Request for Eexpressions of Interest Consulting Services Enhancing Quality of Financial Report Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
CONSULTING SERVICES
 
Enhancing Quality of Financial Report Project
 
Consulting Service
For
Strengthening accountancy and audit education of financial statements preparers and tax employees, and technical capacities of the accounting and audit professions
Ref. AL-EQ-FINREP/I.1-CS/QCBS
 
 
ALBANIA
Project: Enhancing Quality of Financial Report (EQ FINREP) 
Project ID: P152567
Assignment Title:  Strengthening accountancy and audit education of financial statements preparers and tax employees, and technical capacities of the accounting and audit professions
Ref. No:  AL-EQ-FINREP/I.1-CS/QCBS
 
The Government of Albania has received financing in the amount of  1.850.000 Euro equivalent from the World Bank toward the cost of the Enhancing Quality of Financial Reports Project (EQ-FINREP), and it intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments for consulting services for "Strengthening accountancy and audit education of financial statements preparers and tax employees, and technical capacities of the accounting and audit professions”.
Corporate financial reporting is an important element of developing the Albanian market and its role is growing, along with the corporate sector development and an increase in direct foreign investment. The findings of World Bank' diagnostic assessment - Accounting and Auditing Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes (A&A ROSC) in 2006 has led towards need for programmatic approach to enhance the financial reporting in Albania. Based on the recommendations of the 2006 A&A ROSC The Country Action Plan to Enhance Corporate Financial Reporting in Albania (CAP) was adopted in February 2009, SC. The first phase of CAP has been implemented during The Corporate Financial Reporting Enhancement Project, which has contributed in improvement of legal and institutional framework for financial reporting in Albania. Beside of achievements of CFREP, still there are match to be done to enhance the financial reporting in Albania. Further legal changes are required in audit law to achieve full compliance with the EU acquis communautaire. Ensuring adequate funding and institutional arrangements for audit oversight and quality assurance remain also a critical issue and further improvement of audit methodologies and techniques is needed.The objective of this consultancy is to strengthen accountancy and audit education of financial statements preparers and tax employees, and technical capacities of the accounting professions and universities to teach the updated curricula.sSupport will be provided to various stakeholders in enhancing their understanding and practical application of accounting. Stakeholders for this component will include universities, members of professional organizations, and staff of the tax authority. Key outputs include preparation and delivery of large scale training programs for lecturers, financial statements preparers, employees of Tax Authority.
 
The Central Finance and Contracting Unit in the Ministry of Finance of Albania invite eligible International Consultancy firm/Consortiums to indicate their interest in providing the Services.
 
Short listing criteria are:
(a)    At least 5 years experience in the development of professional accountancy education programs for the certification of accountants and auditors in an EU member state
(b)   Experience in international projects in accounting and auditing curricula improvement, advising on the development of internationally compatible professional education programs for accountants and auditors, preferably in the contest of European Union accession countries (regional experience will be preferred).
(c)    Core experience in the accounting and auditing
(d)   Previous experience in university education in accounting and auditing
(e)    Experience with Accountancy professional organizations and SMOs of IFAC
(f)    Significant experience in training design, development of curricula and supporting educational materials
(g)   Availability of qualified staff/ experts to be assigned that has experience and expertise to carry out activities under the contract.
 
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers (January 2011 edition, revised July 2014) ("Consultant Guidelines"), setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest. 
 
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection Method, set out in the Consultant Guidelines. The assignment is expected to begin in November 2016 and last for a period of 12 months. The effort level is a maximum of 360 man days.
 
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 08:00 to 16:00, Mondays to Thursdays, and from 08:00 to 14:00 on Fridays.  
 
The complete Terms of Reference is posted on the website of CFCU: http://cfcu.financa.gov.al.
 
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below in person, or by mail, or by e-mail within June 30^th, 2016.
 
Manol Simo, General Director
Central Finance and Contracting Unit (CFCU)
Ministry of Finance
Blvd: Dëshmorët e Kombit, No. 3, Tirana, Albania
Tel: +355 4 24 51 180
E-mail: [email protected]