RSM Georgia Welcomes New Partner
RSM, representing one of the world’s leading and most powerful audit, tax and consulting networks uniting firms in over 116 countries, up to 750 offices and 41,000 professionals around the world, has recently welcomed a new partner, Giorgi Tabuashvili, Tax and Government Compliance, to its Georgian branch.
GEORGIA TODAY met Tabuashvili to discover his path to success and plans for the future.
“I joined the RSM team in March,” Tabuashvili tells us. “I’ve been operating in government agencies, private companies and international financial institutions, and participating in various projects, for more than 20 years. I’d say 2002 was the turning point in my career, the time I returned to Georgia after doing a Master’s Degree in Economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the USA. I came back to Georgia and started working in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the position of Fiscal Economist.”
We asked Tabuashvili more about his studies abroad and the affect it had on his personal life and career.
“I can firmly state that doing the studies abroad played an incredible role in my success for various reasons. First of all, at university I obtained valuable academic knowledge and became an expert in my field. However, it is not the only good reason to travel thousands of kilometers from your homeland. While getting an education overseas, you acquire new experiences, meet new people and discover new cultures. In addition, your ability to make decisions independent and your self-confidence rocket, contributing to the formation of you as an individual, which is certainly paramount. After receiving a foreign education, you return with a new spirit and a developed global outlook. It is vital to live in that environ and be fully involved in that rhythm and lifestyle,” says Tabuashvili. “In my case, I had a chance to explore the USA, the Western World and their civilization, which as a result facilitated communication with foreign partners.”
We asked him how he had managed to succeed in such a significant and difficult field.
“Even though I had worked in the public sector, including Parliament, the Ministry of Economy, USAID Programs, and had been one of the founders of the Association of Young Economists of Georgia (NGO) before 2002, working at the IMF has proved to be very fruitful for my further progress. I have changed a number of workplaces since then. For several years I have been working at the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, as well as Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation LLC and Policy and Management Consulting Group LLC (PMCG). From 2014 to 2018, I occupied the position of Director General at the Revenue Service of Georgia,” Tabuashvili tells us.
We were intrigued to find out whether operating in the private or public sector was more interesting for the new Partner of RSM.
“It would be very difficult to answer this question and outline just one sphere I liked working in. There were times when I was sure that working in the government agencies would be better for me and my role towards the development of the country. I am happy to say that a number of important reforms that greatly contributed to the establishment of the well-developed system in Georgia, were implemented the time I was working in the public sector. Various international institutions have noted the progress of our country regarding the innovative reforms carried out in recent years. It makes me proud to know that I have been involved in this process. We have also put a lot of effort into developing the accounting, auditing, and financial reporting fields and establishing an appropriate regulatory system. However, I would still think that the private sector is more interesting for me,” he notes.
We asked Mr. Tabuashvili regarding his decision to join the RSM Company team.
“When I made a decision to return to the private sector, I was thinking where I could apply my decades of working experience in the very best way. I considered RSM to be the most appropriate choice for accomplishing this aim. RSM Georgia is a representative of one of the top global networks, with incredibly high corporate culture. I strongly believe RSM will give me an opportunity to make use of my knowledge and experience. At RSM Georgia, we plan to offer to our clients the best possible solutions for tax and government compliance, based on in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of local as well as international tax regulations, while always acting with the highest level of integrity and concern for reputation,” he tells us.
By Ketevan Kvaratskheliya
Photo: Giorgi Tabuashvili, Partner, Tax and Government Compliance, RSM Georgia (Left), Giorgi Kvinikadze,General Director and Managing Partner, RSM Georgia (Right)