About Us

The Botswana Accountancy Oversight Authority (BAOA) was established through the Financial Reporting Act, 2010, read with the Financial Reporting (Amendment) Act, 2020, (the Act), as the independent oversight body of the accounting and auditing profession; to regulate the reporting of financial matters of Public Interest Entities and the corporate sector; and for matters incidental thereto.

Subject to provisions of the Act, the functions of the Authority, for purposes of providing oversight over auditors, professional accountancy bodies and generally with regard to the accounting and auditing profession, shall be to:

The Botswana Accountancy Oversight Authority, through its primary oversight of financial reporting, audit quality, and corporate governance, helps strengthen one of the foundations upon which every successful economy depends: public trust.

BAOA is responsible for:

• Setting standard in the accounting and auditing profession, i.e. developing and maintaining financial reporting, auditing and ethics standards that are internationally comparable.
• Licensing of auditors and registration of audit firms, based on the prescribed minimum standards set by the Authority.
• Monitoring of licensed auditors and registered audit firms for compliance with professional standards.
• Monitoring Public Interest Entities’ compliance with financial reporting standards in the preparation and presentation of financial statements.
• Promoting adherence by Public Interest Entities to established principles and standards of good corporate governance.
• Providing an appropriate framework for the education and training of properly qualified auditors, and for maintaining their ongoing competence.
• Accrediting and monitoring of professional accountancy organisations.
• Investigating, and taking appropriate action against, registered auditors in respect of improper conduct.
• Developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships to enhance performance, accountability, and public confidence.

Together, these responsibilities support stronger financial reporting, higher audit quality, sound corporate governance, and greater public trust in the corporate reporting landscape.