Council Convenes in Damascus
Syria's accounting and audit council held its third session of 2026, chaired by the finance minister, to review financial-reporting rules and the certification of professional accountants. The meeting set out binding steps for insurance companies and advanced changes to the body's own mandate.
Insurers Face New Filing Rules
The council examined delays by insurance companies in producing financial statements and, at the request of the insurance supervisory authority, approved a requirement for late firms to file their accounts first under reporting Standard No. 4 and subsequently under Standard No. 17.
The step is intended to bring insurers' disclosures into line with international reporting practice after repeated delays in their financial data, and to give supervisors a clearer view of the sector's finances.
Certifying New Accountants
Members adopted the results of the 2026 chartered-accountant examination, which recorded an overall pass rate of 33.6 percent among 869 candidates. The exam was held on 25 July 2026 at university centers in Damascus, Aleppo and Homs.
Approved lists of successful candidates were referred for final signature, adding a new group of licensed auditors to a profession the authorities are seeking to expand and regulate more tightly.
Governance Overhaul
The council reviewed draft amendments to the laws governing its work, including a proposal to rename it the Council for Governance, Audit and Financial Professions as part of a wider effort to tighten oversight of financial professions. The finance minister called for the amendments to be completed quickly.
Anti-Money-Laundering Role
The session highlighted the role of the council and professional associations in countering money laundering and terrorism financing, pointing to a committee formed within the finance ministry for that purpose in cooperation with the national anti-money-laundering body.
Taken together, the decisions point to a push to standardize financial disclosure and professional oversight across the banking, insurance and auditing sectors as the authorities rebuild the country's financial governance.