Interviews and Profiles

What do you think about Brexit? How do you think the pandemic will affect your career? What do you think is the future of the profession? In every issue of The Bottom Line, we will ask students their thoughts on a particular topic. I anticipate the effects of the pandemic will change the way we work. Hailing from outside of Dublin, I’d like to think it is more feasible to live outside the capital and pursue a ‘hybrid’ work style with a mix of office and remote work. I don’t expect the demand for Chartered Accountants will dissipate and, as such, I can see a healthy increase in competition for roles both locally and further afield. I’m confident there are positives to be taken from the pandemic, and many of us who have successfully migrated to remote work are a testament to that. Kevin Lord, Audit Associate at EY The crisis has transformed the way in which we work and how we work.  Pre-COVID-19, the accountancy profession was in a transitional phase as it embraced new technologies. The pandemic has accelerated these changes. Interpreting  data and analysing data differently will allow accountants to foster a more proactive relationship with clients.  Almost a year on, it looks like hybrid work is likely to persist. I believe hybrid work models, if sufficiently managed, offer the best of both worlds. I enjoy the social and collaborative aspects of office interaction, and the better work-life balance that hybrid work brings. For me, it’s simple things like getting to football training on a Thursday night or walking the dog before work.  However, it may not all be positive. Remote work does create new challenges for both the employee and the organisation. In the long-term, some organisations may look at relocating operations or hiring remote talent to avail of cheaper labour.   Sean Brew, Audit & Advisory trainee at Baker Tilly Due to the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, many of us are wondering what job opportunities will await us in the future. The pandemic has impacted how the sector works forever. For those of us who have worked through this change, and gained most of our accountancy experience working from home, we are part of a group who have had to innovate how we complete our work, and discipline ourselves to meet deadlines from home. I remain optimistic about my future career, accountancy firms have continued to hire during this uncertainty, and we are gaining new skills by working through these challenging times. Sinead Henry, Trainee Accountant at Northern Ireland Audit Office  

Niamh Dooley was once on the road to being an engineer and now is an audit professional in Deloitte’s financial services practice working with the advisory team on sustainability with a focus on climate accounting. She discusses how easy it is for someone’s path to change. Five years ago, where did you think you would be now? Have you lived up to your own expectations?  Five years ago, I was three years into my energy engineering degree and on work placement in GlaxoSmithKline with the expectation to work in a similar position once I got my degree. Needless to say, I chose a different route, but I’ve taken a lot of what I learned there into my current role.  What has been the biggest challenge of your career?  So far, the biggest challenge has been entering a new industry and changing my career path to accountancy and audit. With no business background, it definitely took a lot of hard work to bridge the knowledge gap between me and my peers, and get through such a volume of exams.  What do you wish you had known earlier in life?  It’s never too late to change your mind and your decisions at 17 are never for life, despite what you’re told.   Where do you see yourself this time next year?  I hope to be developing my role in advisory for sustainability and climate reporting, and bringing clients’ attention to the need to report on environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosures. The European Commission’s Green Deal and Action Plan has helped drive the need for more consistent reporting on ESG, with specific regulations like the EU Taxonomy and the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. My aspiration is to use what I learned in my degree and, as a Chartered Accountant, to help clients create a sustainable business model and report on ESG information.  Who inspires you, personally and professionally?  Personally, my parents inspire me every day. Professionally, it’s my colleagues and mentors in Deloitte.  How has being a Chartered Accountant changed your life?  Being a Chartered Accountant has made me a more motivated individual and has created opportunities for me to build a career I truly enjoy while also making an impact on society. A career in an organisation like Deloitte has helped me build my technical and soft skills, and I can now use those skills in an advisory capacity to support clients.  If you weren’t a Chartered Accountant, what do you think you’d be doing?  Realistically, an engineer. Unrealistically, a professional pastry chef.   What advice do you have for those who will soon qualify as Chartered Accountants?  It can all seem daunting balancing work and exams but being qualified is a game-changer. Once you are a qualified accountant, it opens up a lot of doors to different opportunities whether that is to move into a different area or go work in industry. What's your favourite... Book: Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton Favourite meal: Pizza  Favourite quote: “Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” Favourite hobby: Hiking or weightlifting (when the gyms are open!)

