Opening of the Certification Training for Public Accountants in Macedonia

The opening event of the Public Accountants Certification Training (PACT) in Macedonia took place on September 18, 2014 in Skopje.

The program aims to train up to 40 students on certificate level in 2014-2015 and up to 40 students on diploma level provided that the project is extended to 2015-2016. In addition the program will enable training of up to three local trainers per module. Macedonian authorities will also be supplied with the training materials in local language. A task force for complete institutionalization and localization of the certification program will be established.

Macedonian Deputy Minister of Finance Mr. Ardian Xheladini highlighted the importance of the training for the country: "The possession of professional knowledge while performing daily duties contributes to providing transparency and control over the spending of public finances, which is a precondition of fiscal stability."

The program builds on the already-achieved progress in the public accounting certification area in the Republic of Macedonia. During 2007-2011 the Capacity Building in Public Accounting (CBIPA) program was implemented in cooperation with the CEF and the CIPFA. 25 successful attendees completed the program and obtained certificates and 22 of the attendees obtained diplomas. As a continuation of the program, the training has been renamed to PACT with revised training material. It was delivered in Macedonia during 2011-2012 when 23 candidates successfully fulfilled criteria for obtaining the certificate.

This professional certification program is made possible through joint funding from the World Bank SAFE Trust Fund and the Central European Initiative (CEI). Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Macedonia and the Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF) offer to the program in-kind support.

The program will be implemented by the CEF. The Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) developed materials and it will award international certificates and diplomas to successful attendees.

Further information on the PACT program.