Washington-based accounting firm launches Guyana branch

Part of the gathering at the launch of Bazilio Cobb Associates at the Parc Rayne on Thursday.
Part of the gathering at the launch of Bazilio Cobb Associates at the Parc Rayne on Thursday.

Bazilio Cobb Associates (BCA) launched its Guyana branch on Thursday with a focus of investing in young people and building the country’s work force.

The Washington, DC-based accounting and consultancy firm, which is headed by Guyanese Chief Executive Officer Ralph Bazilio, launched its local branch at Parc Rayne, Houston, East Bank Demerara.

Among those in attendance at the launch were Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence, Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes, Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally, Mayor of Georgetown Patricia Chase-Green, and Mayor of Linden Carwyn Holland.

President of the company Tommie Thompson explained that the firm’s tested business model focuses heavily on investing in employees and communities.

“More importantly, we plan to use the same business model here. Helping you build your workforce…,” he said, while pointing out that the process started a while back as the firm has invested in building a learning centre in Region Five and has been supporting it for more than eight years.

Country Manager Tracey Featherstone highlighted the importance of teamwork. “The same approach that is undertaken at the BCA headquarters is replicated and transferred to its partners and that enables corporate growth and underscores the need to invest in young people at [the] entry level and up,” she said, while noting that it is important at this junction in Guyana’s development for companies to bring world-class standards in efficiency and integrity.

“BCA is committed to ensuring quality service delivery and will take corporate social responsibility seriously as it continues its community development programmes,” she added.

She said the company’s vision is to reinforce industry standards and practices and to create the enabling environment for business success and to support the government in its green state strategy. She also said that for there to be development then there is a need for a change in how data is managed and the way systems are operationalised.

Giving brief Remarks, Minister Ally charged the company with ensuring that it fulfills its corporate responsibility and invest in the training and education of young people so that they can go on to become valuable members of society and in turn assist the country in its development.

Bazilio echoed her sentiments and noted that as a testament he presented one of his young employees, Trevor Bruce, with a scholarship to the University of Guyana, worth US$5,000, from his personal finances.

BCA is a full-service firm that provides management consulting; accounting, compliance and audit services; forensic accounting; IT audits; financial, loan assets and real estate consulting services and income tax services.