CYVA VAT Forum

Demetra Constantinou holds a BSc in Public & Business Administration. In 2009 she obtained her professional qualification of ACCA and since then her professional development escalated by adding further professional qualifications in her curriculum. Demetra commenced her career in 2006 at Kinanis LLC and has walked her way towards partnership through various managerial and strategic roles. Currently, she is a Partner at Kinanis LLC and manages the Accounting and VAT Department. Her main area of practice is Accounting and VAT consultancy for local and international clientele, as well as General Tax Advisory Services for EU based clients on various EU tax matters relating to VAT Law, Blockchain consulting services on Tax and VAT aspects. Demetra has extensive experience in rendering lectures on Paper P6: Advanced Taxation of the ACCA qualification and other seminars on VAT topics. She has also been a guest speaker in a number of internal and external seminars and conferences on her topics of expertise. In January 2019 she obtained her professional qualification as Certified HRDA Trainer of Vocational Training.

David Hummel is since October 2016 legal secretary (référendaire) at the European Court of Justice at the cabinet of Advocate General, Juliane Kokott. Before (2013 – 2016) he represented several tax law chairs at the Universities of Münster, Trier, Leipzig and Hamburg. In mid-2017 he was appointed as a Professor at the University of Leipzig. His academic career starts with the Study of Law at the University of Leipzig, a Graduation (Phd) as an assistant of Prof. Dr. Stadie with a VAT-Thesis in 2009 and a Habilitation in 2013 with the matter: “Rechtsformneutralität im Öffentlichen Recht“ (neutrality of legal forms in public law – venia legendi: public law, especially tax law and public economic law).

Alexis is widely considered as the foremost expert on VAT in Cyprus. With close to 20 years of experience in VAT strategic consulting, he advises businesses on local and international VAT matters and lectures regularly at VAT seminars and conferences in Cyprus and abroad. Alexis possesses an extensive vocational and educational experience in European VAT and a detailed comprehension of EU VAT matters and decisions of the European Court of Justice (ECJ). He has served on various committees charged with tax matters and his work includes liaising with the Cyprus tax authorities and government on policymaking. He has written a number of tax syllabuses, chapters and articles on matters pertaining to Cyprus and EU VAT. He is the author of the book “An in-depth analysis of the Fixed Establishment concept and a comparison with the Permanent Establishment concept”. Alexis is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), and holds the Expert in European Value Added Tax Degree, which he earned with the highest grade ever awarded in the history of the coveted diploma. He is a Partner and a Director of the VAT Forum in Belgium and the co-founder and Vice-Chairman of the Cyprus VAT Association (CYVA). He is also a Certified Vocational Trainer with the Human Resources Development Authority of Cyprus (ANAD).

Kyriacos holds an LL.B. (Hons) and an LL.M. (Hons) in International Business Transactions from University College London, University of London. He qualified as a Barrister with Lincoln’s Inn in 1994 and as an advocate in Cyprus in 1995. Since qualification he has been practicing as a member of Scordis, Papapetrou & Co LLC and is currently the firm’s Managing Partner. Kyriacos has extensive experience and expertise both in international litigation and arbitration as well as on corporate and commercial matters. He is also one of the Firm’s experts on Tax Law & Tax Planning. His resume includes handling claims or appearing before arbitral Tribunals or Courts in Cyprus, Sweden, Russia, Switzerland, the UK and the US, including multi-billion dollar cases: RICO claim, shareholder disputes and corporate/commercial claims. He also advises on a variety of corporate matters including cross-border sales & acquisitions of Cyprus and non-Cyprus assets, shareholder agreements, structuring international acquisitions, trusts, escrow arrangements and tax planning.

Raymond is a highly experienced international VAT consultant. He graduated from the University of Leiden with a specialization in indirect taxes. He has worked since 1996 in international VAT for a Big Four company and for many years as in-house VAT manager for multinationals. In 2010 he started his own consulting company, ALLVAT, in the Netherlands. He is a frequent speaker at international seminars, organises trainings for the Federation of Dutch exporters, the Chamber of Commerce, the International VAT Expert Academy (IVEA) and is partner of the VAT Forum. He is a board member of the International VAT Association (IVA) and he supports the board as member of the technical committee. His focus is on the international supply chain and trade by companies in the European region and recently also started to explore the VAT developments in the GCC area.

Mr Nikolas Pavlou is an executive with 18 years of experience in areas such as Information Technology, Public and European Policy with specialties in Project Management, Policy Analysis and Development, Processes Re-engineering and Negotiations. Since 2017, he is the Project Manager for the TFA of the Cyprus Tax Department. He is involved in the TFA project since the beginning, participating in all the stages of the Project (inception, design, procurement, implementation). Previously, he worked for seven years in the EU Institutions, firstly as a Fiscal Attaché to the Council of the EU and then as a Project Manager at the European Commission. Mr. Pavlou holds a MEng in Electrical and Computer Engineering and an MBA, he is also Prince2® certified.

