Leinster Society news

Join us on Thursday 10 April for our Women in Business Event, sponsored by AIB and funded by Chartered Accountants Ireland Skillnet. Thursday 10 April | 4.30pm - 8.30pm | €50pp | 3 CPD hours We are delighted to be joined by three incredible women who have each founded successful organisations; Sinead Asple of SEA+SOLU, Mary McKenna of AwakenHub and Peigín Crowley of GROUND Wellbeing.  Join us, as our MC Belinda O'Neill sits down with each woman for an in depth chat on their journey so far. This event will be held in Chartered Accountants House and there will be drinks, nibbles and goodie bags for all attendees!  This event has limited seating so be sure to book your tickets today by emailing: LeinsterSociety@charteredaccountants.ie Speaker Profiles Belinda O'Neill, Event MC  Belinda left her career as a bank manager in December 2021, having worked in the same bank for almost 25 years, and took a leap of faith to leave voluntarily in pursuit of her own entrepreneurial ambitions. She is an award winning, best-selling Author, Speaker, Facilitator, Podcaster, Business Consultant, Executive Coach and the Founder of Be Inspired To Be®, recently trademarking her unique concept of Creatively Cleansing. Sinead Asple, Founder of SEA+SOLU Sinead is a qualified Chartered Accountant who trained at PwC Dublin and built a successful career in industry spanning over 15 years. Her entrepreneurial journey began with the creation and growth of two innovative childcare technology platforms, SureSitter and MindMe. These platforms have transformed into Ireland's largest online care marketplaces, redefining how families connect with trusted caregivers for family, elderly, and household care. In 2024, Sinead founded SEA+SOLU, Ireland’s first customizable haircare brand. SEA+SOLU offers carefully crafted formulas that cater to every hair type and texture, rooted in a clean ingredient methodology that prioritizes efficacy and sustainability. Proudly headquartered in Ireland, the brand is on a mission to redefine haircare globally. Mary McKenna, Co Founder of AwakenHub Mary McKenna is a Northern Irish serial tech entrepreneur and angel investor based in Donegal. She co-founded successful Derry-based online learning company Learning Pool and since selling Learning Pool has worked extensively with early-stage startups and scaleups across the entire European ecosystem. She has angel invested in 25 or so early-stage tech startups to date and in July 2020 she co-founded social enterprise AwakenHub, an all-Ireland female founder community. AwakenHub has 3,000 members and has just launched Ireland’s first and only women-led angel syndicate, AwakenAngels. Mary was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen in the 2014 New Year’s Honours for services to digital technology, innovation, and learning.   Peigín Crowley, Founder of GROUND Wellbeing Peigín has over 28 years of experience in the spa industry, a true wellness curator at heart, Peigín designs award-winning spa experiences and products with a strong focus on wellbeing for the most luxurious resort destinations in the world from The Rosewood, Six Senses, Four Seasons, Kempinski & Bulgari Hotels. GROUND was born at the kitchen table in 2020, deep in lockdown. Peigín was unafraid to depart from traditional spa menus focused on beauty, pampering, and anti-aging, instead developing treatments and products that address anxiety, insomnia, hormone fluctuations, burnout, gut health & cancer care. Her mission is to encourage us all to slow down and connect inwards in order to achieve longevity through purposeful self-care and education.  Due to limited seating at this event, please note our Cancellation Policy:  Cancellations may be made up to 2 weeks in advance and will not incur any fee. No shows, or those cancelling within this 2 week period of the event, will be charged in full.

Calendar of events 2025*  *Events subject to change Date  Event  Location  February 8 Park Run with President Barry Doyle Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, D16   February 12 Expert Series; Perspectives on CSRD Implementation  Zoom  March 6 Leinster Society Rugby Lunch Aviva Stadium, D4  April 10 Women in Business event Chartered Accountants House  April 16  Expert Series; Networking in the Digital Age Zoom  June 13  Annual AGM  Chartered Accountants House   August 8  Leinster Society Dublin Horse Show event  Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge, & RDS  August 21  Annual Golf Outing  Castle Golf Club, Rathfarnham, D16  November 6  Published Accounts Awards  The Shelbourne Hotel, D2  December 5  Leinster Society Christmas Lunch  Dublin Royal Convention Centre, D8    Email leinstersociety@charteredaccountants.ie for more information, or to book any of the in-person events. The Expert Series webinars can be booked by clicking on 'Zoom' above.

