About Ferdinand C Balfoort

Ferdinand is a Chartered Accountant (CA) from New Zealand, Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) registered with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA USA Inc) and has a Bachelor's degree in marketing and commercial law from Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand. He is a full member of the Singapore Institute of Directors.

Ferdinand has previously held senior positions globally for a number of respected companies, both in professional services and in industry, including at partner level for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

He has 18 years experience in the oil and gas, telecommunications, and the professional services industries serving blue chip clients including Mobil Oil, Shell Oil, Samsung, Philip Morris, Volkswagen and numerous other similarly respected organizations.

Ferdinand is highly competent in conducting and leading internal audits, external audits, due diligence assignments, ISO Quality audits, fraud assignments as well as IT Implementations across a wide range of disciplines including finance, accounting, HR, Marketing, Legal, Manufacturing, operations, Sarbanes Oxley compliance and Information technology. Based on his extensive global experience gained in Africa, Europe, Asia and other parts of the world, he is highly adept at managing cross cultural assignments in multiple locations.

Ferdinand has completed client projects for Protiviti USA and Singapore, Jefferson Wells (UK), PT Telkomsel (Indonesia), J Ray McDermott (USA), Panasonic Asia Pacific, Dresser Rand (UK), and First Data (Germany). Since inception he has established a number of subcontracts, including with Protiviti Singapore Pte Ltd, with a global risk management and fraud investigation company in Hong Kong (International Risk). In addition he has undertaken assignments to prepare financial analyses/ red flag reports for international investment banks (Fidelity UK), on target companies in this region.

As an example one of the projects under the Protiviti contract started in October 2005, and involved managing a team of up to 6 consultants to document, test, and remediate internal controls for Sarbanes Oxley Act compliance purposes. Services to this client included:

• Undertaking special investigations
• Roll out of Sarbanes Oxley specific software, including delivery of training
• and assistance with quarterly self assessments.
• Alignment of company procedures with internal controls requirements
• and SOX flowcharts
• IT Implementation support to meet SOX requirements
• Client employee training and coaching.
• Search, selection and handover of responsibilities to permanent
• Internal Controls Manager APAC.

The project work was executed in three South East Asian locations and the Middle East.

In addition, Ferdinand has formally trained professionals on SOX s 302 and s 404, as well as Singapore Stock Exchange regulations. Other courses are planned for 2007 (Professional Services management and strategic leadership, Internal Controls over Financial Reporting) as well as giving public presentations on SOX and Corporate Governance to Singapore listed companies and MNCs.

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