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BKR Worldwide Bulletin
June 2023 Edition
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As a large number of you are aware, our Americas Executive Director, Aiysha (AJ) Johnson, is leaving us.
AJ has been with us since July 1, 2018, and, during that time, she has had a profound effect on the association. Her guidance of the Americas Region at a time of change has been considerable. She has brought in modern practices both for the benefit of the membership and the Executive Office, and has been a source of advice to me and great fun to work with. She will be missed by all the team, and I wish her all the best in her new role as the CEO of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants beginning June 1.
We are currently looking for her successor. In the interim, the team in New York (bkr@bkr.com), with my support, will cover her responsibilities.
Tim Morris
CEO
BKR International
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BKR Strategy Update
With five months to go until the official launch of our new strategy at the AGM in Washington, DC, I wanted to update you on the progress that has been made in defining the BKR of tomorrow.
As I presented at all the recent regional meetings, we have created a new BKR story that will form the foundation of all that we do from this point forward. It will guide how decisions are made and will form the framework to which all of us will be held accountable.
Learning from our legacy, challenging the way we do things, and in consolidation and agreement with the Regional and Worldwide Boards, the core story of BKR is to be centered around BKR being an association that focuses on doing Business, sharing Knowledge, and creating Relationships. But what does this all mean?
BKR will focus on:
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Business – to empower member firms to grow by proactively collaborating with their peers and trusted partners;
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Knowledge – to create a centre of excellence to share knowledge, identify market trends, and support the future readiness of talent within the membership; and
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Relationships – to provide an open forum to enable members to engage and learn from one another, and to create opportunities to grow on a business and professional level.
BKR will provide structured resources that create opportunities for its members to connect, engage, proactively share knowledge, and collaborate with one another as they look to attract, retain, and develop their people, support the future success of their business, and help them to be seen as a real alternative service provider for clients with local or multimarket needs.
At the recent Worldwide Board Meeting in Mexico, we discussed how we can streamline processes and adopt better working practices to drive efficiencies and effectiveness in delivering services and support offerings to the membership. We are looking to move to a shared service delivery model that will provide more resources at both a regional and worldwide level, which, in turn, will allow the member facing regional team members more time to interact and support their respective members.
BKR has always been about people, and this remains a core part of BKR moving forward. What we are now looking to do is commercialize the way we think and work to empower members to better engage and collaborate with one another, and, in so doing, increase the tangible value of being an active member of BKR.
In terms of actions between now and Washington, DC, we will be getting feedback from the regional boards and will then share the new strategy in full with you in early September prior to the Worldwide AGM. As mentioned, we will formally launch the new look of BKR in Washington, DC, which will coincide with a public campaign on our social media channels and other platforms.
These are exciting times for BKR. I am confident that our new story and strategy will put us in a good position to capitalize on the opportunities in the market, both in terms of supporting the needs of the membership and also the continued success of BKR as a whole.
Tim Morris
CEO
BKR International
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Taipei City Hosts BKR Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting
Thanks to everyone who attended BKR's Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting in Taipei City, Taiwan, from May 6-8.
The meeting brought together a diverse group of accounting, tax, and audit professionals, experts, and industry leaders from across the region for a groundbreaking event. Held in the vibrant city of Taipei, the conference served as a platform for fostering collaboration, sharing insights, and exploring innovative solutions to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in the region
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With a focus on promoting regional growth, the conference featured engaging panel discussions, thought-provoking keynote speeches, and interactive workshops, covering a wide range of topics. Attendees had the unique opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from esteemed speakers who shared their expertise and experiences, offering invaluable insights into the current business landscape.
The conference also showcased the immense potential of the Asia-Pacific Region, highlighting emerging trends, investment prospects, and strategies for sustainable development. Participants had the chance to connect with like-minded professionals, establish new business relationships, and broaden their networks, creating a platform for future collaborations.
Notable highlights of the conference included discussions on ESG, building a legacy, the impact of artificial intelligence, and the future of accounting practices in the region. In addition, discussion on regulatory developments, cross-border business opportunities, and market entry strategies in the India Subregional Meeting and the ESG Practice Group provided attendees with practical insights and actionable takeaways to navigate the ever-changing business environment.
Overall, the meeting served as a catalyst for knowledge exchange, fostering innovation, and strengthening ties within the region's business community. As the event concluded, participants left with a renewed sense of inspiration, equipped with fresh perspectives and strategies to drive their firms forward.
