List of auditing firms This approval is a mandatory legal basis that the chief accountant, CFO, and legal department must consult before signing. financial statement audit contractFor listed companies, public companies, or state-owned enterprises, mistakenly hiring an auditing firm not on the list of those recognized by the competent authority can render the entire audit report invalid, leading to scrutiny when submitting reports to the State Securities Commission or the capital owner.
According to the Law on Independent Auditing and its implementing regulations, not all auditing firms with a professional license are qualified to audit entities with public interest. In fact, there have been cases where auditors signed financial statements for a public company but were not on the list approved by the Ministry of Finance for the corresponding year, raising questions about the entire report. This article compiles a complete and updated list, legal basis, and how to accurately verify this information.
Quick information on the list of approved auditing firms
- The list of approved auditing firms is a document published annually by the Ministry of Finance or the State Securities Commission (SSC), confirming that auditing firms are qualified to audit entities with public interest.
- There are three types of lists to distinguish: the list of auditing firms qualified to conduct auditing services in general, the list of approved firms to audit public interest entities (PIEs) published by the Ministry of Finance, and the specific list for the securities sector published by the State Securities Commission.
- Entities required to search: public companies, listed organizations, issuers, securities trading organizations, state-owned enterprises, credit institutions, insurance companies.
- The list is published periodically each year; businesses need to review it before each financial statement audit and should not use the previous year's list.
- If you contract with an entity or auditor not on the approved list for the corresponding fiscal year, the audit report risks not being recognized by the regulatory authority.
What is the legally mandated list of approved auditing firms?
The list of approved auditing firms is the result of an annual review and assessment conducted by competent state agencies to confirm which auditing firms and practicing auditors are qualified to audit the financial statements of public interest entities. Public interest entities, abbreviated as PIE, include public companies, listed organizations, credit institutions, insurance companies, and some state-owned enterprises.
According to Clauses 1 and 2 of Article 37 of the Law on Independent Auditing, the groups of entities required to hire audit firms from the approved list include foreign-invested enterprises, credit institutions, financial institutions, insurance companies, public companies, and securities trading organizations. This regulation aims to ensure audit quality commensurate with the level of risk and impact of these entities on the investing public.
Three types of audit firm listings to distinguish
Many chief accountants confuse the different types of lists when searching for them. In fact, there are three different classes of lists, each serving a specific purpose.
- List of auditing firms qualified to provide auditing services: published by the Ministry of Finance, applicable to all auditing activities in general, without limiting it to PIE entities.
- The list of practicing auditors and auditing firms approved to audit entities with public interest is also published annually by the Ministry of Finance, with a broader scope, covering banks, insurance companies, and public companies in general.
- The list of auditing firms approved to audit public interest entities in the securities sector is published separately by the State Securities Commission and applies to listed companies, securities companies, and fund management companies.
Why is a list of approved auditing firms important to businesses?
Checking the correct list of approved auditing firms is not only an administrative procedure but also a core legal risk prevention step. If financial statements are audited by an entity or auditor not on the list for the corresponding fiscal year, the regulatory authority may reject the report, forcing the business to have it re-audited, incurring costs and affecting the information disclosure schedule.
Many listed companies have been confused when auditing firm Unexpectedly, the collaborating firm was not included in the new year's approved list due to a change in the auditor signing the report. Proactively reviewing the list before signing contracts helps avoid this unforeseen situation.
In fact, there have been cases where a major auditing firm signed off on the financial statements of a fintech company using auditors who were not on the list of qualified auditors for public interest entities that year. This incident raises questions about internal control procedures within these firms themselves. reputable auditing firmThis shows that the responsibility for review rests not only with the auditing firm but also with the company that hired the audit.
Which entities are required to choose an auditing firm from the approved list?
Not all businesses are required to comply with this regulation. The groups directly affected include:
- Public companies, listed organizations, securities issuers, and securities trading organizations are governed by securities laws.
- Credit institutions, including branches of foreign banks in Vietnam.
- Insurance companies, reinsurance companies, insurance brokerage companies.
- State-owned enterprises and enterprises with state capital, excluding those in sectors involving state secrets.
- Enterprises and organizations implementing nationally important projects or Group A projects using state capital.
For small-scale public companies and private businesses not included in the above categories, hiring an auditing firm approved by the Ministry of Finance is not mandatory but is still encouraged to increase the reliability of financial statements when borrowing from banks or raising investment capital.
Timeline and conditions for applying the list of approved auditing firms.
The list is published annually, usually at the end of the year preceding or the beginning of the year of the corresponding audit period. Businesses should note that the list for a given year is only valid for the financial statements of that year and cannot be used for comparison with the current audit period.
For example, the list of auditing firms and auditors approved by the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (UBCKNN) to audit public interest entities in the securities sector in 2026 only applies to the 2026 financial statements and does not replace the previously published 2025 list. Businesses need to proactively check this list again each time they begin the process of selecting an auditing firm for a new fiscal year, especially at the time the General Meeting of Shareholders approves the resolution on selecting an auditing firm.
List of auditing firms approved to audit the securities sector in 2026
According to an announcement by the State Securities Commission, the list of auditing firms approved to audit public interest entities in the securities sector in 2026 includes 28 auditing firms. This list applies specifically to listed organizations, securities companies, and fund management companies when selecting an auditing firm for their 2026 financial statements.
| No. | Auditing firm name | Abbreviation |
| 1 | KPMG Limited | KPMG |
| 2 | AASC Auditing Firm Co., Ltd. | AASC |
| 3 | A&C Auditing and Consulting Company Limited | A&C |
| 4 | Moore AISC Auditing and IT Services Co., Ltd. | Moore AISC |
| 5 | PwC (Vietnam) Company Limited | PwC |
| 6 | Grant Thornton Vietnam Co., Ltd. | CT |
| 7 | AAC Auditing and Accounting Company Limited | AAC |
| 8 | Southern Accounting and Auditing Financial Consulting Services Co., Ltd. | AASCs |
| 9 | PKF-TTG Auditing and Consulting Company Limited | PKF-TTG |
| 10 | RSM Vietnam Auditing and Consulting Company Limited | FPT |
| 11 | Vietnam Auditing and Valuation Company Limited | VAE |
| 12 | BDO Auditing Company Limited | BDO |
| 13 | Deloitte Vietnam Auditing Company Limited | Deloitte |
| 14 | Chuẩn Việt Auditing and Consulting Company Limited | VIETVALUES |
| 15 | International Auditing Company Limited | ICPA |
| 16 | Ernst & Young Vietnam Co., Ltd. | E&Y |
| 17 | UHY Auditing and Consulting Company Limited | UHY |
| 18 | Nhan Tam Viet Auditing Company Limited | NTV |
| 19 | AFC Vietnam Auditing Company Limited | AFC |
| 20 | VACO Auditing Company Limited | VACO |
| 21 | ECOVIS AFA Vietnam Auditing, Valuation and Consulting Company Limited | ECOVIS AFA |
| 22 | ASCO Auditing and Valuation Firm Co., Ltd. | ASCO |
| 23 | NVA Auditing Company Limited | NVA |
| 24 | An Viet Auditing Company Limited | An Viet |
| 25 | International Auditing and Valuation Company Limited | IVR |
| 26 | Vietnam Auditing and Valuation Company Limited | AVA |
| 27 | CPA VIETNAM Auditing Company Limited | CPA VN |
| 28 | FAC Auditing Company Limited | FAC |
In addition to the list of 28 auditing firms mentioned above, the State Securities Commission (SSC) also publishes a detailed list of approved practicing auditors, posted on the portal of the Vietnam Association of Certified Public Accountants (VACPA) and the SSC's own portal. Businesses need to compare both lists, because the inclusion of an auditing firm on the list does not mean that all of its auditors are qualified to sign reports for public interest entities.
Legal documents relating to the list of approved auditing firms
Businesses should only choose auditing firms on the list approved by the competent authority to ensure the validity of financial statements and compliance with legal requirements. The legal basis regarding the conditions, subjects of mandatory auditing, penalties for violations, and the list of approved auditing firms is stipulated in the following documents:
| Legal documents | Number / Date of Issue | Related content |
| Law on Independent Auditing | No. 67/2011/QH12 | Regulations specifying the subjects required to undergo audit, the qualifications of auditors and audit firms for entities with public interest (Article 37) |
| Decree 17/2012/ND-CP | March 13, 2012 | Detailed guidelines for implementing the Law on Independent Auditing, specifying the groups of entities required to have their annual financial statements audited annually. |
| Decree 41/2018/ND-CP | Regulations on penalties | The penalty for submitting and disclosing financial statements without a valid audit report. |
| Announcement of the Ministry of Finance's annual PIE list. | Published periodically every year. | List of licensed auditors and audit firms approved to audit entities of public interest. |
| Announcement from the State Securities Commission | Published annually, most recently on December 9, 2025, for the year 2026. | List of audit firms and auditors approved to audit public interest entities in the securities sector. |
Important note: Businesses should regularly monitor the electronic portals of the Ministry of Finance, the State Securities Commission, and VACPA to stay updated on the latest lists, as the publication dates may vary between years and the lists may be adjusted or supplemented during the year if any auditing firm has its approval revoked or temporarily suspended.
Case Study: How a Listed Company Addresses Errors in Choosing an Audit Firm
Background
A joint-stock company operating in the financial technology sector, classified as a public interest entity, hired a major auditing firm to audit its separate and consolidated financial statements for 2023. After the report was released, the regulatory authority discovered that the auditor who directly signed the report was not on the list of qualified auditors for public interest entities for the corresponding year, as published by the Ministry of Finance.
