical test on subject matters selected for the written test
or › Preparation of deeds/
documents pertaining to tax litigation cases
› Practical test, consisting in an exercise on the subject matters selected for Written examination n° 1
Oral examination Same subject matters as for the written tests+ › IT › Information systems › Political Economics › Mathematics and Statistics › Professional legislation and
ethics
Same subject matters as for the written tests+theoretical-practical questions on the activities carried out in the professional training period, and on professional legislation and ethics
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Professional Qualifications and Practice
The titles of Dottore Commercialista and Esperto Contabile are protected, and are subject to passing the State Examination and to registration with the Roll. The law also provides for protection of the title of “commercialista”, which only applies to those who appear in Section A of the Roll.
The Statutory Auditor (Revisore legale) Qualification
According to the law, Dottori Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili can also perform statutory audits. The legislation on statutory auditing was reformed by Legislative Decree n° 39/2010, implementing EU Directive 2006/43/EC. Only licensed professionals registered with the Roll of statutory auditors – which is presently kept and managed by the Ministry of the Economy and Finance (MEF)
– and meeting the requirements referred to in Article 2 of legislative Decree n° 39/2010 (including good reputation, holding at least a 3-year university degree, professional training, and passing the national qualifying exam), are allowed to perform statutory auditing. Special governance rules are also envisaged for the registration of Audit Firms. Of course, all our members who were already registered with the Roll of Statutory Auditors (Registro dei revisori legali) when the new rules entered into force, may continue practicing as statutory auditors. In this respect, with reference to new enrolled statutory auditors, it is worth highlighting that Art 4-bis of Legislative Decree n° 39/2010 explicitly provides for the exemption from passing the qualifying exam for those who have already successfully passed the State Examination to be registered with the Roll of Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili, Sections A and B, and have carried out a three-year professional training with a senior statutory auditor, as provided for by the law.
OBTAINING THE QUALIFICATION
(summary)
University degree (laurea) in economics/business management areas
Professional training (18 months)
National Qualifying Exam
Being registered with the Roll (Section A – Commercialisti ; Section B – Esperti contabili)
Registration with the Roll of statutory auditors (Registro dei Revisori legali dei conti) (to practice the audit profession referred to in Legislative Decree n° 39/2010)
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Role and activities
As underlined above, the legislation on the professional activity of Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili provides for special rules on the activities that said professionals may carry out, which require specific and technical skills.A detailed list of the activities is provided in Article 1 of the Law on the profession of Commercialisti and Esperti contabili. This list proves that our profession is complex, and practitioners have close relations in particular with businesses, citizens, public administrations, and the judiciary authorities. As a matter of fact, our profession has been interestingly expanding over the last few years, thus entering particularly strategic areas for the economy. Looking at the specific skills required for registered practitioners according to Art. 1 of the professional law, and considering the functions they can further perform according to other rules, the professional activities carried out by commercialisti and Esperti Contabili can be correctly defined as “auxiliary” to the public administrations, and of “relevant public interest”. Auxiliary to the public administrations when these administrations (usually the judicial authority) charge the practitioner with performing some typical functions; or when the practitioner can lawfully act on behalf of the public administration concerned (by replacing it), in situations specifically provided for by the law.Of relevant public interest when practitioners – generally engaged by clients
– carry out activities supportive to public sector entities, with third parties relying on them for the accurate and diligent performance of such activities. The latest reforms and laws have tasked the practitioners registered as Commercialisti or Esperti Contabili with performing a growing number of functions that in the past were carried out by public administrations, thus increasing the above-mentioned “auxiliary” activities. As highlighted above, in order to perform said functions specific qualifications and skills are required, which the law specifically acknowledges to practitioners registered in our Roll. For this reason, and also to guarantee their customers top-quality services, Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili are required to go through continuing professional development (CPD) – thus constantly
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enhancing their knowledge – to fulfil the ethical obligations our profession needs to comply with. More specifically, a registered Commercialista fulfils an important public-interest role when assisting the entrepreneur in decision-making, by providing consultancy services, or when performing the typical functions of corporate control.Most Italian businesses are small and medium-sized, often family-run enterprises. Actually, the participation of our members is essential at all decision-making stages of a company’s life – be it a small, medium, or multinational enterprise – including before it is incorporated, since registered professionals often assist entrepreneurs in designing their business plans. In these situations, assistance is provided in the following stages:
At the company’s embryonic stage, by providing consultancy aiming at:
› Collecting data and legal-financial feasibility information, to support the initial assessment of the business plan
› Preparing the business plan
› Raising funds
› Identifying the most suitable legal form for the company and defining its governance system
› Preparing the Bylaws and the legal papers required for the incorporation
In the start-up phase, by performing the following activities:
› Estimating the contributions in kind
› Financial planning
› Internal organisation
› Setting up of the IT system
› Setting up of the control system
Throughout the company’s life, by performing the functions focused on:
› Analysing the financial needs
› Providing tax advice – calculating revenue, filling in and filing statements
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› Tax consultancy and planning
› Providing support and representing customers in taxation litigation cases
› Business management
› Bookkeeping, preparation of financial statements and reporting
› Administrative controls
› Monitoring compliance with the law, as member of the collegio sindacale or of any other management control body
› Statutory auditing, as external auditor or member of the collegio sindacale in charge of the audit
It is worth highlighting that, among the activities that registered Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili carry out to support entrepreneurs, there is the provision of consultancy services for specific and significant operations of a company’s life. These operations include:
› Assignment of shares of limited company shareholdings;
› Consultancy for extraordinary operations such as restructuring, mergers and acquisition;
› Consultancy for the disposal of companies;
› Consultancy during the dissolution and winding up of a company;
› Crisis management activities for distressed companies.
As mentioned above, Commercialisti play a crucial public-interest role within the corporate governance area.Actually, Commercialisti enrolled in Section A can be members (sindaco) of the collegio sindacale, and of any other management control body. The collegio sindacale carries out a continuing monitoring and control activity, checking compliance with laws and bylaws, good governance principles and, most importantly, the suitability of the organisational, administrative and accounting framework adopted by the enterprise and its proper operation. This activity is carried out in parallel with the management of the enterprise, and should not be confused with the controls on the financial statements prepared by the company and audited by external auditors or audit firms.
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Therefore, the Italian legislation enhances the supervision functions performed in the corporate governance framework by the collegio sindacale – made up of expert and independent practitioners – to protect the rights of the company, of its shareholders, its creditors, and any third party. As suggested above, the role played by the collegio sindacale is a specificity of the Italian law. Actually, in order to put in place strict and reliable controls performed by external professionals, our legislator made a distinction, as early as 1998, between the control over the legality of the company’s management and the auditing activities; at first, such provisions only targeted listed companies, but they were subsequently extended to all companies. In addition, with the Legislative Decree n° 39/2010, implementing the EU Directive 2006/43/EC, the Italian legislator has further regulated statutory auditing, that is, the yearly auditing of financial statements or consolidated financial statements, by tasking natural persons or external firms with performing such audits (with some exceptions, when statutory auditing is performed by the collegio sindacale entirely made up of members registered with the Roll of statutory auditors). Bearing in mind the explanations provided in Chapter 2, on the requirements for being registered with the Roll, statutory auditing is also included in the list of activities that may be carried out by Commercialisti and Esperti contabili.
As to the functions performed by Commercialisti in the legal field, they can be deemed ancillary to the functions performed by the judge/court, and aim at pursuing community goals. More specifically, each member belonging to Section A may be appointed as:
› Receiver, court-appointed administrator, court-appointed liquidator in bankruptcy, judicial, and administrative proceedings, as well as in special management procedures;
› Court-appointed receiver, liquidator;
› Court-appointed receiver for assets seized and confiscated from organized criminality;
› Court-appointed inspector (ispettore giudiziario) and administrator;
› Official receiver appointed by the judge to deal with the selling of movable and immovable assets;
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› Arbitrator and mediator;
› Judge in local tax court commissions;
› In charge of the Preparation of the valuation reports for pledged or mortgaged property in bankruptcy proceedings for composition purposes;
› In charge of certifying company reorganisation plans and restructuring agreements;
› In charge of issuing special certifications provided for by bankruptcy law;
› In charge of performing the functions required in composition proceedings for over-indebtedness crises and asset liquidation.
The specificities of this profession also appear in the provision of other kind of services. As already mentioned, although they act on behalf of their clients, our practitioners also perform important public-interest functions. Typical examples include the functions performed in the areas of tax law and non-profit. Again, in such fields, although in most cases the professionals are engaged by their clients, they perform relevant public-interest functions.
In the tax law field, our members are asked to provide tax consultancy, tax support services, and to deal with any contentious procedure. Generally speaking, the registered practitioners may carry out the following activities:
› Tax planning;
› Judge in tax court commissions;
› Issuing visto di conformità (compliance certifications), tax certifications, including for purposes related to studi di settore ; and any other tax and enforcement-related certification.
› Certifications provided for by taxation laws;
› Intermediary tasked with filing tax returns;
› Member of the Taxpayer Protection Authority.
In the non-profit sector, Commercialisti play a significant role, considering the specificity of the field and the activity carried out (which is a non-profit activity, and yet a financial activity when dealing with social enterprises).
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On account of that, and given the significant growth of voluntary-sector organisations recorded over the last few years, there is an increasing need to suitably protect the relevant stakeholders. That is why the functions performed by Commercialisti are of outmost importance, both in terms of organisation, and of consultancy in the areas of planning and management at the various stages of the creation and life of this kind of organisation. Commercialisti are involved in the following activities:
› Establishing the organisation, recognition and registration with the relevant public Registers;
› Assessing the adequacy of the assets of associations and foundations against their purposes, for the recognition of their legal status;
› Setting up corporate and financial reporting system;
› Managing the fund raising system;
› Financial audits and reviews;
› Making sure that the organisation is lawfully and properly managed.
Another strategic area in which practitioners registered with our Roll play a crucial role thanks to their skills and specific knowledge is that of public entities.More specifically, our legislation tasks the practitioners with the audit of the financial statements of public institutions. They may perform such audit functions as members of the collegio sindacale, or as approved statutory auditors for Municipalities with less than 15,000 inhabitants.The role of the practitioners auditing public entities is quite complex, and goes beyond simple monitoring and control, when they go as far as giving advice, making remarks, issuing certifications, making declarations on oath, and putting forward proposals aiming at improving the public entity’s management or supporting its activities
Lastly, it is worth highlighting the specific services provided by our practitioners when they are asked to:
› Carry out and circulate financial analysis studies and research, dealing with the shares of listed issuers, making forecasts on their future performance and providing implicit or explicit investment advice;
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› File and register deeds and documents requiring digital signatures with public or private entities: these activities also include filing the financial statements.
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Practicing the Accountancy Profession
Professional Ethics
The expression “professional ethics” designates the set of rules of conduct regulating the activity of registered practitioners. Ethical principles guide both the conduct of our members in the professional practice (relations with colleagues, customers, other professionals, and the Public Administrations), and the behaviour and attitudes in everyday life. The rules of conduct are specific for every category of professional who are required by the law to register with the Roll, and are supervised by the Ministry of Justice. Such rules have a twofold purpose. On the one hand, ethical behaviour guarantees customers high-quality professional services; on the other hand, compliance with ethical principles prevents the professional category from falling into disrepute with the general public, which might actually happen if the any practitioner acts in a way such as to damage the category’s professional reputation and dignity.The Code of Ethics of the Italian Commercialisti – which is presently being reviewed following the recent reform of all regulated professions – consists of 45 Articles grouped into four Sections, namely:
› General Provisions
› Professional Relations
› Competition
› Transitional Provisions Being ethical rules, they are worded as general principles rather than referring to specific situations, which would anyway be difficult to define.Hence, there is need to outline the basic ethical rules practitioners have to comply with. The First Section (General Provisions), contains the provisions establishing our practice’s main founding principles, that is, independence, objectiveness,
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integrity, confidentiality, competence, and diligence, which are essential for any provider of public-interest services. Section Two on Professional Relations provides for ethical rules for all the relations any practitioner actually establishes. Therefore, besides the relations with colleagues, it also includes provisions on the relations with customers, the relevant professional bodies, with employees and other people working at the professional practice, with trainees (who are also required to comply with the Code of Ethics, as they shall, later on, start practicing the profession), as well as the relations with other possible parties (such as public offices, the press, or professionals registered with other Rolls). Section Three on Competition introduced – even before our national Law– the freedom of informative advertising, through any medium and dealing with our professional activity, our specialisations and qualifications obtained. This form of advertising is allowed, provided that the users are given transparent, true, accurate, unambiguous, and never defamatory or deceptive information. Following the guidelines and the provisions of Bersani Law n° 248/2006 – which abrogated the prohibition, including any partial prohibition, to advertise personal specialisations and professional qualifications, the characteristics of the services provided, and the prices of such services – our Code of Ethics has established principles that have been introduced by the law for all other regulated professions only at a later stage (cf. Art. 4 Presidential Decree n° 137/2012).It is worth clarifying that ethical principles are not a purely formal exercise for our profession. Actually, any member who does not abide by said ethical rules may incur disciplinary measures, taken by the Board of the local Ordine the member belongs to and, therefore, disciplinary sanctions may be imposed commensurate with the violation perpetrated.
Independence and Incompatibility
Practicing the profession implies continuing monitoring and ascertaining the conditions of independence, and deciding – in some cases – not to accept or terminate a job or an engagement, in order to exclude any conflict of interests.
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The rules on independence are mainly provided for by law, and the subject is dealt with, according to a “principle-based” approach. Our Code of Ethics reaffirms this obligation, thus also providing for possible disciplinary consequences, besides the legal ones. The Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili practice is incompatible with various offices and duties, which are identified in the professional regulation.
General Incompatibility
› Notary
› Journalist
› Own entrepreneurial activity
› Public service contractor
› Tax collection agent
› Financial advisor
There is no incompatibility when the professional’s own entrepreneurial activity:
› Is an assets administration activity
› Is a mere possession or conservation activity
› Consists in holding shares of service companies linked to the practice of the profession
› Consists in management/administration, based on a specific professional mandate, and aims at pursuing the customer’s interests.
Incompatibility With The Auditor’s DutyStatutory auditors auditing the financial statements of a company should be independent from the company itself, and should not be involved in any way in its decision-making processes. A statutory auditor cannot audit the financial statements of a company if there is any direct or indirect financial, business, or other kind of relation with the company, including any relation linked to the provision of services other than accountancy ones, which would make a well informed, objective, and reasonable third party infer that the statutory auditor’s independence is
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compromised. The independence of a statutory auditor may be jeopardised when one of the following risk arises:
› Self-review
› Self interest
› Advocacy
› Familiarity
› Trust or intimidation.
In these situations, the statutory auditor shall adopt measures to mitigate the aforementioned risks. If those risks are such to compromise his/her independence, the statutory auditor shall not perform the audit. Licensed statutory auditors abide by the principles of independence and objectiveness established by their professional body and approved by the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, after consulting the CONSOB (the Italian Security and Exchange Commission), or established by the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, after consulting with CONSOB.
Grounds For Ineligibility or Non-appointment of Statutory AuditorsNatural persons in the following conditions cannot be appointed as statutory auditors or, if they have already been, they shall lose their offices. Said conditions include:
› Debarred, disqualified, and bankrupt persons.