We have compiled all of the presentations, photos, and speaker contact information from the event, which include BKR's India Subregional Meeting, here.
Also, read The Manila Times' coverage of the meeting here.
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EMEA Regional Meeting Held in Cape Town
A big thank you to everyone who attended BKR's EMEA Regional Meeting in Cape Town, and particularly to our joint hosts, Graeme Boake of Boake Incorporated (Johannesburg) and Jaques Coetzee of Logista (Pretoria).
Legacy – the theme of this year's conferences – can be many things, from the physical structures we leave behind, an idea or ethos, the spirit we inculcate, or the very footprints of our many journeys. Our conference in Cape Town offered a chance to reflect with topics ranging from Conscious Leadership, to the political and economical landscape of Africa, a glimpse into the future of work based on trends analysis, as well as practical topics like compliance. The conference ended on a high note, especially significant to the theme of legacy, with the inspirational talk by Christo Brand, former prison warden to Nelson Mandela, with whom he developed a unique and lasting friendship.
We also took this opportunity to organize a charity auction during the Gala Dinner to raise funds for Young Hearts Africa. This amazing charity saves the lives of young children born with congenital heart disease by offering them the life-saving operations they would not normally be able to access. We were joined by Dr. Wilhelm Lichtenberg, the charity’s founder, who shared insights into the incredible work his charity is doing. Through the amazing generosity of the BKR members at the conference, we raised more than €12,000 for Young Hearts Africa. In this way, we were able to leave a mark of BKR in Cape Town - our legacy.
A message from Dr. Wilhelm Lichtenberg: “Thank you so much once again for the incredible gesture and the magnificent generosity extended to Young Hearts Africa by yourselves and the BKR community. We are profoundly grateful for your support.”
Click here to view the photos from the gala dinner.
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BKR's Americas Regional Meeting in Mexico City
Thank you to our host firm, CPC Rangel, S.C. (Mexico City), members, speakers, Strategic Alliance Partner SurePrep, volunteer leaders, and staff who made our meeting a success!
Congratulations to Sofia Rojas (Mexico City), recipient of the Sheldon B. Webster Scholarship, Gwayne Lai (New York) as our Apple Watch winner, and The CJ Group, CPAs and Advisors (Dallas) and VWC, P.S. (Seattle) who received our Best in Firm Excellence award!
Download the meeting presentations and photos here.
Please be sure to hashtag #BKRMEXICO23 and #BKRELATIONSHIPS to share your meeting photos on social media.
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Make Your Plans Now for BKR's Annual Worldwide Meeting!
It is never too early to begin making plans for BKR's event of the year, the Annual Worldwide Meeting, which will be held at the Fairmont Georgetown Hotel in Washington, DC, from October 28-31.
Keep checking the BKR website here for updated information.
If you need a letter of request for a Visa, please contact us at bkr@bkr.com.
Featured Speaker
Consultant and Growth Strategist Gale Crosley from Crosley+Company will be one of our featured speakers. Check out the latest issue of the Crosley+Company newsletter here.
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Check out all of BKR's upcoming events here.
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Catch up with BKR's Americas Region
Read the latest Americas Regional E-Update here.
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Anchin, Block & Anchin LLP (New York) Celebrates 100th Anniversary
Anchin, Block & Anchin LLP was founded with a mission to become a true business partner to each client. A century later, the firm operates from that same set of guiding principles: cover all the bases to gain a full understanding of how a business operates and identify and pursue every available lever to help drive profitability – all in an effort to bring new vision, insight, and possibilities to its clients.
A firm may have a name and a reputation, but, at its core, are the people and culture. Anchin's focus on exceptional service and its Best Places to Work environment have helped them reach 100 years in business. The firm is very thankful for the great relationships they have built with their clients, colleagues, and friends.
“We are thrilled to be celebrating our 100th anniversary when much of the accounting industry is experiencing consolidation," said Managing Partner Russell Shinsky. "We will continue to seek optimal results for our clients, and provide the reliability and effective guidance that make us the right tax and accounting advisors for privately held businesses, investment funds, and high net worth individuals and families.”
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M/s T R Chadha & Co LLP (Mumbai) Celebrates 77 Years in Business
Congratulations to Managing Partner Manu Chadha and his firm, M/s T R Chadha & Co LLP, on reaching the milestone of 77 years in business.
