Ernest Chirwa

Ernest Chirwa is a highly accomplished Audit Practitioner, Governance and Ethics Leader with over 18 years of progressive audit and assurance experience, including extensive exposure to financial services and regulated institutions. He is a Licensed CPA (ICPAR) and an ACCA-qualified professional, with deep expertise in IFRS Accounting Standards, International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), regulatory compliance, ethics, and quality management systems.

Having served as Associate Director, Senior Manager, and Manager at a big 4 firm, Ernest has led and reviewed complex audit engagements across Africa, managed large multidisciplinary teams, and overseen high-value audit portfolios. His experience includes direct engagement with central bank regulations, IFRS 9 implementation, and audits of deposit taking and non-deposit taking financial institutions.

Industry experience

• Over 18 years’ audit experience including audits of listed entities, large corporations, financial institutions and SMEs. 
• Led IFRS 9 (Expected Credit Loss) implementation for a major SACCO, covering loan impairment and credit risk. 
• Strong experience in loan portfolio reviews, provisioning, customer deposits, and regulatory compliance. 
• Training of financial services entities on National Bank of Rwanda directives and prudential requirements. 
• Senior audit leadership roles ensuring high-quality, risk-based audits and strong governance oversight.

Ernest also serves as a member of the Professional Standards Committee and the ISSB Steering Committee of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants