Preparation for local budget audits: The Accounting Chamber met with the All-Ukrainian Association of AHs

Financial, organizational and regulatory issues affecting the state of local budgets, in particular those that hinder the effective operation of local self-government bodies, approaches to future audits of local budgets and possible areas of cooperation were discussed on February 18 during a working meeting by the heads of the Accounting Chamber and representatives of the All-Ukrainian Association of United Territorial Communities (hereinafter referred to as the Association of AHCs).

For reference. The All-Ukrainian Association of AHCs is a national association of local self-government, operating since 2016. It is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit organization that unites over 800 territorial communities formed within the framework of the decentralization reform. The organization was established  to disseminate best practices in modern and innovative community management, as well as protect their legitimate rights and interests.

During the meeting with the Deputy Executive Directors of the Association of AHs Serhiy Sharshov and Tetyana Arseniuk, the main changes in the activities of the Accounting Chamber were also discussed. At the same time, the Head of the Accounting Chamber Olga Pishchanska   emphasized that the institution, within the framework of performing its functions of auditing local budgets, will direct its efforts not only to identifying individual shortcomings, but also to the efficiency of financial resource management in the regions.

At the same time, the Deputy Head of the Accounting Chamber, responsible for the direction of local budget control, Serhiy Klyuchka noted that direct communication with stakeholders, in particular organizations representing the interests of communities, is extremely important for identifying the main problems with local budgets.

Also during the meeting, the participants discussed the issues of the financial capacity of communities under martial law, the state of internal financial control and audit in local government bodies, as well as legislative aspects of municipal property management, in particular after the entry into force of the Law of Ukraine “On the Features of Regulation of the Activities of Legal Entities of Certain Organizational and Legal Forms in the Transitional Period and Associations of Legal Entities”.

The Acting Secretary of the Accounting Chamber – Chief of Staff Vasyl Nevydomy  drew attention to the need to study the issues of borrowing by communities, the use of international aid, and asset accounting.

Following the results of the meeting, the parties outlined the next steps and joint plans for further communication.