M/s T R Chadha & Co LLP is one of India’s prominent chartered accountancy firms, providing a wide array of financial and advisory services to numerous MNCs, as well as reputed Indian companies.
We wish him and the firm every success as he looks forward to many more years to come.
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The Manila Times Covers Alas, Oplas & Co., CPAs' (Manila) New Office
The Manila Times has published an article covering the new Canabatuan City branch of Alas, Oplas & Co., CPAs.
Read the article in its entirety here.
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UNW LLP (Newcastle) Wins Award for Best Specialist Team in a Law or Accounting Firm
UNW LLP is celebrating after its Employment Taxes Team was named "Best Specialist Team in a Law or Accounting Firm" at the national Tolley’s Taxation Awards 2023.
Considered a marker of excellence in the UK tax profession, the annual Tolley’s Taxation Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of individuals and firms across the industry. Award categories at this year’s highly prestigious ceremony, which was held on Thursday, May 18, at the Royal Lancaster London, covered a broad spectrum of the profession, with prizes on offer to professional practices of all sizes, specialist firms, and those working in-house or in the public sector.
Newcastle-based UNW fought off strong competition from other specialist teams from firms throughout the UK to take home the trophy in what was a highly contested category. The judging panel commented that UNW’s submission clearly demonstrated how the regional firm "is operating at the highest level and attracting a client base, which would be the envy of many larger firms."
Forming part of the firm’s wider tax offering, UNW’s specialist Employment Taxes Team delivers comprehensive advice and support on all aspects of employment tax, from both a compliance and advisory perspective. Operating primarily out of its office base in Newcastle upon Tyne city centre, but with strong networks across the Midlands and the South West, the team guides its clients through a range of matters, including salary sacrifice and employee benefits and expenses, termination pay, employment status, share options, as well as overseas and expatriate advice.
The team is led by Lee Muter, the only employment taxes partner based in the North East and a former "Big 4" human capital director. Working alongside Lee is Paul Tucker, the current vice chair of the CIOT Employment Tax subcommittee; David Paul, a former "Big 4" associate partner; and Becky Hood, a first-class accounting and finance graduate, who is currently enrolled on a ground-breaking employment tax apprenticeship at UNW.
Lee Muter said, “We were delighted to represent the firm at this national award ceremony, and were absolutely thrilled to be announced as winners of the "Best Specialist Team" category.
“At UNW, we always set ourselves the highest standards and take great pride in the excellent feedback we regularly receive from clients. For our efforts to also be recognized on a national level by fellow tax professionals really does demonstrate the quality of the team and the expertise they possess. I count myself very fortunate to work alongside Paul, David, and Becky who all inspire me to continue to look for ways to provide outstanding service to clients.
“We certainly have no appetite to stand still and have started to extend our reach beyond our traditional North East market. It is our belief that geography should not be a barrier to delivering the very best service to clients, and we now work with several businesses across the UK. It is our ambition to increase this number further, which in turn will enable us to open more opportunities to our existing people and continue to grow the team."
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IAB Covers Eximia Global's (Isle of Man) Acceptance into BKR
The International Accounting Bulletin (IAB) has published an article covering the acceptance of Eximia Global into BKR International.
Read the article in full here.
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Anchin, Block & Anchin LLP (New York) Offers Max Block and David Anchin Scholarship
Anchin, Block & Anchin LLP has announced that it is again offering the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) Max Block and David Anchin Scholarship to graduate, senior, or junior college students (in the Fall of 2023) with a declared accounting major and who are enrolled in or accepted to a New York State college or university, as well as students who are enrolled in or attending Baruch College.
The scholarship, named after Anchin founders Max Block and David Anchin, is the evolution of previous scholarships created by the firm going back to 1988, to honor the memory of two of the firm's distinguished founders. Anchin was founded in 1923 by Max Anchin, Max Block, and David Anchin while the three were evening students at the Business School of City College (now known as Baruch College). Max Block and David Anchin were long-time active members of the NYSSCPA, and education was very important to both of them.
Max Block also served as managing editor of the NYSSCPA's Journal (now The CPA Journal) from 1958 to 1972. He has been described as a visionary whose ideas helped form the basis for many reporting and practice management concepts used today. Since 1975, The CPA Journal has recognized his contributions and achievements by bestowing the Max Block Distinguished Article Award on the most outstanding articles published during the prior year.
