In Morocco, no one may hold the title of chartered accountant without complying with the laws in force. The chartered accountant must be registered with the OEC to carry out the missions reserved for the profession. Beyond this condition, the choice of firm rests on six criteria: OEC registration, sector specialisation, firm size, technological tools, fee transparency and references. In this article, we explain the points to check and the 10 questions to ask before committing.
What Role Should You Entrust to the Chartered Accountant?
In Morocco, Law 9-88 requires every individual or legal entity with trader status to keep accounting records in the form it prescribes. Accounting can be kept in-house by each company. However, if it is outsourced, the law requires the use of a chartered accountant or an approved accountant.
Statutory audit and contractual audit engagements, however, remain the sole preserve of chartered accountants registered with the Order.
In practice, in addition to statutory audit, the chartered accountant works in several areas:
- Tax compliance: VAT, corporate tax and income tax filings on time, lawful tax optimisation, anticipation of audits.
- Financial steering: dashboards, business plans, profitability analysis, investment decision support.
- Legal security: compliant annual accounts, adherence to the CGNC, support during structuring transactions (business creation, capital increase, transformation).
These engagements go beyond bookkeeping, extending to advice and to ensuring compliance and transparency.
The choice of firm therefore depends on your company’s management needs and the working relationship you are looking for.
The 6 Essential Criteria for Choosing a Chartered Accountant
1. Registration with the Order of Chartered Accountants (OEC)
Registration with the Order is the first point to check. Only professionals registered with the OEC are authorised to hold the title of chartered accountant and to carry out the missions reserved for them by Law 15-89.
How to verify: Consult the official directory of the Order of Chartered Accountants on oec.ma/annuaire. Any professional claiming to be a chartered accountant without being registered is practising illegally and exposes you to major risks (unreliable accounts, no professional insurance, no possible disciplinary recourse).
2. Sector Specialisation
A generalist chartered accountant may suffice for a straightforward business. But if your company operates in a specific sector, knowledge of that sector’s accounting and tax particularities is a decisive advantage:
- Real estate and property development: VAT base for property sales (sale price less the indexed land price, art. 96-4° of the CGI), self-supplies, accounting for ongoing programmes, SCI taxation.
- Construction: long-term contracts, percentage-of-completion, retention guarantees.
- Manufacturing: cost accounting, work-in-progress inventory, cost of production.
- Services and consulting: time-based billing, provisions on engagements.
- E-commerce: VAT on online sales, marketplaces, multi-currency management.
Ask the firm which sectors represent the majority of its client portfolio and request concrete examples of engagements carried out in your field.
3. Firm Size
The size of the firm directly influences the nature of the support provided:
| Type | Headcount | Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo practice | 1-3 people | Proximity, responsiveness, accessible fees | Limited capacity, dependency risk |
| Mid-size firm | 5-50 people | Multidisciplinary team, specialisations, continuity of service | Intermediate fees |
| Big Four / large firms | 50+ people | Significant resources, international network, complex engagements | High fees, multiple contacts |
For a Moroccan SME, a mid-size firm often offers the best quality-to-support ratio. It has a team large enough to ensure continuity of service while maintaining a close relationship with the business owner.
4. Technological Tools
The firm’s tools shape how your accounting is processed and monitored. Check that it uses:
- A professional accounting software that is up to date and compliant with Moroccan standards.
- Effective integration of cutting-edge technology tools (AI, data-entry assistance, computer-assisted audit…).
- Electronic document management for accounting records (scanning, OCR, automatic filing).
- Proficiency in online tax filings: SIMPL-IS, SIMPL-IR, SIMPL-TVA on the DGI portal.
- A client portal or shared workspace allowing you to track work progress and access documents in real time.
A technologically advanced firm reduces processing times, limits data-entry errors and provides real-time visibility into your financial position.
At Upsilon Consulting, thanks to our Upsilon.app tool, the relationship with our clients can now be handled entirely remotely (document exchange, regulatory monitoring, deadline reminders…). This tool enables efficient handling and an effective reduction in the risk of error or oversight.
