What was it about

This learning initiative looked into drivers of change; approaches for the adoption and implementation of IPSASs; managerial challenges connected to introducing accruals; as well as regional and international experience in adopting and implementing IPSASs.

The initiative primarily focused on the most relevant and selected IPSASs for SEE countries.

The workshop addressed the following topics:

• Accrual accounting concepts, as well as key IPSASs recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements
• The practical implications and challenges of moving to accrual based IPSASs
• The strategic implications of IPSASs adoption
• Selected IPSASs, relevant for SEE countries
• Planning a transition to IPSASs accruals accounting

What were the benefits

The workshop aimed to facilitate a discussion in countries that are considering the adoption of accrual accounting using the IPSASs.

The following were the learning objectives:

• Understand the concept of accrual accounting and the main differences to traditional cash accounting
• Understand political and practical implications of an IPSASs conversion project
• Understand real-life IPSASs financial statements
• Understand selected IPSASs, particularly relevant for SEE countries
• Learn more about current challenges in implementing IPSASs from other participants and different country contexts

Who was it for

• Public sector managers and / or senior practitioners with experience in accounting
• Public sector managers who are responsible for managing services or activities using considerable assets such as buildings, land and equipment 
• Ministry of Finance officials responsible for consolidation of financial statements and design of accounting reforms
• Representatives from Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) and internal auditors
• Trainers who will be expected to prepare programs to support accrual accounting implementation
• Other public officials for whom IPSASs is an identified development need

 

Faculty

Sandro Fuchs, Head Center for Public Financial Management, Zurich University of Applied Sciences

Sandro Fuchs is an International Expert in Public Financial Management and Head of the Center for Public Financial Management at Zurich University of Applied Sciences. He has been working in the area of Public Financial Management for 10 years covering various topics, including accounting and financial reporting reforms, budgetary reforms and macroeconomic policy advisory on all governmental levels. He is an international advisor to the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and multi-national organizations such as the World Bank and OECD, covering particularly budgeting and accounting reforms. In this context has gained profound working experience in different countries with heterogeneous capacities such as Albania, Serbia, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, New Zealand or the Kyrgyz Republic. Besides his practical knowledge, Sandro has been publishing various academic articles in the area of Public Financial Management and has 7 years of experience of lecturing on University level. In his academic capacity, he was Research Fellow at the External Reporting Board (XRB) in Wellington, New Zealand in 2015.

Suzanne Flynn, Public Financial Management Advisor for South East Europe, IMF

Susanne Flynn is the new IMF Public Financial Management Advisor for South East Europe. She joined the IMF seven years ago after six years working in East Africa with PwC and in the Ugandan treasury. She started her career in the UK public service in 1987, starting in central government, and qualifying as a CIPFA accountant in local government in 1991. Before embarking on her career in Africa, she spent 3 years working for CIPFA in London. She has also worked in a number of Asian, Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries. Most recently she has worked with the government of Albania, and in the past has worked in Serbia. Her interests are swimming, hiking, camping, and most recently the American civil war.

Delphine Moretti, Senior Policy Analyst, OECD

Delphine Moretti, a French national is a senior policy analyst in the OECD Budgeting and Public Expenditure division, and leads the division’s work on public financial management. As part of her functions at the OECD, Delphine is responsible for analytical work with respect to budgeting and accounting systems and practices, and convenes the annual meeting of Senior Budget Officials dedicated to these topics.  She conducted in 2016 a comprehensive review of OECD countries’ accruals practices, which has been published in the OECD’s Journal in Budgeting (Volume 2016/1). She is also involved in the division’s overall analytical work on budget systems, in particular OECD countries’ budget reviews. 

Prior to this, Delphine served in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), within the Fiscal Affairs Department, where she assisted several countries in introducing a range of budgetary reforms, with the aim of improving the efficiency of public financial management, and governments’ accountability and transparency. She also worked for the French administration, in the Ministry of Budget and Supreme Audit Institution (Cour des comptes). She holds a Master from Sciences Po Paris and the University of Aix-Marseille (France).

Partners

This learning initiative was supported by: