Accounting and Auditing Regulator(ACAR)

What Accounting and Auditing Regulator(ACAR) does

The Accounting and Auditing Regulator (ACAR) is the Cambodian government statutory regulator for the accounting and auditing profession, established in 2016 under the Law on Accounting and Auditing (Royal Kram No. NS / 0416/006) and operating as the Secretariat of the Non-Banking Financial Services Authority under the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It holds exclusive legal authority to regulate accounting and auditing activities throughout Cambodia, serving enterprises subject to statutory audit, not-for-profit entities (NFPEs), certified public accountants, auditing firms, and public sector bodies. ACAR develops and maintains Cambodia's full national standards framework — CIAS, CIFRS, CIFRS for SMEs, IPSAS, NFPEs, CISA, CISQM, Code of Ethics, and Education Standards — adapted from international benchmarks (IFRS, ISA, IFAC) and aligned with FATF/APG AML/CFT requirements.

ACAR operates four core e-government platforms that constitute its technology stack: the E-Filing System for enterprises (efiling.acar.gov.kh) and for NFPEs (efiling-nfpes.acar.gov.kh) for mandatory financial statement submission, the E-License System (elicense.acar.gov.kh) for professional licensing, and the Digital Financial Reporting Platform (DFR, dfr.acar.gov.kh) for structured digital reporting. Its technology infrastructure is further integrated with the Cambodia Data Exchange (CamDX), the Ministry of Economy and Finance's inter-agency data exchange platform. The organization is lean — 19 employees — relative to its nationwide regulatory reach.

Its "revenue" is non-commercial: ACAR collects professional licensing and examination fees (Cambodia CPA program, ASEAN CPA registration, foreign professional accountant registration) and regulatory compliance fees for filing exemptions and extensions, with rates set by prakas and sub-decree. As a state entity, ACAR is funded through the Royal Government of Cambodia's budget and operates through official prakas, sub-decrees, notifications, dissemination workshops, training programs, and the annual Cambodia Accounting Forum rather than commercial marketing channels.

Name

Accounting and Auditing Regulator(ACAR)

Legal name

Accounting and Auditing Regulator

Website

https://acar.gov.kh

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACAR is the Cambodian government statutory regulator for accounting and auditing, established in 2016 under the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It sets national standards (CIFRS, CISA, Code of Ethics), licenses CPAs, and operates e-filing, e-licensing, and digital financial reporting platforms for all regulated entities in Cambodia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Regulatory Services

NAICS

Public Finance Activities (921130), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888)

akta.pro primary industry

Government Accounting & Financial Reporting (BPAIAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications (EDAAANAD)

Keywords

• Accounting regulation
• Auditing standards
• Professional licensing
• Financial reporting compliance
• AML compliance oversight

Headquarters

HQ city

Phnom Penh

HQ country

Cambodia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Licensing Fees: Fees collected from examination, licensing and registration of accounting and auditing professionals including Cambodia CPA program fees, ASEAN CPA registration, and foreign professional accountant registration
2. Regulatory Compliance Fees: Fees from processing financial statement submissions, exemptions, and extension requests through e-filing systems

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ACAR is the sole statutory regulator for accounting and auditing in Cambodia, operating as Secretariat of the Non-Banking Financial Services Authority. It establishes and enforces national accounting and auditing standards (CIAS, CIFRS, CIFRS for SMEs, CISA, CISQM, IPSAS, NFPE standards), licenses and monitors accounting/auditing professionals and firms, administers the Cambodia CPA qualification program, and operates e-government platforms for financial statement filing, licensing, and digital financial reporting.

