The new member firm was formerly a member of a top ten international network with offices in different cities in Spain. The firm specialises in providing industry-focused audit and assurance, accounting, tax, legal and advisory services throughout Spain and neighbouring regions.

We are delighted to announce that SW International was officially admitted as a member of the Forum of Firms (“FoF”) on 1 July 2022. Joining the FoF, a prestigious and globally recognised association of international networks of accounting firms under the International Federation of Accountants (“IFAC”), is a momentous milestone for SW International and will be of great benefits to our member firms across the world.

Being a FoF member affirms SW International as a network committed to delivering high quality transnational audit services. Mr. Zhang Ke, Chairman of SW International, stated: “In order to gain FoF membership, SW International had to demonstrate it had successfully implemented a global quality monitoring program to monitor the effectiveness of member firms’ audit quality control policies and procedures. The program ensures that member firms of SW International and their personnel comply with professional standards and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Our admission to FoF steps up our long-term strategy to enhance our consistent application of quality control and ethical requirements globally.”

SW International’s FoF membership will enable us to engage constructively in global developments of the accountancy profession and work at par with firms that perform transnational audits. The FoF membership will provide members of SW International with enhanced reputation and business opportunities, for example in gaining transnational audits of world class financial services institutions and large multi-national companies.

Looking forward, SW International, as a member of FoF, will foster sound and close relationships with international regulatory and standard setting bodies. With a globally integrated quality management system, we are dedicated to ensuring a consistent application of high-quality audit practises across the network and creating global growth opportunities for both our clients and our people.

SW International hosted its 2022 Managing Partners Forum on 9 August 2022, bringing together SW International’s Board Members and Managing Partners from 17 countries/regions. The on-line forum focused on recent network developments, strategic business co-operation, professional services, audit quality, and talents recruitment.

Mr. Zhang Ke, Chairman of SW International, presented statistics on the network’s steady growth over the years. He acknowledged the lead role of managing partners who acted as the navigators steering the direction of their firms. He continued, “In a turbulent period of economic, political and social volatility, SW remains agile and independent in providing world-class professional services.”

Mr. Marco Carlei, Managing Director of SW International, shared SW international’s development strategy and strategic planning of talents retention through the network’s global mobility program. He said, “Asia Pacific, Middle East, Latin America, South Africa and Western Europe will continue to be the key areas of focus for SW International. When selecting our future partners, our priorities are quality of work, service capability, as well as brand and culture.”

Mr. Mauricio Benitez, International Partner of BLTA, together with Mr. Ricardo Ihnen and Mr. Tsz-Hsin Shen, Managing Partner and Partner of Eluchans, both SW International members in Chile, made an introduction of their respective firms’ historical origins, organisational structure, professional teams and service offerings. In particular, they shared how the implementation of China-Latin America economic and trade and the “Belt and Road” initiative in Latin America aligned with SW International’s growth strategy.

Ms. Leanne Liang, Chair of SW International’s Quality Management Committee and Ms. Eve Wang, Global Monitoring Leader, elaborated on SW International’s globally co-ordinated monitoring program and process. Ms. Liang added, “SW International’s FoF membership has demonstrated that our network’s auditing and financial reporting practises are in line with international requirements and standards.”

Mr. Roy Lo, Board Member of SW International and Managing Partner of SW Hong Kong, continued with the various brand and marketing initiatives. He said, “We are planning to launch a global community engagement campaign which is set to run concurrently across all SW member firms. The campaign celebrates our commitment to collectively making philanthropic efforts through volunteering activities or charity opportunities in the communities where we live and work.”

Mr. Kunal Mehra, Managing Partner of SW India, introduced SW India’s newly established Global Shared Services. He stated, “Offshore services provide a myriad of benefits to business looking to maintain a competitive edge. This is not only cost effective, but also enables businesses to enhance efficiency and have access to global pool of workforce.”

The Managing Partners Forum drew upon insights from our member firms, while highlighting the importance of resilience amid changes in the global landscape at all times. With our continued focus on quality and independence, we look forward to serving both global and Chinese enterprises with a broader vision and accelerating their successes.