Did you know that every year the Leinster Society organises a charity toy drive at our Christmas Lunch? We are proud to partner with 7 different children's charities each year, and with thanks to our generous members this helps lighten the load for many families at what can be a difficult time of year. Each guest brings along a gift for a child, and with the help of Santa and his elves these gifts are distributed among our 7 charities; SVP,  YPAR, Carr's Child & Family Services, The Santa Fund, Barnardos Millbrook, One Family, and Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin. Learn more about our children's charity partners; SVP According to SVP requests for assistance have increased on last year, this means that people who have never reached out for help are now looking for assistance with the basics – food, rent, electricity and heating. They have also noticed that those in employment on low incomes are especially reaching out to them this year as they are finding the cost of living increases more difficult to manage.  With our gifts they can help make Christmas less of a struggle for families hoping to give their children what they wish for this year, whether it’s a toy or a voucher so the family can purchase what the child wants. YPAR - Young People At Risk (North Inner City) The YPAR Initiative (Dublin North Inner City) is an interagency network of statutory, voluntary and community projects and services, established in 2003, whose work is to meet the needs of young people at risk and vulnerable families in the area through action focused collaborative and co-ordinated approach, aimed at improving all aspects of the young people’s life.  YPAR defines a young person at risk as a child/young person aged 0 to 25 years experiencing significant personal, family, educational or social problems. At present there are over 1400 children living in Emergency Accommodation in the Dublin City Centre region alone. With funding YPAR can be proactive and provide an appropriate response to families living in, and leaving, homeless accommodation.  Throughout the last couple of years YPAR have provided large numbers of children with Christmas gifts and art & crafts / games for families. Carr's Child and Family Services CLG Carr's Child and Family Services CLG was established in 1887 with a vision that all children should live in safe, stable homes nurtured by their families and communities. They are a unique service on the island of Ireland because they provide three interlinked services: early years, assessment, and support. These services offer children from birth to five years the opportunity to live in the service with their parents. At the same time, they support parents with disabilities, mental health, homelessness and addiction in being the best parents they can be. The team that makes up Carr's is passionate, dedicated, and committed to their vision, and they work tirelessly to make these early years safe and nurturing for children. The Board of Management strongly focuses on accountability, transparency, integrity, effectiveness and leadership in ensuring good governance of the organisation. They partner with The Child and Family Agency and Pobal in making Ireland a better place for children.  The Santa Fund 'The toys your members provide are fantastic and bring joy to children who otherwise would never receive anything from Santa. Any contributor to the Santa Fund can sit down to their Christmas lunch certain in the knowledge that their contribution went to the people who require it.' - Sean Allen, The Santa Fund The Santa Fund caters for people in dire need and does most of its work in the South Inner City. The people they cater for are in dire need despite the Social Welfare payments and the Christmas bonus. The families are carefully chosen with the assistance of people working in the local area. There are no administrative costs whatsoever and accordingly any money / toys received by the Santa Fund goes directly to the families; the bags they use to pack are donated, the vans they use to transport goods are provided on a voluntary basis, and the people who pack do so on a voluntary basis Barnardos Millbrook Barnardos Millbrook provides preschool and family support services to families. They are a referral-based service, and receive most of their referrals from Tusla, the HSE, mental health services, homeless services and Education & Welfare services. They are one of 4 Barnardos services in the Tallaght area, each with a different remit around the services and support they offer in the community. They support parents through parenting work in the family home, practical support and crisis intervention. They work directly with children to support their development and to support improved emotional wellbeing and overall development. The donations they receive at Christmas are used to directly support and supplement parent’s own efforts to provide for their families. The donations they receive are given directly to parents and help ensure children will have a present to open or warm new clothes to wear on Christmas morning.  They recognise that parents are doing their best, and their aim is to support those efforts to bring extra cheer and comfort to children and families that are often struggling with the cost of living.  Children's Health Foundation Children's Health Foundation raises vital funds to support sick children and their families in Children's Health Ireland hospitals and urgent care centres in Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly. One Family One Family believes in an Ireland where every family is cherished equally, and is enabled to enjoy the social, financial and legal equality to create their own positive futures. One Family is working to ensure a positive and equal future for people parenting alone, sharing parenting and parenting around separation – changing attitudes, policies, services and lives. They are committed to achieving equality and respect for all families. While acknowledging that every family is unique, they will endeavour to bring about better lives for these parents and children. In addition to striving for fundamental attitudinal and structural change in our society, their services offer support in a family-centred way to individual families through times of change and difficulty, as well as supporting those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy.

Glanbia were announced as the overall winner of this year’s Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society Published Accounts Awards. Glanbia were announced as the overall winner of this year’s Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society Published Accounts Awards. They had a double whammy and were also awarded the Euronext Dublin (Large Cap >€1b) Award at the event which took place on Thursday 7 November in the Shelbourne Hotel. The awards, sponsored by Euronext and Arachas, and in partnership with the Business Post, highlighted companies across the island of Ireland for excellence in corporate reporting. Special guest MC Risteárd Cooper hosted the celebrations. The awards have evolved over the years to include categories reflecting the changing nature of business and reporting requirements, going beyond just the scope of financial reporting, and we will continue to do so as the reporting landscape changes. Commenting on the awards Joey Wynne, CEO Arachas, said, “In a world that demands greater scrutiny and precision, the task of financial reporting has never been more complex or crucial.  The hard work, attention to detail, and ethical responsibility of our finalists are what help businesses and organisations stay robust and accountable.” Aisling McArdle, Head of Primary Market Admissions at Euronext commented, “The Published Accounts Awards celebrate the critical role of integrity, transparency and accountability in financial reporting, which form the cornerstone of investor confidence and market integrity. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners, who have displayed excellence in these areas and help sustain a strong foundation for trust and credibility in the financial markets.”   Category  Winner  Euronext Growth Award Origin Enterprises  Euronext Dublin (SME <€1bn)  Kenmare Resources   Euronext Dublin (Large Cap >€1bn)   Glanbia  Company Listed on a Foreign Market   DCC   Statutory or Unlisted Entity (IFRS)   ESB  Statutory or Unlisted Entity (Non-IFRS)  daa  Arachas Not for Profit – Large   Jigsaw  Not for Profit - Small / Medium   Barretstown  Arachas Sustainability and ESG Reporting Award Listed entities  Bank of Ireland  Sustainability and ESG Reporting Award Unlisted entities  CIÉ Group  Branding, Communication and Digital Award  Barnardos    Diversity and Inclusion Award - Not for Profit  Jigsaw  Diversity and Inclusion Award - Listed and Unlisted entities  Bank of Ireland     Marian Ryan, Head of Group Financial Reporting, Glanbia, says of their win; We are honoured to win this award. The Annual Report process in Glanbia is a huge production. We put a lot of time, effort and resourcing into it and are very proud of the output, so to get an acknowledgement like this is very rewarding.  Our Annual Report is a key document in providing our stakeholders with an overview of our financial and non-financial performance in a clear and transparent manner. Along with compliance with regulatory frameworks, the structure of the report also facilitates easy navigation for the reader around what can be a complex document. It is also very visually appealing, with the Glanbia branding evident throughout. Dee Ahearn, CEO, Barretstown was delighted with their award; It’s a tremendous honour to have been selected as the recipient of this award, and even more so considering the stellar line up of nominees in this category. Good governance, ensuring full accountability and transparency are cornerstones of operations at Barretstown and are fundamental to every aspect of how we do business. Awards of this nature are a welcome boost and provide even more motivation to an already hard-working team. A commitment to excellence and ensuring a best-in-class approach were among the key factors in our success in this category. John Flannery, Group Financial Accountant, CIÉ Group, on being a second time winner; We are really delighted to win this prestigious award for the second consecutive year.  We have invested significant resources to bring sustainability reporting in line with financial reporting and to ensure full transparency of our performance.  This award is an important endorsement of our commitment to sustainability and excellence in reporting.       At CIÉ Group, sustainability is central to our strategic purpose; a significant investment is being made to deliver the national climate targets and support the achievement of our sustainability commitments.  Measuring performance is critical to achieving on our objectives and over the past number of years we have prioritised data accuracy and reporting transparency to inform strategic decisions and work with our stakeholders.    Tom Hickey, Managing Director, Kenmare Resources comments on what it means to win their award;  Kenmare is delighted to have won the Best Annual Report (SMEs <€1bn) award at the Published Accounts Awards. The Annual Report is a huge team effort and is the result of months of planning and hard work across a number of different departments here in Dublin and in our other offices in the UK and Mozambique. The other finalists were strong, so we were particularly pleased to be recognised in this category for the second time in five years. We’ve just started planning for our 2024 Annual Report so we’re excited to see if we can bring home an award for the third time at the 2025 awards ceremony.   Mike Mansfield, Director of Communications and Fundraising, Jigsaw, on why they believe they took home their award;  Firstly, the competition  from others in our sector was so high, so to come through hugely validates the high effort we place on our reporting each year. Commencing in December of the previous year, the project team who leads on the Annual Report invest time, energy and thought; all hugely important elements. We would like to think some of the elements that stood out was a consistent narrative; the voice and experience of our people – be they donors, staff, volunteers or beneficiaries  - and an openness. Annual Reports are hugely important in Jigsaw. As well as adhering to our corporate governance requirements, each year, Jigsaw’s Annual Report showcases our work, celebrates our achievements and tells the story of our people, our supporters and our impact; and for a charity in the coalface of some hugely significant social issues, this is key. Lorraine Cody, Financial Accountant, ESB, comments on their win; Our Annual Report is central in providing investors, customers and other stakeholders with a good understanding of our financial and non-financial performance and on ESB’s progress towards delivering our Net Zero by 2040 Strategy. This award validates the work we have done in that regard and is well deserved recognition for all those who work so hard to produce an Annual Report which is accurate, comprehensive and useful for our stakeholders.   