Product overview

ACAR operates as a regulatory body governing Cambodia's accounting and auditing sector. Its digital service portfolio consists of four core electronic platforms: the E-Filing System for enterprise financial statement submission, the E-Filing System for Not-for-Profit Entities (NFPEs), the E-License System for professional licensing management, and the Digital Financial Reporting Platform (DFR) for digital financial reporting. These platforms work together to enable regulated entities to comply with statutory audit requirements, obtain professional credentials, and submit required documentation to the regulator.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• E-Filing System Online system enabling enterprises to submit annual financial statements for independent audit compliance to ACAR. Used by all enterprises subject to statutory audit requirements under Cambodian law.
• E-Filing System for NFPEs Online portal for Not-for-Profit Entities to submit financial statements to ACAR in compliance with Cambodian Financial Reporting Standards for NFPEs.
• E-License System Online system for applying and managing professional accounting and auditing licenses, including Cambodia CPA program, ASEAN CPA registration, and foreign professional accountant registration.
• Digital Financial Reporting Platform (DFR) Digital platform for preparing financial reports in standardized format and supporting implementation of digital financial reporting standards for Cambodian enterprises and accounting professionals.
• Cambodia CPA Qualification Program National professional qualification program for Certified Public Accountants in Cambodia, including examination, licensing, and continuing professional development for accounting and auditing professionals.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ASEAN CPA Coordinating CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACAR serves as the secretariat for ASEAN CPA registration in Cambodia, facilitating mutual recognition of professional accounting qualifications across ASEAN member states. Cambodian accountants meeting ASEAN CPA criteria can register through ACAR and appear on the ASEAN Chartered Professional Accountant Coordinating Committee website.
• International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational federation that serves the public interest by strengthening the accountancy profession. ACAR aligns Cambodian standards with IFAC International Standards.
• Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerU.S. regulator that oversees audits of public companies. ACAR maintains connection for international auditing standards alignment.
• ASEAN Federation of Accountants (AFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional federation of national accountancy bodies in ASEAN. ACAR participates in regional accounting standards development through AFA.
• Asian-Oceanian Standard-Setters Group (AOSSG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup of Asian and Oceanian national standard setters working on accounting standards. ACAR participates in regional standards discussions.
• International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal organization that develops and promotes IFRS standards. ACAR adopts and adapts IFRS for Cambodian context through CIFRS standards.
• Asian Confederation of Professional Accountants (ACPACC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional confederation of professional accounting organizations. ACAR maintains relationship for regional cooperation.
• Financial Action Task Force (FATF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational body that sets standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. ACAR implements AML/CFT regulations aligned with FATF recommendations.
• Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional body for AML/CFT compliance in Asia-Pacific. ACAR collaborates on anti-money laundering initiatives for the accounting sector.
• Kampuchea Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Auditors (KICPAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational professional body for CPAs and auditors in Cambodia. Jointly manages Cambodia CPA program and ASEAN CPA monitoring committee.
• Business School of Accountancy (BSA)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated with ACAR to organize training on Artificial Intelligence and Financial Technology for ACAR officials.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Financial Action Task Force (FATF): Global AML/CFT standard-setting body that ACAR's AML/CFT regulations are aligned with. Comparable as the upstream policy source for ACAR's AML/CFT implementation work.
• IFRS Foundation: Global organization that develops IFRS standards, which ACAR adopts and adapts into CIFRS. Comparable as the source of international financial reporting standards that drive ACAR's domestic standard-setting.
• ASEAN Federation of Accountants (AFA): Regional federation of ASEAN national accountancy bodies in which ACAR participates. Comparable as a regional coordination counterpart and standards development partner.

Broad incumbents

• International Federation of Accountants (IFAC): Global federation of national accounting bodies that issues international ethics, education, and audit standards. Comparable as the apex standards-setting umbrella organization that ACAR's standards are aligned with.
• Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC): Australia's integrated corporate, markets, and financial services regulator with accounting and auditing oversight functions. Comparable as a broader financial regulator that includes accounting/auditing oversight in its mandate.

Direct peers

• Financial Reporting Council (FRC): UK regulator responsible for corporate reporting, auditing, and actuarial standards. Comparable to ACAR as a national accounting and auditing standards-setter with regulatory oversight of the profession, though operating in a more mature market.
• Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA): Hong Kong's statutory body for CPAs, responsible for CPA qualification, professional standards, and regulatory oversight. Comparable to ACAR as an Asian accounting regulator with CPA program management and standards-setting roles.
• Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA): Malaysia's statutory body regulating the accountancy profession, setting accounting and auditing standards, and managing the CPA qualification. Comparable regional peer with similar mandate structure and ASEAN membership overlap.
• Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB): U.S. regulator overseeing audits of public companies and registered audit firms. Directly comparable to ACAR on the auditing oversight function; ACAR explicitly maintains a partnership relationship with PCAOB for standards alignment.
• Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA): Singapore's national regulator for business registration, accounting standards, and corporate compliance. Highly comparable as a fellow Southeast Asian national accounting and corporate regulatory authority with e-filing, licensing, and standards-setting mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-accounting-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Accounting and Auditing Regulator(ACAR)