Leinster Society news

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 6 September 2023 – Earning potential for Chartered Accountants working in Leinster remains strong, with an average salary package this year of €118,578. The results of a new survey published today shows a notable increase in the average salary package of newly qualified Chartered Accountants, rising 6.6% to €62,866 compared to last year. The survey of approximately 1,000 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 remuneration packages The research, conducted by Coyne, shows earning potential across the profession remains strong, with €118,578 the average salary package for Chartered Accountants working across all sectors. This figure includes base salary, car or car allowance, and bonus. The remuneration package of members who qualified in the past two years increased by 6.6% from €58,967 in 2022 to €62,866 in 2023. Almost 9 in 10 (89%) of respondents overall say their total remuneration has increased in the past three years, compared to 86% in 2022. Two in five (39%) said their salary had increased by more than 25% this year. And four in five claim their total remuneration is expected to increase within the next 12 months. As part of the remuneration package, over 60% expect to receive a bonus in 2023.   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 50% of respondents.      High job satisfaction and flexibility  Job satisfaction was high across all the metrics amongst those surveyed, with 76% of members satisfied with their work environment (73% in 2022); 68% happy with the salary they receive (62% in 2022); and 64% happy with work/life balance (unchanged on 2022). Half of respondents have been promoted in the last three years, with promotion highest amongst those working in practice at 77%.  Flexibility has become embedded as a feature of working life, with 75% of respondents employing a hybrid working model, up 2% on 2022. Only 1 in 10 respondents express concern that time spent working remotely will impact on their career progression. 7 in 10 value location flexibility, and over half of all members value flexibility in the shape of their working day (compressed hours, core hours, flexitime).  Automation and productivity The survey also shows the accounting profession is benefiting from technological advances, with 70% believing automation will have a positive impact on their career and almost half believing AI and big data will free up capacity to focus on higher-value parts of the job.  Des Gibney, Chairperson of Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society, said:   “This year’s survey points to continued strong earning prospects for Chartered Accountants in Leinster. I’m particularly pleased to note the increase at the newly qualified level. This increase will play a crucial part in ensuring our profession remains attractive to the next generation – and will help us retain our top young talent in a very competitive market.   “I am also really pleased to see automation being so strongly embraced by respondents. Almost half agree that it will allow us to move further up the value chain in terms of the work that we do. This is already happening, with the work of Chartered Accountants transformed in recent years. It is really important that we communicate the breadth of opportunity in our profession to the next generation.”   Elaine Brady, Managing Partner at Barden, said: “Despite the backdrop of almost constant uncertainty over the past 12 months, the demand for accounting talent seen in 2022 continued almost unabated. Standing out from the crowd and attracting this much sought after talent is a key challenge for companies throughout Ireland. Accurate data on reward can create competitive advantage for those who choose to use it, especially in times such as these. These insights can also help businesses and hiring managers to craft competitive reward structures to aid talent retention and to understand what is required when looking to attract talent externally.  “It is also extremely interesting to see that 10% of members are working fully remotely, while 75% of members have hybrid working arrangements. Companies that mandate five days in the office have been, and will continue to be, at a significant competitive disadvantage when trying to attract accounting talent. To mandate five days in the office is to effectively reduce the talent pool available to you by 85%.” ENDS    Note to editors  The survey was conducted by Coyne Research on behalf of Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society, in partnership with Barden, between 19 July and 14 August 2023.   About Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society   Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society is a district society of Chartered Accountants Ireland, representing over 16,000 Chartered Accountants throughout Leinster.     Chartered Accountants Ireland is Ireland’s leading professional accountancy body, representing over 32,000 members around the world and educating 7,000 students. The Institute aims to create opportunities for members and students, and ethical, sustainable prosperity for society. An all-island body, Chartered Accountants Ireland was established by Royal Charter in 1888 and now has members in more than 90 countries.     It is a founding member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, the international network of over one million chartered accountants. It also plays key roles in the Global Accounting Alliance, Accountancy Europe and the International Federation of Accountants.     Chartered Accountants Ireland members provide leadership in business, the public sector and professional practice, bringing experience, expertise and strict standards to their work for, and with, businesses in every sector. Chartered Accountants Ireland engages with governments, policy makers and regulators on key issues affecting the profession and the wider economy.   About Barden Barden is a partner led talent advisory and recruitment firm consumed with supporting companies that really know the value of their people. Barden’s expertise covers Accounting, & Tax, Business Support, Financial Services, Legal, Life Sciences, Supply Chain and Technology talent advisory and recruitment. Chartered Accountants specifically choose to join Barden in order to use their qualification in a different way.   Barden has proudly partnered with the Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society, for the last seven years, to bring you the annual salary survey. Barden also works closely with Chartered Accountants Student Society of Ireland (CASSI) and Young Professionals to make sure their members get access to the right information, at the right time in order to make more informed decisions about their professional future.  

