SEBI ne officially announce kar diya hai ki Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) ke members ko ab Investment Advisers (IAs) aur Research Analysts (RAs) ke liye mandatory annual compliance audits conduct karne ki permission hai.
Ye decision ICMAI ki request par liya gaya hai, aur ab cost accountants, chartered accountants, aur company secretaries ke saath iss list mein shamil ho gaye hain. Sebi ka mannna hai ki isse audit sector mein jo capacity constraint tha, woh solve hoga aur regulated firms ko operational flexibility milegi.
India mein Investment Advisory aur Research Analyst sector mein kaafi growth dikhi hai. As of August 2024, around 973 registered IAs aur 1,330 registered RAs hain. Itne badhte huye sector ko proper compliance audits ki zaroorat hai. Cost Accountants toh already credit rating agencies aur stockbrokers ki audits karte hain, toh unke liye yeh ek natural progression hai.
Lekin kuch experts ko audit quality ko lekar thoda doubt hai. Unka kehna hai ki kya cost accountants ke paas specialised financial advisory aur research audits ke liye waisi hi deep expertise hogi jaisi chartered accountants ya company secretaries ke paas hoti hai? Ek concern yeh bhi hai ki kahin isse audit ki rigor kam na ho jaye. Sebi ko ab yeh ensure karna hoga ki sabhi auditors strict standards follow karein.
Overall, regulated entities ke liye yeh toh definitely achi khabar hai, kyuki ab unke paas auditors choose karne ke liye zyada options honge aur shayad audit fees mein bhi competition badhe.