Interviews and Profiles

In every issue of The Bottom Line, we ask students for their thoughts on a particular topic. This month, we want to know: What are your New Year's resolutions? Sarah McAleese KPMG I am firmly of the belief that it is more realistic to stick to the habit of taking up and incorporating positive habits into your schedule as opposed to giving things up.  This year, my New Year’s resolution is to prioritise setting myself up for a successful day by embracing slower mornings.  On the days that I am working from home and do not have to commute, I have started and plan to continue making a habit of getting up earlier to get out for a walk before work in order to clear my head.  I also intend to listen to the news headlines while getting ready each morning in order to stay on top of current affairs.  Coffee is a crucial part of my morning routine, and given the cost-of-living crisis in 2024, I am now a self-proclaimed barista and have vowed to make more coffee at home. Kaillum Burns  Gilroy Gannon New Year's resolutions are always something I try to include in my transitions from one year to another. Setting resolutions can offer a rejuvenating beginning. They are an excellent way to initiate the upcoming year, a chance to press the 'restart' button, and enable you to establish fresh goals or revisit existing ones and decide on your approach to accomplishing them.  Achieving resolutions always brings positivity into my life.  It is a great thing when you commit to a goal and follow through. Resolutions ignite a similar feeling.  Regardless of the obstacles, proving to yourself that you can overcome anything is an unparalleled source of satisfaction.  In essence, humans thrive when pursuing goals, and what better method to recalibrate your objectives than through a set of New Year's resolutions? Conor Flynn EY As the calendar turns, a wave of contemplation can sweep over us, prompting New Year's resolutions.  These annual pledges are more than just a cultural tradition; they can serve as a compass, guiding us towards personal growth and positive change. By setting specific goals, resolutions can help us articulate our aspirations. They can turn abstract desires into actionable plans that guide our actions and decisions, thereby instilling a sense of purpose for the coming year. Personally, I have found that a New Year can provide a renewed sense of empowerment. That being said, we should remind ourselves that the New Year does not hold a monopoly on resolutions as we can engage in self-reflection at any point throughout the year.  It is an exercise we should strive to do regularly for our own well-being and personal development.

For Sinead Fox-Hamilton, Relationship & Professional Development Manager at Chartered Accountants Ireland, people are her passion, and she credits that passion to her Chartered Accountancy qualification Ten years ago, where did you think you would be now? Have you lived up to your own expectations? A decade ago, I was in a banking role and had already gained experience in practice and industry as a Chartered Accountant. I enjoyed the variety of work exposure but was still figuring out my journey.  The most fulfilling part of my roles was always working with people, so I went on to work in recruitment, which was centred on relationships and brought me closer to the world of career advancement, training, and lifelong learning. One thing that was always constant through my student training and career was being involved in the Chartered Accountants Ulster Society (various roles across several of the sub-committees) – I loved the people, supporting career development, organising events and taking an active role in the profession’s community. I often joked that I wished my time volunteering was my day job.  Fast forward to 2018, and a role became available at Chartered Accountants Ireland that literally ticked so many of the boxes – it was fate, and the rest, as they say, is history.  I am thrilled to now be working for my Institute showcasing the profession, curating learning solutions and engaging with the wonderful community we have! What has been the biggest challenge of your career? I found getting through the ACA exams to be extremely challenging. I completed a law degree, so I didn’t have a finance background. I am more of a literary person and storyteller naturally, so it was hard to engage my brain to think differently, but I was able to find crossovers and transferable skills.  While the study didn’t come easy to me, I knew it would be worth it, so I stuck at it. I’ll admit I had a few failures along the way and had to face some repeat papers, but I was determined to qualify. Thankfully, I got there in the end!  