The Leinster Society elected Des Gibney as the 95th Chairperson at the AGM on Friday 16 June. Des was elected alongside Damien Carr as Vice Chair for the 2023 / 24 term. Des tells us about himself and his plans for his term as Chairperson: I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2003 having followed the beaten path of a B.Comm in UCD followed by an articled period in KPMG before qualifying. I trained in the Corporate Recovery Department then known as RAID which I believe stood for Receiverships and Insolvency Department I suspect they changed the name to make it sound a little less foreboding!    I’ve remained in practice all my career and spent time working in Australia. I am an Insolvency Practitioner and Forensic Accountant and a Partner in McStay Luby Chartered Accountants. In my spare time I hack around the tennis courts of Glenageary Lawn Tennis Club where I am a proud member of the GLTC 5ths men’s summer league team, I like to tell myself in another life I may have played in Wimbledon! I was introduced to the Chartered Accountants Leinster Society by another fellow Insolvency Practitioner a number of years ago and was keen to have the opportunity to get involved in representing members’ interests. I am honoured to be elected the 95th Chairperson of the Society and am delighted to be in the driving seat for what promises to be a great year ahead.  This year I want to focus on further driving participation at Leinster Society events as we get back to full steam following Covid-19 interruption in the past years and making sure we have events that cater to our membership across all age groups from newly qualified to our retired members many of  whom still attend Leinster Society events and may have been involved in committees in the past. I would also like to continue and improve the Leinster Society’s support of CA support and Thrive which does amazing behind the scenes work for our members in times of need.    We are working on an excellent programme of events for the year ahead. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Ann Marie Costello on a fantastic year as Chairperson of the Society and to introduce Damien Carr, our incoming Vice Chairperson. Special thanks also to the wonderful committee behind the Society, as well as Ruth McNally, Susan Waldron and Falone Mukundayi who coordinate and deliver all the events and help to make the year possible. Lastly, I appreciate the unwavering support of my colleagues at McStay Luby Chartered Accountants without which my participation would not be possible. I am really looking forward to the year and hope to welcome as many members as possible to the various events. The door is always open so feel free to reach out to myself, or any of the committee members, at any stage over the course of the year.  Des Gibney

Note: All references to rules are to the rules which came into force on 11 June 2021.  1.    In accordance with Rule 28.2, the Committee of the Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society (the “Society”) issued a Notice of Election to all members on 13 April 2023. 2.    In accordance with Rule 21.1.1, the number of vacancies for elected members on the Committee of the Society, notified to Members of the Society in the Election Notice of the 13 April 2023, to be declared elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Society, to be held on 16 June 2023 was FIVE.  3.    To fulfil the membership strand of Rule 21.2, the members elected must be from the following categories and areas: •    ONE member of the Society who must be a member in business •    FOUR members of the Society whether members in business, members in practice, members employed in practice or other category of membership 4.    The following member of the Committee, is retiring under the provisions of Rule 25.2, is eligible for re-election for a second term, and has indicated to the Committee that he does not wish to offer themselves for re-election: •    Pat Jennings, member in business 5.    Subsequent to the issue of the Notice the following member of the Committee formally notified the Committee that he would stand down at the Annual General Meeting: •    Paul Byrne, member in business 6.    As a consequence of the resignation noted at 5. above the vacancies for elected members of the Committee to be declared elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Society on the 16 June 2023 is SIX. To fulfil the membership strand of Rule 21.2, the members elected must be from the following categories and areas: •    TWO members of the Society who must be  members in business or employed in business •    FOUR members of the Society whether members in business, members in practice, members employed in practice or other category of membership 7.    