PwC Jamaica’s IFRS In-Focus 2023

Moderator

Hugh Thompson
Director, PwC Jamaica

Hugh Thompson, Director at PwC Jamaica, has over two decades of extensive experience across the spectrum of technology consultancy, audit, and risk-based services. Hugh’s expertise spans various domains, from IT audit, internal audit, and information security reviews to business continuity planning.

Hugh has been instrumental in providing services to some of the largest and most intricate businesses spanning several sectors including banking, insurance, manufacturing, and telecommunications. His skills in managing consultancy engagements, audits, and risk-based services for large environments, both local and international, set him apart in the industry.

He is versed in executing general computer control reviews, internal audit reviews, information security reviews, and business process and application control reviews. He also possesses comprehensive experience in data analytics using tools like Audit Command Language (ACL) and TeamMate Analytics and is developing expertise in data science using R programming, Tableau, and PowerBI. Moreover, his acumen in auditing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as SAP, Oracle, and PeopleSoft is commendable.

Regionally, Hugh has delivered audit services in regions like Puerto Rico, the US, the Bahamas, Barbados, Curacao, and St. Lucia. He is also recognised as the Subject Matter Expert for the TeamMate Audit Management System for the entire English-speaking Caribbean region.

Hugh contributed to the formation of Kingston Jamaica’s first-ever local chapter of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). He also authored an article on Cybersecurity for the Caribbean Association of Banks, Inc., emphasising his thought leadership in the domain.

Phone: +1 876 368 8630
E-mail

Gail Moore
IFRS Lead Partner, PwC Jamaica

Gail Moore, partner at PwC Jamaica, has more than 22 years experience in the accountancy profession and provides services to assurance clients.

Gail manages teams responsible for financial statement audits of companies in telecommunications, banking, general insurance, manufacturing and distribution. She also leads large consolidation audits which involve complex transactions. 

Gail also leads the firm’s Net Zero commitment and its environmental community engagements. In this capacity she seeks inclusive best practices that reduces the firm’s absolute carbon emissions, switches to renewables and offsets our air travel. Furthermore Gail builds strategic relationships on behalf of the firm that aids in the preservation and protection of the local environment at the education, advocacy and policy level.

She leads PwC Jamaica’s IFRS Technical Committee and is a member of PwC’s Caribbean region accounting consulting services group. Both groups are responsible for technical guidance and consultation on the application of International Financial Reporting Standards. Gail was also seconded to the PwC Toronto’s assurance group in 2015, working with financial services clients.

Gail is the Chair of the Continuing Professional Development Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica (ICAJ), a member of the Accounting Standards Committee of ICAJ; a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK (FCCA), fellow of the ICAJ and member of the CFA Society Jamaica.

Phone: +1 876 932 8427
E-mail

Tricia-Ann Smith DaSilva
Partner, PwC Jamaica

Tricia-Ann Smith DaSilva is an audit partner in the firm’s Assurance practice with over 15 years of experience in the accounting profession. She has led numerous projects for clients across the region related to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 15 – Revenue Recognition and IFRS 16 - Leases. In this role, she provided independent accounting advice on complex matters relating to IFRS. Furthermore, Tricia-Ann is PwC Jamaica’s methodology lead and she is a member of the firm’s local and regional accounting technical committees. Tricia-Ann is also the lead Technical Partner for PwC Guyana. 

During her tenure with PwC, Tricia-Ann has been responsible for a wide spectrum of clients and has gained experience in financial, internal and information technology audits. She has led consolidation audits, and has overseen and coordinated the reporting of large groups with operations in a number of jurisdictions. 

Tricia-Ann is a Chartered Accountant, Certified Information Systems Auditor, Certified Forensic Accountant. She is certified by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) in Risk, Information and Communication and holds a Masters of Business Administration from Florida International University. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica (ICAJ) and a Director of the Executive Advisory Board of the American Board of Forensic Accounting.

Phone: +1 876 932 8365
E-mail

Kimblian Batson
Partner, PwC Jamaica

Kimblian is a partner with PwC Jamaica and has over 18 years experience as a tax professional, serving in the public sector and the accounting  profession. She has had the opportunity to build strong relationships with officials at the Ministry of Finance, Tax Administration Jamaica and professional bodies such as the Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ)  through participation in projects, including the reform of the tax regime for the Life Insurance Industry in Jamaica.

Kimblian contributes to the provision of advice to a wide range of clients across several industry sectors - including telecom, energy, manufacturing, distribution, retail, tourism, banking, insurance, services - on a wide range of Jamaican tax matters. She was a member of the engagement team for the Half Way Tree Transport Centre project and has actively been involved in negotiations with the Revenue authorities for incentives/ concessions for clients in various industries including the Tourism and Energy sectors.

She is a chartered accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Management Studies from the University of the West Indies. Kimblian also has a post graduate diploma in Tax Audit and Revenue Administration and a Master of Science Degree in Management Information Systems from the University of the West Indies.

Phone: +1 876 932 8378
E-mail

Vadym Bilishuk
Director, Corporate Reporting Services, PwC Canada

Vadym joined PwC Canada as an audit manager in Private Company Services in 2016. In 2018 transitioned to Corporate Reporting Services group (formerly Accounting Consulting Services) where he is currently a Director. In his role Vadym is helping audit teams and PwC clients with application of accounting and sustainability reporting standards.

Vadym is an IFRS expert with 14 years of experience. Specializes in Mining & Metals, Real Estate, Pharmaceuticals and Life sciences, Media & Entertainment industries.

Vadym is also a Canadian representative in PwC global Sustainability Reporting Topic Team, actively contributing to development of PwC guidance in the emerging area of sustainability reporting.

Kerry Cooper
Actuary, PwC Cayman Islands

Kerry is a Caribbean based actuary with experience advising on IFRS 17 implementation for clients across the Caribbean.

Prior to joining PwC, Kerry worked for a major Canadian life insurance company on IFRS 17 implementation, with a focus on the Risk Adjustment for Non-Financial Risk, transitional CSM calculations, and financial impact quantifications of IFRS 17 transition. Kerry also has AXIS model development and model validation experience, as well as life pricing experience.

Kerry is a fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and Society of Actuaries, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Mathematics, Actuarial Science Major with Finance Option from the University of Waterloo

Phone: +1 345 526 1801
E-mail

Lawrence Kiponda
Finance Lead, PwC Cayman Islands

Lawrence is a manager in the Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services (CMAAS) division within PwC, based out of the Caribbean. His main area of focus includes technical accounting, impact assessments and implementation projects for entities within the financial services sector.

Prior to joining PwC Cayman Islands, Lawrence worked at PwC Kenya and PwC Tanzania for 6 years providing accounting advisory services to entities across the East Africa Region. Over this period, he was instrumental in supporting a number of entities to implement IFRS 17, IFRS 9 and other new IFRS accounting standards.

Lawrence holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Actuarial Science with IT from Maseno University, Kenya. He is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).

Phone: +1 345 526 1769
E-mail