Our credentials
Partners and personnel
We believe that the key to providing clients with a cost effective and efficient service is to be found in the continuous development of the partners and staff who, in addition to possessing the highest competence in their chosen profession, also accumulate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of specific market sectors. Underlying these qualifications and experience is a keen sense of professionalism, an ethos shared and encouraged by the partners, and rooted in our firm's dedication to upholding a consistent quality service to our clientele.
partners
The firm is headed by its Managing Partner:
Costas A Afxentiou, Managing Partner, is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accounts in Cyprus. After completing his honours degree in Electronic Engineering at City University, London, he was articled in London for three years at Coopers and Lybrand. In 1985 he set up Afxentiou & Philippides Chartered Accountants which he jointly managed for twelve years, spearheading its success through his pioneering work with offshore companies. Costas is also an active member of the International Tax Planning Association and deals extensively with international tax planning issues.
The quality of the firm is further assured by the participation of three Partners and an Associate Partner:
Vassos C Theophylactou, Partner, graduated from the University of Athens in 1982 with a degree in Mathematics. He has comprehensive experience in audit and is accustomed to fulfilling the needs of a vast portfolio of clients from individuals to large international organisations. His expertise also includes taxation, company formation and administration. Vassos was an integral member of the management team at Afxentiou & Philippides where he was the head of the audit department.
Polyvios A Polyviou, Partner, received his bachelors degree in Accountancy from the University of East Anglia in 1988 and was then articled at Ernst & Young in London. From 1992-1995 he worked as Audit Manager at Ernst & Young in Cyprus and served on the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Development Bank from 1993-1995. In 1995 he joined the Bank and worked as the Financial Accountant in the Financial Management Unit until leaving to launch this firm. Polyvios is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Cyprus.
Marios F Hadjihannas, Tax Partner, received his BA honours degree in Accountancy from Thames Valley University, London, in 1989 after which he trained in London for three years at Thick Rothenberg Chartered Accountants, where he was assigned to the audit, accounting and tax departments. From 1994-1997 he headed the tax department at Afxentiou & Philippides and gained valuable experience in local and international taxation, VAT, and tax planning. Marios is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Cyprus.
Nick K Plastiras, Associate Partner, completed his degree in Accountancy and business Administration at the University of Athens in 1978, which he then went on to complement with a post graduate degree in Personnel in the UK. He worked in London for the next eleven years as a manager in an accounting firm, strengthening his audit experience and extending his expertise to include company formation and administration, as well as taxation. Nicos the Larnaca office of Afxentiou & Philippides from 19891997, helping to establish a firm base for serving clients in the shipping, travel and tourism sectors.
personnel development
Recruiting and training the right calibre of people and developing their technical, commercial and management skills are recognised as vital. On-going training of motivated people who can respond correctly to our clients' needs is a top priority. We work with people who can consolidate and perpetuate the success both of the practice and of our clients' businesses.
It naturally follows that significant emphasis is placed on career development within the firm. To this end, considerable resources are invested in recruitment programmes and in the education, training and development of the staff. Staff members are trained for a career with the firm, guided along the way by our corporate philosophy so that all adhere to our high professional standards. The firm encourages, and often requires, personnel to attend regular in-house and external training programmes.
professional training
Afxentiou & Partners is accepted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales as an authorised training office for trainee chartered accountants and a number of staff members are students who are studying for the Certified Accountancy qualification. The firm finances their studies and they are helped to prepare for the examinations by external professional tutors.
Practical training programmes have been created for all the firm's disciplines and are run in-house by the partners or senior personnel. These programmes are designed to complement practical experience and are aimed at developing and strengthening the necessary skills at various grades of staff and in different areas of the practice such as audit, taxation, accounting, computer training and aspects of management consulting. They are combined with general management and skills training for both partners and employees.