The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia (Kementerian Keuangan Republik Indonesia: Kemenkeu RI) acts as the regulator for the Financial Profession in Indonesia. To oversee the financial profession, Kemenkeu RI established the Financial Profession Development Center (Pusat Pembinaan Profesi Keuangan: P2PK) accountable to the Kemenkeu RI‘s Secretary-General. P2PK’s responsibilities include coordinating and implementing policy formulation, development, supervision, and information services for the Financial Profession in Indonesia.
P2PK oversees various financial professions, including Accountants, Public Accountants, Accounting Technicians, Appraisers, Public Appraisers, Actuaries, and other financial professions. It also integrates the guidance and supervision of three new professions within the Financial Profession: Tax Consultants, Customs Experts, and Class II Auction Officials.
Considering recent developments and to refine the guidance and supervision of Public Accountants, the Minister of Finance Regulation (Peraturan Menteri Keuangan: PMK) No. 154/PMK.01/2017 was updated and replaced by PMK No. 186/PMK.01/2021 concerning the Guidance and Supervision of the Public Accountant Profession, enacted on December 15, 2021. A significant amendment in this regulation is the implementation of Quick Response Codes (QR Codes) in Independent Auditor Reports (Laporan Auditor Independent: LAI) to protect Public Accountants from counterfeit LAI attempts and to present more accurate information about LAI, thus enhancing public trust. This regulation took effect three months after its enactment, on March 15, 2022.
QR Codes are a practical feature of information technology development in the digital era, offering protection and verification of the authenticity of data or information. QR Codes from P2PK are accessible through the PELITA Application. According to PMK No. 186/PMK.01/2021, the process of issuing LAI with QR Codes involves registering the LAI through an electronic system to obtain a QR Code by entering the LAI number. The numbering must comply with the reporting numbering guidelines set by the Head of P2PK. Then, client data is filled in, and the audited financial report approved by the client is uploaded.
After obtaining the QR Code, Public Accountants must include the QR Code on the same page as the Public Accountant’s opinion signature in the LAI. If a Public Accounting Firm (Kantor Akuntan Publik: KAP) wishes to develop its own QR Code system, it may do so independently after obtaining approval from the Head of P2PK, subject to certain conditions.
The inclusion of QR Codes was initially promoted by P2PK on August 6, 2021, through Circular Letter No. SE-4/PPPK/2021 regarding the Registration and Inclusion of QR Codes in LAI as a preliminary preparation step for Public Accountants and KAP. The purpose of issuing this Circular Letter was to provide technical guidance on the registration and inclusion of QR Codes in LAI signed by Public Accountants and issued by KAP, to assist and facilitate KAP in their implementation, and to mitigate unauthorized LAI issued by Public Accountants and/or KAP.
On February 22, 2024, P2PK issued another Circular Letter No. SE-4/PPPK/2024 urging the use of Public Accountants who issue Independent Auditor Reports (LAI) using QR Codes. This was prompted by the circulation of counterfeit LAI created by irresponsible parties, potentially harming the profession and its practitioners compliant with the regulator. Additionally, this measure addresses the lack of awareness and knowledge among financial report users tempted by lower audit service prices without the need for providing financial transaction data/documents required by Public Accountants for adequate and accurate audit evidence for forming an opinion in the LAI.
Thus, through Circular Letter No. SE-4/PPPK/2024, P2PK encourages financial report users to be cautious in choosing and using licensed Public Accountants and KAP registered with the Ministry of Finance. Users can also independently verify the authenticity of LAI signed by Public Accountants and issued by KAP/KAP Branch by confirming with P2PK.
The confirmation process for users to verify the authenticity of LAI includes scanning the QR Code on the LAI, clicking the scanned link to access the Pelita website, ensuring the link directs to the URL https://pelitaapi.kemenkeu.go.id, and checking the accuracy of information such as the KAP name, client name, financial report period, LAI number, LAI date, responsible Public Accountant, opinion, total assets, and net profit/loss. For further information, contact 134 or email kemenkeu.prime@kemenkeu.go.id.
The inclusion of QR Codes in LAI signed by Public Accountants and issued by KAP aims to mitigate unauthorized LAI and ensure the legality of LAI used by stakeholders, thereby facilitating informed decision-making.
