Our advocates

I am a Chartered Accountant since 1973 and lectured part-time in Business Ethics in DCU. My other experience includes:

• Non-executive director of Dublin Bus, Chairman of the Audit Committee
• Non-executive director of The Marine Institute, Chairman of the Audit Committee
• Non-executive member of the Board of Tallaght Hospital, member of the Audit Committee and Governance Committee
• Non-executive member of the Audit Committee of Rehab
• Member of the Council of Chartered Accountants Ireland, Chairman of the Education Board
• Volunteer - Rape Crisis Centre, trainer of volunteer counsellors
  
  

When did you hear about CA support?

I bounced into this profession of ours some fifty years ago, full of the bravado and enthusiasm of youth.   When I paid my first annual subscription as a self-assured, confident Chartered Accountant facing a world full of possibilities and opportunities, I was aghast at the idea that I was being asked to subscribe to the Benevolent Society. It was inconceivable to me then that Chartered Accountants could find themselves in need of financial support. I ignored the appeal and dismissed it as just another rip-off.

Since then, life happened to me. Now I know that no matter how smart, honest, and hardworking we are, we can be hit by ill-health, stress, family tragedies, trauma, collapse of business, dishonest partners, marriage breakup and a myriad of other punches to our solar plexus. Often, we are resilient enough to cope. Sometimes we are not. When we are not, we need the kindness of friends. 

What about CA Support resonates with you and why?

The Benevolent Society has changed and is now CA Support. It gives the kindness of friends to members and students who are overwhelmed by any of the range of blows that can hit them. They provide emotional or other practical help, including counselling, legal advice, career development, wellness coaching and financial support.   

Why I am an advocate for CA Support?

I have lived a life as a Chartered Accountant in practice, in academe, as a Council member, a member of the Accounting Standards Board and as a company director. I am also a mother, a granny and counsellor for the Rape Crisis Centre. In all of those roles, I have learned that one of the most significant things we can achieve in our lives is to be kind to people we meet who are in distress in the dark moments of their life. CA Support does that for my fellow Chartered Accountants and I wholeheartedly support them and commend their work.

In 2005 I began my apprenticship with DHKN in Galway and qualified in 2009. I worked in industry for 6 years as a finance manager in the charity and financial services sectors. In 2016 I left my accountancy role to pursue a new career in performance psychology. I have worked with many of Irelands leading high performance teams in sport and business including All Ireland champions Tipperary 2016 and Limerick hurlers in 2019. In addition to being a Chartered Accountants I also have:

• MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology
• Accredited Diploma in Life and Executive Coaching
• Higher diploma in Economic Science
• Certificate in physical conditioning for sport
• Certificate in mindfulness

I am a Performance and Wellbeing Coach and currently run my own performance coaching business that inspires, supports, and enables people, teams, and organisations to achieve peak wellbeing and performance.

When did you hear about CA support?

Through the weekly newsletters I saw the link regarding services and supports available.

What resonates with you about CA Support and why?

From personal experiences, having support networks throughout our personal and professional lives is critical during challenging times or during changes in our lives. Using coaches/mentors to explore career opportunities or areas of development in our current roles or personal life. Discussing career transition possibilities and ways to achieve ambitions with a career coach is invaluable throughout our career.

Why are you an advocate of support for CA?

During my time as a trainee I really struggled with exams and the disappointment of not passing them was a huge setback. Being out of contract and being unqualified after 4 years of really hard work was a tough experience. I think professional supports like coaches and mentors during this time would have been beneficial to help me cope better and ease through these hard times that will come to most during a professional career.

Website: www.tonyogregan.ie

Email: support@tonyogregan.ie

I began my journey as a Chartered Accountant after a few years out of University and away from exams. Taking the step into accountancy was a step into a new world full of travelling, new skills, new people and a challenging work-life balance. I am now a member, but at times I struggled with the pressures of work and study; and being away from family and friends.

When did you hear about CA Support?

I became aware of CA Support in the final year of my studies through my involvement in the Student Societies. I regret not hearing about these services until I was at the end of my studies as there so much support is available.

What about CA support resonates with you and why?

I was fortunate to act as Chair of the Chartered Accountants Students Society in Ireland in 2019/20, having previously acted as the Education Officer. We must continue to support those who can provide help and advice to those struggling in this difficult time, CA Support is our mechanism for this.

Why I am an advocate for CA Support?

Throughout my time in the Student Society I was contacted by many students who faced difficulties around examination anxiety, job security and health concerns. My awareness of CA Support allowed me to signpost accordingly. My key takeaway from my year as Chair was that the profile of CA Support needed to be raised if we were to truly support our members and students.

Increasing awareness of CA Support is something I am passionate about as it is vital that our students and members know how to find help for themselves or colleagues in need. This is the reason I am proud to act as an advocate for CA Support, to promote this service and the exceptional work done by their staff.

CA Support is available to both students and members throughout their career. We may not need this help right now, but there are many uncertainties in the future, be it job security, advice on financial matters, career advice or health concerns. It gives me great comfort to know that if I do need help, CA Support will be there for me.

If you can help just one person by sharing information on this service, think what could happen if we all spread the word.