CHANGES IN FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING ENVIRONMENT IN
            ALBANIA AND THE IMPACT ON PRACTITIONERS

                                Rezarta Shkurti (Perri), Tirana University
                                 Brikena Leka (Gjoni), Tirana University
                                    Rovena Bahiti, Tirana University
                 Msc. Elfrida Manoku (Gishto),Universiteti Sevasti dhe Parashqevi Qiriazi


ABSTRACT: This paper presents a theoretical discussion about the organization of the professions of accounting and
auditing in Albania and the most recent changes that have encompassed the Albanian financial and accounting landscape
after the implementation of new accounting standards, the increased requirements for electronic financial and tax reporting
and the ongoing improvement and adaptation of the higher education curricula. All these factors present major challenges
for the field practitioners in accounting and auditing. We try to identify which are the most prominent challenges faced by
the practitioners today and identify that the ICT impact, ethical values and the globalization trend in accounting and
financial reporting are some of the most emergent ones. These factors make the work of the practitioners more and more
demanding and as it seems difficult to remain competitive in such a dynamic environment, we conclude with the
recommendations that the curricula of the financial and accounting higher education should be adapted to include topics
such as IAS/IFRS, ICT, Code of Ethics and that the professional accountancy and auditing organizations in Albania should
provide ongoing training and qualification sessions on the same topics to the existing practitioners.

Keywords: accounting, auditing, accounting software, tax reporting.

JEL codes: M40