Akademie der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen GmbH

What Akademie der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen GmbH does

Akademie der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen GmbH (ASW), founded in 1992 and headquartered in Vienna, is the official professional education academy of the Kammer der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen (KSW), the statutory chamber for tax advisors and auditors in Austria. The company delivers vocational training, exam preparation, and continuing education programs that qualify for mandatory professional development credits under WTBG 2017 §71. Its offering spans entry-level diplomas (Buchhaltung, Kanzlei-Assistenz, Steuersachbearbeitung, Personalverrechnung, Revisionsassistenz), mid-career certificate programs (Verfahrensrecht, Finanzstrafrecht, GmbH Geschäftsführer:in), full professional certification preparation for Steuerberater:innen and Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen, and university-coordinated Bachelor Professional, Master Professional, and LL.M. degree pathways in partnership with Austrian universities and Fachhochschulen.

Technology infrastructure centers on the WISEflow third-party digital examination platform (used for computer-based certification exams with e-proctoring) and the proprietary Lernwelt (learning world) LMS, complemented by Zoom-delivered webinars and an Excel-based planning tool for practitioners. Delivery occurs across nine ASW Seminarzentren in Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Linz, Klagenfurt, Bregenz, Dornbirn, and Götzis, with 300+ active instructors drawn from the BMF, courts, Big 4 firms, and leading tax practices.

The business model is fee-for-service education: revenue is generated from seminar fees (€150-€300 for short seminars), exam fees (€250-€390), diploma and certificate program tuition (€500-€2,100), and university partnership enrollment. ASW serves 15,000+ professionals annually with approximately 45-57 employees. The customer base consists of licensed tax advisors and auditors, Berufsanwärter:innen preparing for KSW examinations, office assistants, and accounting/payroll specialists — sold primarily through the company website, KSW network distribution, newsletter, and signature events such as the Salzburger Steuer-Forum.

Name

Akademie der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen GmbH

Legal name

Akademie der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen GmbH

Website

https://akademie-sw.at

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ASW is the official KSW-affiliated professional academy for Austrian tax advisors and auditors, delivering diploma programs, certification exam preparation, continuing education, and university-coordinated degrees across nine Austrian cities to 15,000+ professionals annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Seminar and Course Fees: Revenue generated from professional education seminars, workshops, and certificate programs for tax advisors and auditors. Pricing varies by course type and duration, ranging from €174 for short seminars to over €2,100 for comprehensive certificate programs.
2. Examination Fees: Fees collected for professional certification and examination services, including digital exams via WISEflow and oral examination fees.
3. Diploma and Certificate Program Fees: Tuition for structured diploma programs including Kanzlei-Assistenz, Buchhaltung, Steuersachbearbeitung/Bilanzbuchhaltung, and specialized certificate programs.
4. Study Program Partnerships: Collaborative university degree programs (Bachelor Professional, Master Professional, LL.M.) offered in cooperation with Austrian universities and Fachhochschulen, generating revenue through enrollment fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Akademie der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen GmbH (ASW) is the official education provider of the Austrian Chamber of Tax Advisors and Auditors (KSW). It delivers diploma programs, professional certification exam preparation for Steuerberater:innen and Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen, continuing education seminars, modular certificate programs (Lehrgänge), and university-coordinated degree programs (Bachelor Professional, Master Professional, LL.M.) through in-person seminars, online webinars, and the WISEflow digital examination platform.

