VSW

What VSW does

VSW – Die Versicherergemeinschaft für Steuerberater und Wirtschaftsprüfer is a German specialist insurance pool (Versicherergemeinschaft) that underwrites professional liability insurance (Vermögensschaden-Haftpflichtversicherung) exclusively for Wirtschaftsprüfer, vereidigte Buchprüfer, Steuerberater, and their Berufsgesellschaften, with coverage extending to international network policies for globally active firms. The company was established by ministerial decree on 15 July 1938 and has operated continuously since, making it the de facto designated underwriter for mandatory auditor liability coverage in Germany. Its organisational structure is an insurance pool backed by three major German insurers — Allianz Versicherungs-AG (42%, leading insurer and pool manager since 2003), AXA Versicherung AG (34%), and ERGO Versicherung AG (24%) — and the participating insurers are supervised by BaFin.

The firm operates from headquarters in Wiesbaden (Biebricher Allee 2, effective 30 April 2025) with a small staff of 11–50 employees. Its core product is a single integrated professional liability policy under the AVB-WSR 2019 general conditions, with supplementary documentation (application forms, annual questionnaires, FISG questionnaires, downloads). The underlying technology footprint is modest: S-MEDIA/IONOS hosting, Matomo analytics, Vimeo for video, Webex for conferencing, and standard web forms for quote requests and online damage reporting. No proprietary AI/ML, app, or API surface is disclosed.

VSW generates revenue through individually risk-priced annual insurance premiums and distributes through direct advisory relationships, dedicated Vermittler (intermediary) channels, and the Dialog event/webinar series that also serves CPE-credit education for the profession. The company maintains formal cooperative relationships with the Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer in Deutschland (IDW) and the Federal Chambers of Tax Advisors and Auditors, whose representatives sit on VSW committees. Distribution is concentrated in Germany with extension to broader European markets via international network clients.

Name

VSW

Legal name

VSW – Die Versicherergemeinschaft für Steuerberater und Wirtschaftsprüfer

Website

https://v-s-w.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VSW is a German specialist insurance pool providing professional liability insurance exclusively to auditors, tax advisors, sworn accountants, and their professional companies. Founded in 1938, it is backed by Allianz, AXA, and ERGO and operates across Germany and broader Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Liability Insurance

NAICS

Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers (52412), Insurance Carriers and Related Activities (524)

SIC

Insurance Carriers, Nec (6399)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Liability (E&O) (FSAJAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions) (FSAJADAB)

Keywords

• Professional liability insurance
• Financial loss liability insurance
• Auditor insurance coverage
• Tax advisor insurance
• Insurance pool services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wiesbaden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Liability Insurance Premiums: VSW generates revenue through insurance premiums charged to auditors, tax advisors, and their companies for professional liability (Vermögensschaden-Haftpflichtversicherung) coverage. Premiums are calculated individually based on each insured's specific occupational risk profile.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

VSW provides specialized professional liability (Berufshaftpflichtversicherung) and financial loss liability (Vermögensschaden-Haftpflichtversicherung) insurance exclusively for auditors (Wirtschaftsprüfer), tax advisors (Steuerberater), sworn accountants, and their professional companies in Germany and Europe. Policies are issued under the AVB-WSR 2019 general conditions and individually tailored to each insured's occupational risk profile, with international coverage available for globally active clients and network partners.

Product overview

VSW operates as a specialized insurance pool providing professional liability insurance for auditors and tax advisors. The organization is structured as a consortium of three major insurers—Allianz Versicherungs-AG (42%, leading insurer), AXA Versicherung AG (34%), and ERGO Versicherung AG (24%)—offering a unified insurance product under the AVB-WSR 2019 general conditions. The core offering is a single integrated insurance product for Vermögensschaden-Haftpflichtversicherung (financial loss liability insurance) covering Wirtschaftsprüfer (auditors), vereidigte Buchprüfer (sworn accountants), Steuerberater (tax advisors), and their Berufsgesellschaften (professional companies). Supplementary downloadable documents include application forms, annual questionnaires, FISG questionnaires, and general insurance conditions, but these are documentation and process tools rather than separate product modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Liability Insurance for Auditors (Wirtschaftsprüfer) Specialized financial loss liability insurance (Vermögensschaden-Haftpflichtversicherung) for Wirtschaftsprüfer (auditors) and vereidigte Buchprüfer (sworn accountants), covering statutory audits, voluntary audits, financial statement reviews, certification services, and other professional activities. Includes co-insured activities, foreign coverage, coverage exclusions, and coverage extensions. Issued under AVB-WSR 2019 general conditions.
• Professional Liability Insurance for Tax Advisors (Steuerberater) Specialized professional liability insurance (Berufshaftpflichtversicherung) for Steuerberater (tax advisors) and their Berufsgesellschaften (professional companies), covering tax advisory services, tax return preparation, tax representation, bookkeeping, and fiscal representation services. Includes co-insured activities, foreign coverage, coverage exclusions, and coverage extensions.
• Professional Liability Insurance for Professional Companies (Berufsgesellschaften) Coverage for auditing companies, tax advisory companies, and interprofessional partnerships including collaborations with lawyers, extending the professional liability protection to the corporate entities and their insured persons.
• International Professional Liability Coverage Country-specific professional liability coverage for international networks of auditors and tax advisors, often network partners of German audit firms, requiring coverage across multiple jurisdictions with consideration of existing international network policies.

Quantifiable outcome

• VSW has been the leading specialist insurer for auditors and tax advisors in Germany for over 80 years

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• myclimateminorOthersVSW supports a myclimate climate protection project in Uganda to offset direct and indirect CO₂ emissions from its annual activities.
• Naturefund e.V. – Blue Planet ProjectminorOthersVSW supports the 'Blue Planet' project by Naturefund e.V., a non-profit nature conservation organisation, for reforestation in Costa Rica, Madagascar, and the Andes of Bolivia to protect forests and intact ecosystems.
• IDW (Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer in Deutschland e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IDW (Institute of Public Auditors in Germany) has a long-standing cooperative relationship with VSW. Since its establishment, the auditing and tax consulting professions have been represented on VSW's committees, facilitating professional exchange and mutual understanding.
• Federal Chambers of Tax Advisors and AuditorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Federal Chambers of Tax Advisors (Steuerberaterkammern) and Auditors are represented in the Insurance Committee with VSW, maintaining a regular exchange of information and supporting the cooperative partnership model.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vsw-berufshaftpflichtversicherung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VSW