KPMG consultant becomes the first to pass the Joint CIOT and ICAEW Programme

Monday 23 November 2015

KPMG Channel Islands’ Senior Tax Consultant Nika Nykyforova attended the Chartered Institute of Taxation Admission Ceremony at Drapers’ Hall in London to become the first person to complete the ICAEW/CIOT Joint Programme.

She was presented with her certificate of membership by the President of CIOT, Chris Jones, and Director of Qualifications at the ICAEW, Shaun Robertson.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) launched the Joint Programme in 2014, enabling students to simultaneously achieve two chartered qualifications – the ICAEW Chartered Accountancy qualification (ACA) and the Chartered Tax Adviser qualification (CTA). 

The programme offers three specialist routes: Taxation of Major Corporates (TOMC), Indirect Tax and a new specialism in Owner-Managed or Private Businesses (OMB), which was launched on 10th November 2015 to meet the needs of larger firms and that of the wider accountancy and business community. There are now almost 240 people on the Joint Programme, representing over 25 accountancy firms and businesses in the UK and Channel Islands. Miss Nykyforova chose to specialise in Taxation of Major Corporates and became the first person from KPMG and Jersey to pass this section in 2014.

The programme maintains the rigorous standards of both ICAEW and the CIOT and offers a more efficient route to becoming a tax specialist. Although it is expected to take three to four years, the support of KPMG throughout the programme meant that Miss Nykyforova was able to achieve successful completion in under two years.  

Nika Nykyforova, Senior Tax Consultant, KPMG Jersey, said: "When I joined KPMG, the standard route was to do the ACA, followed by the CTA qualification. But the Joint Programme offers a far more efficient route. I am very fortunate that KPMG offers the flexibility to do the courses and supports the time out of the office and costs involved. It shows that KPMG really do invest in their people.

"With ACA you become familiar with many types of accounting and business, while the CTA is about the technical tax aspect. It is the combination of both the ACA and the CTA that really enhances your knowledge and makes you a more all rounded advisor.  Every tax situation is unique and the Joint Programme really prepares you for this. I now have so many transferable skills that are so relevant to my role at KPMG and I feel better equipped for performing my job and advising clients."

Nika Nykyforova joined KPMG in 2012 having come from a local trust company and did the ATT and STEP and has also graduated from Bournemouth University with a BA in International Business and Management. 

John Riva, Head of Tax in KPMG CI, says: "At KPMG we take our staff’s personal and professional development seriously. It is a pleasure to witness a valued member of our team attain such a high professional achievement. We are all very proud of Nika and hope that she continues to thrive in her career with us."