In accordance with Rule 29.5, and following the Notice of Election, completed nominations were received by the Honorary Secretary up to 27 April 2023. 8.    Nominations for SIX additional candidates included: •    Damien Carr, member in practice •    Lisa Foley, member in business •    Darren Holmes, member in business •    Sarah Murphy, member in practice •    Michaela Synnott, member in business •    Susan Tinsley, member in practice 9.    There are SIX candidates for SIX positions. Consequently, in accordance with Rule 30.1 the following members are deemed elected and will be declared elected by the Chair at the Annual General Meeting on 16 June 2023: •    Damien Carr, member in practice •    Lisa Foley, member in business •    Darren Holmes, member in business •    Sarah Murphy, member in practice •    Michaela Synnott, member in business •    Susan Tinsley, member in practice Pat Jennings Honorary Secretary, Leinster Society 27 April 2023

Note: All references to Rules are to the Rules which came into force on 11 June 2021. This notice is given in accordance with Rule 28.2. In accordance with Rule 21.1.1, the number of vacancies for elected members on the Committee of the Leinster Society (the “Committee”) to be filled at the Annual General Meeting of the Leinster Society, (the “Society”), to be held on 16 June 2023, is five. The following member(s) of the Committee, are retiring under the provisions of Rule 25.2, are eligible for re-election for a second term, and have indicated to the Committee that they do not wish to offer themselves for re-election: Pat Jennings, member in business There is no other member(s) of the Committee, who are retiring under the provisions of Rule 25.2, are eligible for re-election for a second term, and have indicated to the Committee that they wish to offer themselves for re-election. There are no members retiring under the provisions of Rule 24.1, who are not eligible for re-election. To fulfil the membership strand / geographic requirements of Rule 21.2, the members elected must include four members in practice and four members in business. The Committee meets the requirements for members in practice.Therefore, members must be elected from the following: One member of the Society who must be a member in business Four members of the Society whether members in business, members in practice, members employed in practice or other category of membership In accordance with Rule 21.1.1, candidates for election to Committee must be members of the Society and, in accordance with Rule 29.1, be nominated by five members of the Society, who are not current Committee members. Nominations are now sought for the above vacancies. Completed nominations must, under Rule 29.5, be sent to the Honorary Secretary by e-mail to leinstersociety@charteredaccountants.ie not later than 1pm on 27 April 2023. Nomination forms are available on request from the Committee Secretary email, leinstersociety@charteredaccountants.ie The Ballot, if necessary, will be held on 25 May 2023. By Order of the Committee Pat Jennings Honorary Secretary, Leinster Society 13 April 2023

Join the Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society for our next in-person event; a Business Lunch on Thursday 2 March 2023 in the Conrad Hotel. The event will tackle the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in today’s business world.  When: Thursday 2 March Where: The Conrad Hotel What time: 12.30pm - 4.30pm How much: €85 per person / €850 per table of ten  Book: Email Leinstersociety@charteredaccountants.ie   While the event is taking place in advance of International Women’s Day, our fantastic panel of speakers will not only explore the theme of gender equity but also discuss the importance of DE&I from a broader perspective.  DE&I is important for and benefits everyone and it cannot have an impact in isolation. The event is open to everyone – this is not an IWD female only event. See below details of our exciting panel of speakers. Event MC: Sonya Lennon, Entrepreneur, Multi-Award-Winning Social Entrepreneur & Equality Advocate. Sonya Lennon has over thirty years of experience in business as a thought leader, designer, entrepreneur, and international speaker. A multi-award-winning Social Entrepreneur, Sonya founded the global not-for-profit initiative Dress for Success in Ireland in 2011, supporting over 4,000 women into employment and economic independence. She has campaigned at a European level for gender equality in