Principles of enforcement
| Principle 1 | Legal coercive means | The FAOA enforces applicable law be coercive means where necessary. |
| Principle 2 | Sound Judgement | Before the FAOA opens an enforcement proceeding, it carefully weighs up all material circumstances and considers possible alternative options for action. . |
| Principle 3 | Information Sources | Enforcement-proceedings are conducted on the basis of corresponding information obtained through licencing procedures, inspections, other enforcement proceedings on the same or related facts, notices made by licenced natural persons or audit firms or other administrative bodies, from press report or from other third parties (whistleblowing). |
| Principle 4 | Fast and focused proceedings | The FAOA conducts its proceedings in a swift and decisive manner and aims for a conclusion in the first instance within 12 months of opening proceedings. |
| Principle 5 | Fair and transparent proceedings | The FAOA conducts its proceedings under strict observation of procedural fairness and the procedural rights. |
| Principle 6 | Parties to proceedings | Enforcement-proceedings are primarily directed against licencees, against persons, who are employed by an audit firm under state oversight and against persons or companies conducting statutory auditing services without holding the necessary licence. |
| Principle 7 | Internal Organisation | Whenever possible, the same persons within the FAOA are not responsible for the ongoing supervision of state-regulated audit firms and for enforcement proceedings against those. |
| Principle 8 | Cooperation with other authorities | The actions of the FAOA and the law enforcement authorities are coordinated as far as possible and necessary. The FAOA also cooperates with other national authorities and foreign audit oversight authorities within its legal framework. |
| Principle 9 | Cautious communication | The FAOA solely informs the public on individual proceedings for reasons of overriding public or private interests. It however publishes legally binding court judgements on its website and informs on anonymous basis of enforcement proceedings completed in the first instance and publishes the measure decreed. |
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