Public Accountants Certification Training in Montenegro

Slovenia has supported
the delivery of the
PACT training program
in Montenegro as part
of its efforts to encourage the development
of effective, responsible
and transparent institutions at all
levels in partner countries of our
development cooperation.
Montenegro is a priority country of
Slovenia’s development cooperation,
which upgrades the excellent
political and economic relations as
well as other forms of cooperation
between the two countries. We believe
that our multiannual support
to the program has helped to provide
sufficient capacity to facilitate
further successful development of
public accounting in Montenegro.
ANITA PIPAN
Ambassador, Acting Director-
General for Multilateral Affairs,
Development Cooperation and
International Law
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Slovenia
Effective and responsible financial
management within
the public sector contributes
to good governance by
emphasizing accountability, transparency,
and support for the rule of law.
Perhaps even more importantly, public
sector accounting plays a large role in
maintaining the Montenegrin people’s
confidence in the institutions that impact
their everyday lives. Strengthening
financial management institutions and
improving public accounting standards
also help fulfill several requirements
in the EU accession process and facilitate
Montenegro’s integration into
Euro-Atlantic institutions and financial
markets.
We are therefore proud that the United
States government, through the Emerging
Donors Challenge Fund, was able to
support the delivery of this training program,
together with other partner countries.
The United States will continue to
support valuable capacity development
programs, such as this training, as well
as other efforts to help Montenegro’s integration
into Euro-Atlantic institutions.
DRAGANA TATIĆ
Political Officer
Embassy of the United States of
America, Montenegro
The CIPFA is honored
to support the PACT
program, delivered
in Montenegro for
three generations of public sector
accountants. We commend
the PACT training program which
is a key part of the Montenegrin
government’s efforts to build and
strengthen professional qualifications
for accountants. Jointly with
the CEF we provide a great opportunity
for training and skills development
for public sector finance
staff, meeting the needs of government
to ensure they have the skills
to respond to their PFM challenges
and reforms. We are delighted to
collaborate with the CEF to deliver
excellence in IPSAS qualifications,
as well as awarding our certificates
to successful candidates.
KHALID HAMID
Divisional Director, International
Chartered Institute of Public
Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA)
Countries must have capacity to take
active roles in setting up and implementing
their demanding PFM reform
agendas.
The CEF staff and I feel honored to be entrusted
with a task to develop, design, and facilitate the
implementation of the certification program for
public sector accountants. The program directly
responds to the capacity development needs of
individuals, teams and institutions in a country.
Thus far 428 students have graduated from
the PACT program at a certificate level and 292
students at a diploma level in eight countries.
Equally important, the program pays a lot of
attention to three additional areas. First, it makes
sure that national tutors are trained in the subject
matter and methodology. Thus far a sufficient pool
of local tutors in Montenegro have been trained
and many of them have become the driving forces
for the public sector accounting profession in
Montenegro. Second, the program makes sure that
the certification training is anchored in national
legislation. Third, it helps identify national training
institutions and develop their capacity to take over
and independently run the program.
Our motivation and work have been based on strong
ownership by the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro
as well as partnerships with donors and partners.
JANA REPANŠEK
Director
Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF)
Our training and localization journey in Montenegro has
come to a point where we will take a break and celebrate
what we have achieved so far. And we have achieved
great things together! Congratulations to all Montenegrin
accountants who have successfully finished the training.
When coming to Montenegro in 2015 as a manager of PACT projects, I
faced a new country and new mentality, and many times I found myself
in a new role. There were challenges that no one could predict, and no
one prepares you how to overcome them. It is a creative and innovative
process that requires team work and persistence.
Especially at the beginning but also throughout the project, a lot of
effort was invested in building the network of partners, gaining their
trust and convincing them to take new approaches and open up for
new opportunities. And it paid off. Gradually we became a team of
collaborators, motivated to seek how this training program could
support the simultaneously evolving accounting reform in the best
possible way. Jointly we attracted lots of renowned international
experts and consultants who brought a wider perspective of the
accounting reform and gave us valuable recommendations for
successful transition toward accrual accounting.
Working with all these people, who were highly motivated and devoted
to help improve the accounting system, has been a truly rewarding
experience. I am proud that I had the opportunity to take part in this
journey and to witness the achievements in the process of improving
the accounting and financial reporting system in Montenegro. I wish
you a successful continuation of the training and implementation of
the accounting reform.
JASMINA POPOVIĆ
Project Manager of PACT in Montenegro
Program Officer
Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF)
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