In early summer this year, the BDO Global Conference was held in Bucharest, bringing together professionals from the public sector, healthcare and non-profit organisations. The event confirmed that BDO is now becoming a reliable partner in times of changes that go beyond traditional audit.
Among the conference participants was Liliya Chernysh, the key audit partner of BDO in Ukraine. During her speech, she presented the company’s experience in cooperating with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the context of war and large-scale recovery, focusing on how auditing has shifted from a procedural formality to a key instrument for building trust, ensuring transparency, and guiding strategic growth.
“It is extremely important for me to share our experience of cooperating with NGOs in Ukraine today, at a time when the country is going through extremely difficult challenges,” — Liliya noted.
Before the full-scale invasion, our team already had extensive experience in auditing international donor projects. We were among the accredited auditors of such respected organisations as the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the European Investment Bank. Yet the full-scale invasion reshaped everything. Ukraine witnessed an almost twofold increase in active NGOs and charitable foundations during the first year of the full-scale invasion. In 2022, more than 6,000 new NGOs were registered, highlighting the remarkable mobilisation of society. Citizens united and created new structures capable of responding quickly to humanitarian, social and economic challenges.
This triggered a rise in international support, including humanitarian, financial, and technical aid from numerous partners and donors. Overall assistance has surpassed $40 billion, much of which is being delivered via NGOs.
This aid is saving lives, supporting vulnerable groups, and rebuilding infrastructure. The sources of this aid are highly varied: from large international donors to small community and religious initiatives. But as the scale grows, so do the demands for transparency. Donors expect independent audits and reporting according to international standards, even at the selection stage. For many newly established NGOs, this is a major challenge, and this is where auditing becomes a key tool of trust. The demand for independent audit in this sector has increased several times, and organisations are actively seeking professional support to meet new requirements and ensure sustainable development.
Ethical considerations were given particular attention: careful screening for potential conflicts of interest, transparency in communication with the clients, and compliance with international standards. This strategy proved effective early on: BDO has become the leading provider of audit services for NGO in Ukraine and is further strengthening its expertise through partnerships.
It is important that the role of audit does not end during the crisis. On the contrary, its importance will only grow during the period of Ukraine’s reconstruction. The upcoming reconstruction will require billions of dollars of investment, as well as coordination between government agencies, businesses, communities and donors. Only transparency, accountability and trust in the resource management system can ensure the effectiveness of these efforts.
“In this context, audit is not just a control tool. It is a guarantee that every dollar, euro or hryvnia is used efficiently, transparently and for its intended purpose,” — Liliya emphasised.
Liliya noted that the Ukrainian team actively cooperates with other offices within the BDO global network, sharing experience and engaging the joint projects. Such interaction strengthens expertise, promotes the implementation of the best practices and strengthens the international professional community.
At BDO in Ukraine, we see real opportunities in the recovery process. Since the first days of the full-scale war, we have realised our responsibility as professionals, citizens and part of the community. We adapted our audit approaches to the new realities and became a reliable support for donors, municipalities, businesses and local authorities. We truly believe that rebuilding Ukraine is not only about infrastructure, but also about trust, transparency and shared responsibility. That’s where we believe we can help most.
BDO in Ukraine offers audit services for grant project reporting, as well as other forms of professional support related to the verification and monitoring of grant funds. Our specialists adhere to international standards of ethics and independence, applying modern techniques to ensure accuracy and objectivity. Contact us to find out more about our services and how we can help your organisation meet international standards of transparency and accountability.