the workplace through her advocacy work by addressing the Gender Pay & Opportunity Gap. Since 2016, Sonya has led Ireland's highly publicised #WorkEqual campaign. In 2018 Sonya co-founded LIFT Ireland, an initiative to improve the levels of value-led leadership in Ireland, focussing on such themes as accountability, respect, listening and competence. To further deepen and validate her domain expertise, Sonya recently completed a Masters in Business Equity, Diversity and Inclusion with 1st class honours at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dublin. She was called as an expert witness to present at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality & sits on the Cross Part Committee for Workplace Equality. In 2022, Sonya was elected as a member of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and sits on The Labour Taskforce.  Speaker: David McRedmond, CEO An Post David McRedmond was appointed Chief Executive Officer of An Post in October 2016. He has led the Company’s Transformation programme and return to financial stability, sustainable revenue growth and profit by taking big steps to fix the Company’s economics and by restructuring the Mails & Parcels and Retail business in line with a rapidly changing, digital marketplace. David is personally driving An Post’s Sustainability Charter, putting it at the centre of An Post’s business transformation and Green Light strategy. He was previously CEO of TV3 which he transformed into a major Irish broadcaster, concluding with its sale to Liberty Global, and he has held senior commercial roles in Ireland, the UK and the US.   He is chairman of Eir, a director of Premier Lotteries Ireland (the National Lottery), a lifetime Fellow  of the Irish Management Institute and of the Royal Society of Arts.  Speaker: Jeanne McDonagh, CEO Open Doors Initiative Jeanne McDonagh is CEO of the Open Doors Initiative, which works with a large number of companies and NGOs to help marginalised people such as refugees and asylum seekers, people with disabilities and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, find education, employment and entrepreneurship. Previous to this, she was Head of Society and Engagement in Diageo, worked in communications and strategy for Our Lady’s Hospice, was campaign manager for Stephen Donnelly TD in the 2016 election, Communications Co-ordinator for Yes Equality (the Marriage Campaign) and Head of Communications for the Bar Council of Ireland.   She was previously a board member of HIV Ireland, Dublin Pride and the Community Law and Mediation Service. She is on the Advisory Panel for the HIV and AIDS Monument. She has Dysphoric Elation, a form of bipolar and uses this to inform her work through lived experience. Speaker: Lorna Conn, CEO The Cpl Group Lorna is a Chartered Director and a Chartered Accountant. Lorna trained with Deloitte and is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland. Lorna holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin and a Masters in Accounting from the Michael Smurfit Business School. Lorna is CEO and Executive Director of the Cpl Group, having joined as CFO in October 2017. Lorna has previously worked in ISS plc, INM plc and renewable energy company NTR plc, residing in both Ireland and America during this time.

The Leinster Society are delighted to announce that, with the generosity of members in attendance at the Annual Christmas Lunch, they raised a huge €22,300 for charity partner Aware. Thank you to the members in attendance and also to Grant Thornton who very generously contributed to this total with their €5,000 donation. With this money Aware will continue to provide free support, education and information services to people impacted by anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and related mood conditions. The Leinster Society would also like to thank every member who took part in the toy drive at the event, and brought a gift for a child. These gifts were then donated among Barretstown, YPAR, One Family, Carr's Child and Family Services, the Santa Fund, St Michael's House, Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin and Barnardos Tallaght. This toy drive is a very important part of the Leinster Society Christmas Lunch, and the below note from one of our charities, The Santa Fund, highlights just why: 'A family with 4 children under 10 lost their mother just before Christmas. The Leinster Society will play Santa this year and hopefully for many years to come as the youngest is 4 years old. Happy Christmas to your members'. Without the support of the members in attendance this wouldn't be possible.