We are delighted, and excited, to announce this year's Leinster Society Annual Christmas Lunch is moving to a new venue; the Dublin Royal Convention Centre! We listened to feedback from our members and felt it was the right time for a move!   When: Friday 6 December from 12.00pm Where: The Dublin Royal Convention Centre Price: €125 per person Join us, Santa, and a very special guest MC who we will reveal in the coming weeks as we kick off silly season while raising money for charity, with a fantastic raffle and delicious festive lunch. Tickets are on sale now at €125 per person or €1,250 for a table of ten. (A limited number of larger tables can be accommodated, get in touch to enquire.) To book your tickets email us LeinsterSociety@charteredaccountants.ie. This event is in partnership with Debra Ireland, and all money raised from our raffle on the day will go directly to Debra. There are fantastic prizes up for grabs on the day, and through the generosity of our members we hope to raise a substantial amount for Debra. Debra is the national charity providing support and advocacy for individuals and families affected by epidermolysis bullosa (EB). With over 300 people living with this rare and debilitating genetic condition in Ireland, Debra plays a critical role in improving their quality of life. EB renders skin as fragile as a butterfly's wings, causing painful blisters and wounds with even the slightest friction.   This event is kindly sponsored by our friends at CPL. Due to limited seating at this event please note our Cancellation policy: •    Cancellations may be made up to 2 weeks in advance and will not incur any fee. •    No shows, or those cancelling within this 2 week period of the event, will be charged in full. Venue Information: We are proud to be working with the Dublin Royal Convention Centre; a first-class venue with NZEB standards, LEED Gold Certificate, and that strives to achieve more sustainable and green initiatives to safeguard the environment. LEED is an internationally recognised green building certification system aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter the most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. More on their Sustainability Mission here.  Venue accessibility information Parking There are three wheelchair accessible allocated parking spaces within the Convention Centre parking Reception Desk This is wheelchair accessible for height – 720mms Bar There is a lowered bar area for wheelchair users – 860 mms Doors Doors when open in revolving door – 1.4 Metres Doors from street into pre-function area – 1.9 Metres Double Doors within Partition Doors – 1.8 Metres Toilets There are wheelchair accessible toilets located on the left of the bar near the cloakroom and a second one downstairs with the other toilets. Hearing Loop There is a hearing loop in the main room for guests with hearing aids.

Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society has announced its shortlist for the 47th Annual Published Accounts Awards. The awards celebrate companies, on the Island of Ireland, for their excellence in corporate reporting. The Awards are sponsored by Euronext Dublin and Arachas.  This year’s shortlist includes a total of 26 public and private companies, and 10 not-for-profit organisations. The winners will be announced at a special gala event, taking place in The Shelbourne Hotel on Thursday 07 November 2024 commencing at 7pm, with special guest Risteárd Cooper overseeing the proceedings. FINALISTS FOR THE 47th PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS AWARDS 2024 Euronext Growth Award Origin Enterprises  Uniphar  Euronext Dublin (SME <€1bn) Dalata Hotel Group  FBD Holdings Glenveagh Properties  Irish Residential Properties REIT Irish Continental Group  Kenmare Resources  Euronext Dublin (Large Cap >€1bn) AIB Bank of Ireland Glanbia Company Listed on a Foreign Market DCC  Flutter Entertainment  Grafton Group Oneview Healthcare Statutory or Unquoted Entity (IFRS) An Post Eirgrid ESB Ervia NI Water Statutory or Unquoted Entity (Non-IFRS) Central Bank of Ireland CIÉ - Córas Iompair Éireann Coillte CGA daa Irish Football Association Tusla Arachas Not for Profit - Large Barnardos Concern Focus Ireland CLG Jigsaw Kare Not for Profit - Small / Medium Barretstown Dogs Trust Irish FA Foundation The Care Trust The Wheel In addition to the category awards, there are also a number of other awards consisting of the: • Overall Winner’s Award,  • Arachas Sustainability and ESG Reporting Award Listed entities, • Sustainability and ESG Reporting Award Unlisted entities, • Branding, Communication and Digital Award, and the • Diversity and Inclusion Award - Not for Profit  • Diversity and Inclusion Award - Listed and Unlisted entities Dedicated PAA webpage: https://www.charteredaccountants.ie/Leinster/PAA Event details Thursday 07 November 2024 in The Shelbourne Hotel, 7:30pm.  M.C. is acclaimed actor, impressionist, comedian and singer, Risteárd Cooper. Tickets are €140 per person / €1400 for a table of ten. Individual tickets are available.  To book or for more information please contact paa@charteredaccountants.ie. Dress: Business / Cocktail  

The Leinster Society is hosting an event to mark the amalgamation between CPA Ireland and Chartered Accountants Ireland and following on from that a stronger Leinster Society. We would like to invite all members, both those who joined on 1 September and those who have been with us prior to 1 September, to join us at this event which will be an opportunity to create new connections, and reacquaint with old connections.  This will be a relaxed, evening event with plenty of networking opportunities, and the chance for our members who joined on 1 September to find out more about what the Leinster Society stands for and can do for them. When: Thursday 17 October, 6pm ‘til late Where: The Blue Goose (formerly Dobbins Restaurant), Stephen’s Lane, D2.  What: An evening for new friends and old friends to come together. Refreshments and canapes will be provided. Price: This event is free for all members, but registration is required. To reserve your place email Leinstersociety@charteredaccountants.ie  This event is kindly sponsored by QX Accounting Services. This event is kindly supported by the Chartered Accountants Ireland Interim Managers.

Average Chartered Accountant salary package in Leinster of €123,466, an increase of 10% over 5 years Almost 60% of chartered accountants feel AI will impact positively on their career, a significant increase on 2023 findings Wednesday 4 September 2024 – The earning potential for both experienced and newly qualified Chartered Accountants working in Leinster has increased significantly, according to data published today by Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society. The survey results show the average salary package in Leinster now stands at €123,466 (up 4% on 2023), with the average basic salary of newly qualified Chartered Accountants rising to €62,374 (up 5.6% on 2023). The annual survey of over 1,100 Chartered Accountants, launched today by Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society in partnership with Barden, Ireland’s leading accounting and tax talent advisory and recruitment firm, provides the most up-to-date guide to Chartered Accountant salaries and employment prospects in the Leinster region.   Strong growth in remuneration packages The research, conducted by Coyne, shows earning potential across the profession remains strong, with €123,466 the average salary package for Chartered Accountants working across all sectors. This figure includes base salary, car or car allowance, and bonus. The longer-term trends are also strong, with a 10% increase in average salary package between 2019 and 2024. 67% of respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with the salary they receive. 90% of respondents overall say their total remuneration has increased in the past three years, with 33% reporting it had increased by more than 25%. Four in five claim their total remuneration is expected to increase within the next 12 months. As part of the remuneration package, 73% expect to receive a bonus in 2024.   Most common elements in salary package The vast majority (87%) of members have a pension, with employers contributing an average 9% of their salary. After basic salary, this pension contribution is the most valued part of their package for 54% of respondents. The other most common elements in respondents’ salary packages are payment of professional subscriptions (79%); Cycle to Work scheme (59%); health insurance (55%); and sponsored professional development (51%). Artificial intelligence in the profession An increasing enthusiasm about the opportunities represented by artificial intelligence is clear from the 2024 survey findings: Over half (52%) of respondents say it is a significant opportunity for the profession (40% in 2023). 55% say it will allow the profession to move further up the value chain in terms of the work it does (47% in 2023). 57% of respondents feel that artificial intelligence will impact positively on their career (44% in 2023). In terms of the wider impact of technology on the profession, 60% feel that cloud-based accounting solutions will impact positively on their career, with 68% of respondents saying the same about automation. Commenting Damien Carr, Chairperson of Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society, said:   “It is very encouraging to see growing enthusiasm about the potential of AI to move Chartered Accountants’ work further up the value chain. AI will not replace human judgement or strategic decision making however but will sit alongside these critical skills that have made Chartered Accountants among the most trusted advisors to senior business leaders. In addition, 44% of respondents agree that AI should be a regulatory priority, and I am confident that regulations such as the new EU AI Act will guide business and society in achieving this important balance. “The continued increases to newly qualified and average salaries demonstrates the level of demand that continues to exist for our profession and will help us to continue to attract the brightest talent to Chartered Accountants Ireland into the future.” Non-monetary rewards and work-life balance The survey findings identified a range of initiatives across Irish workplaces to facilitate team healthy work-life balance. The most common tools made available were the option for hybrid working (available to 83% of respondents); parental and carers’ leave (available to 49% of respondents); and an employee assistance programme (available to 50% of respondents). Job satisfaction was high amongst those surveyed, with 63% satisfied with the non-monetary aspects of their job (62% in 2023); 76% of members satisfied with their work environment (77% in 2023); and 66% happy with work/life balance (64% in 2023). Elaine Brady, Managing Partner at Barden, said: “Despite the continued backdrop of macro level uncertainty over the past 12 months, the demand for accounting talent seen in 2023 has continued strongly into 2024. Differentiating themselves and creating clear career paths is a key challenge for companies throughout Ireland. Accurate data on intrinsic and extrinsic reward can create competitive advantage for those who choose to use it. The insights gained from this publication can also help businesses and hiring managers to craft competitive reward structures to aid not just talent attraction, but as importantly, talent retention. “It is also extremely interesting to see that 83% of members have some form of hybrid working arrangements, with 3 days a week in the office becoming the average. “Also interesting to note is the change in respondents’ perception of AI, and how it will positively impact their day to day work, up to almost 57% this year, a significant increase on last year’s 44%. This in turn has an impact on satisfaction with their work, which has also increased this year to an impressive 76% of Chartered Accountants being either satisfied, or very satisfied with their work environment.”

It's that time of year – our Published Accounts Awards 2024 are now open for entries!  As well as rewarding excellence in corporate reporting, the PAA continues to recognise companies for their achievements across areas such as sustainability, ESG, diversity, equity & inclusion and branding.  Entries are welcome across all types of reporting bodies – whether they are large listed companies, or small not for profit organisations. We are looking at annual reports in respect of financial years ended on or before 31 March 2024.  This year entries close on Friday 12 July 2024 – don’t miss out!  Full details of the awards are on our web page or contact the Leinster Society office at paa@charteredaccountants.ie for more information.  The winners will be announced at the Published Accounts Awards (PAA) event, kindly sponsored by Euronext, and held on Thursday 7 November 2024. Hosted by incoming Chair Damien Carr and the PAA Committee, the awards will take place in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin 2, with a special guest MC to be announced closer to the date.  

