Learning never stops for comptrollers, accounting and finance officers THE Lopez Group Comptrollers’ Circle, on its 20th year, held its regular annual conference on accounting, taxation and various regulatory updates.

The event at the First Philippine Holdings Group training hall at the Rockwell Business Center was attended by more than 240 Comptrollers’ Circle members on October 24.

The seminar included the latest updates in accounting and tax regulations which are relevant and applicable to the comptrollers’ group as well as information pertaining to cybersecurity, financial reporting and year-end audit reminders.

Technical topics

The technical topics presented included an overview of Philippine Financial Reporting Standards 16 (Leases), accounting for uncertain income tax positions (International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee 23), regulatory updates from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs, Board of Investments, Philippine Economic Zone Authority and Securities and Exchange Commission, and cybersecurity fundamentals.

The whole-day affair was conducted by SGV & Co. The speakers were partners and senior managers from the audit, business advisory and tax group and included Vivian CruzRuiz, Roel Lucas, Editha Estacio, Noel Rabaja, Cathy Lopez, Albert Bon, Frances Rose Villamayor, Arlyn SarmientoSy, Carlo Kristle Dimarucut, Erwin Paigma and Catherine Fernandez.

Before the start of the technical training, a meditation session was conducted by Mitos Santisteban of Lopez Group Foundation Inc., the National Coordinator of the World Community for Christian Meditation and JM Rebueno, which was appreciated by the participants because of its benefits.

Some of the science-based benefits of meditation are stress reduction, anxiety control, promotion of emotional health, enhancement of self-awareness and lengthened attention span. It may also reduce age-related memory loss and help fight addictions, among others.

Two decades of excellence

On December 4, 2019, the Comptrollers’ Circle will hold its 20th annual general assembly at the ELJ Communications Center. This group-wide conference is organized annually to update Lopez Group comptrollers, accounting and finance officers on current developments in relevant topics outside the sphere of accounting and financial reporting so as to assist the comptrollers in their personal development.

This event will coincide with the group’s Christmas party aimed at fostering fellowship and camaraderie among the members.

This year marks two decades of continuous professional excellence of the Comptrollers’ Circle. Through the years, it has continuously aimed to provide management with real-time, useful, accurate and reliable financial statements, ensuring that individual company interests, processes and procedures are aligned with best practices standards and to promote work-life balance among its members.

Aside from Lopez Group activities, the Comptrollers’ Circle also actively participates in various professional organizations, particularly the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce and Industry, and Tax Management Association of the Philippines.

The Lopez Group Comptrollers’ Circle core team includes Jingle Hernandez, Lanie Caimol, Jei-Jei Gertes, Mina Ubaña and Aldrin Cerrado.