About this learning event

This online course is designed to address the key learning needs identified by central banks in financial reporting and accounting. Assessments show that preparation of central bank financial statements and balance sheet analysis are considered highly important by the majority of institutions, while specific IFRS related issues and their incorporation into central bank accounting policies also rank as a significant training need.

Responding to these priorities, the course will address the core learning needs identified by central banks by offering a comprehensive and practical introduction to preparing and interpreting financial statements. The course will begin by examining the role and significance of financial reporting in central banking, highlighting how financial statements serve as a key instrument for transparency, reinforce the credibility of monetary policy, and communicate performance and policy impact to stakeholders. Participants will work through the purpose, structure, and components of financial statements, gaining a clear understanding of how central bank activities are recorded and presented. The course will introduce financial reporting for central banks under IFRSs, emphasizing considerations specific to monetary policy instruments, foreign reserves, and the treatment of unrealised gains and losses. Practical implementation challenges unique to central banks will be discussed, helping participants understand how IFRS frameworks can be applied. We will also explore financial reporting under the ECB Accounting Guidelines, focusing on key concepts, measurement approaches, and their policy implications, as well as how this framework shapes the presentation of results, capital, and the overall financial position.

Building on this foundation, the course will then focus on interpreting central bank financial statements through balance sheet analysis, helping participants understand the specific features of a central bank balance sheet. Participants will develop skills to analyse balance sheet developments, identify their underlying drivers, and understand their policy implications. This analytical component will strengthen participants’ ability to support informed decision‑making within their institutions.

Finally, the course will review recommended practices in central bank financial reporting, including approaches to transparency, risk communication, and stakeholder engagement, and will highlight how financial reporting can be effectively aligned with institutional objectives and public expectations.

Through this online course, participants will: 

• Understand the purpose and role of financial reporting in central banks
• Gain foundational knowledge of the structure, components, and preparation of central bank financial statements, with an introduction to financial reporting under IFRSs and the ECB Accounting Guidelines
• Develop the ability to interpret and analyse central bank balance sheets
• Recognize recommended practices in central bank financial reporting

Who should attend

The online course is designed for central bank officials, specifically from accounting and internal finance departments.

Faculty

The course will be delivered under the guidance of:

• Tamara Gavrić, Head of the Department for Financial Reporting and Analysis, Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Luka Kocina, Director, Internal Finance and Controlling Department, Bank of Slovenia

Practical information

Delivered in two units, each lasting one week, the course is designed to take approximately 12 hours to complete. Participants may progress at their own pace, with specific attendance required only for the webinars and assignment. The program is conducted in English and encourages active exchange of experience among central bank officials from different countries. Hands on work will make use of real examples of financial statements and balance sheet structures provided by participants or extracted from publicly available reports. 

Partners

This learning initiative is supported by: