Quarterly E-Newsletter April 2019

A Message from the Managing Partner
Mr Helmi Talib, Managing Partner of Helmi Talib & Co.

Over the last 27 years, we’ve had the pleasure of providing accounting and tax services in response to our clients’ needs; and take great pride in ensuring that a quality service is delivered.

As part of our continued effort to guarantee quality and efficiency, Helmi Talib & Co are digitalizing a number of processes across the firm. An upgrade to a new tax accounting software is in progress and we are exploring a few options to update our data analytics and practice management systems over the next quarter.

Remaining relevant in today’s rapidly changing modern world entails adopting new technologies as well as fostering a culture which embraces change along with the challenges that come with it. Here at Helmi Talib & Co, we promote a culture of learning and growing to do just that. 
 
In the first quarter of the year, we organised training initiatives for our team to gain knowledge on the latest developments in the financial reporting and tax regulatory environments. These were a seminar by ACRA on the Update on Business Registry and Regulatory Developments and a workshop on the Key Accounting Differences between the US GAAP and FRS.

The Helmi Talib Group is also experiencing significant growth this quarter. We have set up a special purpose entity, Exelient PAC, with the aim of delivering bespoke assurance services to listed companies based in the US.

Our geographical reach is also expanding on closer shores with a Helmi Talib & Co representative office being set up in Manila, the Philippines. We hope to be in full operation in the second half of the year and look forward to the new prospects these opportunities will bring.

IAPA Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2019

IAPA board members and fellow member firms.
 

As an active member firm of the International Association of Practicing Accountants (IAPA), Helmi Talib & Co attends events and conferences organised by IAPA around the world. This year, member firms gathered in beautiful Sri Lanka for the IAPA Asia Pacific Regional Conference.

The conference was a great chance for member firms to share knowledge on industry developments in their respective home countries and served as a platform for a number of discussions for future collaboration..

Mr Ozgur Demirdoven, CEO of IAPA, visits Helmi Talib & Co.

Our Audit Partners and Managers with Mr Ozgur Demirdoven.

Mr Ozgur Demirdoven, CEO of IAPA, paid a visit to a number of firms in the Asia Pacific region ahead of attending the IAPA Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Sri Lanka. We had the great pleasure of welcoming Mr Demirdoven to our office on the 7th of March 2019.

As CEO, Mr Demirdoven works to develop IAPA on a global scale, including growing memberships in key business locations, maximising membership benefits and supporting new business opportunities for member firms.

It was an honour hosting Mr Demirdoven, and we hope to welcome him back on his next visit to Singapore.

Volunteering at Willing Hearts

Our staff and volunteers for the day (Julius, Jaypee, Henry, Casey, Sherry, Jia Huan, Benson, Sukhmeet, Tharshini, Xin Yi, Roda, Pooja, Khusaini, Audrey, Alex, Betty, Sam, Ian, Silsivia, Sharifah and Judy. Not in the picture: Amanda, Sabrina and Gerralyn). 

24 members of our team came together on Saturday, the 23rd of March 2019, for a morning of volunteering in the soup kitchen at Willing Hearts – a secular, non-affiliated charity working to support those in need. It operates a soup kitchen that prepares, cooks and distributes close to 5,000 meals daily to over 40 locations island-wide. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, they do this 365 days a year.

The Helmi Talib & Co team donned their widest smiles and rolled up their sleeves (albeit, literally!) rolling popiah, cutting vegetables and washing dishes. With a 24-man strong team, the volunteers were feeling the team spirit [and thankfully no teen spirit!] as they supported each other through their goal of giving back to our community.

“It’s not as easy as it looks. But if your heart is in the right place, it’s no feat at all!” says Gerralyn, who has contributed her time at Willing Hearts three times over the years at Helmi Talib & Co.

Here at Helmi Talib & Co, we frequently volunteer our time to Willing Hearts. As a charity run by a handful of staff, they rely on volunteers to run as a well-oiled machine. Separate to its soup kitchen, the charity also provides dental care, traditional Chinese medicine treatments, optical care, legal aid, tuition services and bereavement services.

Those benefitting from the hard work of staff and volunteers at Willing Hearts include anyone and everyone in need of support such as the elderly, the disabled, low income families and migrant workers in Singapore.

Willing Hearts welcomes volunteers all year round and has a number of volunteer opportunities available. 

Sign up HERE to be a volunteer!

Chinese New Year 2019

Mr Helmi Talib, Mr John See, Ms Mari Jane Tiburcio, Ms Ana Ronquillo, Ms Amanda Gammell, Miss Jacqueline Neo, Ms Audrey Ong, Ms Yati, Mr Freddie Chin.   

This Chinese Lunar New Year, we celebrate the year of the pig. The Pig takes the twelfth place of all zodiac animals. Legend has it that the Emperor would decide the order of the animals based on the order by which they arrived to his party. Unfortunately, the pig’s house was destroyed by a wolf and he had to rebuild it. As such, he arrived last and could only take twelfth place.

Following tradition, we kicked off the festive lunch by tossing the lo hei up in the air for good luck!

Changes To The Employment Act 2019



Adapted from: Ministry of Manpower (www.mom.gov.sg) and Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (www.tafep.sg).

Announcements

We are in Phase 1 of setting up a new representative office in Manila, the Philippines. We hope to be in full operation in the second half of 2019.

Joining the Helmi Talib Group is Exelient PAC, licensed by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).

Exelient PAC was established to provide assurance services to US listed companies.

More info HERE

In support of leading a healthy lifestyle, the team at Helmi Talib & Co is participating in the National Steps Challenge organised by the Singapore Health Promotions Board (HPB). 

The competition is heating up in the office as our steppers brisk-walk their way to the 10,000 step goal! Some are even ditching Deliveroo and walking out to get their meals (Zoiks!). The winner will be announced on our Facebook page HERE

The challenge continues until the end of April 2019 so there’s still time to lock in those steps!

WELCOME: The Audit department welcomes Sze Ron to the team. He will be joining the firm under Mari Jane’s wise wing.
 
“I look forward to progressing in my audit career at the firm and becoming a part of the Helmi Talib & Co team”.
 
Ron loves music and enjoys playing the piano in his free time. FOLLOW US on Instagram for more on our new-joiner – hopefully he’ll be plinking us a tune in the near future!

WELCOME: The Tax department welcomes Suhkmeet Kaur. She will be joining the firm under Audrey Ong’s guidance.

Going by the nickname Su, Suhkmeet set her sight on tax and finance during her University days and has gone on to win an ACCA competition in 2012. FOLLOW US  on Instagram for more on our new-joiner – we look forward to some stellar number crunching!

FAREWELL: Leaving us at the end of March 2019 is our own Captain Marvel, Lim Su Ping. The firm would like to thank her for her hard work and dedication as a Corporate Secretary to the Helmi Talib Group over the last 5 years. We wish her all the best in the pursuit of her passions!