KSW – Kammer der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen

What KSW – Kammer der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen does

KSW – Kammer der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen (KSW) is the statutory public-law corporation (Körperschaft öffentlichen Rechts) representing Austria's tax consultants (Steuerberater:innen) and auditors (Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen), established under the Wirtschaftstreuhandberufsgesetz 2017 (WTBG 2017) and overseen by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs. The chamber holds exclusive statutory authority over professional licensing examinations, public appointments, and collective representation for approximately 11,000 active professionals and 4,000 candidate members (Berufsanwärter:innen), making membership mandatory for practitioners in these fields. Its current President is WP/StB Mag. Philipp Rath.

KSW's service portfolio combines a member-facing digital platform stack (public website at ksw.or.at, member portal at portal.ksw.or.at, and the VALOG-administered Zusatzpension pension portal) with a physical delivery network of 9 regional state offices (Landesstellen) covering all Austrian federal states plus a Brussels advocacy office opened in 2020. Core offerings include the ASW Akademie der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen (delivering ~3,500 seminars annually across seminar centers in Vienna, Graz, Klagenfurt, Linz, Salzburg, and Innsbruck), a searchable member directory of 12,000+ entries, the ASRA Austrian Sustainability Reporting Award (running 25+ years jointly with the Institut Österreichischer Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen), the Österreichisches Spendengütesiegel donation quality seal (since 2001), UNIQA-brokered group health insurance, supplementary pension administration via VALOG GmbH, professional law services (anti-money laundering, GDPR, professional liability), the newly created Institut für Facharbeit, and the 2026-launched Diploma Thesis Award. KSW also participates in eight international federations including Accountancy Europe, CFE Tax Advisers Europe, ETAF, and IFAC, and administers the CFE European Register of Tax Advisers for Austrian practitioners.

Revenue is generated entirely through statutory membership dues, candidate member fees, examination and certification charges, ASW academy seminar fees, Zusatzpension and health insurance administration fees, and ancillary program revenues (Spendengütesiegel audits, ASRA award processes). With 70 employees (60 at Vienna headquarters plus 10 across regional offices), a 9-state domestic footprint, and ~15,000 mandated members, the chamber operates as a non-equity public-law entity funded by mandatory dues and service charges rather than commercial capital — it has no funding rounds, no parent company, and no traditional commercial go-to-market motion.

Name

KSW – Kammer der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen

Legal name

Kammer der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen

Website

https://ksw.or.at

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KSW is Austria's statutory public-law chamber representing approximately 11,000 tax consultants and auditors and 4,000 candidate members, administering professional licensing, continuing education via the ASW academy, supplementary pensions, health insurance, and the ASRA sustainability reporting award across nine regional offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership dues and statutory fees: KSW generates revenue through statutory membership dues paid by approximately 11,000 tax consultants and auditors plus 4,000 candidate members, as well as fees for administrative services such as professional licensing examinations, appointment certifications, and official documents. Additional revenue flows from professional training seminars offered through the ASW academy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

KSW is the statutory professional chamber (Körperschaft öffentlichen Rechts) for tax consultants and auditors in Austria, operating under the Wirtschaftstreuhandberufsgesetz 2017 (WTBG 2017). It administers professional licensing examinations, public appointments, continuing education through the ASW Academy (approximately 3,500 seminars annually), and provides statutory representation for approximately 11,000 active tax consultants and auditors plus 4,000 candidate members. Its offerings include a member portal, searchable member directory (12,000+ entries), supplementary pension scheme (Zusatzpension), group health insurance via UNIQA, the ASRA sustainability reporting award, and the Austrian Donation Quality Seal.

Product overview

KSW (Kammer der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen) is Austria's statutory professional chamber for tax consultants and auditors, representing approximately 11,000 professionals and 4,000 trainee members. Rather than a unified software platform, KSW offers a portfolio of interconnected member services and professional offerings: the core member portal and searchable member directory (12,000+ entries) serve as the primary member-facing platforms; the ASW Academy provides continuing education through approximately 3,500 annual seminars; the ASRA award program recognizes excellence in sustainability reporting; the Zusatzpension supplementary pension scheme provides mandatory retirement benefits; group health insurance contracts are managed through UNIQA; and supplementary services include the donation quality seal (Spendengütesiegel), professional publications (up:date magazine, podcasts), and an Institute for Professional Work. International engagement is facilitated through CFE membership and the European Register of Tax Advisers. KSW also operates nine regional offices (Landesstellen) across Austrian federal states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ASRA (Austrian Sustainability Reporting Award): Annual award for the best sustainability reports of Austrian companies, presented jointly with the Austrian Institute of Auditors
• ASW - Akademie der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen
• Österreichisches Spendengütesiegel (OSGS)
• Diploma Thesis Award
• Institut für Facharbeit