What do you think about Brexit? How do you think the pandemic will affect your career? What do you think is the future of the profession? In every issue of The Bottom Line, we will ask students their thoughts on a particular topic. Question of the month: Is Brexit an opportunity or challenge for Ireland? Alejandro Castro, Accountant at Quadient In my personal opinion Brexit represents an opportunity but also a challenge for Ireland. It is a challenge because the Irish economy is highly integrated with the UK. Currently, around 80% of the goods exported from Ireland are transported to or through the UK which means the Irish economy will suffer a material negative impact. However, Ireland will benefit from any future trade deals negotiated by the EU. Therefore, Irish businesses will have an opportunity to become amongst the most competitive in Europe. Technology, resilience and innovation are core traits that will enable Irish businesses to grow. Ruth Cummins, AWM Assurance Associate at PwC To answer that question, it is important to look at the direct economic impact it is having across sectors.  Brexit has opened up a wealth of new job opportunities in Dublin and other economic centres with the relocations of multinationals such as Barclays, JP Morgan and Bank of America, pushing Ireland higher up the ladder as a hub for multinational enterprises, boosting Ireland’s GDP. On the other hand, Brexit is introducing a massive challenge to more traditional sectors such as fishing and farming. They are currently dealing with a lot of uncertainty and question marks over exports and trade tariffs is adding to this strain.  Overall, I believe Brexit was a step in the wrong direction for the UK, but whether that will have a net negative impact on Ireland is yet to be determined. Ciara Woods, Audit Associate at KPMG Brexit is both an opportunity and a challenge for Ireland and the outcome is very much  dependent on how we react to it.  I think the opportunities such as opening up new markets and relationships are overlooked by many individuals, businesses and countries. Many believe Brexit to be a challenge due to the uncertainty and how it will change people’s and businesses’ way of life, commerce and traditional thinking. 

Just five years ago, Jason McIntosh was working in practice and didn’t know what the next five years would hold. Now a Finance Manager at Seagate Technology, he answers our six career questions. Five years ago, where did you think you would be now? Have you lived up to your own expectations? Five years ago, I had not long qualified as a Chartered Accountant and was still working in practice. (It doesn’t feel that long, so quantifying it is quite scary!) At that stage, I wasn’t sure where I would be in five years. I probably had this idea about what it would be like to be an accountant in industry, but I wasn’t sure it would be for me.  Having worked in industry for almost three years now, I’m delighted to have been wrong about that – I have a job that I really enjoy, working with great people and getting the opportunity to gain loads of experience in a global role within a global organisation.  Have I lived up to my own expectations? Probably yes – mostly because I didn’t know what to expect! I’m a big believer in constantly challenging yourself, so in that regard I think I’ve probably done that plenty over the last five years.  What do you wish you had known earlier in life? On a professional level: it’s never too early to build your network. I was given this advice on my first day working as an accountant, and probably didn’t take it seriously enough then. But it’s true. As you progress in your career, your network will invariably become something that you rely on from time to time. Looking after it is important, too; stay in touch with the people you meet.  Personally, probably the importance of spending time with your family. When you’re young, life seems so busy and we probably don’t take the time to spend with our parents and our grandparents while we can.  Where do you see yourself this time next year? Hopefully in the office at least a few days a week – without face masks! Like everyone, I’m missing the human interaction of an office. I’ve been working at home full-time for almost a year.  In my current role, I can still see huge opportunities to learn and so this time next year, I’ll hopefully still be doing just that.  Who inspires you personally and professionally?  It may be a little cliché, but my family inspires me. My son is turning three this year, and he approaches life with a curiosity and sense of humour that is infectious. And my wife, who is also a Chartered Accountant, inspires me in so many ways, as well.  Professionally, I try to take a little bit of inspiration from as many sources as possible. You can learn something from everyone, even if it’s what not to do!  If you weren’t a Chartered Accountant, what do you think you’d be doing? That’s a tough question! I studied law at university, and I would probably have pursued that further as I did really enjoy it. That or playing in midfield for Manchester United.   What advice do you have for those who will soon qualify as Chartered Accountants? Treat every day as an opportunity to learn and grow. Early in your career is the absolute best time to soak in every bit of experience you can. Make sure that your job allows you the opportunity to constantly challenge and develop yourself. In a similar vein, actively seek opportunities to learn something new and to learn from others. The best Chartered Accountants I know have breadth of experience as well as depth.  Don’t be afraid to take an opportunity when one arises. Great things never came from comfort zones. 

