Singapore legislation
Clause 77
Clause 77
Accountant’s report
(1)
Every solicitor shall with every application made by him for an annual certificate, unless he satisfies the Council that owing to the circumstances of his case it is unnecessary so to do, deliver to the Society a report signed by an accountant, in this section referred to as an “accountant’s report”.
(2)
The accountant’s report shall —
state that in compliance with this section and rules made thereunder the accountant has examined the books, accounts and documents of the solicitor or his firm for such accounting period as may be specified in the report;
state whether or not the accountant is satisfied, from his examination of the books, accounts and documents produced to him and from the information and explanations given to him, that during the said accounting period the solicitor or his firm has complied with any rules made under subsection (1) of section 76 of this Act;
state if the accountant is not satisfied as aforesaid, the matters in respect of which he is not so satisfied;
contain such information as may be prescribed by rules made by the Council under this section; and
be delivered to the Society not more than six months (or such other period as any rules under this section may prescribe) after the end of the accounting period specified in the report.
(3)
Subject to any rules made under this section the accounting period for the purposes of an accountant’s report shall —
begin at the expiry of the last preceding accounting period for which an accountant’s report has been delivered;
cover not less than twelve months;
terminate not more than twelve months, or such less period as the said rules may prescribe, before the date of the delivery of the report to the Society; and
where possible, consistently with paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this subsection, correspond to a period or consecutive periods for which the accounts of the solicitor or his firm are ordinarily made up.
(4)
The Council shall make rules to give effect to the provisions of this section, and such rules shall prescribe —
what qualification shall be held by an accountant by whom an accountant’s report may be given; and
the nature and extent of the examination to be made by the accountant of the books and accounts of a solicitor or his firm and of any other relevant documents with a view to the signing of a report to be delivered by the solicitor under this section.
(5)
Any such rules may include provision for —
permitting in such special circumstances as may be defined in the rules a different accounting period from that specified in subsection (3) of this section; and
regulating any matters of procedure or matters incidental, ancillary or supplemental to the provisions of this section.
(6)
Any rules made by the Council under this section shall not come into operation until they have been approved by the Chief Justice who shall consult the Attorney-General and may if he thinks fit consult any of the other judges before giving his approval.
(7)
Disciplinary proceedings may be taken against any solicitor who fails to comply with the provisions of this section or any rules made thereunder.