ACCA and FreeBalance sign Memorandum of Understanding

The partners are ideally placed to jointly undertake initiatives to support stronger fiscal management, skills development and PFM reform.

9 December 2021: A new partnership has been agreed with ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and FreeBalance, focusing on supporting Public Financial Management (PFM) Reform.

The agreement was signed in London by Helen Brand, ACCA’s Chief Executive and FreeBalance’s President and Chief Executive Officer Manuel Schiappa Pietra.

Under the agreement, ACCA and FreeBalance will explore global opportunities to collaborate in support of their mutual objectives to promote and enhance stronger public financial management. The partners share a commitment to supporting the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), and to enhancing transparency, promoting good governance and implementing sound fiscal management.

These shared goals, global connections and reach, combined with a wealth of technical expertise, make the partners ideally placed to jointly undertake initiatives to support stronger fiscal management, skills development and PFM reform.

The partnership includes the provision of ACCA Certifications through The FreeBalance Academy, and the organizations will also explore joint public sector related research, policy responses and global events together to promote the value of public sector financial management for strong economies.

Helen Brand says: ‘We are very pleased to enter into this agreement with FreeBalance as strong public sector financial management is necessary to handle the economic impacts of Covid-19 and the climate crisis. There’s a vital need in 2022 for governments to invest in their public financial management systems, and the expertise to manage this work, so that they are flexible and resilient enough to deal with future crises.’

Manuel Schiappa Pietra adds: ‘We are delighted to partner with ACCA, a forward-thinking professional accountancy body that does so much to advance the credibility and competence of the PFM practice worldwide. By working together, we can make a significant contribution to capacity building, good governance, accountability and transparency in governments around the world. Strong PFM systems and capacity leads to sustainable growth and prosperity.’

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global professional body for professional accountants.

We’re a thriving global community of 233,000 members and 536,000 future members based in 178 countries and regions, who work across a wide range of sectors and industries. We uphold the highest professional and ethical values.

We offer everyone everywhere the opportunity to experience a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management. Our qualifications and learning opportunities develop strategic business leaders, forward-thinking professionals with the financial, business and digital expertise essential for the creation of sustainable organizations and flourishing societies.

Since 1904, being a force for public good has been embedded in our purpose. In December 2020, we made commitments to the UN Sustainable Development Goals which we are measuring and will report on in our annual integrated report.

We believe that accountancy is a cornerstone profession of society and is vital helping economies, organizations and individuals to grow and prosper. It does this by creating robust trusted financial and business management, combating corruption, ensuring organizations are managed ethically, driving sustainability, and providing rewarding career opportunities.

And through our cutting-edge research, we lead the profession by answering today’s questions and preparing for the future. We’re a not-for-profit organization.

FreeBalance is a purpose-led organization dedicated to improving citizen wellbeing and combating corruption around the world. FreeBalance Public Financial Management (PFM) solutions, advisory services and training deliver realistic and impactful public sector reform that enhance transparency, improve effectiveness, restore trust and create innovation breakthrough opportunities.

With a 37-year track record of success and operations in 25+ countries, FreeBalance has unparalleled experience in public finance reform and is a specialized Business-to-Government (B2G) firm.

The company works with governments around the world to sequence and deliver sustainable PFM reform programs. FreeBalance has worked with countries such as Afghanistan, Haiti, Honduras, Kosovo, Liberia, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Uganda, and Timor-Leste to implement robust and transparent financial management systems from the ground up.