About the event

For the fourth consecutive year, the CEF is bringing together the Network of Regional Experts and Tutors in Accounting and Auditing. This webinar marks the official launch of discussions leading up to the Network’s 2026 annual meeting planned for October in Moldova.

During the webinar, editors and authors of an upcoming Palgrave Macmillan publication will discuss current practices, reform trends, development paths and shared challenges in public sector accounting, reporting, auditing, and control across the region. Book editors are Gorana Roje and Vesna Vasiček. Book gathers researchers, practitioners, and experts from 12 countries. Forward contributors are Nives Botica Redmayne and Eugenio Anessi Pessina. Endorsement contributors are Andreas Bergmann, Giuseppe Grossi, and Danijela Stepić.

Drawing on country studies from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Türkiye, as well as on regional comparative synthesis, the webinar will explore:

• Where national public sector accounting, reporting, auditing, and control systems converge and diverge,
• Key national specifics, reform trajectories and international impetus shaping accounting, reporting, audit and oversight reforms and arrangements,
• Strong influence of standardization, especially in reference to international reporting,
• Emerging challenges such as transition to accrual accounting, the implementation of non-financial and sustainability reporting frameworks,
• Reforms in public sector financial management covering planning, management, and control of public finances, etc.

Designed for practitioners by practitioners, this session offers both strategic reflection and practical insights for those shaping and supporting public financial management reforms in the region.

Who should attend

While primarily designed for the Network members, the webinar is also open to a wider professional audience interested in strengthening public sector financial management systems in Central, South and East Europe:

• Public sector accountants and auditors (at both central and local government levels)
• Officials working at the Supreme audit institution
• Ministry of finance and line ministry officials
• Standard setters and oversight bodies
• International organizations and development partners
• Academics and trainers in public sector accounting and auditing

Faculty

The webinar will be delivered by:

• Gorana Roje, Head of the Unit for Property Management Strategic Planning and EU projects, Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets, Croatia, CEF Associate Fellow

Gorana Roje is Head of Unit for Strategic Planning and EU Projects at Croatia’s Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets. Bridging academia and practice, her work focuses on public sector accounting and reporting, financial management, and public asset management. She holds a MSc in Accounting, Auditing and Finance, has presented and published internationally and has co-authored and co-edited several books. Gorana has contributed to research projects and has delivered international conferences and learning initiatives in public sector accounting and financial management. She is a CEF Associate Fellow, ENPA PSAFM Research Group co-chair, and editorial board member of 2025–2026 CIGAR/PMM annual issues.

• Vesna Vašiček, Full Professor, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, Croatia

Vesna Vašiček is Full Professor of Accounting at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, Croatia. She also served as Croatia’s Chief State Treasurer (Ministry of Finance) and as Vice-Rector for Financial Management at the University of Zagreb. Her research focuses on public sector accounting and financial reporting, non-profit accounting, international public sector accounting standards setting, managerial accounting, and public sector performance management. She has presented and published internationally, co-authored and co-edited several books, and is active in research networks and professional associations. She has led and participated in research projects and hosted scientific and professional conferences in these fields.

Partners

This learning initiative is supported by: