Rights and obligations of members

The relationship between members and the Institute is set out in Article 4 of the IKM Statute, which lists the rights and obligations of Certified Accountant members and of Accounting Firms. The rights relate to taking part in the life of the Institute and to the support it offers its members; the obligations relate to the rules of the profession and to the functioning of the Institute itself.

Rights of Certified Accountant members

Members of the Institute have the right:

• to elect and to be elected to the bodies of IKM;
• to be informed about the activity of IKM and its administration;
• to receive professional protection and support from IKM.

The right to elect and to be elected belongs to all Certified Accountant members who, on the date of the notice convening the General Assembly, are registered in the IKM Public Register. Each member has one vote. When the Assembly is held with elected representatives, the members of the branches and sections elect one representative for every four members, at meetings held within 15 days of the notice of the agenda.

Candidacies for the governing bodies (the Managing Council, the Internal Audit Committee and the Quality Management Committee) are submitted to the IKM Secretariat at least 15 days before the Assembly, with the support of at least ten members of the Public Register. The candidate meets the conditions of Article 10 of the Statute: five years of membership as an active Certified Accountant, fees paid on time for the last three years, Continuing Professional Development obligations fulfilled and no disciplinary measure in the last two years.

Obligations of Certified Accountant members

Members of the Institute:

• comply with legal, regulatory and statutory requirements, as well as with IKM regulations;
• apply professional standards and the IFAC Code of Ethics, as well as the IKM Code of Ethics;
• pay the professional membership fees within the set deadlines;
• implement the decisions of the General Assembly and of the Managing Council;
• take part in Continuing Professional Development activities and in other activities organised by IKM.

In fulfilment of these obligations, each member submits the annual declaration of activity and the personal employment declaration by 31 January; a separate file is kept for each service contract and retained for five years; changes in employment are declared within 15 days. The annual membership fee is paid by 31 March. → Annual declaration

Accounting Firms

An Accounting Firm is represented at IKM by its administrator or by its Certified Accountant partner. The firm submits the annual declaration of activity, is subject to quality review for the services it provides and maintains internal rules on the prevention of money laundering when it has three or more employees. The Certified Accountant members of the firm retain their individual rights and obligations.

What IKM offers

In fulfilling its statutory purpose, the Institute:

• maintains and publishes the Public Register, which gives members visibility to clients and institutions;
• organises Continuing Professional Development, training and certification programmes;
• represents and protects the interests of members before third parties and institutions, including through legal means where necessary;
• coordinates its work with the Public Oversight Board, the National Accounting Council, the Professional Competence Examinations Commission, the tax administration and universities;
• keeps members informed of legal and professional developments through the branches, sections, the portal and notices.

Termination of membership

Membership is terminated at the member’s request, when the member no longer meets the conditions of the law, the Statute or the regulations, when the member acts contrary to the Code of Ethics or the law, as a result of disciplinary measures, or in the event of death. A request for deregistration is accepted once the member has fulfilled all obligations towards the Institute and when no quality review or investigation is in progress against them. → Change of status and deregistration

For questions about rights and obligations, IKM staff are available to help at ikm.alb@gmail.com or through the Contact page.