AVNT restates auditor-controller selection and training rules

The audit oversight authority AVNT has amended the procedure for selecting, appointing and training auditor-controllers, who perform quality reviews of assurance services. Director's Order No. V3-16 of 9 September 2026 amends the 2017 Order No. V3-12 and restates the Auditorių kontrolierių parinkimo, rengimo ir kvalifikacijos kėlimo tvarkos aprašas in a new wordingE TAR; the Finance Ministry agreed the order on 4 September 2026 (letter No. 6K-26/4549).

The Lithuanian Chamber of Auditors (LAR) runs the selection against the statutory eligibility requirementsE TAR and confirms controllers for a three-year term with AVNT's agreement. LAR must put the selected candidates to AVNT no later than two months before the current term endsE TAR; candidates may also be proposed mid-term, by LAR or at AVNT's request. LAR submits the selection documents plus evidence that candidates meet the statutory requirements. AVNT examines the material and gives LAR its opinion on the candidates within 20 working daysE TAR; once the nominations are agreed, LAR confirms the appointments within 10 working daysE TAR.

Documents in a foreign language must be translated into LithuanianE TAR with the translation certified by the translator's signatureE TAR. The restated procedure publishes selection, appointment and removal information on the LAR website.

A controller may be removed early where reputation is no longer impeccable, where independence, confidentiality or professional-secrecy principles were breached, or where the statutory requirements are no longer metE TAR. LAR decides the removal with AVNT's agreement, on its own or AVNT's initiativeE TAR; AVNT gives its opinion on a removal proposal within 10 working daysE TAR.

Candidates must have experience of providing financial-statement audit, sustainability-assurance or other assurance servicesE TAR, hold Lithuanian or another EU member state citizenshipE TAR, have no enforcement measures in forceE TAR, and have no unresolved client or third-party complaints about assurance quality or ethics-code complianceE TAR. They must understand the rules on accounting, financial statements, audit, sustainability reporting, sustainability assurance or other sustainability-related services, and quality reviewsE TAR. A controller may not review an auditor or audit firm until at least three years after having been its partner, employee or otherwise associated with itE TAR.

Controller training and qualification courses remain at no less than 20 academic hours per yearE TAR, organised by LAR with the programme agreed with AVNT in advance and funded under LAR's procedureE TAR; controllers must complete the courses before starting quality reviewsE TAR.

Legal basis: Lietuvos Respublikos finansinių ataskaitų audito ir kitų užtikrinimo paslaugų įstatymas, Articles 60(3) and 62(1); Order No. V3-16 of 9 September 2026 amending Order No. V3-12.