Products and services

• KSW Member Directory (KSW-Mitgliederverzeichnis) A searchable online directory of over 12,000 members (tax consultants and auditors) with filtering by location and authorization type, enabling the public to find qualified professionals.
• KSW Job Board (KSW-Jobbörse) An online job board connecting employers with tax professionals, featuring diverse career opportunities in a stable professional environment across Austrian tax consulting and auditing firms.
• ASW Academy (Akademie der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen) The official continuing education and professional development institute of the chamber, offering approximately 3,500 seminars and courses annually across seminar centers in Vienna, Graz, Klagenfurt, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and other Austrian venues.
• ASRA - Austrian Sustainability Reporting Award An annual award recognizing the best sustainability reports of Austrian companies, presented jointly with the Austrian Institute of Auditors and cooperation partners, with categories for ATX-Prime companies, mandatory reporters, and voluntary reporters.
• Member Portal (Mitgliederportal) An online portal for members providing access to specialized information, press reviews, pension management via VALOG, and other member services.
• KSW Media (Podcasts, 'up:date' Magazine, Videos) Multimedia offerings including podcasts, the member magazine 'up:date', and video content promoting the tax consulting and auditing professions.
• Zusatzpension (Supplementary Pension) A mandatory supplementary pension scheme (3-pillar principle) established by the chamber in 2000, providing lifelong pensions to qualified members based on capital coverage, administered by VALOG GmbH. Full annual contribution EUR 8,240.00 (2026), reduced contribution EUR 1,648.00, with exemptions up to EUR 29,663 income.
• Group Health Insurance (Gruppenkrankenversicherung) Group health insurance contracts offered through UNIQA Österreich Versicherungen AG for KSW members, including mandatory insurance under GSVG and optional supplementary class coverage.
• Austrian Donation Quality Seal (Österreichisches Spendengütesiegel / OSGS) The Austrian Donation Quality Seal awarded since 2001, certifying that charitable organizations handle donated funds responsibly and transparently, with annual independent audits by KSW members.
• Institut für Facharbeit (Institute for Professional Work) An expert institute aimed at making professional work broader, more interdisciplinary, and more efficient, organized through specialized expert committees (Fachsenate).
• CFE European Register of Tax Advisers A European registry administered by KSW in cooperation with CFE Tax Advisers Europe, allowing Austrian tax consultants who wish to operate internationally to register, facilitating cross-border professional networking and client acquisition.
• Professional Law Services (Berufsrechtliche Services) Comprehensive professional law support including guidelines on professional conduct, anti-money laundering (Geldwäscheprävention), professional liability insurance (Berufshaftpflichtversicherung), GDPR compliance (DSGVO), mandate relationships (Mandatsverhältnis), conduct during house searches (Hausdurchsuchungen), and procedural assistance (Verfahrenshilfe).
• Expertise Services (Fachgutachten, Arbeitshilfen, Fachinformationen) Professional expertise offerings including expert opinions (Fachgutachten), working aids (Arbeitshilfen), and technical information (Fachliche Hinweise / Fachinformationen) for daily practice.
• Professional Examinations (Fachprüfungen) under WTBG 2017 Professional licensing examinations (Fachprüfungen) administered by KSW under the Wirtschaftstreuhandberufsgesetz 2017 (WTBG 2017), including the Eignungsprüfung (aptitude test), for entry into the tax consulting and auditing professions, plus appointment certifications (Bestellungen).

