Member Elaine O'Flynn went to Sydney for a year four years ago. In this time, she has carved a niche role for herself, combining her interests in accountancy, sustainability and the creative industry. Elaine is Sustainability Manager with Retail Apparel Group. Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I grew up on a farm just outside Fermoy in north Co. Cork and went to University in Limerick. After my undergraduate degree, I lived in Dublin during my training contract with KPMG. After that, I solo travelled South America for four months before relocating to Sydney with my partner. That was meant to be for a year but I’m still there nearly four years later…  What made you choose to become a Chartered Accountant?   I studied business and French in university and enjoyed the accounting/strategy modules so it was a natural progression to do my college placement in the accounting industry. My cousin was working in KPMG at the time and really enjoyed it, so I said I’d try it. Placement really sold the career to me, particularly the social aspect and working alongside such a young workforce. When I got offered a training contract to return after college it felt too good an opportunity to pass up.  Can you tell us a little about how you got to where you are today – both the geographical relocation and career path. After leaving KPMG and moving to Sydney, I knew I wanted to work in something more strategical/risk based. It just so happened at the same time that my current boss was looking for someone to work on various financial and strategical projects for the fashion company he worked for. As we worked together more closely, I got involved in more sustainability/risk-based projects. This has always been an area of business I am passionate about, and I began to ask my business for more opportunities to work in this space. Three years later I have now transitioned to be the company’s first sustainability manager.  My current role involves developing the sustainability strategy for the business focusing on three key pillars: people, community and planet. This can range from projects such as calculating our carbon footprint and facilitating the business’ move to paper packaging, to building our charity partnerships or reporting on our business strategy for modern slavery.   What do you value most about your membership of the profession and how do you think those benefits can be used to support the economy and society?  The transferable skills it has given me to develop my career into risk and sustainability.  Being a chartered accountant has also been significantly valuable in terms of building my career in Sydney where Chartered Accountants are highly recognised and valued.   As a member living in Australia, can you talk to us about how your membership has been of value to you globally and what do you value about it now that you’re living overseas (and what would you like to see more of)?  Irish Chartered Accountants have a very strong reputation in Australia and I wouldn’t have my current role had I not followed these earlier career paths. My current boss is an Australian Chartered Accountant and so he recognised the potential and transferable skills I could bring to the role.  And finally, if you weren’t an accountant, what do you think you would you be/have been? I always wanted to work in something creative so maybe art of some sort! Elaine O'Flynn is Sustainability Manager with Retail Apparel Group.

It may be a long way from Monaghan to Sydney, but Eimear McCarron now calls Sydney home. We found out more about her journey recently, and will keep an extra sharp eye on the Australian Open Tennis from now on! Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I’m from Emyvale in Co. Monaghan & I went to university in Queens Belfast, trained in Deloitte Dublin and I now live in Sydney Australia. What made you choose to become a Chartered Accountant? I don’t remember making the decision but I think that I wanted a profession that would give me great career and personal opportunities. My father has his own business so I did work experience in his accountants when I was at school. I like that as a chartered accountant you can be involved in anything from helping family businesses to being the CFO/CEO of a huge multinational. Can you tell us a little about how you got to where you are today – both the geographical relocation and your career path? I really enjoyed my time in Deloitte, Dublin, and think it was the best training and experience I could have had to start my career. However, I had a strong desire to travel and to try living abroad, so after a few months traveling in South America I moved to Sydney in 2014 with a few other Deloitte friends! I was lucky to get a job in Vodafone under another Irish Chartered Accountant, and they sponsored me after six months. I ended up staying in Vodafone for nearly five years doing several roles from FP&A analyst to merger integration planning so I got a very varied experience there.  I’m currently a Senior Finance Manager at Nine Entertainment – Australia’s largest media company. I lead the finance business partnerships for all group departments which includes sales, technology, head office, property, P&C, finance & legal. I really enjoy working directly with and learning from the most senior management in Nine and it’s exciting working for a media company that covers TV, radio and publishing. What do you value most about your membership of the profession and how do you think those benefits can be used to support the economy and society? The most valuable part is definitely the career opportunities it gives you. In Sydney, the Irish Chartered Accountant brand is very powerful and has a very strong reputation – employers hold it in high regard. I think the path to becoming a chartered accountant really sets you up for whatever path you choose next – the work ethic and experience you get while training really stands to you. As a member living in Australia, can you tell us about how your membership has been of value to you globally and what do you value about it now that you're living overseas (and what would you like to see more of)? I recently joined the Australian Society committee as I’ve always gone to the networking events over the years and found them a great way of catching up and meeting new people. Membership gives you that link to a professional community and I think it can definitely help new members moving overseas whether it be getting job opportunities or making friends in a new city. In-person events probably haven’t properly kicked off again since Covid so I’m looking forward to them returning soon.  And finally, if you weren't an accountant, what do you think you would be? I’ve recently taken up tennis so maybe if I had started that a bit earlier that could have been the career for me! Realistically, I think I might have liked engineering or something along those lines either.  Eimear McCarron is Senior Group Finance Manager at Nine.        

Members in Perth are invited to join Chapter Head Darren King for a Christmas social event on Thursday, 12 December at Durty Nelly's, Murray Street Perth. It is a free event but booking is essential here.