Kreston International hires di

Kreston
International executive director Jon Lisby said Almond will be
responsible for strengthening Kreston’s global quality
standards.

“[This] will
support our capability to target, win and execute international
assignments across the full service range and sustain our growing
success in the marketplace of the branded mid-tier international
accountancy groups,” he said.

At Grant
Thornton, Almond led the development and implementation of the
network’s audit methodology and tools. She provided practical
support to audit teams on issues such as fair value, going concern
in the current economic environment and the implementation of
International Standards on Auditing (ISA).

She has been
heavily involved with Grant Thornton International for more than 20
years, including acting as executive director of the international
audit policy advisory committee. This commitee was responsible for
establishing a global audit quality assurance programme,
international centres of excellence for IFRS and developing the
worldwide audit methodology.

“The move to
Kreston is a really good opportunity,” Almond told
the International Accounting
Bulletin. “It’s at a slightly different stage of development
to Grant Thornton and certainly one of the big attractions is the
clear vision Kreston has got about where they want to go, where
they want to be in the marketplace, and the kind of clients they
want to service.

“Kreston has a clear vision built around
quality and excellent client service. I am certain we can harness
our considerable global resource and maximise Kreston’s full
potential.”

Almond said her first task is to go out and
meet member firms and enhance internal quality control systems with
a longer-term view of developing worldwide methodologies.

She said she was drawn to Kreston
International by the people she had met at member firms.

“I know some of the people in their UK firms
and they are all good quality firms and have a really good
reputation for quality,” Almond said.

Almond brings strong links with regulators and
has played a role in the development of the audit profession in the
UK, Europe and globally. She is deputy chairman of the Institute of
Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’ (ICAEW) ISA
implementation committee, an active member of several ICAEW audit
panels and the World Economic Forum Partnering Against Corruption
Initiative external assurance group working on bribery and
corruption.

The appointment of a quality control director
could indicate Kreston International is considering a change in
strategy to become a network rather than remain an association.