› Persons debarred from holding public offices, also temporarily, or that are incompetent to hold management positions, following convictions that entail such punishments.
› Spouses, persons related by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth degree to the Directors of a company or of its eventual subsidiaries.
› People having a working relationship, or continuing consultancy relations, or have any other financial relations compromising their independence.
› Any statutory auditor that has been stricken off or suspended from the professional Roll of statutory auditors.
› Persons exceeding the number of jobs allowed by CONSOB regulations.
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Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
The recent reform of the Profession has introduced the obligation for practitioners registered with the Rolls of regulated professions to constantly improve their professional knowledge (Art. 3, Paragraph 5, Law Decree n° 138/2011 and Art. 7 Presidential Decree n°137/2012). CPD is an ethical obligation, and its violation entails the adoption of disciplinary measures. Pursuant to the Law, the Board of CNDCEC shall define – through rules that are going to be published soon – the details concerning the fulfilment of such training obligation, by providing for training management and organisation systems, minimum requirements for the whole national territory, and professional credit assessment criteria. It is worth reminding that the Italian Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili have been “lifelong learning” pioneers, in that the continuous professional development obligation has been introduced in the rules governing their professions as a legal obligation and an ethical rule for all registered practitioners (Articles 12 and 29 of legislative Decree n° 139/2005). The Code of Ethics further specifies the obligations and the various ways to carry out continuing professional development, also based on the internal rules issued by CNDCEC and by the Local Professional Ordini.
The Recognition of Professional Qualifications
Directive 2005/36/EC regulates the two essential ways professionals can freely move and carry out their professions throughout the EU, namely the Provision of Services (Title II of Directive 2005/36/EC) and Establishment (Title III). A precondition to free establishment is being registered with the professional Roll of the Host Country, whose competent authorities need to carry out a recognition procedure. The recognition of professional qualifications allows practicing throughout the whole national territory of the Host Member State and is granted automatically for some professions (which are listed in the relevant Annex to the Directive, in particular, the medical professions and architects), or based on the so-called General System (which applies to Commercialisti and Esperti contabili). Based on such system, the foreign practitioner’s education,
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studies, and qualifications are assessed and compared to national education and requirements. If necessary, compensation measures are envisaged, such as possible aptitude tests. Conversely, the temporary provision of services does not require any recognition. However, there is need to register with a special Section of the Register, based on a written statement to be made in advance, which should contain information on the activities the practitioner intends to perform. In such cases, the service provider cannot use the professional title (qualification) of the Host Member State (but the one obtained in the Home Member State), but shall be subject to the national provisions and disciplinary measures regulating the profession.In 2013, the following innovation was introduced for the “general system”: if the service provider is a citizen of a Member State where the profession is not regulated, evidence of only one (not two) year of professional experience in one or more member States is required, over the ten years prior to the provision of services. The professional experience is not required if a regulated education is envisaged for the profession in the Home Member State. For seasonal works, in order to ascertain the temporary and occasional nature of the provision of services, Member States may ask for information on the services, once a year.
Professional Cards
The European Professional Card (EPC) is one of the most important elements introduced by the reviewed Directive.The EPC aims at facilitating the recognition of professional qualifications and at streamlining the procedure for those who intend to pursue a regulated profession in other Member States, where such profession is regulated. These goals shall be reached by further involving the competent authorities of the Home Member State, and introducing computerised procedures. The EPC is a voluntary tool, which is made available to those professionals who are interested in benefitting from the advantages offered by the Card that, in essence, include the speeding up of the recognition procedures and the possibility to practice without passing any test and without registering locally.
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Shared Offices and Partnerships of Accountants
Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili may work independently (own practices), or in partnerships (firms). In both cases, each professional fulfils a mandate taking full responsibility vis-à-vis the client. However, recent court decisions have attributed some sort of legal personality to partnerships and firms, at least in their relations with third parties, with whom they act as a single entity. Besides the Law n° 183/2011 allows practicing in the framework of Professional Corporations (società di professionisti - STP). Unlike the past, such partnerships may also have any company form and may include “lay” partners, that is, partners who are not members of any professional Ordine and are not registered with any Roll. Professional quality is guaranteed by the exclusivity of its business purpose – which is restricted to practicing the profession – and by the legal provisions envisaging at least a two third majority of professionals – also in terms of equity participation – so to ensure that resolutions can be made and decisions can be taken by such majority.Professional Corporations, as they are considered as professionals, are registered with a special section of the Roll. They must take out an insurance policy covering any damage caused by the partner/practitioners in their professional activity. Furthermore, they are bound to abide by the relevant professional Code of Ethics, and may be made up of professionals from different regulated professions, thus becoming multidisciplinary firms.
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Our Governance Structure
At present, the National Professional Body of Commercialisti and Esperti contabili-CNDCEC has 116,245 registered members. They are divided into 144 (Local branches) based on a territorial jurisdiction principle following that of Italian courts. At a national level, the Profession is exclusively and univocally represented by CNDCEC, which is based in Rome.
The Board of CNDCEC
Legally speaking, CNDCEC is a public sector legal entity, with its own assets and financial resources, and self-regulatory powers. Actually, it provides for its own organisation through special regulations, and is subject to the supervision of the Ministry of Justice.
Members and Offices
The National Board consists of 21 members, with at least 11 of them being registered on Section A of the Roll.Office holders:
› President (on Roll’s Section A)
› Vice President
› Secretary
› Treasurer
Potential candidates are all practitioners registered for at least 10 years, and possessing full voting right. The mandate lasts 4 years, and can be renewed only once.The Board of Auditors is the supervisory body, which consists of one President and two members, selected and elected among the registered practitioners.
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CNDCEC adopts a mandate program, stating the goals and the priorities it intends to promote, always highlighting the close links existing between the international, national, and local dimensions. It also places significant focus on the importance of promoting a strategic role in the debates on the most important issues concerning the Profession. In order to facilitate research in the areas of special professional, political, and institutional interest, the Boards sets up study committees and working groups. Besides covering all areas linked to all fields of professional activity, CNDCEC places special focus on equal opportunities and on the presence of women in the Profession.
Ordini territoriali
Legally speaking, the Ordini territoriali are public entities, with their own assets and financial resources; they are subject to the supervision of the Ministry of Justice and CNDCEC.Currently, in Italy there are 144 Ordini territoriali, with a total of some 117,000 Commercialisti and Esperti contabili.Their widespread presence throughout the national territory allows the Ordini territoriali to promote the relations with local public authorities and, more generally, to become the local interlocutors of public sector, academia, and other professions.
Bodies, Members, and Offices The Board of the Ordine territoriale The board of an Ordine territoriale may have 7 to 15 members, who can be elected if registered with the Roll for at least 5 years.
Positions:President (on Roll’s Section A)Vice PresidentSecretaryTreasurer
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Board members have a 4-year mandate. The President and the Board members can only be elected for maximum two consecutive mandates.
The Board of AuditorsThe Board of Auditors consists of 3 full members and 2 alternate members.
CNDCEC Functions and Powers
Regulatory and Supervisory Functions
Adoption of the Code of Ethics
Adoption of Disciplinary Rules
Preparation of Electoral Rules
Preparation of the Rules to deal with petitions
Fixing membership fee
Supervising the operations of the Ordini territoriali
Representation and Guidance Functions
Representing the whole Profession at national and international level
Promoting the relations with institutions and public entities
Designating its representatives in national and international committees and organisations
Providing advice on bills and legislation concerning the Profession
Assessing and approving the continuing and mandatory CPD courses proposed by the Ordini territoriali
Coordinating and promoting the activity of the Boards of the Ordini territoriali , with a view to favouring professional development and improvement activities
Promoting professional improvement and specialisation initiatives, by drawing up professional guidance documents
Consolidating the Italian Profession in traditional sectors and developing new skills, also considering the global market developments
Promoting member access to internationalisation and tools to enhance international relationships
Legal Functions
Administrative settlement of appeals against member registration and striking off decisions made by the Boards of the Ordini territoriali.
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They have a 4-year mandate, which cannot be renewed more than twice consecutively.
Members’ AssemblyThe Assembly consists of all Roll members. It approves the accounts and elects the Board members.
Functions and Powers of The Ordini territoriali
Regulatory and Supervisory Functions
Supervising compliance with the professional rules and any other provisions regulating the Profession
Supervising the use of qualifications and the lawful practice of the profession, as well as the reputation and independence of the Ordine
Regularly checking that all members fulfil the relevant legal requirements
Keeping the Trainees’ Register
Keeping the Roll, the special list, registrations and striking offs.
Issuing certificates to their members
Organising the offices of the Ordine and providing to its financial management
Collecting the yearly fees for membership in the Roll or in the special list, as well as duties for the issuance of certificates and copies of written advices on the payoff of professional fees
Representation, Advisory and Guidance Functions
Designating the its representatives in local committees, bodies, and organisations
Issuing advices relating to the payoff of professional fees, upon the requests of its members or of the Public Administration
Promoting, organising, and regulating continuing and mandatory CPD for its members, and supervising the fulfilment of training obligations
Legal Functions
Settling the disputes that may arise among the registered practitioners, when both parties seize it, between the practitioners and their clients
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Disciplinary Functions
LocallyThe new Professional disciplinary provisions of the Ordini territoriali are based on the principle of the separation of their disciplinary bodies, and on the possibility to introduce “third parties” – not registered with the Roll – in local Disciplinary Committees. Disciplinary Committees are set up by the Boards of the Ordini territoriali, and they are tasked with preparing and settling any disciplinary case concerning the Roll members. Hence, the separation of the two (administrative and disciplinary) functions is explicitly provided for, as well as the incompatibility of the Ordine Director’s office with membership in the Disciplinary Council.
NationallyThe National Disciplinary Council (Consiglio di disciplina nazionale) has been established by the Board of CNDCEC. It is tasked with preparing and settling disciplinary cases concerning the practitioners on the Roll. The members of the National Disciplinary Board who perform disciplinary functions cannot fulfil any administrative function. The National Disciplinary Board consists of minimum six members, selected among the members of the Board of CNDCEC.
Fondazione Nazionale dei Commercialisti (FNC)
The Fondazione Nazionale dei Commercialisti is the study and research institute of CNDCEC.Its mission consists in enhancing the accountancy profession through continuous training, technical, scientific, and cultural studies; identifying specialisations within the Profession; training Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili to be; hence, promoting and implementing any initiative aiming at studying in depth the subjects pertaining to today’s profession, or that may concern it in the future, or that may be ancillary to the Profession, from scientific, technical, and application points of view.
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The FNC has recently adopted its legal membership scheme. The new provisions – which envisage typical features of both foundations and associations – provide for the possibility for other entities to join – after its establishment and endowment – as supporters, members, or else, thus contributing to the FNC’s life and to the fulfilment of its mission. The FNC’s Bylaws provide for various categories of “members”, namely institutional members (membri istituzionali), members (partecipanti), and supporters (sostenitori). Due to the vital role it plays in keeping the FNC alive and its contribution to the fulfilment of its missions, the Board of CNDCEC has been attributed the title of institutional member; members include legal and natural persons that significantly contribute to the life of the FNC and to the fulfilment of its mission, or that intend to contribute to the implementation of specific projects falling within the FNC’s competences; lastly, supporters are public or private legal or natural persons, giving their contributions in the form of funds, or by providing work or services, in accordance with the rules established by the body that shall manage the Foundation. The FNC is managed by a Board of Directors, chaired by a Chairperson with representation and signing powers. The Board of Directors has typical management, scientific, and political functions. General guidance is provided by an Advisory Board, and accounts are audited by a Board of Statutory Auditors. Regardless of their contribution to the fulfilment of its mission, both members and supporters have voting rights at the Assembly.
Membership in International Organisations
Today, Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili practice in a context characterised by fast changes, regulatory transformation, technological progress, and changing national and international legal frameworks. In our professional activity, we are confronted every day with the professional standards and socioeconomic situations of other Countries. This mostly happens through the companies we work for, which operate in foreign markets. Furthermore, we are facing the competition of our foreign colleagues and professional associations, or multinational companies providing a wide variety of consultancy services. Hence, we should ask ourselves: to what extent are we
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aware of such phenomena? What and how much do we know? How are we organising ourselves? In accordance with its institutional mission, according to Art. 29 of the Professional Rules provided for by Legislative Decree n° 139/05, the CNDCEC is member of various international organisations, wherein it represents its members. The aforesaid provisions should be properly interpreted, considered, and implemented, taking into account the ever-changing international trends that affect all areas in which Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili operate. Therefore, over time, participating in international regulatory and standard-setting processes has become essential to give the Italian profession’s contribution at all stages of the preparation of Directives, Regulations, and Standards, especially in the areas of Auditing, Reporting, Ethical judgements, and vocational qualification assessment. Among our main goals is the enhancement of the role of practitioners as business internationalisation experts and consultants, thus favouring the expansion of Commercialisti, developing communication channels, and increasing the opportunities for interacting with foreign colleagues, in order
Functions of FNC (Art. 3 of the Bylaws)
Enhancing the accountancy profession as provided for by Legislative Decree n° 139/2005
Continuing technical, scientific, and cultural training of Commercialisti;
Identifying specialisations within the accountancy profession; training Commercialisti and Commercialisti to be;
Scientific research; surveys, dissemination of information in the areas of interest for Commercialisti and statutory auditors on the Roll
Establishing training, refresher and specialisation courses and schools for Commercialisti, statutory auditors, and auditors of public local bodies;
Promoting publishing initiatives, including audio-visuals or computer products, supporting the professional practice;
Promoting cultural events in general, in the areas of competence of the accountants
Carrying out support and professional training activities for Commercialisti, statutory auditors, and auditors of public local bodies, in the Auditing field
Promoting and/or participating in EU/national calls for proposals for initiatives or activities in the areas of competence of the Commercialisti and/or auditors registered with the respective Rolls
Establishing, promoting, and funding scholarships and scientific research grants in the areas of economics, business management, trade, law, mathematics and statistics
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to actively participate in the globalisation of professional relations – rather than passively “suffering” it. By participating in international activities, we aim at favouring the development of the Italian Profession in the new areas of competence of reporting, including integrated reporting, social, environmental, and sustainability reporting. We also intend to make the Italian experience in the areas of non-profit reporting, social enterprise efficacy and efficiency indicators, internationally known.Our mission includes showing that the Italian Practitioners meet top standards in terms of professional knowledge, protection of public interest, strategic leadership, and propensity to innovate.
IASB – International Accounting Standards BoardIASB is the international organisation developing International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), previously called International Accounting Standards (IAS). CNDCEC participates in the IASB’s activities by regularly providing comments and remarks on draft standards (so called EDs, or Exposure Drafts). The role of this Organisation has become crucial after the entry into force of the EU Regulation that made the adoption of International Accounting Standards mandatory for listed companies’ financial statements and consolidated financial statements (EC Reg. n° 1606/2002). IASB has also developed the International Financial Reporting Standard for small and medium-sized enterprises (IFRS for SMEs), with the active participation of CNDCEC. (www.ifrs.org)
IFAC – International Federation of Accountants IFAC is the organisation that internationally represents the profession, at all levels. CNDCEC’s strategic objective consists in significantly influencing IFAC’s agenda, and placing increasing focus on sectors and activities other than auditing. IFAC’s technical and scientific activity is carried out by its permanent or temporary technical Committees, some of which are specifically tasked with developing international standards.IFAC’s Boards are tasked with developing international standards, and operate based on specific Rules, providing for the development of a work plan, for public consultation, as well as budgeting and work procedures.
