Consultancy activities will be aimed at strengthening education for accountants and auditors in countries participating in EAASURE Program (Western Balkans and EU Eastern Partnership Countries), which include Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine.

The assignment will have both regional and country level dimensions:

·       At a country level, activities will include supporting selected countries in the development of a Concept Note for professional qualification modernization, development of a common curriculum and competency matrix for a two-level professional qualification of auditors and accountants at Initial Professional Development (IPD) level, conducting Train the Trainers (ToT) courses for universities’ lecturers, supported by development of training materials.

·       At a regional level activities will include drafting a report on results achieved at a country level, and participating in regional events for disseminating of good practices and lessons learnt.

The assignment will start with country-level engagements for Moldova and North Macedonia during the first year and it is expected to expand to other EAASURE countries in the following years. The scope of the work to be carried out at the country-level will vary per country and will be detailed in the ToRs for the consultancy. It is expected that the consulting firm will carry out country-level activities supported by local consultants with deep knowledge of the local context.

For reference, the type of activities that are expected under this consultancy can include the following:

Regional level.

(a) Draft report summarizing results achieved for the country-level engagements, identifying strengths, development areas, and recommendations.

(b) Participate in regional events for presenting report and disseminating good practices and lessons learnt.

(c) Develop a ToT course (24 lecture hours) based on selected topics from the learning materials developed for the country-level engagements, supported by learning materials (PowerPoint presentations) to be delivered virtually to the other participating countries. Topics will be selected in cooperation with WB/CFRR team. The ToT course and the learning materials should be made available in three languages as follows (Albanian, Bosnian/Croation/Serbian and Russian). The list of invitees will be provided by WB/CFRR team.

Country-level Engagements.

(a) Support the PAO(s) in identifying areas for improvement of the existing professional qualifications for auditors and accountants.

(b) Draft a common syllabus and competency matrix for certification of accountants, auditors and undergraduate university level. The syllabus should help prepare competent professional auditors and accountants who: (i) contribute real value in management of all types of organizations; (ii) act in the public interest as well as that of their employer or client; (iii) meeting the requirements of IESs that are effective as of January 2025 and incorporating IFRS, ISA as well as the European Sustainability Reporting Standards; (iv) deliver and demonstrate competencies that include the sound knowledge and higher-value technical skills expected of future accountancy and finance professionals; and (v) deliver their technical knowledge and skills in a practical and relevant way. A two-level syllabus and examination structure should include: (i) benchmarking with international qualifications to facilitate a degree of mutual recognition with other professional qualifications; (ii) a skills matrix showing what skills are developed as students (thar are aspiring professional auditors and accountants progress and a detailed syllabus identifying subjects aligned to students’ abilities upon completion; (iii) extensive references to ethical aspects of practicing accountancy. The common syllabus should include all modules/disciplines for a two-level professional qualification for accountants and auditors to be offered by universities and PAO(s) and to be mutually consistent for the purpose of further recognition.

(c) Prepare a bank of questions for all exams of a two-level professional qualification of accountants and auditors, except for Tax and Law examination, aiming to promote equal examination requirements, coordination and cooperation between PAO(s) and universities offering education programs to accountants and auditors.

(d) Conduct interviews and/or focus groups discussions with stakeholders to understand their perspectives, concerns, and suggestions, and synthesize stakeholder feedback to inform the development of the accounting education, common syllabus, and competency matrix for a two-level professional qualification for auditors and accountants. The Consultant will have to consider the views of a broad range of stakeholders that could include Ministry of Finance, PAO(s), Regulators and others as suggested by key stakeholders during the implementation of this assignment.

(e) Participate in public events and debates, organized by the regulators or PAOs, and present the key concepts related to the new or improved professional qualification, including their impact on the accounting and audit profession and economy.

(f) Develop and conduct ToT courses, based on syllabus and competence matrix, to be delivered to universities` lecturers, trainers of PAO(s). The ToT course will be supported by the development of training materials.

(g) Develop tutorials (webinars) to support the process of training offered to aspiring accountants and auditors.

(h) Coordinate and communicate, as necessary, with the World Bank/CFRR team involved in this project throughout the assignment.

(i) Perform any other tasks necessary for the successful completion of the assignment.