Chartered Accountants Leinster Society is thrilled to announce its next business lunch on Thursday 18 April. We are delighted to announce our guest speaker as Doug Beattie MC MLA, Ulster Unionist Party leader. Doug will share his thoughts on the future of the NI economy, now that power sharing has returned to Stormont and how the relationship between Dublin and Belfast can benefit from this. When: Thursday 18 April Time: 12.00pm – 4.00pm  Venue: The Fitzwilliam Hotel, Dublin Price: €60pp / €600 per table of 10 Places will be limited, email us at LeinsterSociety@charteredaccountants.ie to book your spot. After retiring from the army, he joined the Ulster Unionist Party. As of May 2016, Doug is an Ulster Unionist MLA for Upper Bann, and in May 2021 he was elected leader of the party. He is also the party’s justice spokesman, sits on the Assembly’s Justice Committee and is Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for the Executive Office. Doug Beattie was born into a military family and is a career soldier of over 30 years, advancing through the Royal Irish Regiment (later the Royal Irish Rangers) to the rank of Captain. He earned the Military cross on foot of his exploits in Afghanistan, and following his return, he published two best-selling books which propelled him into the public eye on his experiences there.

Six Nations Ticket Giveaway Thanks to our event sponsor Sage, the Official Insights Partner of Six Nations Rugby, we have two tickets to the Ireland v Italy game in the Aviva Stadium to give away to a lucky member. Book your tickets to the Leinster Society Rugby Lunch before 5pm on Monday 5 February to be in with a chance of winning the tickets. Those who have already booked their tickets/table at this point are automatically entered in the giveaway. We will be announcing the winner of the tickets on Tuesday 6 February. Rugby lunch details:   The Leinster Society is looking forward to hosting our Annual Rugby lunch at the Aviva Stadium next month! Join us for a sit-down lunch, followed by a Six Nations analysis from a panel of well-known speakers from the Irish rugby world, including Alan Quinlan as our MC. The rest of the panel will be announced over the coming weeks! We are also delighted to be raising money for the IRFU Charitable Trust at this event.   When: Thursday 22 February Where: Aviva Stadium What time: 12.30pm - 4pm How much: €90 per person, €900 for a table of 10    Email LeinsterSociety@charteredaccountants.ie to book your spot at the event. This event is sponsored by Sage.

Increase of accounting talent in 2–3-year Post Qualified Experience range expected in coming 18 months as professionals return from abroad Qualification now used far more widely outside traditional roles; soft skills increasingly important in profession Chartered Accountants Ireland and Barden announce new partnership to support next generation of students and members   29 January 2024 – The demand for qualified accountants is predicted to reach 10% above pre-pandemic levels in 2024, according to talent advisory and recruitment firm Barden. They also expect an increase in the supply of accounting talent in the 2–3-year PQE range in the coming 18 months, which should alleviate some of the pressure on companies trying to hire at this level.  Commenting Elaine Brady, Managing Partner, Barden Leinster said “Demand for talent is strong locally, and compounding this, the past two years have seen over a 30% increase in newly qualified accountant talent moving internationally after qualifying. An injection of highly qualified talent in the coming months will come as a relief to those hiring. The first five years PQE are a pivotal time for accounting professionals - those that are career orientated should expect to move role, internally or externally, between 2-3 times during this formative period. It’s a competitive space.  “Our data shows us that PQE level and salary level are becoming increasingly disconnected after the 3-year PQE mark - many more variables come into play, and it is no longer about PQE but about the ability to create value for a business outside of the accounting function.”  Chartered Accountants Ireland and Barden have today announced a renewed three-year strategic partnership building and expanding on an existing strong partnership between the two organisations. The partnership is focused on three programmes, the Chartered Accountants Student Society of Ireland (CASSI), Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society and Young Professionals, which have a particularly strong focus on the Institute’s strategic priority of engaging the next generation of students and members. The partnership will build opportunities for connectivity, engagement and belonging in the chartered community.  Commenting Sinead Donovan, President Chartered Accountants Ireland said  “This partnership comes at a time when people skills are becoming increasingly important within the accounting profession, and equally the role that accountants play and the value they create is much wider. For those working in business, many more are having an impact in operational and leadership roles, and in emerging areas such as data analytics and ESG functions. Increasingly Chartered Accountants are using their qualifications to create value outside of the accounting function.  “As a body, it is incumbent on us to ensure that our members are equipped for the expanding remit of our profession. Recruitment data shows that 64% of career opportunity come from your direct network - those you trained with, and those you have worked with, so the importance and direct impact on business growth of the Chartered Accountants member networks cannot be overstated.”  Elaine Brady, Managing Partner, Barden Leinster continued "This strategic partnership between Barden and Chartered Accountants Ireland is the culmination of over a decade of engagement between our two organisations - partnerships of this significance and scale don't just happen overnight.  We're delighted to have built the trust to now support Chartered members from their training through to qualification and through their formative PQE years. Helping people make informed decisions about their future, and enabling those decisions, is what we are all about in Barden; this partnership enables us to be there along each critical step with members as they chart the unknown waters of the future of work.” ENDS  

We were delighted to host over 550 members at our Christmas Lunch in partnership with Cpl on Friday 8 December.  We would like to say a huge thank you to every member who attended the lunch, brought a gift for the toy drive and supported the charity raffle. We hope everyone thoroughly enjoyed re-connecting with each other, meeting Santa and hearing from the brilliant Mario Rosenstock. With your toy donations being split out between seven children’s charities, many children will receive treasured gifts this Christmas. You also helped us to raise a massive €22,000 in aid of the The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation, which will go towards funding 1,289 hours of precious in-home nursing respite care for 218 families in Leinster this Christmas; giving them the #GiftOfTime. Without the support of the members in attendance this wouldn't be possible. On behalf of Chartered Accountants Leinster Society, we want to pay a special tribute to the late Jonathan Irwin, founder of the The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation, whose life’s work touched and supported so many families. Jonathan’s legacy lives on through the amazing work that the foundation does, and we are proud to have supported this wonderful charity this Christmas. May he rest in peace.