David Anchin was a lifelong philanthropist who believed in the power of education to change lives for the better, and introduced new programs that had visible and immediate results. David and his wife established several programs for at-risk children to improve their education opportunities. In addition, the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching was established in his memory in the state of Florida and serves to support the work of educators in the state.
With this scholarship, Anchin aims to award students who have similar passions to be an outstanding person and CPA, with a desire to help and give back to others.
"At Anchin, we continue to value education and investment in the newest members of the profession, as well as our own people, whether that takes the form of professional or technical development," said Russell Shinsky, Anchin's managing partner. "Max and David's legacy is demonstrated in the firm today as we focus on professional development and the associated mentorship that is key to passing knowledge on and cultivating the next generation. As the firm turns 100 years old, I am proud that Anchin is honoring their legacy by providing accounting students with an opportunity to further their education, and by extension, their careers."
Applications for the scholarship are now open. To apply, students must have a GPA of 3.0 or above as of December 31, 2022, a major in accounting, and have completed at least 72 credits toward their degree, including for intermediate accounting. Students must also be residents of New York State and be either U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
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Kenneth Ng Appointed as New Partner with RT LLP (Singapore)
RT ASEAN Singapore is pleased to announce the appointment of Kenneth Ng as a partner with RT LLP as of April 2023.
“It is my privilege to welcome Kenneth to the RT LLP partnership," said Ravi Arumugam, BFP, FCA, FCPA, ATA. "Kenneth has shown tremendous grit, determination, and commitment in his leadership. His focus on quality and client relationships are impressive. Kenneth will make an excellent audit partner, and I look forward to working with him in taking RT to greater heights of innovation and success.”
“I am honoured to join the partnership and am eager to continue contributing to the growth and success of our firm," said Kenneth. "I recognize that this achievement would not have been possible without Ravi’s mentorship and the team’s support throughout the process. As a team, let’s make RT Great Again!”
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Jordan Knapp (Canton) Receives Prestigious Twenty under 40! Award
Hall, Kistler & Company LLP is proud to announce that Supervisor Jordan Knapp has been named one of the recipients of the prestigious Twenty under 40! award by the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and The Canton Repository. The Twenty under 40! award recognizes Stark County’s leaders under 40 who have demonstrated dynamic leadership and social responsibility. These individuals are committed to making a difference in our community and creating a lasting impact.
Jordan had this to say about receiving the honor, "I enjoy working at Hall, Kistler and have the privilege of being involved in Ystark! and serving on the board of Whole Latte Love Cafe. Through these experiences, I've developed a deep appreciation for this community and all it offers. It's truly an honor and a joy to be selected for the 2023 class of Twenty under 40!"
Jordan is a highly skilled professional who has been with Hall, Kistler & Company LLP for over five years, with a proven track record of success in the accounting industry. His work focuses on non-profits, oil and gas clients, and business valuations. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Walsh University.
His commitment to excellence extends beyond his work at Hall, Kistler & Company LLP. Jordan is an active community member and deeply committed to giving back. He serves as treasurer of Whole Latte of Love Cafe, chairs the Canton Chamber's YStark! Leadership Committee, and is a 2019 graduate of the Leadership Stark County Spotlight Program.
Managing Partner Keith Arner said, “We are thrilled that Jordan's outstanding achievements have been recognized with the Twenty under 40! award. He is an exceptional professional and a valuable Hall, Kistler & Company LLP team member. We are proud to have him represent our firm and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.”
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Accountancy Europe's Latest Updates Now Available
Check out the latest editions of Accountancy Europe's:
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Free Whitepapers on BKR's Member Forum
BKR has recently posted a number of free whitepapers and other resources on BKR's Member Forum. See what's available here.
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Make the Most of Your BKR Membership
Don't miss updates on BKR's many membership benefits. Direct your staff to register here for access to the Members' Area of BKR's website, where they can also sign up to receive email updates, download resources, participate in committees, and post to our Member Forums.
If you would like to learn more, please contact bkr@bkr.com.
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Promote Your Firm and BKR on Social Media
In an effort to promote BKR and our members, we request that member firms share their social media handles with BKR's Executive Office, so we may easily tag your firm in our posts. Send your LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook handles to bkr@bkr.com. We also encourage you to tag BKR in your posts, and be sure to use #BKRelationships when promoting your BKR membership.
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