Russell Bedford International adds a network firm in Kazakhstan

Online, December 23, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Russell Bedford International has selected Business Consulting as its Kazakh member firm, representing one of the first steps in the global audit network's expansion into Central Asia.

Business Consulting is an independent audit practice, established in 2007 in Almaty, the largest city and commercial capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The firm is licensed as an audit practice by the Ministry of Finance, it is a member of the Chamber of Auditors, and it is one of the few audit organisations approved by the local regulatory agency to audit financial institutions. Whilst its main focus is on financial auditing, the firm's other services include tax consulting and compilation of financial statements to IFRS. Asset appraisal and valuation services are provided via another group company.

The client base covers a wide range of business sectors including oil and gas, construction, transportation and manufacturing.

With its main office in Almaty and a representative office in Aktau on the Caspian Sea, the firm has four partners supported by a staff of around 20 professionals.

Sholpanay Kudaibergenova is the managing partner. She has some 16 years' experience as an accountant/auditor, both in public accounting and in industry. She is a certified auditor and certified asset appraiser with an MBA from the Kazakh-American University. Her specialist areas are audit, consulting and financial management.

Margarita Bassabikova is an audit partner and is responsible for quality control. She has studied and taught in the UK, France and Denmark as well as in Kazakhstan. Her qualifications include a PhD in petroleum accounting and finance from the University of Dundee, Scotland. She is currently professor of finance and accounting at the Kazakh-British Technical University in Almaty.

Gaukhar Tuimebay is a partner with some 15 years of professional experience both in public practice and industry, including some four years with a Big-4 firm in Almaty. She is a qualified economist, MBA, certified accountant and certified auditor, and is responsible for local and international tax services.

Zynaida Druzhinina is a certified auditor with some 17 years' experience as an accountant in industry and more than 14 years as an auditor in public practice. One of her specialist areas is financial reporting to international standards.

The firm is a full member of the Chamber of Auditors of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and its management systems have been certified as compliant with international standards (ISO 9001) by TÃœV Nord, Germany.

For further information, contact Sholpanay Kudaibergenova on +7 727 273 29 98. Alternatively, visit the websites at www.businessconsulting.kz and www.russellbedford.com .

Note to Editors

Established in 1983, Russell Bedford International is a global network of independent firms of accountants, business consultants and specialist legal advisers.

Ranked as one of the world's top 15 accounting and audit networks, Russell Bedford is represented by some 460 partners, 5000 staff and 200 offices in more than 70 countries in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

All Russell Bedford affiliates are well-established firms offering international business advice and services to local and multinational clients. Most provide a full range of services comprising accounting, auditing, tax advice, general business guidance and financial consulting. In addition, many have special expertise in particular fields, such as international taxation or information technology.

In January 2008 Russell Bedford International was named one of the first 17 full members of the IFAC Forum of Firms after reporting it had implemented a globally coordinated quality assurance programme, committed to the use of International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), and met other specific ethics requirements.