BDO announces admission of new member firm in Albania

The new firm's service offering will include auditing of private and public sector organisations, tax advisory, risk assessment and internal audit services, as well as IS audit and consulting and services to foreign investors.

Limos Malaj is the Managing partner of BDO Albania and feels that this is the right time for BDO to be establishing a presence in the country. “The new law on auditing, which came into force in 2009, has significantly remodelled the organisation of the accounting and auditing profession in our country. Among other changes, there is now a public oversight board overseeing the profession's activities, and clearer requirements on matters such as continuing professional education, a code of ethics and transparency reports. We anticipate that our client strategy will be very much in alignment with that of other BDO firms – for example, a specialisation in financial services entities, infrastructure and public sector, energy, resources and telecommunication – and look forward to collaborating with BDO across the region and further afield”.

Martin van Roekel, BDO's CEO Europe and Global Head of Network Development, agrees that there is huge potential for BDO both in Albania and in the region as a whole. “Financial recovery of the market and the region is slow but increasing steadily and we can expect a number of further government reforms that will improve the situation still further. As in Kosovo, this new firm in Albania is an important element of BDO's strategic growth plans in this specific region and we foresee a close cooperation not only with BDO in Croatia and Kosovo, but also further afield, in Greece, Italy and further into Europe. We are grateful once again to BDO in Croatia for leading this initiative”.