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The following Boards are presently operational: IAASB – International Audit and Assurance Standards Board; IESBA – International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants, developing the code of ethics and, in particular, independence-related principles; IAESB – International Accounting Education Standards Board, developing standards on vocational training and education, both for entering the profession and for continuing vocational training; IPSASB
– International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSAS), favouring the shift to so-called accrual accounting.(www.ifac.org)
INSOL - International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy
The organisation aims at favouring the sharing of knowledge in the areas of insolvency, especially when they concern transnational issues. Its members include professional bodies, law firms, and partnerships specialised in insolvency matters. The organisation operates both globally and Europe-wide, with Insol Europe, which places special focus on EU regulatory developments. In particular, it carries out the following activities:
› Monitoring the evolution of bankruptcy law, bankruptcy proceedings and the procedures adopted in Europe;
› Disseminating and increasing thorough knowledge in the area through international and regional congresses, publications for members only (eurofenix), and INSOL Europe’s web site;
› Promoting networking and the sharing of professional experience of member professionals;
› Defending the interests of member professionals with the relevant EU and international authorities, also offering support from member professionals for relevant projects;
› Cooperating with INSOL International and other member organisations;
› Contributing to the education and training of member professionals.
(www.insol.org)
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IIRC- International Integrated Reporting CommitteeThe International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) is a global coalition of regulators, investors, companies, standard setters, the accounting profession, and NGOs. All coalition members believe that communication about value creation as the next step in the evolution of corporate reporting. The International Framework has been established to meet such need and lay the foundations for the future of corporate reporting.(www.theiirc.org)
IVSC - International Valuation Standards CouncilLondon-based IVSC aims at promoting a transparent international valuation standard-setting process. It therefore intends to develop a set of understandable and implementable international standards, protecting public interest, thus also favouring the development and harmonisation of national standards, which are being developed in many countries. The Italian participation in this area is strengthened by membership in the purposely-established Italian OIV Organisation.(www.theiirc.org)
UNCTAD ISAR - Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and ReportingISAR (the Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting) operates in the framework of UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, set up under the UN umbrella).ISAR places special focus on financial reporting and transparency, with a view to improving the reliability and comparability of corporate accounts. In particular, it has been working on an accounting standard project for SMEs and micro enterprises. Hence, ISAR’s work focuses on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, and it cooperates with IASB. The group has also designed a project for the development of a set of accounting standards for micro enterprises (SMEGA Level 3). (http://unctad.org/en/pages/DIAE/ISAR/ISAR-Corporate-Transparency-Accounting.aspx)
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CFE (Confédération Fiscale Européenne)The CFE (Confédération Fiscale Européenne) was founded in 1959 and today embraces 32 national organisations from 25 European States, representing more than 180,000 tax advisers. CFE considers its functions to be:
› Safeguarding the professional interests of tax advisers and maintain relations with the authorities at national and international levels, showing the contribution offered by professionals thanks to their experience of all technical areas;
› Contributing reaching high quality standards in the professional practice of tax advisers, and making their services known to the general public;
› Monitoring national tax laws and contributing to coordinate tax law in Europe;
› Promoting the co-ordination of national laws governing the profession, and in particular to achieve the protection of each national tax adviser’s title in Europe
(www.cfe-eutax.org)
FEE – Fédération des Experts Comptables Européens (European Accountants Federation)
FEE represents the accountancy profession, and is a recognised interlocutor of the European Commission and all other EU institutions. FEE covers all areas of interest to the profession (including ethics, professional rules, taxation, accounting, auditing, environment, and sustainability). FEE has reviewed its Constitution and since 2014 it works with a new governance structure. It foresees a Members’ Assembly – with representation and policy guidance authority – and a Board composed of representatives from various Countries, based on a geopolitical significance and budget-based ranking. By participating in FEE’s activities, CNDCEC can give its active contribution to the shaping of EU legislation and policies concerning the Profession, by formulating its remarks and comments directly to the EU Commission – on behalf of our Nation – after fruitful exchanges of views with other Countries, so to better define and express the accountancy profession’s requests. Furthermore, it contributes to the definition of a common European professional position, to be jointly communicated to the EU Commission, with its main interest being that of defining and expressing European professional
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needs and requests in the best possible manner, both to the EU institutions and to the International Organisations. The EU legislation covers all areas of the economy, including professions, due to the services they provide to businesses and companies, and to regulate the profession and competition policies within the profession itself and with third parties. FEE’s main areas of interest include:
› implementation of the new Directive and Regulation on statutory auditing, with particular focus on the provisions concerning independence, reporting, and combination of different services (EU Regulation n° 537/2014 and Directive 2014/56/EU);
› Implementation of the new accountancy Directive (Directive 2013/34/EU);
› Public Sector accounting and reporting, following Eurostat’s proposal – feasibility study, impact, and shift from cash accounting to accrual accounting;
› Taxation – in-depth study of topics related to competing legislations, tax abuse, common consolidation grounds, and the European Taxpayer’s Charter;
› SMEs – credit, SME assurance and reporting systems;
› Anti-money laundering and fight against corruption.
(www.fee.be)
EFRAG - European Financial Reporting Advisory GroupEFRAG was established in 2001, in the framework of Europe’s adoption of the IFRSs, and was tasked with providing input into the development of IFRSs issued by the IASB, and submitting to the European Commission proposals aiming at “Europeanising” them.Through its Regulations, the European Commission adopts the IFRSs, thus making them binding for the European Union Member States. The European Commission participates in EFRAG’s activities as an observer. EFRAG is a private advisory entity, financed by various actors involved and interested in the operations of the financial markets. Among said actors are:
› FEE (European Accountants Federation);
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› National bodies and institutions tasked with developing national financial reporting standards (OIC for Italy);
› The Association representing European Industrial companies (UNICE);
› The Associations representing European banks, insurance companies, and financial analysts;
› The stock exchanges;
› The European SMEs (UEAPME).
In queste settimane si concretizzerà il passaggio al nuovo sistema di governance interno, oggetto di lunghe trattative, documenti e rivisitazioni. Over the next few weeks, the new governance system shall fully enter into force, recently approved after long negotiations, many documents, and multiple reviews. The CNDCEC is represented through FEE, and through this latter and the OIC, it contributes to finance EFRAG.Therefore, CNDCEC’s comments on IFRS can be transmitted to organisations at various levels:
› At an international level, directly to IASB, which develops the principles the CNDCEC is asked to comment;
› At a European level, to EFRAG and to FEE’s Accounting Committee, which formulates a single comment to be sent to the IASB or to the European Commission.
