Date of issue: 23rd June 2004

Birmingham Accountants Represent the UK at International Meeting

Representatives from a Birmingham firm of chartered accountants have just returned from the 2004 Annual Meeting of Polaris IA International - a worldwide network of independent accounting, auditing and consulting firms - held in the Netherlands.

Alan Robertson, Roger Parsons and Phil Cook, who are all partners at chartered accountants Clement Keys, Birmingham, travelled to Utrecht for the conference, meetings and three days of intensive seminars.

Polaris IA international is one of the 25 largest international accounting affiliations and is recognised as one of the world's top 20 accounting organisations. With a turnover of around $US400m, it comprises 170 independent accounting firms operating from 227 offices in
90 countries.

Clement Keys, Birmingham was one of four firms representing the UK at the Annual Meeting, which brought together member firms operating in several geographic areas, including North and South America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

The Clement Keys partners heard reports from various network offices and participated in a series of seminars on subjects such as international tax issues, support for entrepreneurs and the development of an international culture. They debated quality standards, compliance and a new peer review policy for Polaris IA International and took part in a member forum to determine the affiliation's short- and medium-term priorities.

"These meetings provide a platform for strengthening global links, sharing best practice and developing understanding on international issues and enable us to draw on the vast expertise available from other firms in the network," said Clement Keys partner Alan Robertson.

At the Annual Meeting Phil Cook became a member of the accounting organisation's International Tax Steering Group, which will be responsible for promoting liaison on cross-border taxation and pan-European tax systems.

While in Utrecht, the Clement Keys, Birmingham team also networked with other members from Europe, Africa and the Middle East, many of which will attend the regional meeting of Polaris IA International that the practice will host in Birmingham in October.