5. Fee Transparency
The chartered accountant’s fees must be clear and predictable:
- Require a detailed quotation before any commitment, listing each service and its fee.
- An engagement letter is strongly recommended as good professional practice. It should specify the nature of the work, the timetable, the respective responsibilities and the financial terms.
- Beware of hidden charges: some firms charge extra for DGI follow-ups, interim reports or phone consultations.
Common billing models include the annual flat fee (most common for bookkeeping), a per-engagement fee, and an hourly rate for ad hoc consultations.
6. References and Reputation
A good chartered accountant should be able to provide verifiable references:
- Ask for the names of 2 to 3 clients you can contact.
- Check online reviews and the firm’s presence on professional networks.
- Seek information from your professional network (CRI, sector associations, chambers of commerce).
Which Signs Should Alert You?
Certain signs call for verification before entrusting an engagement to the firm:
- No OEC registration: this is simply illegal. No exceptions.
- Repeated delays in tax filings: penalties and late-payment surcharges accumulate at your expense, not the firm’s.
- No engagement letter: a written record of the firm’s commitments helps establish your rights in a dispute.
- Opaque billing: lump-sum invoices with no detail of services rendered, amounts that vary without explanation.
- Chronic unavailability: a chartered accountant who is unreachable during closing or tax filing periods is a major risk for your business.
- Promises of aggressive tax optimisation: a serious professional offers optimisation within the legal framework. One who promises to “make your tax disappear” exposes you to a tax reassessment.
10 Questions to Ask Before Signing
Before committing to a chartered accountant, ask these questions at the first meeting:
- Are you registered with the OEC? Ask for the registration number.
- What is your experience in my sector? Request concrete examples.
- Who will be my main point of contact? Partner, engagement manager or junior associate?
- What accounting and digital tools do you use? Software, client portal, electronic document management.
- What is the breakdown of your fees? Ask for a written quotation and an engagement letter.
- What are the processing times for tax filings? How many days before the deadline?
- How do you handle emergencies? Unexpected tax audit, urgent bank request.
- Do you offer management advisory services? Dashboards, forecasts, financial analysis.
- What is your continuing education policy? How do you stay current on tax and accounting developments?
- Can you provide references from similar clients? Comparable size and sector.
The Added Value of a Good Chartered Accountant
Beyond compliance, the chartered accountant anticipates tax deadlines and alerts you to risks. The accountant also identifies optimisation opportunities and contributes to monitoring your development projects.
The cost of fees is amply offset by the savings achieved (avoidance of penalties, tax optimisation, better cash management) and the time freed up for you to focus on your core business.
The chartered accountancy firm presents its engagements separately.
READ ALSO
- Chartered Accountant in Morocco — Upsilon Consulting
- Chartered Accountant in Casablanca
- Role and Missions of the Chartered Accountant — Law 15-89
- Accounting Firm in Casablanca
- Bookkeeping in Morocco
Frequently asked questions
Can a licensed accountant replace a chartered accountant?
A licensed accountant can keep the books but does not have the same prerogatives as a chartered accountant. A chartered accountant registered with the OEC is exclusively authorised to certify the regularity and sincerity of accounts and act as statutory auditor. The professional is responsible for their work and must carry professional civil liability insurance under Law 15-89.
How much does a chartered accountant cost in Morocco?
Fees vary considerably depending on the size of the company, the volume of transactions, the sector and the engagements entrusted. For a medium-sized SARL, expect between 3,000 and 8,000 MAD/month for bookkeeping and tax filings. One-off engagements (business creation, audit, advisory) are billed separately.
Can I change chartered accountant mid-year?
For an accounting assistance engagement, a change of firm must comply with the contractual termination conditions. Replacing a statutory auditor follows the legal rules governing the mandate. Arrange the handover of the books, records and accounting documents needed to continue the engagement. The OEC professional duties code provides for a right to retain accounting books and documents under ordinary law conditions.