Product overview

Akademie der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen GmbH (ASW) operates as an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional development programs for tax advisors, auditors, and accounting professionals in Austria. The offering consists of multiple interconnected programs: (1) Diploma programs (Diplome) for career entry and foundational knowledge in accounting, tax administration, payroll, and auditing; (2) Professional certification exam preparation for becoming a licensed tax advisor or auditor through Klausur (written exam) courses and oral examination simulation; (3) Continuing education seminars and modular certificate programs (Lehrgänge) covering specialized topics like procedural law, financial criminal law, and GmbH management; (4) University degree programs in partnership with Austrian universities including Bachelor Professional, Master Professional, and LL.M. programs in tax law, accounting, and related fields; (5) E-Learning and digital learning platform (Lernwelt) for remote professional development; (6) The WISEflow digital examination platform for online certification exams; and (7) Professional tools including Excel planning tools, database query services, and course materials (Skripten). The organization also hosts annual conferences and provides in-house corporate training services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Diplom Kanzlei-Assistenz Comprehensive diploma program qualifying participants for office assistant roles in tax advisory and auditing firms, with focus on digital competencies, solution-oriented communication, and AI tools.
• Diplom Buchhaltung (NQR 5) Diploma program for accounting personnel covering foundational and systematic accounting knowledge, current business transactions, and financial statement preparation, at NQR Level 5.
• Diplom Steuersachbearbeitung / Bilanzbuchhaltung Comprehensive diploma program covering tax administration, accounting, law, and balance sheet preparation for professionals in tax advisory firms.
• Diplom Personalverrechnung Diploma program for payroll accounting specialists covering personnel accounting, labor law, and social security regulations.
• Diplom Arbeits- und Sozialversicherungsrecht Diploma program focusing on labor law and social security law for tax advisory professionals.
• Diplom Revisionsassistenz Diploma program for audit assistants covering auditing procedures and methodologies.
• Diplom Audit Manager Advanced diploma program for audit managers covering comprehensive auditing knowledge and management skills.
• Steuerberater:in und Wirtschaftsprüfer:in Ausbildung Exam preparation courses for becoming a certified tax advisor or auditor, including Klausur (written exam) courses in law, accounting, business administration, tax law, and audit, plus oral examination preparation.
• Seminare der Weiterbildung Professional development seminars covering tax law, business administration/accounting, payroll/personnel law, law, auditing, digitalization/IT applications, and soft skills, qualifying for KSW continuing education credits.
• Lehrgänge (Advanced Certificate Programs) Modular advanced certificate programs for specialists in tax advisory firms, offering in-depth knowledge in specific professional areas such as procedural law (Verfahrensrecht), financial criminal law (Finanzstrafrecht), and GmbH managing director responsibilities.
• Tagungen und Kongresse Annual professional conferences and congresses for tax and audit professionals, including the Salzburger Steuer-Forum, Personalverrechnungs-Symposium, and B-Kurs professional development event.
• Inhouse-Schulungen Customized in-house training programs delivered at client locations for tax advisory and auditing firms.
• Bachelor Professional (BPr) Tax Management Bachelor-level professional degree in tax management offered in cooperation with Austrian universities and universities of applied sciences.
• Master Professional (MPr) Tax Consulting Master-level professional degree in tax consulting for graduates with relevant bachelor's degrees.
• LL.M. Programs (Tax, Labor, Sanierung, International Tax Law) Master of Laws programs in tax law and accounting, labor and personnel law, restructuring law, and international tax law, offered in cooperation with Austrian universities.
• E-Learning / Lernwelt Platform Online learning platform offering webinars and digital learning resources for professional development of tax advisors and auditors.
• WISEflow Examination Platform Digital examination platform used for conducting online exams for tax advisor and auditor certification programs, including e-proctoring for remote assessment.
• Planungstool in EXCEL Excel-based planning tool for professional use in tax advisory and auditing firms.
• Datenbankabfragen Database query services including company register (Firmenbuch) and other professional database searches for tax advisory work.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ professionals educated annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kammer der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen (KSW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe academy is the official education provider of the KSW (Chamber of Tax Advisors and Auditors). The academy provides education programs that qualify for KSW continuing education requirements under WTBG 2017 §71. The partnership includes professional certification alignment and access to the professional network of licensed tax advisors and auditors.
• HCW (Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Applied Sciences partnership for Bachelor Professional (BPr) Tax Management and Master Professional (MPr) Tax Consulting degree programs. Students can transition from ASW diploma programs into the university degree pathway.
• Austrian Universities and FachhochschulencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative degree programs including LL.M. offerings in Arbeits- und Personalrecht, International Tax Law, Sanierungsrecht, and Steuerrecht und Rechnungswesen. Multiple Austrian higher education institutions participate in these programs.
• Bundesministerium für Finanzen (BMF)minorOthersFederal Ministry of Finance experts serve as instructors, including those from the Abteilung Einkommen- und Körperschaftsteuer, Umsatzsteuerabteilung, and Finanzpolizei divisions.
• Deloitte AustriaminorOthersDeloitte professionals serve as instructors, including tax advisors and partners from the Munich and Vienna offices specializing in international tax and VAT matters.
• KPMG AustriaminorOthersKPMG tax partners serve as instructors for professional education programs, contributing expertise in corporate taxation and international tax structures.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Haufe Akademie: Major German professional training provider with a strong tax, accounting, and audit seminar portfolio serving tax advisors, auditors, and corporate finance teams. Comparable in product mix (seminars, certificate programs, e-learning) and target customer.
• DATEV eG: German cooperative providing tax-advisor software, data, and professional education (DATEV-Campus / DATEV-Akademie) for Steuerberater and Wirtschaftsprüfer in Germany. Closest direct cross-border peer for tax and audit professionals with comparable official-body alignment and curriculum depth.
• Controller Akademie: Austrian professional academy delivering diploma programs, certification preparation, and continuing education for controllers and accountants. Closest model peer in Austria — same diploma/exam-prep format applied to an adjacent finance profession.
• Bankakademie Wien / LBB: Austrian professional academy offering diploma and certificate programs for banking and financial services professionals. Closely analogous academy model — chamber-affiliated, multi-tier diploma programs, exam preparation, and corporate training for a regulated profession.

Emerging players

• IU Internationale Hochschule: Germany's largest private university offering accredited bachelor and master programs in taxation, auditing, and accounting via distance learning. Competes for the same Berufsanwärter:in and career-changer market with flexible, fully online degree pathways.
• FOM Hochschule: German private university specializing in part-time bachelor and master programs for working professionals, including taxation and accounting tracks. Comparable in targeting employed professionals seeking academic credentials alongside their vocational qualification.

Broad incumbents

• WIFI (Wirtschaftsförderungsinstitut) Österreich: Austrian chamber-affiliated adult vocational education network offering tax, accounting, and business courses nationwide. Comparable in Austria-wide footprint and chamber sponsorship, but broader and less specialized than ASW.
• bfi (Berufsförderungsinstitut) Österreich: Austria's largest nonprofit vocational training provider offering professional development across accounting, tax, payroll, and business administration. Comparable on breadth of business vocational programs and national footprint.

Regional players

• ZfU International Business School: Swiss executive education provider offering certificate and diploma programs for tax, finance, and management professionals. Comparable in offering modular certificate courses (Lehrgänge) and serving DACH-region tax and finance specialists.

Others

• Verlag Dashöfer (Akademie): Austrian/German publisher and training provider offering seminars, webinars, and certificate programs for tax advisors, accountants, and HR/payroll professionals. Adjacent competitor on continuing-education seminars and professional reference materials.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/akademie-sw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Akademie der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen GmbH