(www.efrag.org)
EFAA – European Federation of Accountant and Auditors for SMES EFAA is the second Federation representing the accountancy profession in Europe, gathering European organisations dealing with Small and medium-sized professional practices (SMPs). EFAA is now reviewing its Bylaws, and its activity mainly focuses on the areas of accountancy and auditing, with special focus on Small and medium-sized practices. (www.efaa.com)
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CILEA – The Latin Europe-America Integration Committee The Latin Europe-America Integration Committee was set up with a view to bringing into contact professionals whose common denominator is their Latin background, and gathers Central-South American and Southern European Countries. Among its main goals, sharing professional values, exchanging information, keeping up-to-date on common interest topics and, most importantly, establishing the Profession’s Latin model.(www.cilea.info)
FCM – Fédération des Experts Comptables Mediterranééns (Mediterranean Accountants Federation)
FCM is an Association whose establishment was promoted by an Italian initiative. It gathers all Mediterranean institutes, which operate in Mediterranean Countries sharing common cultural and economic contexts, as well as similar business environments. FCM main purposes include sharing professional values and getting to know the technical and scientific contexts wherein professional operate in other Countries. (www.fcmweb.org)
ECGI - The European Corporate Governance InstituteThe ECGI is an international scientific organisation established in 2002 and based in Belgium. It aims at promoting the development of best practices, by making a forum available to academicians, legislators, and professionals to discuss relevant corporate governance topics. The Association’s main activities are the dissemination of corporate governance research studies. Among its members are universities, academicians, accountancy professional organisations, banks, multinational companies, stock exchanges, and rating agencies.(www.ecgi.org)
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EG - Edinburgh GroupThis informal group was set up in 2001 within IFAC, and gathers organisations mainly representing small and medium-sized practices (SMPs). It aimed at promoting the creation of an IFAC Commission for SMEs and SMPs, which has actually been established and is called SMPC. In 2004, the Group adopted a formal Constitution. Today, its membership includes: Italy, India, Ireland, Israel, South Africa. The Certified General Accountants’ Association of Canada represents Canada, while Great Britain is represented by the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants.The Group meets when IFSC’s Board holds its meetings, and mainly aims at influencing IFAC’s agenda, by drawing attention on themes of particular interest for SMEs.(www.edinburgh-group.org)
A4S - Accounting For SustainabilityAccounting for Sustainability is an international network that wishes to contribute changing the fundamental principles of social and economic life, by shifting from an approach based on mere short-term profit, to a long-term approach, based on value creation.The A4S Accounting Bodies network – a network that consists of major global accounting bodies – is its main body. Its members meet to join efforts in this area, thus avoiding any overlapping and waste.It was established in 2008 and, today, consists of more than 2 million professionals, who account for some two thirds of all world professional accountants. Its main goal is including the new perspective of value assessment (accounting for sustainability) approach in continuous professional development and in the professional careers of future generations. It works with major global CFOs and invertors, and meets at least once a year, at the residence of its founder, HRH the Prince of Wales.(www.accountingforsustainability.org/international_network/accounting-bodies-network)
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Common Content ProjectThe Project aims at defining the education and training standards for those who wish to enter the Profession. Meeting such standards is necessary to practice in the new global scenario, and the CCP works on the identification of common knowledge, leaving the definition of nation-specific contents to each Country. Five main technical areas have been identified, based on which learning outcomes have been developed for entry-level professional accountants, to be shared by today’s eight member institutes. The Project does not envisage the “creation” of a new international qualification on top of national ones; it rather fixes a minimum harmonisation level and a recognition procedure streamlining mechanism. Besides his/her national qualification, each professional shall have the opportunity to obtain an additional qualification from another Country, by only covering the education and training areas that are not common to both systems. Harmonising education and training and creating partially common knowledge allows making the qualifications obtained in the different Countries more transparent and easier to compare, thus facilitating the free movement of professionals. This shall also make expressing technical opinions in the frame of any professional qualification recognition procedure easier. The foundations can also be laid for the platform envisaged by the new Directive on professional qualifications, thus formally facilitating the free movement and recognition of qualifications in Europe.(www.commoncontent.com)
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Key Figures
As at January 1st 2015, there were 116,245 Italian accountancy practitioners, and this figure shows a 1% yearly increase. 41% of Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili works in Northern Italy, 22% in central regions, and 37% in the South. Women account for 31%, while 69% are men. 25% of them are young people up to 40 years of age, 60% are aged between 41 and 60, while over 60 members account for 15%. In 2015, 92,345 Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili are registered with the National Provident Fund of Commercialisti and the National Provident Fund of Ragionieri. In Italy, there is 1 Commercialista or Esperto contabile every 523 inhabitants. The FNC regularly carries out studies on the accountancy profession in order to monitor its evolution, as it is significantly influenced by market changes. Recent data show that practitioners are still mainly focusing on their core business, that is, accountancy and tax advice services, which are mainly provided to small and medium-sized enterprises. However, significant diversification is also shown, which is due to the continuous interaction between market evolution and the local context. Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili support and provide advice to all businesses operating in Italy, including family-run businesses, companies, public-law entities, or non-profit organisations. They deal with all aspects pertaining to their establishment, lives, and deaths. This makes accountancy practitioners multi-sided professionals, often holding multiple qualifications and specialisations in tax, business, bankruptcy, labour law, public, financial, and management fields. 27 areas of specialisation have been directly monitored by FNC, through special statistical surveys. Among such areas of specialisation, besides those closely related to accountancy and taxation, are legal specialisations including corporate law, administrative law, civil law and civil procedure, industrial law, criminal law and criminal procedure, labour law, as well as other crucial areas for the Italian economy such as brokering, real-estate consultancy, the third (or voluntary) sector, third-party liability and insurance, management control, and business management consultancy.
