Accounting and Financial Reporting

We promote regional cooperation and sharing of experiences to support our constituency in overcoming challenges when transitioning to accrual-based accounting and adopting the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). We aim to strengthen public sector accountants’ role in the preparation and delivery of the accounting reforms, fight against fraud and corruption, better management of publicly owned assets, and cooperation with other key stakeholders in implementing the public sector reforms. We explore also why accounting matters from a central banking perspective by focusing on accounting and financial reporting framework and on accounting standards for banking and non-banking sector supervisors. Together with the Chartered Institute of Public Accountancy (CIPFA), we offer a platform for sharing knowledge, experience, best practices, and recommendations to public sector accountants and auditors at our joint annual international conference.

Topic lead

Želimir Stanić

Specialist, Learning Program

zelimir.stanic(at)cef-see.org

2025 Highlights

Conclusion of the first generation of the certified program for Managing Public Sector Assets
Successful completion of this program will develop capacities that will lead to prudent and strategic decision-making in regards of buying, selling or leasing State Assets. This program supports institutions in their attempts with accounting reforms.
Conclusion of the first generation of the certified program for Forensic Assignment
Successful completion of this program will enhance the capacities of public sector officials to detect and prevent fraud and corruption. The program will actively contribute to increasing the trust in public institutions.
Development of a country specific “On the job training” for accountants
Continuation of the development of the Network of regional experts and tutors in accounting and auditing
Update of the PACT materials for North Macedonia

Related events

Managing Forensic Assignments in the Public Sector

Certification Module: October 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026

Recording Fixed Assets in Registries

Webinar: January 30, 2026

Forensic Accounting and Auditing Certification Program: Training of Trainers

Workshop: March 1 – 31, 2026

High-Level Dialogue on Advancing Asset Management Capacity

Meeting: March 25 – 26, 2026

Forensic Accounting and Auditing Certification Program: Graduation Workshop

Workshop: March 31 – April 2, 2026

ESG Reporting in the Public Sector

Online Course: April 14 – 21, 2026

Asset Management Certification Program (1st Generation, part 2)

Workshop: May 11 – 15, 2026

Understanding Central Bank Financial Statements and Balance Sheet

Online Course: May 11 – 22, 2026

CEF - CIPFA Conference

Conference: June 1 – 30, 2026

Advancing the Network of Regional Experts and Tutors in Accounting and Auditing

Workshop: September 1 – 30, 2026

Mastering Skills through On-the-Job Training for Certified Accountants

Coaching And Mentoring: September 15 – 17, 2026

Advancing Public Property Management in Kosovo

As part of the Efficient Public Sector Asset Management (EPSAM) project, Albana Shala, Director of the Office for Public Property Administration (OPPA) within the Prime Minister’s Office of Kosovo, shares her reflection on how participating in the CEF learning activities has shaped her professional growth and supported the development of the OPPA. Through her experience, she highlights the valuable skills, knowledge, and practical tools gained during the program, and demonstrates how these learning opportunities have contributed to strengthening public asset management practices in Kosovo.

Kick-off of Regional Certification Trainings

In October, we officially launched two regional certification learning programs designed to strengthen public officials’ capacities in managing forensic assignments and public sector assets. These certification trainings bring together professionals from across South East and Eastern Europe to enhance integrity, accountability, and efficiency in public financial management.

Get Ready for a New Season of Learning Opportunities at the CEF

As autumn approaches, we are starting an exciting new learning season filled with opportunities to strengthen skills, share experiences, and foster regional cooperation. Our learning program this fall offers a diverse mix of webinars, workshops, and certification programs designed to address pressing challenges and build professional capacity across the public sector.

Strengthening Public Sector Internal Auditing in Moldova

The Empowered Accountants and Auditors for Accountable Public Sector in Moldova (EAPS Moldova) project has been officially launched, with the goal of enhancing the sustainability and quality of certification training for internal auditors in Moldova’s public sector. Over a two-year period—from January 2025 to December 2026—a dedicated team of 15 international, Moldovan, and CEF experts will work intensively to deliver targeted improvements.

Rethinking Trust in Public Finance

Building on more than two decades of collaboration, the CEF and Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) hosted their fifth joint public finance conference in South East Europe on June 10–11, 2025, in Zagreb. This year’s edition, titled Trust in Public Finance: Perceptions vs. Practice, marked a milestone by introducing a new partnership with the European Commission Representation in Croatia.

Strengthening Public Sector Asset Management in North Macedonia

In mid-March, we organized country visits to the Macedonian Ministry of Finance and the State Audit Office, bringing together policymakers and stakeholders to exchange experiences on reform implementation and asset management. These discussions highlighted how effective state asset management enhances transparency, accountability, and smarter decision-making.

End-of-Year Message from CEF Director Jana Repanšek

As we approach the end of 2024, I am grateful for your continued support and commitment to the CEF.

A Journey of Professional Growth and Regional Collaboration

Earlier this year in May, Gordana Stankovic from Serbia and Danijel Stojanovski from North Macedonia participated in the workshop "Strengthening Capacities in Accounting and Auditing through Collaboration with the Network of Regional Experts." The event featured comprehensive presentations and dynamic group activities, offering valuable insights into the fields of accounting and internal auditing.

Announcing the Release of the CEF Learning and Knowledge Sharing Program for 2025

We are excited to present the CEF Learning and Knowledge Sharing Program for 2025, designed to meet the evolving needs of our constituency in South East Europe (SEE) and broader. This program reflects our commitment to making things happen together, by adapting flexibly and innovatively to the changing environment, learning needs, and valuable feedback from our participants and other relevant stakeholders.

Enhancing Public Asset Management for Sustainable Development: Reflections from a Regional Workshop

Hilal Yücel, Head of the Project Evaluation and Preparation Department at the Turkish Privatization Administration, recently participated in a workshop focused on public sector asset management (PSAM). She shared her reflections on the event, describing it as a valuable opportunity to meet with counterparts from the Western Balkans and exchange insights on public asset management.

Conference Highlights Progress in Greening Public Finances and Skills in the Western Balkans

The "Charting a Greener Horizon: Navigating Towards Sustainable Public Finances" conference, held in Ljubljana on September 25-26, brought together public officials, policymakers, and experts in public financial management (PFM). Co-organized by the CEF and Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), the event is a key part of the “Greening Human Capital of Public Institutions of the Western Balkans” project, aligned with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and the European Green Deal. The conference was funded by Slovenia’s Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Energy, and the Climate Change Fund.

Public Finance Academy in North Macedonia Advances Development as a Learning Organization

We are pleased to announce the successful completion of activities within the internationally recognized professional qualification program for public sector accountants in North Macedonia (PACT MKD L2). The final workshop, held in Veles, was dedicated to advancing the development of the Public Finance Academy (PFA), a department of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of North Macedonia, in its journey to becoming a learning organization.

The Synergy of Science and Practice: Strengthening the Accounting and Internal Auditing in the Public Sector

We are delighted to share a thoughtful reflection by Ms. Zorica Božinovska Lazarevska, a respected academic from the Faculty of Economics at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, North Macedonia, on the collaboration between science and practice in strengthening the accounting and internal auditing profession within the public sector. Her extensive academic and professional experience provides valuable insights into the crucial partnership between academia and practice in developing highly skilled accounting and internal auditing professionals in the public sector.

Prepare for an Exciting New Learning Season at the CEF

As summer winds down and September approaches, it is time to prepare for the busy season ahead. At the CEF, we are kicking off a new learning season, offering plenty of fresh online and in-class learning opportunities across the following thematic areas: public financial management, central banking, leadership for managing reforms, and learning and knowledge ecosystems.