Muscat – Financial Services Authority (FSA) has issued a critical notice to the public and the business community regarding the necessity of verifying the authorisation of accounting and auditing firms. Following observations made during 2025, the regulator identified several offices operating within the sector without the required professional licensing. The FSA has strongly emphasised that all firms must hold an official licence issued by the authority to carry out any professional accounting or auditing work legally.
A significant point of clarification in the notice is that a standard Commercial Registration (CR) is insufficient for a firm to provide these specialised services. The FSA maintains that a CR does not serve as a substitute for professional approval and licensing. Furthermore, the authority has warned that any contracts or agreements for auditing services entered into with unlicensed individuals or offices will be considered invalid and will not be recognised. To ensure compliance and protection, stakeholders are urged to consult the updated list of authorised offices on the official FSA website before entering into any contractual agreements.