I will never forget my FAE results day – it was amazing. Qualifying is absolutely one of my proudest achievements! What do you wish you had known earlier in life? I wish I had known that you don’t have to have it all figured out immediately. Life and careers are journeys, and there are great opportunities to learn and grow along the way!  Framing any setbacks as lessons can really help with the fear of failure. Also, being realistic about what is achievable is important – I think we can often set our standards very high. Does perfection really exist?! Being the best version of yourself is enough.  In my younger years, I also naively would have thought ‘success’ was defined by job title, status or salary. I have grown to learn that purpose and job satisfaction are much more valuable to me.  I am energised and motivated by doing things I enjoy and that I feel add value – fulfilment and happiness come with this, and that is success for me now. Where do you see yourself this time next year? I would like to still be working for Chartered Accountants Ireland supporting the wonderful community and of course continuing to showcase the profession to the next gen. I feel really passionate about debunking the myths that exist, like it’s boring or it’s just number crunching and maths based or it’s not very accessible! All completely untrue – so I want to continue on my crusade to demystify the career and show the reality of Chartered Accountancy careers! Who inspires you, personally and professionally? Personally, I would say my dad. He has a real ‘can do’ attitude and drilled into me that there is no such thing as can’t – this positive problem-solving approach has taught me a lot. His confidence, drive and work ethic are something I’ve also always admired. Professionally, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many great leaders who inspire me, so it’s genuinely hard to narrow it down. The benefit of working in the profession is the opportunity to be exposed to some of the most talented business minds from whom I have had the privilege of learning so much. How has being a Chartered Accountant changed your life? Qualifying as a Chartered Accountant was a game-changer for me in so many ways.  I entered a career where there was an abundance of varied opportunities, which suited someone like me as I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to be when I grew up (such a hard question to answer as a young person, I feel).  I was attracted to the idea of working in business, but I didn’t know what exact path to take. Being a Chartered Accountant opens so many doors, and you can work in any sector in both traditional finance and non-traditional roles.  I’ve enjoyed this luxury first-hand.  But the biggest win has been the relationships I’ve built. There is a real family feel to the profession and I have made lifelong friends, and I even met a husband along the way.  A lot of my socialising is done with fellow Chartered Accountants, and it’s lovely to have the opportunity to create such meaningful connections with like-minded people. It truly is such a special community to be part of! If you weren't a Chartered Accountant, what do you think you'd be doing?  I feel like I’ve found my fit in the role I do – it combines commercial and marketing aspects, but the beauty of being a Chartered Accountant is you can work right across the business.  I love the flexibility of the career. The skills you develop are transferable right across the market, and employers want to hire Chartered Accountants, so they are always in demand, which is brilliant for job security, stability, and reward.  Thinking completely aspirational and outside of the box, my younger self aspired to be an actress (but the pragmatic side of me didn’t think that was a realistic option) – I do scratch that itch by enjoying some amateur drama activity in my spare time, though. What advice do you have for those who will soon qualify as Chartered Accountants?  It’s such an exciting time – once you qualify, you truly grasp the full potential the profession can offer, whether it be in terms of career variety and reward or the fact you can travel the world because it is an internationally recognised business leadership credential.  Be curious and enjoy exploring the career variety. A top tip would also be to build a good network – it is invaluable to the opportunities that can come your way via connections. An easy way to do this is by getting involved in your local District Societies and attending events – I have benefited from amazing experiences and opportunities by being an active participant in the Ulster Society.  There are also so many services and supports available from the Institute – I would encourage newly qualified Chartered Accountants to engage with these and enjoy the full benefits of being a member.

