Companies Act 2013Opportunities for Professionals

CA. S. Santhanakrishnan, Chairman, Corporate Laws & Corporate Governance Committee, ICAI

1

Change “Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge.”

Eckhart Tolle

2

Story of asuras and devas With lot of restrictions on the Statutory

Auditors, the Companies Act 2013 prescription for the profession is akin to the directive in the story of Asuras and Devas

They were told, that they can eat amrut, but, without folding their elbow joints…

Asuras were only trying.. Devas feed each other in a circle!!!

3

There is also a Tamil saying..

Oorar pillaya ooti valatha, than pillai thaane valarum…

4

OpportunitiesOn the whole, this Act has opened up more opportunities for professionals, though Statutory Auditors have been brought under a lot of restrictions!!

5

Audit Rotation Rotation has been mandated for large

entities This throws open opportunities to more

audit firms....

6

Other changes which are going to open up avenues for small firms Common financial year

Firms which are handling large number of audits will have to spread the work amongst more professionals now

Cap of 20 audits per partner Other firms in the same town / region are

likely to gain more work

7

Consolidated Financial Statements All companies which have subsidiaries,

associates and JVs will need to prepare consolidated financial statements

Many small and mid sized groups will not have internal capabilities to compile CFS

This opens up opportunities for practicing CAs to undertake consolidation services

8

Fixed Assets and Depreciation Companies are going to be looking at

advisory and support for Revising depreciation, esp. where they

were following Schedule XIV rates Componentization Effect of revaluation

9

Revision of Accounts Reopening/recasting of accounts

–Court/Tribunal order (130)/ Voluntary (131): Who can apply?

CG IT authorities SEBI Any other statutory/regulatory authority Board/Company- S 131

Opportunity Advising companies on appropriate steps and process Independent evaluation of the proposed treatments in

reopening / recasting of accounts

*Sections yet to be notified

10

Internal Audit Mandated for

Listed cos All companies with TO Rs 200 cr or more or o/s loans

and borrowings from Banks/FI Rs 100cr or more Unlisted public cos with Share capital Rs 50cr or

more or Public deposits Rs 25 cr or more Shall appoint a

CA /cost accountant / other professionals in practice or not; can be firm of internal auditors; Employee or not

AC or Board in consultation with IA to formulate scope, functioning, periodicity and methodology of IA

11

Internal Financial Controls A large engagement opportunity to the

profession All companies need to have a system

which is also documented so that the Board and auditors can place reliance on the system and its testing for effective operations…

12

Fraud Reporting There are stringent requirements on

reporting in respect of frauds This requires the company to set up a

mechanism of Investigation into all suspected cases of

frauds for an independent evaluation Detailed action plan based on such

investigations Independent evaluation and advisory to the

AC / Board on matters and the information being reported on frauds to the CG

13

Related Parties14

Related Party Transactions - 1 Throws open a new area of practice for

firms… CAs can advice companies and groups

in setting up an appropriate framework systems and process for identification of related parties, related

party transactions, evaluation of arm’s length pricing and approvals by the Audit Committee / Board

15

Related Party Transactions - 2 Identification of RTP In many groups identification of RTP

itself will require a lot of efforts and action

Audit Committees and Boards are going to seek independent confirmation in terms of such processes to ensure that their responsibilities are properly discharged

16

Related Party Transactions - 3 Audit Committees and Boards are also

going to seek out professional expertise and independent opinions on determination of arm’s length basis of transactions

CAs – especially other than the statutory auditors can look for opportunities unfolding in this regard

17

Valuation Services The Act mandates valuation services to

be rendered by registered valuers… Members getting registered as valuers

once the process for the same is effective could throw open opportunities…

18

Independent Directors Need for independent directors is bound

to grow… As Chartered Accountants provide a

pool of financial experts to be on the Board of companies…

19

CSR Another great opportunity for the

profession Advisory on CSR activities to be taken

up and selection of agencies through which the activities could be undertaken

Monitoring and audit of CSR spends…

20

SFIO Opportunities to work on forensic

investigations Development of early warning

systems for being implemented for online monitoring and tracking

SFIO being viewed as a large employment provider for CA professionals

21

Official Liquidator Opportunities to work as provisional

liquidator or the Company Liquidator (sec 275)

Chartered accountants, advocates, company secretaries, cost accountants or firms or bodies corporate having such chartered accountants, advocates, company secretaries, cost accountants and other professionals may be appointed and having at least ten years’ experience in company matters.

*Section yet to be notified

22

NCLT Representation before NCLT is also

another area of opportunity which is now being opened up for the members

This is also an opportunity for members to work on higher value professional services, as it arises in this area

23

Thank You

24