What will tomorrow bring for the role of the Chartered Accountant and what changes are already taking hold today? Accountancy Ireland talks to four members of ACA Professionals about their experiences and expectations
The role of the accountant is evolving and with it the expectations and perceptions of younger generations building careers in the profession. Here, four members of the Institute’s ACA Professionals Committee tell us about their hopes and aspirations for the future and career experiences today.
Brendan Brophy
I grew up in Perth, Australia, and studied business and accounting at Edith Cowan University, later obtaining a master’s in finance from University College Dublin.
I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2016 and have since worked in both accounting and taxation. I am currently Senior Cost Accountant with Square and Chair of the ACA Professionals Committee of Chartered Accountants Ireland.
I started my university journey in 2010 with a general interest in business, carrying a nascent curiosity about companies and their financial workings. My exact career direction was unknown until I encountered my first accounting lecture, however.
That introduction to the foundational principles of accounting really resonated. It was during my first year at university that I had the privilege of attending a presentation by Chartered Accountants Australia.
The session explored the prestigious career path offered by the ACA qualification, highlighting its value as an international career passport.
Continuous learning
The journey to becoming a Chartered Accountant, while enjoyable, has also posed distinct challenges. It requires extensive commitment to ongoing study and capacity to get to grips with deep knowledge across all facets of the discipline.
What has surprised me most hasn’t been the rigour of the qualification process, but the ongoing need for continuous learning and adaptation post-qualification.
The field of accounting is continuously evolving across standards, business practices, regulatory frameworks and technology.
Expertise considered cutting-edge five years ago may no longer suffice today, so staying ahead of the curve is not merely an option, but a necessity for Chartered Accountants.
Right now, technology is one of the most significant drivers of change in our field, redefining the boundaries of what’s possible.
Advances in technology are outpacing existing regulatory frameworks, presenting both challenges and opportunities,and requiring us to anticipate and adapt to changes rather than respond to them retrospectively. Prime examples include artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.
The imperative for accountants today is to have a proactive mindset, enabling us to foresee emerging trends and incorporate them into our practices.
Agents of change
Becoming a Chartered Accountant is not just about mastering the intricacies of finance and accounting; it is about earning a pivotal seat at the decision-making table within any organisation.
This privileged position allows Chartered Accountants to influence key business decisions directly, facilitating change that extends beyond the confines of a single company to impact the broader industry and regulatory environment.
The role we play in guiding financial strategy, ethical standards and sustainable practices enables us to be agents of change, influencing economic outcomes and contributing to the shaping of regulatory frameworks that govern our profession and the business world at large.
Anne Carter
I studied business and accountancy at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and went on to qualify as a Chartered Accountant with DHKN in Galway in 2017. In between, I worked in retail banking, travelled to Australia and New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa and moved to London for two years, where I earned a diploma in sound engineering.
My journey to becoming a Chartered Accountant was triggered by my curiosity to understand the nuts and bolts of how businesses operate, and by my interest in maths and accounting from a young age.
The opportunities for professional development associated with the ACA qualification really attracted me; the scope for continued learning and
career advancement. The qualification opens doors. I saw it as a pathway to hone my skills, gain valuable experience and continue to develop.
During my training contract with DHKN, I worked across audit, accounts preparation, income tax and corporation tax and, after qualifying, I moved to Dublin to join the internal audit function at GameStop. I have been with CRH plc now since 2018 and currently work on our Strategic Projects Team.
Potential of technology
I think technology has a lot of potential to allow our profession to develop broader skillsets and move more into advisory work, strategic decision-making and the actual interpretation of financial data.
Artificial intelligence, automation and data analytics are all transforming the way accountants work and the services we provide. This will only increase over the next decade as more of the time-consuming or manual tasks we do today become automated.
My career advice to younger members and students is to be open to change and to exploring different areas or opportunity within the field of accounting – adopt a growth mindset, set career goals, take ownership of your professional development and seek out advice and feedback from managers and peers.
Claire Doyle
I grew up in a small village called Leitrim in Co. Down and studied accounting at Queen’s University Belfast. I am also currently studying for a post-graduate diploma in sustainable financial technology and innovation at Maynooth University.
I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2019 with KPMG in Belfast and I am currently International Tax Manager with PTC Therapeutics at its international headquarters in Dublin.
At 17, I really struggled to understand what I should do for my career. My mother was a teacher, my father had set up his own business and my older brothers either worked, or were pursuing careers, in construction.
Having watched them having to emigrate during the recession, I knew I wanted to pursue a qualification that would deliver high-quality jobs, global reach and allow me to carve my own path.
Turning point
During my second year at university, tragedy struck our family when we lost my brother Ryan in Australia. This really became the turning point in my life and the direction of my career.
In the following months, I decided to apply for a year-long work placement with KPMG in Dublin so I would have the experience to know that becoming a Chartered Accountant was definitely the right path for me.
It was a real eye-opener and ultimately brought me one step closer to starting my training contract with KPMG in Belfast. After my training contract ended, I decided to move into industry and take up a position that would allow me to gain more practical in-depth experience in the life science sector.
Childcare reform
Right now, I think childcare reform is needed across the island of Ireland to support working parents and reduce the financial burden and stress associated with finding a place for children and keeping parents in the workforce.
Key to the retention of working parents in our profession and others is ensuring that there are adequate provisions in place to allow for reduced working hours.
If a working parent decides to reduce their hours, I don’t believe this should mean that they have to condense five days of work into four.
Transformative role
I believe that accounting as a profession has the power to promote financial transparency, accountability and sustainability. Chartered Accountants are seen as trusted advisors.
We can help our companies to understand their impact and reporting obligations across the three pillars of environmental, social and governance (ESG) and educate them on important matters, such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Our ability to influence policy and advocate on behalf of the public is vitally important to supporting the Government in determining realistic targets in support of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan.
The Institute’s collaboration with Chartered Accountants Worldwide allows us to amplify our impact and drive progress towards the achievement of the SDGs.
Sinéad Nolan
I studied both business and accounting and finance at undergraduate level and then did a master’s in accounting at Maynooth University. I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2017 with RSM Farrell Grant Sparks, which merged with Grant Thornton during my training contract.
I then worked with the National Transport Authority as a Rural Transport Finance and Governance Accountant for one year before joining AXA Insurance in the role of Financial Accountant and, for a time, worked on the planning and analysis team and on secondment to the strategy team.
I knew from an early age that I wanted to become a Chartered Accountant. I gained invaluable experience during Transition Year through work experience with O’Brien & Co. in Rathmines. I will be forever grateful for the accounting experience Tom O’Brien gave me back then at just 16 years of age.
From day one at college, it was communicated to us how highly regarded the Chartered Accountant qualification is.
The international recognition and respect the ACA qualification is held in really appealed to me. The work opportunities that come with it are endless.
Welcome change
ESG and, in particular, sustainability are becoming more important, especially among younger generations starting their career.
Chartered Accountants and companies today are actively working to achieve their sustainability goals.
I believe Chartered Accountants can bring about powerful change, especially with regards to sustainability, by encouraging social responsibility and the adoption of sustainable practices among entities of all sizes.
I also see positive change with regards to gender equality in our profession and beyond, which is very welcome, and I believe we will see more women in senior positions in the future.
I am lucky enough to see this in action at AXA Ireland, where there is a culture that fosters inclusion and a better working world for women.
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