Allinial Global Forum 2024

The Global Forum is an annual event held by Allinial Global where firms form all across the globe are invited to share their opinions and experience on pressing matters in auditing profession, tax, accounting, and to establish new connections with member firms. This year, the APAC (Asia Pacific) region has had the honor of co-organizing the event in Singapore on 20 Oct 2024 and 22 Oct 2024. Below is the entirety of the event from Tri Thuc Viet Company Limited (TTV)’s perspective as an Allinial Global In-person member attendee.

(Lion dance to welcome the guests and commencing the conference)

Sunday, 20 Oct 2024: Community meetings

Although the official Forum and conferences began on the 21^st Oct, the afternoon on Sunday, 20 Oct is where many early bird attendees can spend their time discussing their topic of interests. Depending on your firm’s specialty, you are welcomed to join several communities such as:

+ Global Accounting Outsourcing Community

+ Global Corporate Finance Community

+ Global Audit & Assurance Community

TTV personal choice was Audit & Assurance, where we got the chance to meet and exchange with many firms with the same operational expertise from England, Netherlands, Belgium, USA, Australia, Vietnam, India, Denmark, Germany, the Philippines, Japan and Saudi Arabia, including some notable firms: ASQ Consulting Group (Malaysia), Ohwa&Co (Japan), Bentleys network (Australia), and many other honorable mentions.

The meeting also covered aspects of auditing and audit tools to assist in accurate, quality and time-efficient delivery of audit services. It was a fantastic opportunity to exchange insights and strategies, all centered around our shared goal: serving our customers.

The end of the session was where firms got the chance to discuss in separate groups, listing experience, concerns, and necessities when working with other firms in the Association.

(Member firms networking during communities)

Monday, 21 Oct 2024: Global Forum day 1

Global Forum began with the President of Allinial and member firms posted in Singapore extending their welcome and briefing through the common situation in auditing and accounting profession. As Mark evaluated, the current context of talent shortage from all over the world, and many recent lay-offs from the Big 4 firms, Allinial Global plans to counter this movement by willingly hiring amid the lay-offs, opening new opportunities for junior talents.

(Representative in Singapore extending their welcome) (AG President – Mark Koziel delivering his speech)

(Members participating) (Members participating)

Following the introduction, a professional keynote storyteller, Shil Shanghavi, took the stage to explain in details on the importance of storytelling in a business context. In his expansion workshop, we were able to experience how it feels to public speak in a practical session surrounding the importance of primacy, recency and framing your contents in storytelling.

(Shil Shanghavi on how to implement storytelling in business)

(Expansion workshop practical session)

After a short lunch break, the conference resumed with the first activity in the afternoon: “Navigating Tomorrow: Global Commerce Roundtable on Key Priorities” where our list of expert panelists discussed issues and sharing their opinions on the current commerce trends and opportunities.

Panelists sharing their opinions on Global Commerce trends)

Ozgur Demirdoven /(Allinial Global)

Craig Stanmore / (Enspira Financial)

Jim Wallace / (BPM LLP)

Nimesh Shah / (Blick Rothenberg)

Charles Weinstein / (EisnerAmper LLP)

The next session is where new and relatively new member firms of Allinial Global had their chance at introducing their respective firms. This is one of the rare chances where we can have member firms explaining their main reasons for joining, sharing their experiences working with Allinial Global to the date, and providing an objective perspective on how we, as an Association, could make improvements.

(Member firms introducing themselves and expressing their opinions with Abby Chee – Asia Pacific Regional Director)

Demetrio Barbosa / (AG Brazil),

Vanessa Wijaya / (Asia Pacific International Law Firm),

Ronald Bwosi / (Ronalds LLP),

Emre Cebecioglu / (CPA International Turkey),

Hazel Yim / (Conpak CPA Limited),

Mohammed Kitana – (Sultan Ahmed Mohammed AlShubaily Certified Public Accountant Company)

Ending the day, the Regional Director of Africa, Luca Traini, along with a list of chosen panelists exchange their personal experiences collaborating with each other between continents. With panelists’ discussion, audience have gained new insights on the new opportunities and potential AG members would miss if they neglect communication to Africa, a relatively new continent.

Panelists from Chinese and African firms expressing their opinions on bridging the continents)

Luca Traini / Allinial Global

Lee Lee Tan / SBA Stone Forest

Ronald Bwosi / Ronalds LLP

Anas Abouelmikias / FINACS Financial Auditing Consulting Services

Jennifer Reddy / Morar Incorporated

Tuesday, 22 Oct 2024: Global Forum day 2

The second day of the conference started with a session from Suan Teck Kin (representative of United Overseas Bank Limited) briefly introducing UOB development, explaining the current export and trading trends and prospects within ASEAN and other major markets.

(Mr. Suan Teck Kin – United Overseas Bank Limited, sharing his insights)

(A comment from DPM Gan in Mr. Suan presentation: Singapore sees ASEAN as bright spot in a troubled world)

Following the opening session, Javier Salinas (BPM LLP) and Alan Tam (Blick Rothenberg) had their turn at the sharing regarding the topic of digital assets, through then, explaining the concept of digital assets, laws and regulations on Crypto currency; and tax considerations applied. The session then further explored tax planning involving crypto currency.

(Javier and Alan sharing their opinions on Crypto currency considerations)

The session afterwards was reserved for professional panelists to exchange their experience on cybersecurity. With the rapidly evolving system network and technology, companies must understand the importance of and strengthen their cyber-security system to prevent data leakage along with the followed devastating consequences.

(Panelists discussing data protection and cyber security risks)

Donny Shimamoto / IntrapriseTechKnowlogies LLC

Monish Chatrath / MGC Global Risk Advisory LLP

Mohammed-Nasser Barakat / Aldar International for Governance Consultancy

Colin McRae / Bentleys Australia

ESG Evolution: Charting a Sustainable Future for Accounting Firms is the title of the session followed, which was also the first session in the afternoon after lunch. The panelists were presented with the opportunity to share current trends and opportunities that come with being ready and sustainable for the latest development in the ESG Space (Environmental, Social, and Governance).

(Panelists sharing data and opinions on ESG sustainable future)

David Papa / Bentleys Australia

Nirav Patel / Uniqus Consultech Inc

Srikant Sastry / Cherry Bekaert

Andrea Pirola / Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati

The final meeting that TTV was able to attend was the crucial Client perspectives on collaboration with Allinial Global Firms. The representatives of some of our most valued clients was offered an opportunity to present their experiences working with respective Allinial Global firms, and to express their satisfaction. From their perspective, we were able to extract invaluable client data on how each and every one of us could improve our service provision.