Benjamin R. Punongbayan

Ben is a leader in the Philippine accounting profession, with over 50 years of experience in the field of public accounting. In 1988, he founded P&A Grant Thornton and was the Firm’s Chairman until 2011. Since then, as founder, he continues to represent the Firm in international business meetings and in visiting international affiliates and clients. He continues to provide advice to the Firm’s management and partners.

At a young age, Ben already exhibited intellectual acuity and astute acumen in accounting.

Prior to establishing his own firm, Ben was affiliated with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo & Co. from 1958 to 1988. During his tenure at SGV, Ben trained as Audit Senior in New York at Arthur Andersen, then one of the largest public accounting firms in the US. From 1970 to 1976, Ben was a Partner under Malaysian Firm Kassim, Chan & Co., during which he helped in the organization and development of its audit practice. This undertaking helped Ben gain extensive expertise in British accounting system which Malaysian financial reporting adopts. He was head of the Audit Division when he left SGV.

Ben earned his Master of Business Administration at Wharton Graduate School, University of Pennsylvania. He also gained an associate degree in Commercial Science with the highest honors from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and a bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Major in Accounting at Far Eastern University.

Memberships

• Chair, ICC Philippines - Taxation Commission
• Former President, Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants

• Former President, Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice

• Former Governor and Treasurer, Management Association of the Philippines
• Former President, Rotary Club of Makati East
• Former Chairman, Audit & Assurance Standards Council
• Co-Chair National Issues and Legislative Committee, Director and Internal Auditor, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Member, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc.
• Member, Makati Business Club
• Member, Philippine-Japan Economics Cooperation Committee, Inc.
• Member, The Wallace Business Forum, Inc.

Awards

• Outstanding Professional of the Year in the Field of Accountancy, Professional Regulation Commission
• Hall of Fame Award, Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice
• Most Outstanding CPA in Public Practice, Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Outstanding Manilan of the Year, City of Manila
• Diamond Jubilee Outstanding Alumnus, Far Eastern University
• Outstanding Alumni Awardee, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
• Anvil Award of Merit, Public Relations Society of the Philippines, for the publication New Accounting Standards and Income Tax Reporting: A Study of Differences

Publications

• Co-author, New Accounting Standards and Income Tax Reporting: A Study of Differences
• Various commentaries published in BusinessWorld and The Manila Times