“When accountability fails, not only do the numbers fail, the state fails. But when accountability becomes stronger, the state becomes more efficient.” The ruling by the President of the Federal Accounting Council (CFC), Ecio Prado Dantas Junior, marks the opening of the first edition of the National Conference on Public Accounting (CNCP), held in Aracaju on November 18-19.
This event, created by the CFC in partnership with Academia Sergipana de Ciências Contábeis, brought together experts and representatives of public institutions and accounting professionals to discuss challenges and trends in the sector. According to Acio Prado, there is an urgent need for the technical modernization of accountants and in the leadership role of accounting in the strategic decisions of public administration:
“Accountants have long wanted to have a voice, a space for discussions and a chance to show that we are essential to the governance and management of public resources. Brazil is experiencing a time when technical modernization and planning are needed, and it is accounting that will ensure that this becomes a reality.”
Ecio Dantas, President of CFC
Under the slogan “Governance and Transparency for Innovative and Sustainable Public Administration,” the conference presented 24 technical sessions in three simultaneous stages, in the form of a “silent lecture” that allowed participants to choose topics of interest to them.
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Ecio Dantas, President of CFC; and Emilia Correa, Mayor of Aracaju
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Lana Glicia, President of the Sergipe Academy of Accounting Sciences (ASCC)
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The event gathered more than a thousand participants
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Ecio Dantas, President of CFC
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More than a thousand people participated in the program, which combined in-depth discussions, communication and exchange of experiences. For Josefa Souza, private sector accountant and regional accounting advisor in Sergipe, this event marked a turning point: “I always participate in events linked to the private sector, but the public sphere has always been very absent, until now.”
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Josefa Souza, Sergipe Regional Accounting Advisor
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Alexander Silva, systems analyst
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At the business fair booth, Alexandre Silva, Systems Analyst at Ágape Sistemas, highlighted the importance of participation to showcase technological solutions to the accounting public: “Our goal is to bring more functionality and practicality to public administration. That is why it is very important to participate in such events, to meet and talk to accountants,” he guarantees.
Technological innovation and artificial intelligence
Digital transformation was one of the most prominent events discussed at the conference. Experts discussed how innovation and artificial intelligence can improve the analysis of financial information and speed up administrative processes.
Ed Wilson Fernandez, IT director at the Paraíba Court of Auditors, warned of the urgent need to adapt:
“Transformation is already a reality. It represents more of an opportunity than a challenge, and it is urgent that we see ourselves as part of this process.”
He explained in his speech that institutional modernization does not depend only on technology, but on access to daily data, integration between databases, and simple language for the average user. These developments have changed the TCE-PB routine. According to Wilson, the goal is to make the tools truly useful to citizens.
Roosevelt dos Santos Figueredo, creator of Sophia
One of the success stories mentioned was the SOFIa system, designed by Roosevelt dos Santos Figueiredo, of the Court of Justice of Piauí. The platform applies artificial intelligence to integrate budget information and daily allotment requests, automate routine procedures and generate accurate reports.
“Sofia was born in a small country, in a court with a limited budget, an accountant and an idea: to turn bureaucracy into intelligence. All this to show that it is possible to innovate with social impact, transparency and artificial intelligence,” says the creator.
Tax reform and public finance
The Commission on Tax Reform brought together concerned professionals looking for answers to one of the sector’s biggest concerns: how states and municipalities will adapt to the new way of collecting and distributing revenue.
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Experts debate the effects of tax reform
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Daniel Correa, Undersecretary of the Treasury at the Fiscal Secretariat of Espírito Santo, argued for stronger federal integration:
“It will be necessary to look at revenues from all over Brazil and this adds to the inspection process itself. You may not see this work translated in a practical way in your entity, but it is part of the cultural change. Let’s learn how to work together.”
Michele Roncalio, Minister of Finance of Florianópolis and member of the New Model Pre-Administration Committee, pointed to three priority fronts for the future of taxation: generating new sources of revenue; Balance of revenues and expenses. And using technology to collaborate and innovate in fundraising.
Participants were also informed of moving deadlines and state and municipal rules.
Governance and Sustainability: The New Direction for Public Accounting
During a panel discussion entitled “Public Governance and Oversight: Essentials of a Sustainable and Transparent State,” experts emphasized that a sustainable and effective state depends on consistent governance practices, social oversight and strategic planning.
The Minister of the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), Augusto Nardis, presented unpublished data from the climate survey programme, developed by INTOSAI, and presented exclusively at the CNCP. He revealed major concerns:
- Most countries are not aware of the risks of climate change in their territories.
- 17 Brazilian capitals are not prepared to recover from disasters caused by climate change.
- Countries and capitals do not know how much they are spending to combat climate change.
- 24 states have plans to limit global warming, but only 7 have specific goals set.
- Half of the capital cities assessed have difficulty participating in state and federal climate programs.
- Countries are encouraging private climate investment, but only 4 are actually mobilizing resources.
For Edmar Camata, Minister of Control and Transparency of Espirito Santo, the integration of ESG (environmental, social and governance) practices by public administration is more than just a trend: it is a strategic necessity.
“Making sustainable policy is much more than just financing something you think is beautiful. It requires strategic and sustained investment, and in this area, countries and entrepreneurs can do very well.”
Edmar Camata, Minister of Control and Transparency of Espirito Santo
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Augusto Nardis, Minister of the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU)
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Edmar Camata, Minister of Control and Transparency of Espirito Santo
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According to the speakers, change requires preventive financial monitoring and evaluation and institutional innovation. Nardis warned that without a medium- to long-term strategy, the country runs the risk of continuing without relevant results: “For this to happen, we need innovation. Without a strategy, the country has no perspective, and we will always be a marginal country without results.”
Conclusion: Wisdom in decision making
The closing speech was delivered by writer and lecturer Thiago Brunet, carrying a message about wisdom in decision-making, a major theme of the transformation proposed by the conference.
Brunet stressed that in times of complexity and change, choices should be based not only on technical knowledge, but also on values, ethics and purpose: “What you decide about life has to do with its meaning, and the meaning of life involves using your technical knowledge to positively impact someone’s life.”
Thiago Brunet, writer and lecturer
According to the president of the CFC, Ecio Prado Dantas Junior, Brunet’s presence reinforced the desire: “Today we need accountants who do not think only about accounting, but are attuned to innovation, control, and even spirituality.”
More than just a technical meeting, the CNCP has consolidated itself as a movement to transform public accounting, emphasizing the importance of governance, transparency, innovation and sustainability as pillars of the future of the public sector and community trust in institutions.
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