CONSULTANT QUALIFICATIONS

We are seeking expressions of interest from Professional Accountancy Organizations or Firms possessing international experience in carrying out the type of activities foreseen under this consultancy. The consultant should have the following expertise and experience:

·       Core experience in accounting and auditing;

·       Previous experience in university education in accounting and auditing;

·       Experience with Accountancy professional organizations and SMOs of IFAC;

·       At least 5 years experience in the development of professional accountancy education programs for the certification of accountants and auditors, following the provisions of International Education Standards (IES) or similar;

·       Significant experience in training design, development of curricula and supporting educational materials, following IES provisions;

·       Experience in international projects in accounting and auditing curricula improvement, advising on the development of internationally compatible professional education programs for accountants and auditors.

Team composition proposed for this engagement should include a mix of international and local expertise.

International expert(s) need to demonstrate the following minimum requirements:

·       At least 10 years professional and teaching experience in a country which have endorsed the IFRSs, ISAs and IESBA Code of Ethics;

·       At least 10 years professional experience in training or university education in accounting/financial reporting;

·       Knowledge and competencies in the organization of professional accountancy organizations and SMOs of IFAC implementation;

·       At least 8 years of experience in teaching, training, curriculum framework building in line with IESs provisions;

·       Demonstrated knowledge of IFRS, ISA, IESBA Code of Ethics and IES;

·       International project experience in the field of accounting and auditing reform of no less than 3 years;

·       Regional experience will be an asset;

·       Ability to organize and facilitate awareness activities.

Local expert(s) need to demonstrate the following minimum requirements:

·       Have completed education in finance and accounting;

·       At least 5 years of experience working in accounting/financial reporting and auditing/tax legislation;

·       At least 5 years of academic experience, curriculum building and professional education in accounting and auditing;

·       Demonstrated knowledge of IFRS, ISA, IESBA Code of Ethics IES;

·       Ability to organize and facilitate awareness activities and to perform trainings;

·       Knowledge on tax legislation;

·       Holding the CPA, ACCA or equivalent title will be an advantage.

SELECTION OF CONSULTING FIRMS BY THE WORLD BANK GROUP

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

Electronic Submissions through WBGeProcure RFx Now

ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

Assignment Title: EAASURE -Advisory support, mentoring and training in Accounting and Auditing Profession Development

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION

Consultancy activities will be aimed at strengthening education for accountants and auditors in countries participating in EAASURE Program (Western Balkans and EU Eastern Partnership Countries), which include Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine.

The assignment will have both regional and country level dimensions:

·At a country level, activities will include supporting selected countries in the development of a Concept Note for professional qualification modernization, development of a common curriculum and competency matrix for a two-level professional qualification of auditors and accountants at Initial Professional Development (IPD) level, conducting Train the Trainers (ToT) courses for universities’ lecturers, supported by development of training materials.

·At a regional level activities will include drafting a report on results achieved at a country level, and participating in regional events for disseminating of good practices and lessons learnt.

The assignment will start with country-level engagements for Moldova and North Macedonia during the first year and it is expected to expand to other EAASURE countries in the following years. The scope of the work to be carried out at the country-level will vary per country and will be detailed in the ToRs for the consultancy. It is expected that the consulting firm will carry out country-level activities supported by local consultants with deep knowledge of the local context.

For reference, the type of activities that are expected under this consultancy can include the following:

Regional level.

(a) Draft report summarizing results achieved for the country-level engagements, identifying strengths, development areas, and recommendations.

(b) Participate in regional events for presenting report and disseminating good practices and lessons learnt.

(c) Develop a ToT course (24 lecture hours)based on selected topics from the learning materials developed for the country-level engagements, supported by learning materials (PowerPoint presentations) to be delivered virtually to the other participating countries. Topics will be selected in cooperation with WB/CFRR team. The ToT course and the learning materials should be made available in three languages as follows (Albanian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian and Russian). The list of invitees will be provided by WB/CFRR team.

Country-level Engagements.

(a) Support the PAO(s) in identifying areas for improvement of the existing professional qualifications for auditors and accountants.

(b) Draft a common syllabus and competency matrix for certification of accountants, auditors and undergraduate university level. The syllabus should help prepare competent profession alauditors and accountants who: (i) contribute real value in management of all types of organizations; (ii) act in the public interest as well as that of their employer or client; (iii) meeting the requirements of IESs that are effective as of January 2025 and incorporating IFRS, ISA as well as the European Sustainability Reporting Standards; (iv) deliver and demonstrate competencies that include the sound knowledge and higher-value technical skills expected of future accountancy and finance professionals; and (v) deliver their technical knowledge and skills in a practical and relevant way. A two-level syllabus and examination structure should include: (i) benchmarking with international qualifications to facilitate a degree of mutual recognition with other professional qualifications; (ii) a skills matrix showing what skills are developed as students (thar are aspiring professional auditors and accountants progress and a detailed syllabus identifying subjects aligned to students’ abilities upon completion; (iii) extensive references to ethical aspects of practicing accountancy. The common syllabus should include all modules/disciplines for a two-level professional qualification for accountants and auditors to be offered by universities and PAO(s) and to be mutually consistent for the purpose of further recognition.

