Rifka Ziyard takes over as CIMA Country Network Panel Chair 2020

CIMA Country Network Panel 2020  

Rifka Ziyard FCMA, CGMA, Director, Tax and Regulatory at KPMG, took over as the Country Network Panel Chair recently. 

With over 15 years of experience in the field of finance, management and taxation, Rifka is a Fellow Member of CIMA and has a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Colombo and was awarded the Ceylon Chemical Industries joint gold medal for Strategic Management. She also holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the same University. Rifka is also a Fellow Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Taxation (FTII).

In addition of being a member of the CIMA Country Network Panel in Sri Lanka since 2018, Rifka is also a member of the MESANA Regional Advisory Panel of The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants for the year 2019/2020. She was the chair of the CIMA Member Development Sub Committee for the year 2018 and 2019 whilst also being the chair of the CIMA Business Leaders’ Summit in both those years. 

Rifka is a lecturer on the subject of Taxation at many leading institutions including CIMA and a visiting lecturer at the University of Colombo, MBA. She is a presenter at many public forums and has moderated many technical panel sessions including the CIMA National Budget Seminar.

She has been a presenter at the KPMG Middle Eastern and South Asia (MESA) tax training on ‘Value Added Tax’ held in Dubai and was also a panellist at the KPMG MESA tax conference in 2018. She was interviewed and featured in CIMA Insight for ‘CPD Case Study’ and she has contributed to articles including the CIMA edge newsletter.

Commenting on the appointment, Ziyard said: “It’s an honour to take over as the Chair of the CIMA Country Network Panel of Sri Lanka for the year 2020. The network panel works with the strategic objectives of linking members, businesses, students and employers by creating learning opportunities and networking forums. We are excited about some of the projects planned for the year. I look forward to enhancing student and member development and to enhance the member nexus to ensure that young CIMA students and members are groomed to meet the challenges of the real world. 

“Over the years, CIMA has produced many high performers, who hold the highest positions in the corporate world and we wish to recognise these members who are continuously triumphing in all levels across different industries. Our efforts will focus on the evolving needs of the corporate world and to assist our members to meet such expectations. I look forward to working closely with the network panel members, all of whom are contributing in strategic roles in their organisations. I believe the steps we take with the right intention and in the correct direction will contribute immensely to our members, profession and society as a whole.”

She is also the Secretary of the Association of Alternate Financial Institutions (AAFI). She is also a CIMA nominated forum member at the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) and the KPMG nominee at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICCSL).