Revisionsstelle · external auditor
The external auditor audits the annual accounts and reports to the general meeting. Depending on the size of the company, the audit is ordinary or limited, or the company may dispense with it. The English translation of the Code of Obligations says external auditor, not statutory auditor.
Request a demoThe term in four languages
- German
- Revisionsstelle
- French
- organe de révision
- Italian
- ufficio di revisione
- English
- external auditor
Definition
The external auditor examines whether the annual accounts and, if applicable, the consolidated accounts comply with the law and the articles of association. The Code of Obligations distinguishes between the ordinary audit and the limited audit. An ordinary audit is required in particular for publicly traded companies and for companies that exceed certain thresholds. A company with no more than ten full-time positions on annual average may dispense with the limited audit, with the consent of all the shareholders.
Swiss federal acts are published in German, French and Italian, and all three versions are equally authoritative. The English term shown here comes from the Federal Administration's English translation, published on Fedlex for information only. Where there is no translation, it follows common usage.
Full glossaryThe term in an official text
powered by Neur.onFolgende Gesellschaften müssen ihre Jahresrechnung und gegebenenfalls ihre Konzernrechnung durch eine Revisionsstelle ordentlich prüfen lassen: 1. Publikumsgesellschaften; als solche gelten Gesellschaften, die: a. Beteiligungspapiere an einer Börse kotiert haben, b. Anleihensobligationen ausstehend haben, c. mindestens 20 Prozent der Aktiven oder des Umsatzes zur Konzernrechnung einer Gesellschaft nach Buchstabe a oder b beitragen; 2. Gesellschaften, die zwei der nachstehenden Grössen in zwei aufeinander folgenden Geschäftsjahren überschreiten: a. Bilanzsumme von 20 Millionen Franken, b. Umsatzerlös von 40 Millionen Franken, c. 250 Vollzeitstellen im Jahresdurchschnitt; 3. Gesellschaften, die zur Erstellung einer Konzernrechnung verpflichtet sind.
The following companies must have their annual accounts and if applicable their consolidated accounts reviewed by an external auditor in an ordinary audit: 1. Publicly traded companies; these are companies that: a. have equity securities listed on a stock exchange, b. have bonds outstanding, c. contribute at least 20 per cent of the assets or of the turnover to the consolidated accounts of a company in terms of letter a or b; 2. Companies that exceed two of the following thresholds in two successive financial years: a. a balance sheet total of 20 million francs, b. sales revenue of 40 million francs, c. 250 full-time positions on annual average; 3. Companies that are required to prepare consolidated accounts.
Source: Fedlex, Code of Obligations. In Corrext, this segment and the ones around it appear in Fast lookup CHnell, each with its reference.
Related terms
A company that is liable for its obligations only to the extent of its own assets.
Generalversammlung · general meetingThe supreme governing body of a company limited by shares, made up of its shareholders.
Verwaltungsrat · board of directorsThe body that manages a company limited by shares and determines its organisation.