 In every issue of The Bottom Line, we ask students for their thoughts on a particular topic. This month, we want to know: What do you hope for in your career in 2024? Brendan Connor PwC In my current role, I am very fortunate to be able to work with clients that operate in a variety of industries. In 2024, I hope to continue to get this exposure to diverse industries and benefit from the learning opportunities this presents. I also look forward to developing my coaching and mentoring skills. I’ve found that, as an associate in a large practice, coaching junior associates is something that is often expected within your first two to three years of work. It’s one of the real benefits of working in a large practice, in my opinion. Lastly, a key priority of mine is being successful in my FAEs this coming year. Hopefully, I can get off to a good start with the AFR interim exam next month. Jessica Bourke EY In 2024, I hope to see my career grow by building my personal connections within  the business sector.  Over the past year, I have learned a lot about myself and where I want to go in life. Joining CASSL really helped me to build my confidence and showed me that I want to be more involved in the social aspects of the profession, as networking is vital.  Throughout the year, I have attended several events, and it has opened so many doors for me. I have landed opportunities by being myself and talking to everyone. I have connections now in sectors I didn’t think I would.  For 2024, I want to build on that. I want to attend more social networking events, and I want to develop who I am so I can advertise the best version of myself, whoever that may be.  So, for the next 12 months, I want to work on myself, my talents and my networking, and hopefully, by the end of 2024, I will be looking back and reflecting on how I have grown as a person. Peter McPhillips KPMG I hope to see the efforts I have put in recently prove fruitful in 2024.  I have aimed to gain exposure to all sorts of development and networking opportunities in recent years through my involvement with the Chartered Accountants Student Society and the Social Committee in my workplace. I believe this will pay dividends in 2024 as I look to broaden my horizons in the future. I am due to take the final set of my professional accountancy exams next summer, and this will hopefully be a huge, positive step forward in my career as it opens up many future avenues for an exciting career.  I look forward to the many opportunities ahead of me in 2024.

Reabetswe Moutlana, Manager in FSO Assurance – Aircraft Leasing at EY Ireland, talks to The Bottom Line about her time studying to become a Chartered Accountant in South Africa, the importance of always being open to learning and how much she admires her big sister Five years ago, where did you think you would be now? Have you lived up to your own expectations? I thought I would be a fully qualified Chartered Accountant living and working abroad as an audit manager. It feels great to know that that’s where I am right now. The only difference is that I am in Ireland instead of London, as life worked out.  However, this has come to be the best decision I have ever made.  Of course, like many, I imagined working in some high skyscraper building, doing some really important work. (I’m not currently working in a skyscraper, but definitely doing important work).  What has been the biggest challenge of your career?  Life after articles. The Chartered Accountant stream (from a South African perspective) means seven years of your life after high school are pretty much predetermined in that you do your undergrad, postgrad, articles and then qualify.  When you qualify, you have “limitless opportunities”. It can be pretty overwhelming planning out your first big move and which direction to take your career in. What do you wish you had known earlier in life? Someone told me that your career is long and that you, therefore, don’t have to have it all figured out at 25. Some people know from a young age exactly what they want, and some are still figuring it out. Both are perfectly fine. Where do you see yourself this time next year? Hopefully, I will be closer to my dream of pursuing an MBA in Europe. Who inspires you, personally and professionally? My big sister, Kamogelo Kroll, inspires me both personally and professionally.  I call her my deputy mom as she is 13 years my senior, and I have gained so much wisdom from her.  She is a qualified Chartered Accountant herself, and many will say I followed in big sister’s footsteps, which is actually untrue, as I planned my own journey. It just happened to be quite similar to hers.  I can, however, acknowledge that I have been incredibly blessed to have had someone who has walked this path before me and has guided me through, not just professionally but in my personal life, too.  My sister is my confidante, voice of reason and one of the coolest and most fun people I know.  How has being a Chartered Accountant changed your life? Being a Chartered Accountant has given me access to so many different opportunities and learning how businesses work.  I enjoy having access to different people within various organisations at varying levels of seniority and learning from them and about the work that they do. It broadens your view of many things.  If you weren't a Chartered Accountant, what do you think you'd be doing? I would still be in finance.  I really do enjoy finance and find it very interesting.  However, when I was younger, I wanted to be a paediatrician because I found the work that doctors do to be very fascinating and life-changing.  What advice do you have for those soon qualifying as Chartered Accountants?  Master the skill of being teachable and embrace learning. Also, try to surround yourself with people who are different from you. It‘s incredible how much you learn from people who think differently from you.