CRH has been announced as the Overall Winner of this year’s Chartered Accountants Leinster Society Published Accounts Awards, in addition to winning the ‘Euronext Dublin (Large Cap > €1bn)’ Award category. The awards, which are sponsored by Euronext, took place in the Shelbourne Hotel for the first time since 2019, with special guest MC Andrew Maxwell. Chairperson of Chartered Accountants Leinster Society, Ann-Marie Costello said: “This evening showcases the best of Irish corporate reporting. These awards have evolved over the last number of years and recognise companies for their achievements across areas such as Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion and Branding, Communication and Digital, not just the financial reporting itself. The continued improvements in the quality of reporting, and in particular, the increased focus on addressing the needs of all stakeholders, is evident in this year’s entries. In particular for me this year, it’s been wonderful to see so many new entrants to the PAA, and indeed first-time winners across a number of the categories. Congratulations to all our worthy winners” Alan D’Arcy, Chair of the Published Accounts Awards, said: “We are living in an environment where business and society are becoming increasingly interlinked.  Shareholders and stakeholders are looking beyond the financial reporting aspects of an annual report and sustainability and ESG reporting are now more important than ever. The Published Accounts Awards play a pivotal role in raising the bar for Irish companies and it is encouraging to see so many of them adopting best practice when it comes to their annual reports.” Of the judging process, Lisa Gilligan, Vice Chair of the Published Accounts Awards commented: ‘All the judges agreed, the standard of Diversity & Inclusion reporting coming through in annual reports has improved vastly over the last number of years and is evident in the running of their businesses. A number of shortlisted companies are now providing more information in this area, including gender pay gap reports and specific Diversity & Inclusion reporting, which was great to see. ‘ Published Accounts Awards judge Shauna Greely, former Chartered Accountants Ireland President, commented on the improvement in Diversity & Inclusion reporting, ‘I have seen significant focus and improvement in Annual Reports on many areas, with a particular call out for the information included on Diversity & Inclusion and Sustainability across all companies.  I would particularly commend those companies who are leading the way and voluntarily disclosing information eg gender pay gap, in advance of this becoming mandatory’ Daryl Byrne, CEO, Euronext Dublin, who sponsored this year’s awards, commented: “High-quality financial reporting is essential for investors and other stakeholders and is an important contributor to well-functioning securities markets, and even more so in challenging economic conditions.  Euronext is delighted to sponsor the Published Accounts Awards which recognizes and celebrates companies who have excelled in their financial reporting and communications with investors and stakeholders.” A total of 25 public and private companies, and 12 not-for-profit organisations competed as finalists across fourteen distinct award categories. CRH took home the big award of the night, the Overall Winner Award as well as scooping the Euronext Dublin (Large Cap > €1bn) Award. Among the category winners were ESB who were delighted to hold onto the award for Statutory or Unquoted Entity (IFRS) for an eleventh year in a row, as well as scooping the Sustainability & ESG Reporting (Unquoted Entity) Award for a second year running. DCC took home the ‘Company listed on a Foreign Market’ Award again this year, and in the ‘Euronext Growth Award’ category Uniphar claimed first place. Glenveagh Properties were awarded top place in the Euronext Dublin (SME < €1bn) category, and Coillte GCA were the winners of the Statutory or Unquoted Entity (Non-IFRS) Award. The Sustainability & ESG Reporting (Listed