We are excited to return to, the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, for the biggest industry lunch of the season. When: Friday 8 December from 12.00pm. Where: The Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road Tickets: €125 / €1,250 for a table of ten Guest speaker: Mario Rosenstock This year's Dublin lunch sees us return to our old stomping ground, the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, for the biggest industry lunch of the season. Join us, Santa and our very special guest MC the talented, multi award winning satirist, mimic and comedian Mario Rosenstock as we kick off silly season while raising money for this year's partner charity, Jack and Jill Children's Foundation with a fantastic raffle and delicious festive lunch. Larger tables can be accommodated. To book your tickets email us Leinstersociety@charteredaccountants.ie. This event is in partnership with Jack and Jill Children's Foundation, who we hope to raise substantial funds for on the day through a raffle. There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs and all proceeds of the raffle go directly to J&J. For  our charity toy drive, where we are asking each attendee to bring a toy for a child, and Santa and his helpers will then collect the toys and they will be shared among up to 10 children's charities, including Barnardos, YPAR, One Family, Carr's Child and Family Services, the Santa Fund, St. Vincent De Paul and Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, with more to be confirmed. This event is kindly sponsored by  Cpl.

CRH were announced as the overall winner of this year’s Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society Published Accounts Awards (PAA) for the second year in a row. The awards, sponsored by Euronext, highlight companies across the island of Ireland for excellence in corporate reporting. Special guest MC Colm O’Regan announced the winners at the ceremony which took place in the Shelbourne Hotel on Thursday 9 November. At the ceremony, PAA Chair, Lisa Gilligan said, "As a Society we are immensely proud of the Published Accounts Awards, which is a cornerstone event in our calendars. As well as showcasing the “Best in Class” in corporate reporting, the Awards continue to recognise companies for their achievements across areas such as Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion and Branding.  Through these Awards we seek to recognise and congratulate the work done by our members in their roles in companies, state bodies and charitable organisations, large and small throughout Ireland. All the judges agreed that the standard of annual reports, across all areas, has improved vastly over the last number of years, making it very difficult to choose the winners."  Commenting at the ceremony on the trust in Chartered Accountants evidenced in recent Edelman survey findings, Leinster Society Chair, Des Gibney, said, "This evening in the shortlisted entries, we see evidence of this work and trust across many types of organisations. As Leinster Society members, you have the strength in numbers to continue and grow this positive reputation".  Head of Admission, Debt, Fund & Entity Listing at Euronext, Aisling McArdle, commented, "The PAA help foster excellence and continued improvement in financial reporting for investors and stakeholders. In uncertain times such as these, outstanding communication and reporting is more important than ever. The PAA presents the perfect opportunity to recognise and reward the companies that have demonstrated their determination and commitment to improving in this area over the past year". 2023 represents the 46th year of the awards which have expanded to include categories beyond financial reporting.  A total of 28 private and statutory companies and 10 not-for-profit organisations featured on the shortlist across 14 award categories. As well as being overall winners, CRH also won the Euronext Dublin (Large cap > €1bn) award. Glenveagh Properties scooped the Euronext Dublin (SME < €1bn) award, also for the second year in a row. Other winners who have held their titles this year were DCC (Company listed on a foreign market); ESB (Statutory or unlisted entity (IFRS)), and Coillte (Statutory or unlisted entity (Non-IFRS)), while Origin took the Euronext Growth Award. Not-for-profit categories this year were taken by Barnardos (Large not-for-profit) and Barretstown (Small/Medium not-for-profit). The awards have evolved over the years to include categories reflecting the changing nature of business and reporting requirements. The Sustainability & ESG Reporting Award (Listed entity) went to Bank of Ireland, while CIÉ won the Sustainability & ESG Reporting (Unlisted entity) award. Dalata won the Diversity & Inclusion Award (Listed or unlisted entity), and Concern won the equivalent prize for a not-for-profit organisation. The Branding, Communication and Digital Award went to daa. Award 2023 winner   Euronext Dublin (Large Cap >€1bn) CRH plc  Euronext Dublin (SME <€1bn) Glenveagh Properties plc  Company listed on a foreign market DCC plc Euronext Growth Award Origin Enterprises  Statutory or Unlisted Entity (IFRS) ESB  Statutory or Unlisted Entity (Non-IFRS) Coillte CGA  Large Not-for-Profit Barnardos  Small / Medium Not-for-Profit Barretstown  Sustainability & ESG Reporting Award (Listed Entity) Bank of Ireland  Sustainability & ESG Reporting Award (Unlisted Entity) CIÉ Group  Diversity & Inclusion Award (Listed or Unlisted Entity) Dalata  Diversity & Inclusion Award (Not-for-Profit) Concern  Branding, Communication & Digital Award daa  Overall winner CRH plc View photos from the event here.  