My name is Elena Matsi and I am a PMO Officer for the new integrated tax platform for Cyprus - TFA - Tax For All. I studied Computer Science at the University of Cyprus and I worked as software engineer for three years. I decided to take an MBA at the University of Cyprus, where I am currently in my last year of study, since I have always liked the idea of taking a project from concept to reality. I also completed my PMP training and planning to take the examinations. In my free time, I like to crochet and sew.

Michael is the Head of the Tax department at Nexia Poyiadjis. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University College of London and a master’s degree in Finance and Investment from the University of Brunel, UK. Michael’s career started back in 2001 where he commenced employment with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Cyprus as a trainee accountant in the audit department. In 2003 he joined the tax department where he qualified as an ACCA in 2004 and stayed with PwC until 2010 before joining Nexia Poyiadjis. During his career in PwC Michael was in charge of a wide portfolio of multinational and local clients, active in the fields of real estate, financial/investment services, etc. Furthermore, he was the tax manager in charge of one of the biggest local banking groups engaging in both financial and insurance services. Michael’s experience adds great value to the clients of Nexia Poyiadjis, especially in advising clients with their initial structuring/set ups, group reorganisations and restructurings, tax due diligence engagements and other tax matters. Michael also plays an active role in the training team delivering tax seminars within the firm and to our clients. Michael is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountant of Cyprus (ICPAC) since 2005 and turned into a FCCA in 2010.

George Demetriou is the CEO of Positive Group, a management consulting, audit, tax and accounting group operating in Cyprus, Europe and the Middle East. He is also the Vice-President of the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a member of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is a member of the Entrepreneurship Council of the University of Cyprus. He served as Vice President for the Services Sector of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce (2014-2020), as a member of the Board of Directors of CIPA (2013-2020) and between 2004-2010 served as the Chairman of the founding of the Cyprus Organization for the Storage and Management of Oil Stocks by appointment from the Council of Ministers. His areas of expertise are turnarounds and corporate finance. He has substantial experience in the oil and gas, financial services and FMCG industries both in Cyprus and abroad. He is an economist, graduate of the London School of Economics and a Fellow Chartered Accountant. He is a published and award-winning poet and student of Byzantine music. He is married and has two sons.

Demetris Nissiotis is a highly experienced ICT professional and executive, with 25 years of working experience in various positions in the industry, a broad knowledge of the advances in the international ICT arena and a clear understanding of the ICT landscape in Cyprus, including the initiatives, developments, limitations and chal¬lenges of both Cypriot organizations and local ICT enterprises. He has been actively involved in numerous large, mission-critical ICT projects for important organizations in Cyprus and abroad, both in the public and private sectors, helping them achieve their business objectives through the utilization of effective and efficient ICT solutions. He studied at the University of Cyprus where he obtained a BSc degree in Computer Science. He works at NetU Consultants Ltd since 1997 and he holds the CEO position. Demetris Nissiotis is the President of the Cyprus Information Technology Enterprises Association (CITEA).

Elena has graduated from the University of Bristol with a bachelor’s degree in law in 1999. She then completed the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) at the Inns of Court School of Law in London in 2000. She qualified as a lawyer in Cyprus in 2001. Elena is a highly experienced and well-rounded litigator having represented both individuals and corporate entities in multi-million actions. Elena has considerable experience in a wide range of practice areas including construction law, administrative recourses in the VAT area, banking & finance and property law. Utilizing both her in-depth understanding of the global commercial market and her extensive knowledge and expertise on all aspects of company law and regulation, Elena has assisted to the completion of various related transactions and has advised on multiple aspects of anti-money laundering laws, financial regulations and compliance. She is the managing Director of Andreas Konnaris LLC.

George Droushiotis is the founder and Managing Partner of GDK Optimus Audit Services Ltd, a Cyprus-based regulated audit and accounting firm. He holds a BSc in Accounting and Finance; he is a Qualified Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) and a holder of the Advance Diploma in International Taxation from the Chartered Institute of Taxation (UK). He commenced his professional career in the Audit and Assurance Department of EY Cyprus, reaching the level of audit manager. He then pursued a career as a tax expert in the tax department of the Firm and became the manager in charge of major tax clients in a variety of sectors from leading financial institutions and insurance companies to international petroleum and shipping companies and international chains of retail stores. He has focused on international tax structuring for multinational corporations, executing tax due diligence projects on the buyers’ and vendors’ side, and advising among others on tax and transfer pricing issues.

Chelco VAT Ltd is the first VAT-dedicated consulting firm in Cyprus and is now widely considered as the foremost authority on indirect tax matters on the island. The firm is based in Limassol and offers specialised VAT Advisory and Compliance services and solutions that are based on years of experience, knowledge and expertise in the field. Chelco VAT is also a leader in the organisation of training VAT seminars, workshops and in-house technical courses via its educational arm, the Chelco VAT International Academy.

