Public Sector Accounting (PSA)

The PULSAR program is an initiative to increase transparency, accountability, and better management of public resources through the enhancement of public sector accounting (PSA) and financial reporting frameworks. PULSAR is financed by the Governments of Austria and Switzerland and is implemented by the World Bank. Participating countries include Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine.

A new initiative aiming to increase transparency, accountability, and improve management of public resources through the enhancement of public sector accounting and financial reporting frameworks was launched in Vienna on December 11, 2017. The Public Sector Accounting and Reporting Program (“PULSAR”) delivers on a growing demand for a programmatic approach to strengthening public sector accounting through diagnostic assessments and capacity building targeted at public sector accountants, government institutions and a variety of other stakeholders.

From April 23-25, 2018, the second workshops of FinCoP and EduCoP were held in Vienna, bringing together more than 100 participants and speakers from 17 countries. Senior officials from MOF and Court of Audit of Austria joined the events, and leading international experts contributed to the sessions including representatives from IPSASB, CIPFA, Eurostat EPSAS Working Group, and IMF.

The 3rd Public-Sector Accounting and Reporting (PULSAR) Education Community of Practice (EduCoP) took place in Vienna from November 28-29, 2018 with the aim to improve training, education, and continuous professional development aligned with international standards and good practice in public sector accounting and reporting.

The PULSAR initiative was introduced at the 19th Annual Meeting of OECD Senior Financial Management and Reporting Officials, held on March 4-5, 2019 in Paris. The presentation focused on tools and guidance developed under the program as well as PULSAR’s contribution to the 21-century public sector finance function.

The 4th PULSAR Education Community of Practice (EduCoP) convened on April 8-9, 2019 Ljubljana, Slovenia. The event was hosted by the Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF) and reconvened representatives of Ministries of Finance, universities, and Professional Accountancy Organizations (PAOs) of participating countries throughout the ECA region to further explore the development of quality Public Sector Accounting (PSA) education.

The PULSAR Financial Reporting Community of Practice (FinCoP) Working Group meeting was held from June 3-4, 2019 in Winterthur, Switzerland. Professor Dr. Reto Steiner, Dean and Managing Director of the ZHAW School of Management and Law, welcomed participants and opened the meeting.

The PULSAR Financial Reporting Community of Practice (FinCoP) Working Group meeting was held on November 21-22, 2019 in Vienna, Austria.