News
NEWS
DFK member honoured with prestigious international award
November 23, 2023
Jill Santos, CEO and founder of DFK member firm Jill Santos & Co., was honoured with a prestigious IWEC Award by the IWEC Foundation in Turin, Italy on November 6, 2023.
A DFK member from the Philippines who grew her small business into a globally-recognised accounting firm has been presented with an international award in recognition of her achievements as well as her inspirational work mentoring young women.
The IWEC Foundation is an international economic empowerment programme for women which is designed to develop a global network for successful female business owners.
Jill was presented with the award, which recognises women who have achieved the highest standards in business, at the foundation’s 16th annual conference.
Jill founded JSC & Co in Cagayan de Oro in 2009 and went on to expand the firm, opening three more offices in Davao City, Cebu City and Bonifacio Global City.
In 2017 she grew the firm’s reach by engaging in global work, becoming the Filipino member firm of international organisations including DFK International and IC & Partners.
Jill also prides herself on inspiring and supporting young people, something which saw her launch the Each One Teach One Foundation in 2013 alongside her daughter Scarlette Nicole, who was just 10 years old at the time and is now a sophomore student at New York University.
The foundation helps fund college places for high school graduates from low-income backgrounds in Cagayan de Oro as well as providing mentoring to girls as young as 12, supporting them to progress in their education.
One of the foundation’s key achievements was during the pandemic, when it worked to deliver a programme of online activities to an online community of around 300 young people, providing a space which promoted positive mental health where participants could socialise and develop.
Four of those who were awarded a college scholarship through the foundation have now graduated and successfully applied for jobs at Jill Santos & Co.
Jill is a member of the DFK APAC Executive Committee, was last year’s national president of the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice (ACPAPP) and national vice president of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), is part of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) Professional Accountancy Organization Development and Advisory Group and has recently been appointed as member of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Council (AASC) in the Philippines.
She said: “I’m honoured to be given such a prestigious award in recognition of my work.
“It’s not something I had heard of until a chance conversation with a gentleman I was sat next to at a train station in Italy where I was visiting on business in July.
“Although I didn’t know this at first, he was a Pakistani businessman and an officer of the International Chamber of Commerce, and he said I have all the qualifications to be nominated for the International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge Award.
“The IWEC Foundation is a prestigious organisation and I’m delighted to become an awardee and join a network of female CEOs around the world where I can share ideas, expand my connections and grow my business further.”
NEWS
Jill Santos speaks before the 23rd ASEAN Federation of Accountants (AFA) Conference.
November 23, 2023
Representing PICPA President Randy Blanza/PICPA in her capacity as official representative to the 137th AFA Council Meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand. Representing the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), Jill Santos speaks before the 23rd ASEAN Federation of Accountants (AFA) Conference.
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Our Partner-in-Charge for Davao Operations, Jan Derick Bajao is one of the speakers in DFK Asia Pacific
October 1, 2023
We are proud to share the news that our Partner-in-Charge for Davao Operations, Jan Derick Bajao, is one of the speakers as Jill Santos & Company hosts the DFK Asia Pacific Conference on November 29-Dec 1, 2023 at Shangri-La the Fort, Bonifacio Global City.
The event will be attended by all partners of the firm led by our Founder & CEO, Jill Santos, who is tasked to deliver the welcome remarks as well host the DFK International Board Meeting and DFK Asia Pacific Executive Commitee Meeting.
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Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA) Members Meeting
October 5, 2023
Jill Santos, in her capacity as co-chair of the International Affairs Committee of the Philippine Institute of CPAs (PICPA), attended the Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA) Members Meeting held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
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Our Founder & CEO, Jill Santos, is now a member of ISCA
October 17, 2023
Our Founder & CEO, Jill Santos, is now a member of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants - ISCA. Her membership certificate was presented to her by ISCA’s CEO, Fann Kor, in the presence of ISCA Hongkong and ISCA Vietnam Chapter Chairpersons and other ISCA officers. On this occasion, ISCA hosted breakfast and provided a full office tour to all visiting overseas chairpersons.
Congratulations JAS for this milestone of your Accountancy profession!
NEWS
Founder & CEO, Jill Santos represents IFAC and IFAC PAODAG in Cambodia
October 10, 2023
Representing the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and IFAC PAODAG, our Founder & CEO, Jill Santos, met the representatives of Cambodia’s Professional Accountancy Organization, the Kampuchea Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Auditors (KICPAA), and Cambodia’s Accountancy Regulatory Body, the Accounting and Auditing Regulator (ACAR), in order to provide guidance and assistance on KICPAA’s progression of its IFAC membership from associate to regular member. Representing KICPAA were President, Darith Khun; Vice President, Piseth Hong; and Board Member, Kimsopheaktra Ung. Representing ACAR was Deputy Director General, Bonny Nean. The meeting was held in Hyatt Regency Hotel, Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 27 September 2023.
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Our Founder is appointed as Innaugural Overseas Chapter President
July 25, 2023
Our founder is appointed as ISCA’s inaugural overseas chapter president. Attended ISCA’s 60th Anniversary held in Raffles Hotel Singapore.
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MICA Meeting
May 31, 2023
Our founder meet President Niyazy Hussain, Vice President Mohamed Hassan and team members to provide advice and assistance in their efforts for this particular endeavour.
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Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA)
May 23, 2023
Our founder meets with Mr. Kohei Kan, a board member of IFAC, Mr. Ichiro Waki, a member of the IFAC Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Advisory Group and an executive board member of JICPA, Mr. Daijiro Furutani, an executive board member of JICPA, Mr. Yoshinori Minemura, a member of GAA Sustainability Working Group from JICPA, and the international affairs team of JICPA.
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Myanmar Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) Meeting
May 1, 2023
Our founder meets with Myanmar Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) National President and Vice President.
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Lao Chamber of Professional Accountants and Auditors (LCPAA) Meeting
April 30, 2023
Our founder meets with Lao Chamber of Professional Accountants and Auditors (LCPAA) National President and his team.
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Vietnam Association of Accountants and Auditors (VAA) Meeting
April 29, 2023
Our founder meets with Vietnam Association of Accountants and Auditors (VAA) President and his team.
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Women Leadership for a Sustainable Tomorrow
April 6, 2023
Our founder spoke before members of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA), and Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants on the theme: “Women Leadership for a Sustainable Tomorrow”. Past IFAC President Dr. In-ki Joo as Chairman of the Jeju Group composing ISCA, JICPA, and KICPA was spearheading the event.
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MIA Meeting in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
March 31, 2023
Our Founder meets with MIA President Datuk Bazlan Osman and his team in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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AFA Meeting in Bangkok Thailand
March 27, 2023
Our founder meets with AFA President also TFAC President Voravit Janthanakul and his team in Bangkok, Thailand.
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The Future of Accounting Profession: Challenges and Dilemmas
March 17, 2023
Our founder spoke before Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants (FICA) on the topic “The Future of Accounting Profession: Challenges and Dilemmas. Noteworthy, it was IFAC’s first engagement with FICA.
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PAODAG Meeting at IFAC Headquarter in New York City.
February 22, 2023
February 22-23, 2023 - Our Founder attended an in-person PAODAG Meeting at IFAC Headquarter in New York City.
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WCOA 2022
November 15, 2022
November 15, 2022 (WCOA 2022) – spoke before Institute of Chartered Accountants in India (ICAI) on the theme: “Lead to Empower with Automation and Passion”