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Most accountancy practitioners prefer setting up their own independent practice, but many of them have shared practices or partnerships, and are members of national and/or international professional networks. In particular, 53% of Commercialisti and Esperti Contabili have their own independent practice, 21% share their office with other accountancy practitioners, and 22% work in a partnership (firm), while 4% chose non-organised work.
120.000
20.000
40.000
60.000
80.000
100.000
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Roll Registered Practitioners
2008 20152010 2011 2012 2013 20142009
Pension Fund Registered Practitioners
Tab. 1 Members and Practitioners registered with the Commercialisti Pension Funds -
Years 2008-2015*
Years Members Growth Rate Pension Fund Registered Practitioners Growth Rate
2008 107.499 -- 78.601
2009 109.474 1,8% 80.759 2,8%
2010 110.787 1,2% 82.658 2,4%
2011 112.164 1,2% 84.721 2,5%
2012 113.235 1,0% 86.965 2,6%
2013 114.041 0,7% 88.628 1,9%
2014 115.067 0,9% 89.970 1,5%
2015 116.245 1,0% 92.345 2,6%
* Data as at January 1st of each year
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North
North-West
North-East
South
South (Mainland)
Islands
Centre40,9
21,5
37,6
28,5
9,1
15,4
25,5
Tab. 2 Commercialisti by geographical regions. Year 2014
REGIONS Percentage % on total
NORTH 40,9%
NORTH-EAST 15,4%
NORTH-WEST 25,5%
CENTRE 21,5%
SOUTH 37,6%
SOUTH (MAINLAND) 28,5%
ISLANDS 9,1%
ITALY 100,0%
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Tab. 3 Gender and age of the Members of the Ordine territoriale. Year 2014
REGIONS Men Women ≤ 40 41-60 > 60
ABRUZZO 66,5% 33,5% 23,0% 64,4% 12,6%
BASILICATA 64,4% 35,6% 21,0% 67,4% 11,6%
CALABRIA 67,9% 32,1% 24,6% 63,9% 11,5%
CAMPANIA 74,3% 25,7% 23,2% 67,0% 9,8%
EMILIA ROMAGNA 60,7% 39,3% 22,4% 63,1% 14,6%
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA 66,8% 33,2% 17,9% 64,0% 18,1%
LAZIO 69,5% 30,5% 19,5% 65,2% 15,3%
LIGURIA 62,8% 37,2% 15,0% 65,6% 19,4%
LOMBARDY 68,1% 31,9% 22,5% 59,1% 18,3%
MARCHE 66,9% 33,1% 23,4% 63,0% 13,6%
MOLISE 64,9% 35,1% 27,7% 61,8% 10,5%
PIEDMONT 62,0% 38,0% 20,5% 62,8% 16,7%
APULIA 70,0% 30,0% 20,3% 67,2% 12,5%
SARDINIA 62,8% 37,2% 22,8% 61,2% 15,9%
SICILY 70,4% 29,6% 16,9% 67,9% 15,2%
TUSCANY 69,5% 30,5% 16,6% 65,9% 17,5%
TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE 75,4% 24,6% 26,8% 56,6% 16,5%
UMBRIA 61,9% 38,1% 19,0% 66,8% 14,3%
VALLE D'AOSTA 73,6% 26,4% 21,3% 64,9% 13,8%
VENETO 69,5% 30,5% 24,6% 59,6% 15,8%
NORTH 66,3% 33,7% 22,0% 60,8% 17,1%
NORTH-EAST 66,3% 33,7% 23,2% 61,1% 15,6%
NORTH-WEST 66,3% 33,7% 21,3% 60,6% 18,0%
CENTRE 68,8% 31,2% 19,1% 65,2% 15,6%
SOUTH 70,4% 29,6% 21,4% 66,4% 12,2%
SOUTH (MAINLAND) 70,9% 29,1% 22,5% 66,3% 11,2%
ISLANDS 68,9% 31,1% 18,0% 66,7% 15,3%
ITALY 68,4% 31,6% 21,2% 63,9% 14,9%
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Tab. 4 Local Commercialisti to population ratios. Year 2014
REGIONS N° of inhabitants per Commercialista
ABRUZZO 418
BASILICATA 578
CALABRIA 453
CAMPANIA 422
EMILIA ROMAGNA 644
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA 718
LAZIO 433
LIGURIA 514
LOMBARDY 501
MARCHE 549
MOLISE 644
PIEDMONT 685
APULIA 400
SARDINIA 841
SICILY 595
TUSCANY 526
TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE 798
UMBRIA 596
VALLE D'AOSTA 718
VENETO 623
NORTH 585
NORTH-EAST 653
NORTH-WEST 544
CENTRE 482
SOUTH 479
SOUTH (MAINLAND) 427
ISLANDS 641
ITALY 523
718
685
501
644
798
623
718
514
418
526
433
596549
644
422
400
578
453
595
841
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Tab. 5 Professional activity: areas of specialisation
Subjects Gender Age Groups Total
F M ≤40 41-60 >60
Environment 1,1% 1,9% 2,0% 1,7% 0,7% 1,7%
Human Resource Management and Administration
17,7% 19,3% 13,6% 20,0% 24,6% 18,8%
Contracts, building and town planning, 2,9% 6,5% 4,7% 5,7% 5,6% 5,5%
Voluntary Sector 11,4% 15,8% 12,3% 15,9% 11,3% 14,5%
Labour law consultancy 4,2% 6,9% 5,0% 6,2% 8,3% 6,1%
Tax advice 92,1% 92,0% 91,0% 92,5% 91,7% 92,1%
Tax concession advice 25,3% 26,7% 32,9% 24,2% 22,9% 26,3%
Accountancy, accounts, and review. 89,5% 91,1% 91,7% 90,6% 88,4% 90,7%
Tax litigations 40,2% 56,1% 47,0% 51,6% 61,5% 51,5%
Contracts 25,7% 38,0% 28,6% 36,2% 37,9% 34,4%
Corporate law 52,9% 66,9% 63,9% 62,7% 60,8% 62,8%
Administrative law 7,6% 9,0% 7,8% 8,3% 13,0% 8,6%
Civil law and civil procedure 3,2% 4,5% 3,6% 3,7% 8,6% 4,2%
Family Law 3,5% 4,1% 2,2% 3,9% 8,6% 4,0%
Industrial law 0,8% 1,6% 0,8% 1,2% 3,3% 1,3%
Criminal law and criminal procedure 1,0% 1,3% 0,7% 1,5% 1,0% 1,2%
Local Public Institutions 9,7% 16,9% 10,4% 16,6% 14,3% 14,8%
Bankruptcy and bankruptcy proceedings 20,1% 24,6% 22,7% 23,4% 24,3% 23,3%
Finance and management control 12,7% 21,3% 20,2% 18,4% 17,6% 18,8%
Taxation and international trade 5,1% 8,2% 8,8% 7,1% 5,3% 7,3%
Hygiene, medicine, and occupational safety
0,7% 1,3% 1,1% 1,2% 0,7% 1,1%
Leasing, joint ownership, and trading, 22,3% 24,9% 23,5% 24,8% 21,6% 24,1%
Brokerage 14,6% 15,6% 14,6% 15,9% 13,3% 15,3%
Third-party liability and insurance 0,9% 1,3% 1,1% 1,1% 2,0% 1,2%
Marketing and communication 3,2% 4,0% 6,3% 3,1% 1,7% 3,7%
Business management 14,7% 25,2% 21,1% 22,3% 23,3% 22,1%
Healthcare 1,1% 1,7% 0,9% 1,9% 0,7% 1,5%
Other 1,9% 2,3% 2,5% 2,2% 1,3% 2,2%
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Tab. 6 Type of Practice
Type of Practice Gender Age Groups Total
F M ≤40 41-60 >60
Independent 53,9% 52,5% 40,9% 56,4% 61,1% 52,9%
Independent and shared 21,4% 20,7% 29,0% 18,7% 14,3% 20,9%
Firms (partnerships) 18,9% 23,1% 24,3% 21,3% 19,3% 21,8%
Not organised 5,9% 3,8% 5,9% 3,7% 5,3% 4,4%
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Territorial Bodies (Ordini Territoriali)
VALLE D’AOSTA
Aosta’s Ordine Territoriale Michele Giovinazzo
LOMBARDY
Bergamo’s Ordine Territoriale Alberto Carrara
Busto Arsizio’s Ordine Territoriale Ermanno Werthhammer
Brescia’s Ordine Territoriale Antonio Passantino
Como’s Ordine Territoriale Sandro Litigio
Crema’s Ordine Territoriale Mario Tagliaferri
Cremona’s Ordine Territoriale Ernesto Quinto
Lecco’s Ordine Territoriale Antonio Rocca
Lodi’s Ordine Territoriale Emilio Bruschi
Mantova’s Ordine Territoriale Stefano Ficarelli
Milano’s Ordine Territoriale Alessandro Angelo Solidoro
Monza e Brianza’s Ordine Territoriale Gilberto Gelosa
Pavia’s Ordine Territoriale Fabio Del Giudice
Sondrio’s Ordine Territoriale Francesco Grimaldi