(c) Prepare a bank of questions for all exams of a two-level professional qualification of accountants and auditors, except for Tax and Law examination, aiming to promote equal examination requirements, coordination and cooperation between PAO(s) and universities offering education programs to accountants and auditors.

(d) Conduct interviews and/or focus groups discussions with stakeholders to understand their perspectives, concerns, and suggestions, and synthesize stakeholder feedback to inform the development of the accounting education, common syllabus, and competency matrix for a two-level professional qualification for auditors and accountants. The Consultant will have to consider the views of a broad range of stakeholders that could include Ministry of Finance, PAO(s), Regulators and others as suggested by key stakeholders during the implementation of this assignment.

(e) Participate in public events and debates, organized by the regulators or PAOs, and present the key concepts related to the new or improved professional qualification, including their impact on the accounting and audit profession and economy.

(f) Develop and conduct ToT courses, based on syllabus and competence matrix, to be delivered to universities' lecturers, trainers of PAO(s). The ToT course will be supported by the development of training materials.

(g) Develop tutorials (webinars) to support the process of training offered to aspiring accountants and auditors.

(h) Coordinate and communicate, as necessary, with the World Bank/CFRR team involved in this project throughout the assignment.

(i) Perform any other tasks necessary for the successful completion of the assignment.

CONSULTANT QUALIFICATIONS

We are seeking expressions of interest from Professional Accountancy Organizations or Firms possessing international experience in carrying out the type of activities foreseen under this consultancy. The consultant should have the following expertise and experience:

·Core experience in accounting and auditing;

·Previous experience in university education in accounting and auditing;

·Experience with Accountancy professional organizations and SMOs of IFAC;

·At least 5 years experience in the development of professional accountancy education programs for the certification of accountants and auditors, following the provisions of International Education Standards (IES) or similar;

·Significant experience in training design, development of curricula and supporting educational materials, following IES provisions;

·Experience in international projects in accounting and auditing curricula improvement, advising on the development of internationally compatible professional education programs for accountants and auditors.

Team composition proposed for this engagement should include a mix of international and local expertise.

International expert(s) need to demonstrate the following minimum requirements:

·At least 10 years professional and teaching experience in a country which have endorsed the IFRSs, ISAs and IESBA Code of Ethics;

·At least 10 years professional experience in training or university education in accounting/financial reporting;

·Knowledge and competencies in the organization of professional accountancy organizations and SMOs of IFAC implementation;

·At least 8 years of experience in teaching, training, curriculum framework building in line with IESs provisions;

·Demonstrated knowledge of IFRS, ISA, IESBA Code of Ethics and IES;

·International project experience in the field of accounting and auditing reform of no less than 3 years;

·Regional experience will be an asset;

·Ability to organize and facilitate awareness activities.

Local expert(s) need to demonstrate the following minimum requirements:

·Have completed education in finance and accounting;

·At least 5 years of experience working in accounting/financial reporting and auditing/tax legislation;

·At least 5 years of academic experience, curriculum building and professional education in accounting and auditing;

·Demonstrated knowledge of IFRS, ISA, IESBA Code of Ethics IES;

·Ability to organize and facilitate awareness activities and to perform trainings;

·Knowledge on tax legislation;

·Holding the CPA, ACCA or equivalent title will be an advantage.

FUNDING SOURCE

The World Bank Group intends to finance the assignment / services described below under the following:

• BB: Bank Budget
• TF0C4662: FMUTF
• TF0C3875: FMUTF
• TF0C7703: FMUTF

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The World Bank Group invites eligible firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc. for firms; CV and cover letter for individuals). Please note that the total size of all attachments should be less than 5MB. Firms may associate to enhance their qualifications unless otherwise stated in the solicitation documents. Where a group of firms associate to submit an EOI, they must indicate which is the lead firm. If shortlisted, the firm identified in the EOI as the lead firm will be invited to the request for proposal (RFP) phase.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through WBGeProcure RFx Now

NOTES

Following this invitation for EOI, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selection will be subject to the availability of funding.

Only those firms which have been shortlisted will be invited to participate in the RFP phase. No notification or debrief will be provided to firms which have not been shortlisted.

If you encounter technical difficulties while uploading documents, please send an e-mail to the Help Desk at corporateprocurement@worldbank.org prior to the submission deadline.