KPMG appoints Rifka Ziyard as a Principal

KPMG Sri Lanka, a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms, announced the appointment of Rifka Ziyard as a Principal of the firm, with effect from January 1, 2023.

Rifka counts over 11 years of experience in both direct tax and indirect tax. Her experience includes providing assistance in relation to structuring new foreign business ventures in Sri Lanka and advising on the best tax-efficient method to incorporate a business entity in Sri Lanka within the tax framework.

She has vast experience in the banking, manufacturing, plantation, hospitality industries, etc. She has also led many high-profile assignments performing the advisor role on inbound/outbound investments, PE analysis, structuring, funding modality, etc. She has experience in engagements relating to international taxation and double tax treaty.

 Rifka has also experience in dispute resolution with the commissioner general of the Inland Revenue and Tax Appeals Commission. 

In addition, Rifka specialises in the Acquisitions and Mergers, International Taxation, Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), Common Reporting Standard (CRS), Trade and Customs, Appeal Procedure with Inland Revenue Department/Tax Appeals Commission and Islamic Finance.

Currently, she is a Member of the CIMA Council, where she was elected for a period of three years. She was Chair of the CIMA Sri Lanka Network Panel in the year 2020 and was Vice Chair in the year 2019. Rifka was nominated to CIMA MESANA Regional Advisory Panel for the year 2019/20.

Rifka holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Colombo, where she was awarded joint Gold Medal for Strategic Management. She is also a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants UK (FCMA), Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and a fellow member of the Institute of Taxation of Sri Lanka (FTII). She is an alumnus of the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) and a lecturer in the subject of taxation.