The partners of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Malta have announced that three new partners have been admitted to the firm: Fabio Axisa, Lucienne Pace Ross and Romina Soler.

Chairman and senior partner John Bonello said: "I believe that this is the start of a new generation being infused into the firm. I think that the firm is still under-partnered and that partnership opportunities in the firm, across all our service lines, will increase as the firm continues to grow. Our firm has grown very significantly since our merger eight years ago but the number of partners in the firm has not increased proportionately. I also see our growth continuing in particular as the financial services sector experiences real and substantial growth."

The three partners all come from an auditing background. Mr Axisa joined the firm in July 1995 after obtaining a degree in Accountancy from the University of Malta. He is actively involved in a cross-section of the firm's audit practice with a special interest in work related to the banking and finance industry. His client responsibilities consist of a varied portfolio which includes major financial institutions, and other major local groups of companies operating in diversified sectors.

Fabio is one of the firm's lead technical experts particularly with respect to adoption of the requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards. He has been a member of the team in charge of technical matters in the firm for a considerable number of years and is heavily involved in IFRS consultation work, with particular focus on financial instruments.

Lucienne Pace Ross joined the firm in 1997 after obtaining a degree in Accountancy from the University of Malta. She has since worked in the firm's audit practice and has over the years also been involved in a number of foreign assignments. She is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and the Malta Institute of Accountants (MIA), and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She has significant audit experience in the financial services industry, particularly insurance and investment services markets.

Lucienne is actively involved in the development of PricewaterhouseCoopers audit methodology at a global level. In 2005 she took a leading role in devising the version of the PwC audit methodology which is applicable to small companies and in 2006 she will form part of a global team in the United States looking at further developments to the methodology - dividing her time between Malta and the US.

Romina Soler joined the firm when she commenced her studies for an ACCA qualification. She leads a significant number of the firm's major audits with special emphasis in the financial services field. She has also developed considerable experience in investigations and special assignments over the years. She was seconded for one year to the insurance audit practice in PwC London.

Romina is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), and the Malta Institute of Accountants (MIA). She is a leading member of the firm's insurance technical team, and sits on the firm's Risk Management Committee where her role extends to assistance in the firm's quality review processes, and to providing training support on risk management-related matters.