Grant Thornton Albania successfully held two Awareness Conferences in Tirana: The Forensic Accounting Awareness Conference and the Accounting Outsourcing Awareness Conference as part of the activities undertaken under the World Bank–funded project “Development of Accountancy Services and Public Awareness and Forensic Accounting for the Accounting Profession”.
The conferences were organized by Grant Thornton Sh.p.k, in collaboration with the Institute of Certified Accountants (IKM), as a component part of the Project on Strengthening Quality of Auditing and Financial Reporting (SQARP), which was supported by the Ministry of Finance, the World Bank and funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
The Conferences contributed to the project’s overall objective of strengthening the accounting profession by enhancing the quality of accounting services in line with international standards, building forensic accounting capacity, and preparing the market for the export/outsourcing of accounting services internationally. These initiatives represent an important step in supporting the continued advancement of the accounting profession in Albania at both national and international levels. In addition, the Conferences aimed to increase awareness and visibility of the project and to promote the new services offered by members of the Institute of Certified Accountants.
- Forensic Accounting Awareness Conference
The Forensic Accounting Awareness Conference was held on 11 December 2025 with the primary objective of promoting understanding and awareness of the important role forensic accounting plays in detecting, preventing, and investigating financial misconduct, while also advancing the recognition of forensic accounting certification in Albania. The conference bought together professionals involved in forensic engagements, academics, international organization and ministries representatives to discuss the important role of forensic accounting in maintaining financial integrity, detecting fraud, and ensuring transparency and accountability in both the public and private sectors.
The event highlighted the growing importance of forensic accounting in today’s increasingly complex financial landscape, where organizations face heightened risks of fraud, embezzlement, and corruption. Recent financial crises and the rise in economic crime have reinforced the need for more qualified professionals in financial forensics.
The conference was moderated by Kledi Kodra, Managing Partner of Grant Thornton Albania and benefited from valuable contributions of the panelists: Sotiraq Dhamo, President of the Institute of Certified Accountants of Albania; Erisa Rodhani, Directory of Harmonization on Financial Management, Control and Accounting, General Directorate of Harmonization of Public Internal Financial Control, Ministry of Finance of Albania; Andrei Busuioc, Senior Financial Management Specialist, World Bank; Inge den Hollander, Board member of the Association Certified Fraud Examiners (Netherlands Chapter); Ervin Koçi, General Director, Financial Intelligence Agency; Nurjeta Pogaçe, Judge, School of Magistrates; Erjola Vejzati, Executive Director, Public Oversight Board and Sandra Damijan, International Key Expert, Grant Thornton Slovenia.
Through a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, participants gained deeper insights into the vital role of forensic accounting in strengthening financial integrity and accountability. The panelists highlighted that as financial transactions become more complex and fraudulent schemes more sophisticated, the profession must evolve, adopting specialized forensic techniques and tools to keep the pace of developments.
The event contributed to raising awareness about the need for specialized training and capacity building in forensic accounting to support effective financial oversight and fraud prevention.
The purpose of the Forensic Accounting Awareness conference was to:
- Highlight the objectives of the project, particularly its focus on developing professional standards and public awareness within the accounting profession;
- Enhance awareness of the importance of forensic accounting as a tool for strengthening governance, transparency, and accountability;
- Promote the establishment and recognition of the Forensic Accounting Certificate, aimed at setting benchmarks for professional competence and ethics;
- Support the accounting profession in establishing Forensic Accounting as a separate specialist service area in the accounting organizations in Albania;
- Highlight the evolving role of Chartered Accountants in forensic and investigative accounting;
- Encourage government participation and support in institutionalizing forensic accounting practices within the public and private sector;
- Facilitate collaboration with international partners such as the World Bank, SECO, and ACFE, to align local capacity-building efforts with global standards; and
- Promote synergy between the judiciary, regulatory authorities, and the accounting profession to enhance the effectiveness of financial crime prevention and investigation.
