A professional practice built on independence and practical judgment
A multidisciplinary professional practice providing independent assurance and practical advisory solutions across audit, accounting, financial management, risk, compliance, governance and institutional performance.
Led by Eliyas Fikadu Chartered Certified Accountant (UK) and Certified Audit Firm (ETH), with dedicated consulting and audit leadership, ELMA serves clients across the financial sector, development sector, public sector, international organizations and private sector.
Who we are
Who we are
Our objective is not simply to identify issues. We seek to understand the underlying business or institutional environment and provide practical recommendations that management can implement.
ELMA Advisory and Assurance Services is a professional advisory and assurance practice established to provide high-quality, independent and practical professional services to organizations operating in Ethiopia and across the wider region.
Our multidisciplinary approach combines professional accounting and assurance expertise with practical experience in financial management, donor compliance, risk management, governance, internal controls, institutional strengthening and organizational performance.
The practice brings together professionals with experience spanning
- Audit and assurance
- Accounting and financial reporting
- Banking and financial institutions
- Risk management
- Compliance
- Donor-funded programmes
- NGO and INGO financial management
- Public-sector and development projects
- Corporate finance
- Internal control
- Governance
- Business advisory
- Institutional strengthening
Our professional identity
ELMA’s professional identity is anchored by Eliyas Fikadu, a Chartered Certified Accountant and certified audit professional with extensive experience in audit, banking, risk management, compliance, financial institutions, development programmes and professional advisory services.
Read the Managing Partner’s profileVision & mission
What we work towards
Our vision
To become a trusted professional advisory and assurance firm recognized for integrity, technical excellence, practical solutions and measurable value to clients.
Our mission
To provide independent assurance and high-quality professional advisory services that strengthen financial stewardship, governance, risk management, compliance and institutional performance.
Our values
Seven values that govern every engagement
Integrity. Independence. Professional Excellence. Practical Solutions.
Integrity
We maintain honesty, objectivity, confidentiality and professional ethics in every engagement.
Independence
We provide objective professional judgments and maintain appropriate independence in assurance engagements.
Professional Excellence
We apply relevant professional standards, methodologies and good practices.
Client Focus
We understand each client’s circumstances and tailor our approach accordingly.
Practicality
Our recommendations are designed to be implementable, sustainable and relevant to management.
Accountability
We promote transparency, responsible resource management and sound governance.
Continuous Learning
We continuously strengthen our technical knowledge, methodologies and professional capabilities.
Our approach
Understand, assess, advise, implement, follow up
Every engagement moves through the same disciplined sequence, scaled to its size and complexity.
Understand
We first understand the client’s organization, objectives, operating environment and challenges.
Assess
We identify key financial, operational, compliance, governance and risk considerations.
Advise
We provide clear, evidence-based and practical recommendations.
Implement
Where requested, we support management in translating recommendations into practical improvements.
Follow up
We support monitoring and follow-up to help ensure that agreed actions are implemented.
Quality and professional standards
Standards and frameworks we work with
ELMA is committed to delivering professional services consistent with applicable professional standards, ethical requirements, regulatory requirements and engagement-specific terms. Our assurance and advisory work may be conducted with reference to relevant standards and frameworks including those listed.
- International Standards on Auditing (ISA)
- International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
- International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS)
- Applicable GAAP
- Professional ethical requirements
- Applicable Ethiopian laws and regulations
- Donor-specific requirements
- Engagement-specific terms of reference
Our professional network
A model that scales to each engagement
ELMA’s multidisciplinary model allows the firm to bring together professionals with complementary expertise depending on the nature, size and complexity of each engagement.
Additional specialists may be engaged where assignments require specialized technical, sectoral or geographical expertise.
Meet our core leadershipLet’s discuss your professional needs
Whether you require an external audit, project assurance, financial advisory, risk assessment, donor compliance support, business advisory or institutional strengthening, our team is available to discuss your requirements.