Jonathan Lai

Background

About Jonathan Lai

After graduating from the University of Birmingham (UK) with BCom (Accounting), I received my professional accountancy training in London where I qualified as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant in 1997. I gained my post-qualification experience in Hong Kong with one of the “Big-4” before joining HLB Hodgson Impey Cheng (HLB). I was admitted as a Partner in 2002, served as Deputy Managing Director from 2011 to 2018, as Managing Director from 2018 to 2020, and as Risk Management Director from 2020 to 2022. I currently act as a Consultant of HLB. I specialized in listed company audits and investment circular reporting engagements, and have experience in fraud investigations and litigation support. I served as HLB’s Member-In-Charge of the Authorized Employer Scheme under the Practical Experience Framework (PEF) of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA), as well as a PEF Counselor supervising HKICPA registered students. From 2019 to 2022, I was a Quality Control System Responsible Person of HLB, which is a Public Interest Entity Auditor registered with the Hong Kong Financial Reporting Council. I was also the Money Laundering Compliance and Reporting Officer of HLB from 2018 to 2020. In terms of professional qualifications, I am a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW), a holder of ICAEW Business and Finance Professional designation, and a Certified Fraud Examiner. I am a former Fellow of The Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute, former Fellow of HKICPA, former Fellow of The Hong Kong Institute of Directors, former Fellow of The Chartered Management Institute, former Fellow of The Society of Chinese Accountants and Auditors (HK), former Chartered Tax Adviser (HK), and former Fellow of The Taxation Institute of Hong Kong. I served as a Committee Member of each of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Committee (2007, 2012 – 2017), the Qualification and Examinations Board (2013 – 2018), the Professional Standards Monitoring Expert Panel (2015 – 2020), the Practice Review Committee (2015 – 2017) and the Professional Development Committee (2021 - 2022) of the HKICPA. From 2011 to 2023, I was an Alternate Council Member of HLB International, a top 8 global accounting network. I was also a Member of the Finance Committee of HLB International from 2018 to 2023. I am a Level 3 Accredited Senior Sports Coach accredited by the Hong Kong Sports Institute (2023), as well as a Level 2 Accredited Karate Coach accredited by the Karate Federation of Hong Kong, China Limited (2023).