A Law Firm in Cyprus consisting of more than 50 lawyers, accountants and other professionals, consulting international and local clients since 1983. The Firm gradually evolved over the years, from one traditional law Firm into an innovative pioneering Law Firm that combines exceptional expertise in corporate law, trusts, taxation, VAT, accounting, litigation, financial services, labour law, migration and technology, enabling us to offer tailored solutions to today’s global economic and legal challenges.

Nexia Poyiadjis is a prominent partnership providing audit, tax and advisory services with a proud history dating back to 1969. It was founded by two brothers, John Poyiadjis and Josef Pavlou. We are the exclusive Cyprus member firm of Nexia International, a leading global network of independent accounting and consulting firms in 122 countries, with over 258 member firms, 727 offices around the world and more than 4 billion Euros of revenue. With the assistance of our network, Nexia Poyiadjis has the know-how, collaborations and expertise to assist all corporates with their business needs.At Nexia Poyiadjis, our mission is simple. We offer one of the highest standards of professional and advisory services in Cyprus, as well as excellent customer support. Over the years, our commitment and dedication to our people and clients has allowed us to extend our expertise to a large number of local and international companies. Today, we have made our vision of 50 years, a reality. For half a century, Nexia Poyiadjis is proud of its proven track record of looking after the financial affairs of individuals, family enterprises, partnerships, not-for-profit organisations, corporates, regulated and listed entities. With a team of passionate professionals, we envision being your first choice.

SCORDIS, PAPAPETROU & Co LLC, a leading Cypriot law firm, is celebrating this year 100 years since the founding of its oldest member. SCORDIS, PAPAPETROU & Co (“SP&CO”), with offices in Nicosia, Limassol, Athens, Moscow, Malta and the UAE, includes a corporate services arm and a licensed financial services company. SP&Co offers a wide range of legal, advisory, consultancy and administrative services to its local and international clients who value its expertise and commitment to excellence.

Treppides Group of Companies is the largest independent consulting Group in Cyprus having an established presence in Great Britain and Malta and employing approximate 200 professionals. The Group offers a full range of consulting and financial advisory, audit, tax and accounting services in a variety of business sectors. The Group, which started its operations in 1985, has 36 years of expertise and an elite team of experienced executives who can guide and assist businesses during the establishment process and subsequent operational activities globally.

Andersen in Cyprus is a member firm of Andersen Global®, an international association comprised of tax and legal professionals worldwide. With worldwide presence through the member firms and collaborating firms of Andersen Global, client service and solutions are coordinated seamlessly between service lines and locations to ensure clients receive best-in class, comprehensive solutions. The firm is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus and the Cyprus VAT Association.

The firm Andreas Konnaris LLC was established in 1971 by Mr. Andreas Chr. Konnaris. It covers a wide range of legal services and consists of a team of lawyers always ready and willing to assist in the most pragmatic and efficient way. Through a network of corresponding law firms abroad, including some of the world’s leading law firms, is able to offer clients around the world with a comprehensive service.

CEA Audit is a Cyprus based regulated audit, accounting and tax compliance and consulting firm, providing also a full range of professional advisory services to local and international clients. “Always at your disposal” is the firm’s motto whereas the Directors vision is to maintain high quality levels of professional services in a timely manner and to continue establishing long-term business relationships based on integrity and trust.

GDK Optimus Audit Services Limited is a Cyprus-based regulated audit and accounting firm, that provides a full range of professional advisory services to local and international clients in a wide range of industries. ‘Setting New Benchmarks’ as their motto and with a vision to become the leading niche audit and advisory firm, they cultivate and nurture long term business relationships based on the pillars of quality, value, integrity and trust.

LSTS Consultants Ltd is a one stop boutique service firm, providing corporate, tax, accounting, audit, legal, consulting and immigration services. LSTS was established in 2010 and currently the company consists of approximately 30 qualified professionals. LSTS clients range from small private entities to big corporations in industries such as IT, retail, finance and banking, manufacturing etc. LSTS prides itself for personalized approach to each and every client and provision of high quality professional services.

As the flagship publication within IMH’s media brands, IN Business magazine, has a 16-year history, during which thousands of examples of good business practices by businesses and businesspeople, brands, commercial practices and developments have been showcased. The aim of IN Business was – and continues to be – the promotion of good Cypriot business. www.inbusinessnews.com

GOLD was first published in 2011 as the first monthly English-language business magazine in Cyprus. Today, it not only consistently promotes good business practices, focusing on the promotion of Cyprus as an international business centre, but has a unique readership, comprising High Net Worth Individ­uals, executives of international companies, and English-speaking Cypriot and non-Cypriot busi­nessmen and women.