Irena Dankova

Financial Management and Quality Control Department, National Fund Directorate, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Bulgaria, Sofia

Irena is a State Expert in the Bulgarian Certifying Authority for ESF, ERDF and CF. Since 2008 when she joined the National Fund Directorate within the MoF her main responsibilities have been in the area of financial management and certification of expenditure under ESF operational programmes. She started as financial controller for 2007‐2013 ESF operational programmes from the very beginning of their financial

implementation.Her current responsibilities are related to financial management of the following programmes: Human Resources Development, Good Governance, Science and Education for Smart Growth and OP FEAD incl. preparing and submitting of interim payment applications to EC, drawing up of annual accounts, performing CA’s specific control activities, on‐the‐spot and desk‐based checks of ESF projects as well as

developing/amending the relevant rules and procedures. Over the past years she was involved in the elaboration of national legal framework in the field of management of ESI funds.