In every issue of The Bottom Line, we ask students for their thoughts on a particular topic. This month, we want to know: What do you hope to see in Budget 2024? Ellen Roycroft EY There is no denying the cost-of-living crisis is one of the largest issues faced by the Irish populace and that one of the main downfalls of this is the rising price of electricity and fuel.  The electricity credits afforded to all households last year helped with this burden substantially. I believe that a further instalment of these credits could set a buffer for those struggling to get through what will already be an expensive winter ahead. In addition to this, I would hope to see an increase in the fuel credit for those living in fuel poverty. The credit, in my opinion, should be extended and the criteria for meeting it relaxed.  With an increasing number of people needing financial help to heat their homes, this would help, in my opinion, both with the affordability of fuel for those already receiving the benefit and for those who may be just on the verge of fuel poverty. Aleksandar Elliot KPMG My hope is that Budget 2024 will be about helping those who need it most through the challenging environment we’re faced with currently, as well as building a more sustainable long-term future. In the short term, the focus should be on the most vulnerable and shielding them from the impact of inflation. Increases in pensions and fuel allowance, as well as help with back-to-school costs through child benefit, should be the top priority.  We cannot forget small businesses that would benefit from the retention of lower VAT rates that are due to expire. Finally, a key component of the cost-of-living crisis is energy. I would like to see the government seize the opportunity to help people reduce their energy usage, which will, in turn, help reduce bills whilst benefitting the environment in the long term. Retrofitting schemes, green finance and electric vehicle grants would be central to such efforts. Sean Cahill EY One of the biggest struggles for students and young professionals is affording rent. From battling to find suitable accommodation to being able to afford it, the housing crisis, in my opinion, is the biggest issue Ireland has now. Last year’s €500 rent tax credit was a brilliant first step in the right direction by our government in addressing this. However, with no short-term solution to this crisis, I feel it's the government's duty to provide further assistance. Since last year, rent has increased exponentially across urban areas in Ireland. Boosting tax credits and reliefs and even looking at setting rent ceilings would not only ease  the burden on tenants but also have a spin-off effect on local economies.  In the 2024 budget, I would love to see the government implementing a strategy to further help tenants and also show a clear long-term plan on how they intend to bring rental rates back to affordability.

Shane O’Brien, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland, shares insights into career challenges, his future with his new organisation, and how he was destined for the not-for-profit sector Five years ago, where did you think you would be now? Have you lived up to your own expectations?  After finishing my training contract and being admitted as a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland, I knew that I wanted varied work and to make a difference. The Chartered Accountancy qualification gave me the skills to think on my feet and to become a strategic business leader. The skills that you develop during the qualification are invaluable no matter what direction your career takes. What has been the biggest challenge of your career?  I think trainees starting off tend to overestimate the importance of technical skills and underestimate the importance of soft skills such as communication. Certainly, the latter has proved to be the difference in terms of career progression and achieving my goals. What do you wish you had known earlier in life?  Young people tend to put a lot of pressure on themselves academically, which I can look back on now and see wasn't necessary. The most important thing about your career is that you enjoy what you're doing and that it challenges you.  It's also important not to make decisions based on what others may think. Where do you see yourself this time next year?  I will be a year into my new role at the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland and hopefully have moved the organisation forward in achieving the aims set out in the strategic plan.  I'm a firm believer in ongoing development and that "when you're finished learning, you're finished!" Who inspires you, personally and professionally? My parents were a great inspiration to me growing up for the sacrifices that they made.  People with Parkinson’s Disease and their families inspire me in my role, and I know that if we put them at the centre of all our decisions, then we will be moving in the right direction.  How has being a Chartered Accountant changed your life?  It's a life-changing qualification, and the prestige associated with it sets you apart no matter what role you put yourself forward for. The exams are stressful, but I found it to be an enjoyable qualification overall. The most difficult thing is balancing work with study. If you weren't a Chartered Accountant, what do you think you'd be doing?  I think I would have found my way into the not-for-profit sector even if I hadn't been an accountant.  What advice do you have for those who will soon qualify as Chartered Accountants?  Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Make sure you keep a work-life balance in order to cope with stress and try to have some sort of hobby or interest outside of work.  The end is in sight!