Chartered Star Aisling McCaffrey wants to connect with other young leaders to find effective solutions to today’s global problems. Why did you want to be the 2020/21 Chartered Star? For me, being the 2020/21 Chartered Star would ultimately give me access to a global platform and a network of people to help create greater awareness for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and effect lasting change. This was my main motivation when applying. What do you hope to learn at the conference this year? What are you most looking forward to? By attending the One Young World summit, I am hoping to deepen my understanding of the issues currently facing our society and identify practical steps I can take to help address same. I am really looking forward to connecting with other young leaders who are passionate about making a social impact. I’m excited to share my ideas, learn from the experiences of others and collaborate to find effective solutions to global issues. What has been the most challenging part of your Chartered journey? Initially, finding the balance between work, study and life in general was tricky. I learned that creating routine and setting goals to encourage consistency worked well for me, as well as lots of lists!  As I have progressed through my career, I’ve found the challenge is more about finding confidence in my own knowledge and ability. I’ve been very lucky to be surrounded by colleagues, friends and family who regularly encourage me to be the best version of myself.  What do you hope to accomplish in your year as the 2020/21 joint Chartered Star? My hope is that alongside Caroline, we can facilitate the implementation of initiatives that relate to UN SDG 2030 targets. My Chartered Accountants Ireland qualification has provided me with technical knowledge and skills that I have been able to utilise in all aspects of my life, and to that end I also want to use the opportunity to promote the profession and encourage others to consider pursuing the qualification.  Who inspires you personally and professionally? My number one inspiration is my granny May – she has always encouraged me to think of others, be grateful for the opportunities I have and look for ways I can use my abilities to assist those less fortunate.  Second, I’ve had the pleasure of watching my good friend Linda Djougang rise through the ranks of Irish Rugby while also training to be a nurse. Her positivity coupled with relentless ambition and drive are a source of inspiration for me.  Lastly, I greatly admire the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her lifelong pursuit of women’s rights. Aisling McCaffrey, Associate Director, Financial Services Advisory, Grant Thornton. 

For Chartered Star Dr Caroline McGroary, being a Chartered Accountant isn’t just about the numbers – it’s about the impact you can make on society. Why did you want to be the 2020/21 Chartered Star? Over the past number of years, I have been following the work of the Chartered Stars and One Young World ambassadors and have been inspired by their work in promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given the promotion of the SDGs is something that I am very passionate about, and have been actively working towards, I was motivated by the possibility of becoming a Young Chartered Star.   What do you hope to learn at the conference this year? What are you most looking forward to? The One Young World summit is a unique platform that brings young leaders together with the common goal of creating social impact. I am very excited about the opportunity to meet with some of these leaders and to learn about the impactful work they are engaged in. I am also looking forward to sharing my experiences and to collaborating with others both at the summit and beyond.  What has been the most challenging part of your Chartered journey? The most notable challenges of my Chartered journey have been balancing the demands of working full-time and studying part-time, both when preparing for the professional exams, and more recently, when completing my PhD.  In addition, adapting to the cultural and professional nuances of working in Saudi Arabia were challenging initially but ultimately extremely rewarding.  What do you hope to accomplish in your year as the 2020/21 joint Chartered Star? Over the coming year, my hope is that both Aisling and I can create meaningful impact through our attendance at the One Young World summit and our engagement with the FinBiz2030 taskforce. Both platforms will provide us with the opportunity to work with others and to contribute towards the UN SDGs agenda.  It is also my hope to educate future accountants about the UN SDGs, as well as promoting the value of the Chartered Accountancy qualification, through my role as a lecturer.  Who inspires you personally and professionally? From a young age, my parents and grand uncle, James Anthony, have been a great inspiration. Together they instilled in me the importance of education, the virtues of hard work and perseverance, and to always treat others with respect.  I have also been truly inspired by my friend Jenny Reynolds. She has had an incredibly successful career to date both with Honda Ireland, where she rose to Director level by the age of 30, while at the same time developing her own payments app, Topper. However, what inspires me most is her humility, kindness and ability to elevate all those around her – qualities which I believe are indicative of a true leader. Dr Caroline McGroary, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Dublin City University.