Today is the opening session of HLB International’s annual conference, bringing together 150 audit and tax professionals from 40 countries in Barcelona from October 23 to 25. Updates on HLB’s quickly growing Spanish network and insights from well-informed speakers are part of the program. Michael Bohling and Richard Taylor from HLB Gross Collins, P.C. are included among the attendees.
HLB’s rapid growth in Spain: for José María Bové, President of hosting firm HLB Bové Montero y Asociados “the objective of HLB International’s expansion process is to reinforce the quality of services provided to both national and foreign clients, as well as gain in efficiency and competitiveness in Spain’s complex audit market, where a collaborative approach is key”.
Secundino Urcera, Partner at HLB Bové Montero y Asociados, underlined that “HLB International has reinforced its presence in Spain with the integration of four new companies”. HLB Bové Montero y Asociados, who had been HLB International’s sole representative in Spain since 1987, has led the growth process of the international network in the country. The firm has offices in Barcelona, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia.
HLB International’s new members in Spain are Charman Auditores and Sayma Consultores, both in the Basque region; Eduardo Molina & Asociados, in Andalucia; and finally Luján Auditores y Asesores, in the Canary Islands. According to Secundino Urcera, “we do not exclude new additions in the near future in other Spanish regions”.
Following the new members’ addition, HLB International comprises in Spain 31 partners and 205 professionals, in 12 offices, with a total fee income of 15,89 million euros.
Rob Tautges, CEO of HLB International, stated in the opening session that “maintaining high quality as professional standards and government regulations evolve is one of the main challenges of the audit and accounting profession”. For HLB International’s CEO, “technology is essential to manage complex cross border projects and deliver reliable services efficiently”, while “risk management is a major challenge for companies with international operations”.
The conference’s opening session also welcomed the participation of Olivier Boutellis-Taft, CEO of the Federation of European Accountants; Joan Tarradellas, CEO of the Catalan Agency for Business Competitiveness (ACCIO); and Miquel Estapé, Deputy Director at Open Administration of Catalonia.