Varese’s Ordine Territoriale Sergio Caramella
Vigevano’s Ordine Territoriale Giuseppe Nicolò
Voghera’s Ordine Territoriale Paola Gargaschelli
LIGURIA
Chiavari’s Ordine Territoriale Gian Alberto Mangiante
Genova’s Ordine Territoriale Massimo Scotton
Imperia’s Ordine Territoriale Domenico Abbo
La Spezia’s Ordine Territoriale Alberto Funaro
Sanremo’s Ordine Territoriale Giuseppe La Rocca
Savona’s Ordine Territoriale Alberto Baietto
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PIEDMONT
Alessandria’s Ordine Territoriale Roberto Malvezzi
Asti’s Ordine Territoriale Angelo Dabbene
Biella’s Ordine Territoriale Domenico Calvelli
Cuneo’s Ordine Territoriale Nicola Gaiero
Casale Monferrato’s Ordine Territoriale Severino Scagliotti
Novara’s Ordine Territoriale Mauro Nicola
Torino’s Ordine Territoriale Aldo Milanese
Tortona’s Ordine Territoriale Pietro Ratti
Verbania’s Ordine Territoriale Paola Balzarini
Vercelli’s Ordine Territoriale Stefano Pugno
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA
Gorizia’s Ordine Territoriale Angelo Lapovich
Pordenone’s Ordine Territoriale Renato Cinelli
Trieste’s Ordine Territoriale Piergiorgio Renier
Udine’s Ordine Territoriale Lorenzo Sirch
TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE
Bolzano’s Ordine Territoriale Richard Burchia
Trento e Rovereto’s Ordine Territoriale Maurizio Postal
VENETO
Bassano del Grappa’s Ordine Territoriale Amedeo Busnardo
Belluno’s Ordine Territoriale Angelo Smaniotto
Padova’s Ordine Territoriale Dante Carolo
Rovigo’s Ordine Territoriale Michele Ghirardini
Treviso’s Ordine Territoriale Vittorio Raccamari
Venezia’s Ordine Territoriale Gabriele Andreola
Verona’s Ordine Territoriale Alberto Mion
Vicenza’s Ordine Territoriale Marco Poggi
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EMILIA ROMAGNA
Bologna’s Ordine Territoriale Mirella Bompadre
Ferrara’s Ordine Territoriale Paolo Rollo
Forlì’s Ordine Territoriale Aride Missiroli
Modena’s Ordine Territoriale Alessandro Clò
Parma’s Ordine Territoriale Angelo Anedda
Piacenza’s Ordine Territoriale Carleugenio Lopedote
Ravenna’s Ordine Territoriale Damiano Berti
Reggio Emilia’s Ordine Territoriale Bruno Bartoli
Rimini’s Ordine Territoriale Bruno Piccioni
TUSCANY
Arezzo’s Ordine Territoriale Fabio Battaglia
Firenze’s Ordine Territoriale Gino Mazzi
Grosseto’s Ordine Territoriale Mario Morandini
Livorno’s Ordine Territoriale Giovanni Verugi
Lucca’s Ordine Territoriale Carla Saccardi
Massa Carrara’s Ordine Territoriale Fabio Bascherini
Montepulciano’s Ordine Territoriale Giancarlo Vittori
Pisa’s Ordine Territoriale Maurizio Masini
Pistoia’s Ordine Territoriale Franco Michelotti
Prato’s Ordine Territoriale Paolo Biancalani
Siena’s Ordine Territoriale Marco Tanini
UMBRIA
Perugia e Spoleto’s Ordine Territoriale Marcella Galvani
Terni’s Ordine Territoriale Roberto Piersantini
MARCHE
Ancona’s Ordine Territoriale Stefano Coppola
Ascoli Piceno’s Ordine Territoriale Mariano Cesari
Fermo’s Ordine Territoriale Marco Cannella
Macerata e Camerino’s Ordine Territoriale Giorgio Piergiacomi
Pesaro e Urbino’s Ordine Territoriale Paolo Balestieri
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ABRUZZO
Avezzano’s Ordine Territoriale Agostino Barbati
Chieti’s Ordine Territoriale Filippo Rosa
Lanciano’s Ordine Territoriale Ermando Bozza
L’Aquila’s Ordine Territoriale Americo Di Benedetto
Pescara’s Ordine Territoriale Domenico Di Michele
Teramo’s Ordine Territoriale Alberto Davide
Vasto’s Ordine Territoriale Francesco Pietrocola
LAZIO
Cassino’s Ordine Territoriale Giuseppe Tedesco
Civitavecchia’s Ordine Territoriale Massimo Ferri
Frosinone’s Ordine Territoriale Umberto Lombardi
Latina’s Ordine Territoriale Efrem Romagnoli
Rieti’s Ordine Territoriale Pier Luigi Coccia
Roma’s Ordine Territoriale Mario Civetta
Tivoli’s Ordine Territoriale Gianluca Tartaro
Viterbo’s Ordine Territoriale Marco Santoni
CAMPANIA
Avellino’s Ordine Territoriale Francesco Tedesco
Benevento’s Ordine Territoriale Giovanni Cuomo
Caserta’s Ordine Territoriale Pietro Raucci
Napoli’s Ordine Territoriale Vincenzo Moretta
Napoli Nord’s Ordine Territoriale Antonio Tuccillo
Nocera Inferiore’s Ordine Territoriale Rosario D’Angelo
Nola’s Ordine Territoriale Giovanni Prisco
Sala Consilina’s Ordine Territoriale Gaetano Romanelli
Salerno’s Ordine Territoriale Oscar De Franciscis
Torre Annunziata’s Ordine Territoriale Paolo Giugliano
Vallo della Lucania’s Ordine Territoriale Giuseppe Condorelli
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BASILICATA
Matera’s Ordine Territoriale Eustachio Quintano
Melfi’s Ordine Territoriale Antonio Cutulo
Potenza’s Ordine Territoriale Luigi Vergari
MOLISE
Campobasso’s Ordine Territoriale Carmine Franco D’Abate
Isernia’s Ordine Territoriale Antonio Borrelli
Larino’s Ordine Territoriale Liliana Smargiassi
APULIA
Bari’s Ordine Territoriale Marcello Danisi
Brindisi’s Ordine Territoriale Fabio Giovanni Aiello
Foggia’s Ordine Territoriale Giuseppe Laurino
Lecce’s Ordine Territoriale Rosario Giorgio Costa
Lucera’s Ordine Territoriale Mario Cardillo
Taranto’s Ordine Territoriale Cosimo Damiano Latorre
Trani’s Ordine Territoriale Antonio Soldani
SARDINIA
Cagliari’s Ordine Territoriale Marco Ferri
Nuoro’s Ordine Territoriale Giuseppe Mameli
Olbia e Tempio Pausania’s Ordine Territoriale Marco Balata
Oristano’s Ordine Territoriale Remigio Enrico Maria Sequi
Sassari’s Ordine Territoriale Pietro Scudino
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CALABRIA
Castrovillari’s Ordine Territoriale Mario Angelo Straticò
Catanzaro’s Ordine Territoriale Francesco Muraca
Cosenza’s Ordine Territoriale Andrea Manna
Crotone’s Ordine Territoriale Luigi Domenico Arcuri
Lamezia Terme’s Ordine Territoriale Paolo Cosentino
Locri’s Ordine Territoriale Ettore Lacopo
Palmi’s Ordine Territoriale Giuseppe Sofrè
Paola’s Ordine Territoriale Pasqualino Saragò
Reggio Calabria’s Ordine Territoriale Bernardo Femia
Rossano’s Ordine Territoriale Carlo Plastina
Vibo Valentia’s Ordine Territoriale Vincenzo Morelli
SICILY
Agrigento’s Ordine Territoriale Ignazio La Porta
Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto’s Ordine Territoriale Giovanni Genovese
Caltagirone’s Ordine Territoriale Ettore Cataldo
Caltanissetta’s Ordine Territoriale Salvatore Maurizio Dilena
Catania’s Ordine Territoriale Sebastiano Umberto Antonio Truglio
Enna’s Ordine Territoriale Michelangelo Montesano
Gela’s Ordine Territoriale Giuseppe Nicoletti
Marsala’s Ordine Territoriale Alberto Scuderi
Messina’s Ordine Territoriale Enrico Spicuzza
Nicosia’s Ordine Territoriale Andrea Maggio
Palermo’s Ordine Territoriale Fabrizio Escheri
Patti’s Ordine Territoriale Antonio Sidoti
Ragusa’s Ordine Territoriale Daniele Manenti
Siracusa’s Ordine Territoriale Massimo Conigliaro
Trapani’s Ordine Territoriale Mario Sugameli
Edited by
Fondazione Nazionale dei Commercialisti
With the contribution of
Cristina Bauco, Annalisa De Vivo, Tommaso Di Nardo, Noemi Di Segni
Graphic design
Martino Palladini
the professionof commercialistain italy
Consiglio Nazionale dei Dottori Commercialisti e degli Esperti Contabili
the profession of comm
ercialista in italy
English Version
9 788899 517014
ISBN 978-88-99517-01-4