District Societies arrange lunch or evening events for members to celebrate the season. Here is a roundup of the events for Christmas 2023, including how to book. London Society dinner University Women's Club, Mayfair Took place on Thursday 30 November 2023 Charity supported: The Irish Elderly Advice Network Thank you to all who attended Western Society lunch – bookings now closed The Dean, Galway Friday 1 December 2023 Charity supported: Hope Space Sponsor: Money Butler Ulster Society lunch – bookings now closed Europa Hotel Friday 8 December 2023 12:00pm Entertainment: Andrew Ryan Charities supported: Salvation Army; St Vincent de Paul; NOW Group Sponsor: Ulster Bank Sold out. Waiting list  Mid West Society dinner Savoy Hotel, Limerick Took place on Thursday 30 November 2023 Thank you to all who attended Cork Society Christmas lunch Maryborough Hotel Friday 8 December 2023 12:15pm Guest speaker: Jacqui Hurley Supporting Edel House Individual | Table of 10 North West Society Christmas lunch Glasshouse Hotel, Sligo Friday 8 December 2023 12:30pm Speaker: Deirdre McGettrick  Individual | Table of 10 Leinster Society Wexford Christmas dinner Kelly's Hotel, Rosslare Took place on Thursday 23 November 2023 Thank you to all who attended Kilkenny Christmas dinner Zuni Restaurant Took place on Thursday 30 November 2023 Thank you to all who attended Dublin Christmas lunch Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road Friday 8 December 2023 12:00pm Guest: Mario Rosenstock Supporting: Jack and Jill's Children's Foundation Sponsor: CPL Email to book  

Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society has announced its shortlist for the 46th Annual Published Accounts Awards. The awards celebrate companies, on the Island of Ireland, for their excellence in corporate reporting. The Awards are sponsored by Euronext Dublin. This year’s shortlist includes a total of 28 public and private companies, and 10 not-for-profit organisations. The winners will be announced at a special gala event, taking place in The Shelbourne Hotel on Thursday 09 November 2023 commencing at 7.30pm, with special guest Colm O’Regan overseeing the proceedings. FINALISTS FOR THE 46th PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS AWARDS 2023 Euronext Growth Award Origin Enterprises Uniphar Euronext Dublin (SME <€1bn) Glenveagh Properties plc Irish Continental Group plc Cairn Homes plc Dalata Hotel Group plc Kenmare Resources plc IRES REIT FBD Holdings Euronext Dublin (Large Cap >€1bn) CRH plc Bank of Ireland Kerry Group Flutter Entertainment plc Company Listed on a Foreign Market Grafton Group C&C Group plc DCC plc Oneview Healthcare Statutory or Unquoted Entity (IFRS) An Post Eirgrid Northern Ireland  Water ESB Statutory or Unquoted Entity (Non-IFRS) CIÉ  Tusla Central Bank of Ireland Coillte CGA DAA Home Building Finance Ireland Irish Football Association Not for Profit - Large Barnardos Jigsaw Concern Kare Focus Ireland CLG Inspire Wellbeing CLG Not for Profit - Small / Medium The Care Trust The Wheel Dogs Trust Barretstown In addition to the category awards, there are also a number of other awards consisting of the: Overall Winner’s Award, Sustainability and ESG Reporting Awards, Branding, Communication and Digital Award, and the Diversity and Inclusion Awards. Dedicated PAA webpage: https://www.charteredaccountants.ie/Leinster/PAA Event details Thursday 09 November 2023 in The Shelbourne Hotel, 7:30pm. M.C. is critically acclaimed broadcaster, author and comedian, Colm O’Regan. Tickets are €130 per person / €1300 for a table of ten. Individual tickets and tables are available. To book or for more information please contact LeinsterSociety@charteredaccountants.ie. Dress: Business / Cocktail This event is sponsored by: 

The Leinster Society welcomes the return of ‘The Expert Series’: a series of monthly lunchtime webinars where experts in various fields will join us to give tips and advice that will help you to tackle your life admin. Each session will be followed by a Q&A where you will get an opportunity to ask for advice directly from the expert.  Click on the topic to register for each webinar you wish to attend. Each webinar takes place from 12.30pm - 1.30pm. Date Topic Speaker Wednesday 13 September 2023 Pension Auto-Enrolment- Recording available on request Davin Spollen Tuesday 10 October 2023 Easing Burnout and Exhaustion- Recording available on request Belinda O’Neill Thursday 16 November 2023 Alchemy of Numbers – Exploring Generative AI- This webinar will not be recorded Ciaran Fennessy Wednesday 17 January 2024 Financial Wellness - Recording available on request Sean Buggy  Wednesday 14 February 2024  Investments - Recording available on request  Rory Gillen  Wednesday 13 March 2024 Starting your own Practice - Recording available on request  Eamonn Leahy Wednesday 24 April 2024   Personal Tax with 'Tax Nerd' - Recording available on request Mairead O'Driscoll