Consequences arising
The incident caused financial reports When the validity of the audit is questioned, the business must provide explanations to the regulatory authority, and the auditing firm must review all records of auditor assignments for contracts running concurrently. This results in additional processing costs and damages the reputation of both the business and the auditing firm.
Lessons and recommendations
According to advice from MAN – Master Accountant NetworkBusinesses should not rely solely on the brand reputation of the auditing firm and overlook the step of verifying the name of the auditor signing the report against the approved list for the correct fiscal year. The recommended process consists of three steps: confirming that the auditing firm's name is on the list of the Ministry of Finance or the State Securities Commission for the current year, verifying the name of the prospective auditor signing the report against the attached list of auditors, and saving a printout or screenshot of the verification as proof when needed for explanation.
Comparison table of three types of audit firm listings by scope of application.
Not all lists of auditing firms have the same scope of application. Depending on the type of business and legal requirements, businesses need to consult the correct list published by the competent authority. The table below helps distinguish three common types of auditing firm lists based on the issuing authority, applicable entities, and update frequency.
| List type | Publishing agency | Applicable subjects | Update frequency |
| List of auditing firms qualified to provide auditing services. | Ministry of Finance | The entire auditing process in general. | Regularly updated throughout the year. |
| List of approved public interest entities (PIEs) for audit | Ministry of Finance | Banks, insurance companies, and public companies in general. | Annual |
| List of approved auditors in the securities sector. | UBCKNN | Listed companies, securities companies, fund management companies | Annual |
Expert opinion: Common risks when searching for approved audit firms.
Experts at MAN – Master Accountant Network With over 30 years of experience in auditing and tax consulting in Vietnam, we note four main risks that businesses often face when choosing an auditing firm.
- Risk 1: Using the previous year's list for comparison: Many businesses retain lists downloaded from the previous year and reuse them for the current fiscal year without checking for updates. The list... auditing firm approved by the Ministry of Finance This may change from year to year due to some companies having their eligibility revoked or new companies being added.
- Risk 2: Checking only the company name and ignoring the auditor's name: The inclusion of a reputable auditing firm on the list does not mean that all of its auditors are qualified to sign reports for public interest entities. Businesses need to verify the names of the auditors signing the report against the attached list.
- Risk 3: Confusion between the general PIE list and the specific list for the securities sector: An auditing firm approved by the Ministry of Finance to audit entities with general public interest may not necessarily be on the specific list published by the State Securities Commission for the securities sector. For listed companies, businesses are required to consult the correct list published by the State Securities Commission.
- Risk 4: Failure to retain records proving the time of the search: When regulatory authorities request clarification, many businesses lack evidence that they checked the list of approved auditing firms at the time of contract signing. Saving a printout or screenshot from the official portal is a necessary precaution.
Conclude
The list of approved auditing firms is a mandatory reference tool that helps listed and state-owned enterprises avoid legal risks when selecting an auditor for their financial statements. Distinguishing between the three types of lists, verifying both company names and auditor names, and updating information according to the correct fiscal year are indispensable steps in the tax and audit risk management process in Vietnam.
MAN – Master Accountant Network We are a tax, accounting, and auditing consulting firm with a team of experts boasting over 30 years of practical experience in Vietnam. We provide... financial statement auditing services, advice on selection auditing unit Suitable for listed companies, state-owned enterprises, and FDI companies. Over 500 clients have returned to use our services a second time in the past year. Contact MAN for specific advice tailored to your business needs.
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Responsible for production and professional content review by: Mr. Le Hoang Tuyen – Founder & CEO of MAN – Master Accountant Network, CPA Vietnam with over 30 years of experience in accounting, auditing, taxation, and corporate financial consulting.
Frequently Asked Questions about the list of approved auditing firms
Where can I find the most accurate list of approved auditing firms?
Businesses should check directly on the electronic portals of the Ministry of Finance, the State Securities Commission, or the Vietnam Association of Certified Public Accountants (VACPA), avoiding the use of compiled lists from third parties with unclear origins.
Does the list of approved auditing firms apply to small, privately owned companies?
Not mandatory. This regulation mainly applies to public companies, listed organizations, credit institutions, insurance companies, and state-owned enterprises. Small private companies can hire any reputable auditing firm with a valid professional license.
What happens if the auditing firm I'm currently working with is no longer on the new list?
Businesses should stop signing new audit contracts with that firm for the current year's financial statements and find a replacement firm from the list of approved audit firms for the corresponding year to avoid questions arising from the report.
Does the list differentiate between annual financial statement audits and interim financial statement reviews?
The list of approved auditing firms applies generally to both types of services; however, businesses should further check the contract terms and internal regulations of the regulatory body regarding the specific scope of work assigned to the auditor.
How often is the list of approved auditing firms updated?
The list is published periodically each year, usually at the end of the year preceding or the beginning of the year of the corresponding audit. Businesses should proactively monitor new announcements before each annual general meeting of shareholders to stay updated.