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ASW – Akademie der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASW is the official training institute of KSW, offering approximately 3,500 seminars and courses annually across seminar centers in Vienna, Graz, Klagenfurt, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and many other Austrian venues. It is an integral part of KSW's service offering to members and the broader profession.
• UNIQA Österreich Versicherungen AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIQA provides group health insurance (Krankenversicherung) schemes for KSW members, including mandatory and voluntary supplementary health insurance plans under a group contract. UNIQA also handles the voluntary class-group health insurance contract for members.
• VALOG GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVALOG GmbH administers the KSW supplementary pension fund (Zusatzpension/Vorsorgeeinrichtung), managing pension accounts, processing applications, and handling the web portal for pension services. Members manage their pension through VALOG's portal accessible via the KSW member portal.
• Accountancy EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccountancy Europe unites 50 professional associations from 35 countries representing 1 million qualified accountants, auditors, and advisors. KSW is a member and participates in European standard-setting discussions on taxation, professional law, corporate law, and auditing.
• CFE Tax Advisers EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFE unites 33 national organizations from 26 European countries representing over 200,000 tax advisers. KSW is a member and participates in European tax policy discussions. KSW also administers the European Register of Tax Advisers in cooperation with CFE.
• European Tax Adviser Federation (ETAF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerETAF unites 220,000 tax professionals from France, Germany, Belgium, Romania, Hungary, Austria, and Croatia. KSW is a member.
• International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFAC supports its member organizations and millions of auditors worldwide who are essential to the global economy. KSW is a member and contributes to international professional standard-setting.
• International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSW is a member of the IVSC and participates in standard-setting in the field of business valuation.
• International Fiscal Association (IFA) – Landesorganisation ÖsterreichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSW promotes the Austrian country organization of IFA, which focuses on international tax law.
• Professional Accountancy Education Europe (PA2E)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSW participates in this professional cooperation aimed at harmonizing education and examination requirements for auditors across Europe.
• D-A-CH-SteuerausschussminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSW participates in the German-Austrian-Swiss tax committee for coordination on tax matters across the DACH region.
• Österreichisches Spendengütesiegel (OSGS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2001, KSW has awarded the Austrian Donation Quality Seal (Österreichisches Spendengütesiegel, OSGS) in cooperation with several NPO umbrella organizations. The seal certifies that donation-funded organizations handle funds responsibly and transparently, with annual independent audits by KSW members.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EXPERTsuisse: Swiss professional association for auditors, tax experts, and fiduciary specialists. Closely comparable DACH-region peer operating as the recognized body for Swiss tax and audit professionals, with similar licensing, training, and member service functions.
• CPA Australia: One of the world's largest professional accounting bodies with a comparable member directory, continuing professional development program, and international recognition framework similar to what KSW delivers for Austrian members.
• Conseil Supérieur de l'Ordre des Experts-Comptables (CSOEC): French statutory order for chartered accountants, handling licensing, professional regulation, ethics, and continuing education. Direct functional analog to KSW's regulatory role for Austrian tax professionals.
• Compagnie Nationale des Commissaires aux Comptes (CNCC): French statutory body for statutory auditors (commissaires aux comptes). Performs professional oversight, training coordination, and standards development comparable to KSW's mandate for Austrian auditors.
• Wirtschaftsprüferkammer (WPK): Statutory public law chamber for auditors in Germany under the Wirtschaftsprüferordnung. Most structurally comparable to KSW: performs licensing examinations, member registration, professional oversight, and continuing education oversight for the German audit profession.
• ICAEW: Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the leading professional body for chartered accountants in the UK. Comparable through licensing, member services, training oversight, and international advocacy functions that mirror KSW's mandate.
• Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada): Canadian national professional accounting body unifying three legacy accounting designations. Comparable in delivering certification, professional standards, member training, and advocacy services that parallel KSW's mandate in Austria.
• Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer (IDW): German institute representing auditors, focusing on professional standards, technical pronouncements, and member services. Comparable to KSW as a professional body for audit experts, though IDW is structured as a registered association rather than a statutory chamber.
• AICPA: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the largest US professional association for CPAs. Comparable as a professional membership body delivering licensing support, continuing professional education, and standards advocacy for accounting professionals.

Others

• Accountancy Europe: European umbrella organization uniting 50 professional accounting bodies from 35 countries (including KSW as a member). Not a direct competitor but a closely connected ecosystem counterpart shaping EU-level standards and policy that affect KSW's members and operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KSW_Oesterreich
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCExample
• Facebookfacebook.com/KSWOesterreich
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ksw-stb-wp
• Instagraminstagram.com/ksw_oesterreich

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 KSW – Kammer der Steuerberater:innen und Wirtschaftsprüfer:innen