- Accounting Outsourcing Awareness Conference
The Accounting Outsourcing Conference was held on 25 December 2025 with the primary objective to promote the export of accounting services by Albanian accounting and audit firms, and to enhance their capacities to export their services mainly to the EU and the US. A key focus of the event was to discuss the ways and skills required to approach international clients such as Italy, Luxembourg UK and US.
The Conference brought together accounting professionals, business leaders, representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, service providers, academics, ministries and representatives from international organizations and institutions in Albania, Balkan region and abroad to discuss the opportunities and challenges related to the export of accounting service abroad while also encouraging regional and international cooperation in the sector.
As global demand rises for skilled professionals who can support financial reporting, compliance, internal controls, and digital transformation, the Conference offered a timely platform to showcase Albania’s capacity to deliver high-quality outsourced services.
Moderated by Kledi Kodra, Managing Partner of Grant Thornton Albania, the conference was enriched by insightful contributions from the panelists: Sotiraq Dhamo, President of the Institute of Certified Accountants of Albania; Erisa Rodhani, Directory of Harmonization on Financial Management, Control and Accounting, General Directorate of Harmonization of Public Internal Financial Control, Ministry of Finance of Albania; Andrei Busuioc, Senior Financial Management Specialist, World Bank; Stavri Pici, Confindustria Albania in charge of the ICT/BPO sector; Blerti Lekbello, Chief Executive Officer, GSL Enterprise Solution; Neritan Mullaj, Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce in Albania and Sean Sweeney, Chief Executive, KOSI Corporation Ltd. The panelists discussed how accounting outsourcing has become a vital component of modern business operations, enabling organizations worldwide to increase efficiency, reduce costs, comply with complex regulatory frameworks, and access specialized expertise. Rapid digitalization and the growing demand for accurate, transparent, and timely financial reporting have further expanded opportunities for reliable outsourcing partners, an area in which Albanian firms are increasingly well positioned.
Against this backdrop, the Conference served as a platform to raise awareness of the benefits and economic impact of accounting outsourcing, emphasizing its role in generating revenue from international markets, creating new employment opportunities for qualified professionals, and strengthening Albania’s competitiveness as a regional hub for specialized financial services. Grant Thornton highlighted that the development of outsourced accounting services also has a long-term reputational impact, enhancing international trust in Albanian accounting and audit professionals and supporting their integration into global value chains.
In addition to technical discussions, the conference served as an important platform for networking and collaboration among stakeholders from the public and private sectors. Participants shared experiences, explored export-oriented strategies, and discussed ways to strengthen Albania’s institutional and regulatory framework to better support firms seeking to operate internationally. The event underscored the need for targeted capacity building, certification, and international accreditation to further enhance the credibility and competitiveness of Albanian accounting and audit firms abroad.
The purpose of the conference was to:
- Highlight the objectives of the project, particularly its focus on developing professional standards, enhancing visibility, and increasing public awareness of the accounting profession in Albania;
- Raise awareness of the strategic importance of accounting outsourcing as a key driver of competitiveness, efficiency, and international market expansion;
- Promote the development, recognition, and adoption of outsourcing-related competencies and certifications to support global service delivery;
- Create opportunities for networking and to encourage potential regional and international collaboration within the sector;
- Support accounting and audit firms in establishing outsourced accounting services as a distinct, export-ready service line within their organizations;
- Emphasize the evolving role of Chartered Accountants (CAs) in delivering high-quality, technology-driven outsourced accounting solutions;
- Encourage government participation in creating an enabling environment for the export of accounting services, including supportive regulatory, tax, and digital & data protection policies;
- Facilitate collaboration with international partners such as the World Bank, SECO, and regional professional bodies to align Albania’s outsourcing capabilities with global standards; and
- Promote coordination among regulatory authorities, professional organizations, and private-sector stakeholders to enhance the competitiveness and international positioning of Albanian accounting service providers.