Interview | Ivana Đurašević-Landsmeer on leadership professional standards and international trust

Ivana Đurašević-Landsmeer is an economist and Certified Accountant who has led Ekonomik Accountants operationally since 2010. As Executive Director and shareholder, she leads a multidisciplinary team serving international and Montenegrin clients. She is also the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in Montenegro. In this interview, she discusses leadership, professional standards, the changing role of accounting firms and why trust is built through consistent execution.

The views expressed in this interview on business, taxation and the investment environment are personal and professional views given in Ivana’s capacity at Ekonomik Accountants. They do not represent an official position of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

You combine the leadership of a professional-services firm with the role of Honorary Consul of the Netherlands. Is there a common thread between the two?

The responsibilities are different and must remain clearly separated, but both roles depend on trust, discretion and the ability to understand people from different backgrounds. In professional services, clients need clear and independent advice. In an honorary consular role, people need reliability, appropriate guidance and a connection to the responsible Dutch institutions.

What connects them personally for me is a respect for service and responsibility. A title has little value unless people experience professionalism in the way you communicate and follow through.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I believe in being close enough to the work to understand what the team and clients are experiencing, but not so involved in every detail that other people cannot grow. Expectations should be clear, responsibility should be real and people should feel safe raising a concern before it becomes a larger problem.

Leadership is not about appearing certain at every moment. It is about making considered decisions, explaining them honestly and accepting responsibility for the outcome. In a professional firm, consistency matters more than performance for an audience.

How has Ekonomik changed during your years as Executive Director?

The company has become more structured, more specialised and much more international. Accounting and tax compliance remain at the core, but clients increasingly need more complex tax advisory, cross-border expertise, double tax treaty advisory, DAC6 guidance, transfer pricing and practical coordination across several areas.

We have therefore invested in qualified people, technology, document security, standardised procedures and clearer allocation of responsibility. The objective is not to make the relationship impersonal. Good systems should create more time for thoughtful advice and better communication.

What do international clients expect from an accounting and advisory firm in Montenegro?

They expect technical accuracy, but that is only the starting point. They also expect speed, predictability, confidentiality and communication in a language and format that their management can use. They want to know who is responsible and they do not want important risks hidden behind technical wording.

The most valuable adviser is often the one who identifies a problem early, explains the realistic options and remains present through implementation. International clients appreciate local knowledge most when it is translated into a clear decision.

Why are professional standards becoming more important in Montenegro?

The regulatory environment is becoming more demanding as Montenegro advances towards the European Union and administration becomes more digital. At the same time, clients, banks, investors and international groups require stronger documentation, data protection and internal controls.

This creates an opportunity for the accounting profession to move beyond basic bookkeeping. Firms that invest in qualifications, secure systems, AML and KYC procedures, quality control and continuing education will become a more important part of the country’s business infrastructure.

What does the partnership with Unija ETL change for your clients and employees?

For clients, it provides access to broader expertise and coordinated support across the region and internationally. A client entering several Western Balkan markets can work with professionals who understand both the local jurisdictions and the reporting expectations of an international group.

For employees, it creates opportunities to learn from a wider network, work on more complex assignments and develop a career within a larger professional environment. We want to preserve the entrepreneurial culture that made Ekonomik successful while giving the team more resources and a clearer development path.

As a woman in business and diplomacy, do you feel pressure to represent an ideal of having everything perfectly balanced?

Yes, that expectation still exists, but I do not think a meaningful professional and private life is created through perfect balance every day. There are periods when work requires more attention and others when personal responsibilities must come first.

What helps is a reliable team, honest priorities and accepting that asking for support is not a weakness. Sustainable leadership is not proving that you can carry everything alone. It is building a life and an organisation in which responsibilities can be shared without losing commitment or quality.

What do you want Ekonomik to be known for in the years ahead?

I want it to be known as a firm that gives clients confidence: confidence that obligations are managed correctly, that advice is independent and that difficult subjects will be addressed directly. I also want it to be a place where talented people can develop without believing that professionalism requires them to lose their individuality.

Our international network gives us scale, but trust will still be earned locally, one decision and one client relationship at a time. That is the standard by which I measure progress.