Entity) Award went to Kerry Group, the award for Branding, Communication & Digital went to Dog’s Trust; the Diversity & Inclusion (Not for Profit) Award was scooped up by Barnardos, with the Diversity & Inclusion (Listed or Unquoted Entity) Award going to Central Bank of Ireland. In the ‘Not-For-Profit’ Award categories, Jigsaw took home the award for the Large category and Aidlink topped the list of Small / Medium charities. The full list of award winners is as follows:   Award 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 Uniphar plc Statutory or Unquoted Entity (IFRS) ESB Statutory or Unquoted Entity (Non-IFRS) Coillte CGA Large Not for Profit Jigsaw Small / Medium Not for Profit Aidlink Sustainability & ESG Reporting Award (Listed Entity) Kerry Group Sustainability & ESG Reporting Award (Unquoted Entity) ESB Diversity & Inclusion Award (Listed or Unquoted Entity) Central Bank of Ireland Diversity & Inclusion Award (Not for Profit) Barnardos Branding, Communication & Digital Award Dogs Trust Overall Winner CRH plc

Each year the District Societies plan lunch or evening events for members to celebrate the season. Here is a round up of the events that were held around the country in 2022.   London Society Dinner – Thursday 1 December  The London Society enjoyed their event, "A Christmas Celebration: An evening of music and stories", at the Women's University Club in London. Leinster Society regional dinner – Thursday 1 December Thank you to all members who came along to Kelly's Resort, Rosslare for the Wexford dinner. Mid West Society Dinner – Thursday 1 December Members in the Mid West gathered in the Savoy Hotel, Limerick and heard from Ray Goggins of RTÉ's Ultimate Hell Week and Donn O'Sullivan Leinster Society regional lunch – Friday 2 December Members from Kilkenny and surrounding areas got together for lunch in the Ormonde Hotel. Ulster Society Lunch – Friday 2 December  Members in NI gathered in the Europa Hotel in Belfast for a sold-out lunch and entertainment from comedian Neil Delamare. Their charity partners were NICHS and The Family Appeal. Thank you to all who supported.  Western Society Lunch – Friday 2 December  Members in Galway and surrounding areas got together in the Dean Hotel for lunch and to hear from Izzy Wheels. The event was in support of charity partner, Oscar's Kids. Thank you to everyone who supported.  Cork Society Lunch – Friday 9 December Members in Cork got together in the Maryborough Hotel and heard from guest speakers Donal Lenihan and Billy Holland. Leinster Society Lunch – Friday 9 December The Leinster Society hosted members in the Clayton Hotel in Dublin for lunch with entertainment from comedian Neil Delamare. Members and their guests raised money for Aware.  North West Society Lunch – Friday 9 December  Members from the North West celebrated in the Glasshouse Hotel, with Pat McCann as their guest speaker.

After a two-year hiatus we are delighted to announce the return of our Annual Leinster Society Christmas Lunch. When: Friday 9 December from 12.30pm. Where: The Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road Tickets: €120 / €1200 for a table of ten Guest speaker: Neil Delamere 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 stand up comedian Neil Delamere as we kick off silly season while raising money for this year's partner charity, Aware, with a fantastic raffle and fantastic prizes. Larger tables can be accommodated. To book your tickets email us Leinstersociety@charteredaccountants.ie. This event is in partnership with Aware, who we hope to raise substantial funds for on the night through a raffle. There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs and all proceeds of the raffle go directly to Aware. We are also welcoming the return of 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  Barretstown, YPAR, One Family, Carr's Child and Family Services, the Santa Fund, St Michael's House and Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, with more to be confirmed. This event is kindly sponsored by Circit and Cpl.

Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society has announced its shortlist for the 45th Annual Published Accounts Awards. The awards celebrate companies, on the Island of Ireland, for their excellence in corporate reporting on the Island of Ireland.  The Awards are sponsored by Euronext Dublin.  This year’s shortlist includes a total of 25 public and private companies, and 12 not-for-profit organisations. The winners will be announced at a special gala event, taking place in The Shelbourne Hotel on Thursday 10 November 2022 commencing at 7.30pm, with special guest Andrew Maxwell overseeing the proceedings. FINALISTS FOR THE 45th PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS AWARDS Euronext Growth Award Origin Enterprises  Uniphar  Euronext Dublin (SME <€1bn)  Cairn Homes  Dalata Hotel Group  FBD Holdings  Glenveagh Properties  Irish Residential Properties (IRES) Reit  Irish Continental Group  Kenmare Resources  Euronext Dublin (Large Cap >€1bn) AIB Group  Bank of Ireland Group  CRH  Flutter Entertainment  Kerry Group  Company Listed on a Foreign Market C&C Group  DCC  Grafton Group  Statutory or Unquoted Entity (IFRS) Eirgrid  ESB IPUT  NI Water Statutory or Unquoted Entity (Non-IFRS) Central Bank of Ireland CIE Group Coillte Tusla Not-for-Profit - Large Barnardos CRC Cluid Housing Concern Worldwide Housing Finance Agency Jigsaw - National Centre for Youth Mental Health  Kare St Francis Hospice Not-for-Profit - Small / Medium Aidlink Barretstown Dogs Trust The Care Trust 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 Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society presents the 45th Annual Published Accounts Awards Dinner on Thursday 10 November 2022 in The Shelbourne Hotel, 7:30pm.  M.C. is well known comic, and TV personality, Andrew Maxwell. Tickets are €125 per person / €1250 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  

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath T.D. was the guest speaker at the Leinster Society business lunch event in Dublin yesterday –the first business lunch of Chairperson Ann-Marie Costello’s term. The Minister spoke of his journey to qualification as a Chartered Accountant, pride in his membership, and how it continues to help him to this day, describing how he still scans everything he reads for numbers first. In his speech, the Minister discussed how the backdrop to Budget 2023 is complex and challenging: that we have yet to see the full impact of Brexit; the new scenario of war in Europe and the associated humanitarian crisis across the continent; the impact of rising inflation around the globe, and rising energy costs and energy supply concerns.  The Minister stressed the need for prudent management of public finances while creating a cost-of-living budget to address the needs of families and businesses. The economy has benefitted from previous targeted policy decisions and with proper financial management has the resilience to withstand the current challenges. He touched on the tax system and the need to move away from a system of “static” tax bands, and acknowledged the advice and advocacy provided by the Institute’s Advocacy and Voice team led by Dr Brian Keegan in the government’s work on COVID-19 supports, corporation tax and other tax reforms.  The Minister broadly described the plan for Budget 2023: "In the round we will have a really strong package – a set of one off measures which will amount to several billion euro, which will kick in within weeks of Budget day to support households and also to support businesses," he said. "And then we will have quite a strong package for 2023 where we focus on some of the longer-term challenges that we face as a country as well." In closing, the Minister acknowledged the huge challenges businesses will face with the continuing rise in energy prices, and the work these businesses are doing to stay viable in the face of such unpredictable and growing costs. He committed to the government’s support of these businesses and households to the best of their ability through Budget 2023. The Leinster Society thanks all the members who joined them for the event at Dublin's Fitzwilliam Hotel.

Minister Michael McGrath delivers pre-Budget commentary in Dublin    Talent the “engine of growth”, so employees must be front of mind in Budget 2023 22 September 2022 – Budget 2023 must meet the twin challenges of addressing both business and social imperatives next week. This was the message delivered to Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform Michael McGrath T.D. as he addressed a gathering of Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society in Dublin today.  With five days to go until Budget 2023 is unveiled, members of Ireland’s largest professional accountancy body stressed the need to use the Budget as a tool to improve the wider business operating environment, specific business needs and, crucially, the lot of individual taxpayers. This holistic approach is critical to support individuals and ensure that Ireland is an attractive place to live and work.    The Society reiterated that with a variety of financial and administrative burdens on the horizon, from legislative developments on auto-enrolment, the right to request remote working, and statutory sick pay, government interventions need to happen in a considered and balanced way that doesn’t add extra pressures on business.   Commenting, Chair of Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society Ann-Marie Costello said  “In its pre-Budget submission and commentary over the summer the Institute stressed that addressing business needs in isolation won’t help our economy to weather this turbulence and remain competitive. Talent is the engine of economic growth, so in tandem with targeted measures to assist business, this Budget needs to address infrastructural and personal finance issues so that people can survive and succeed in Ireland.” From Institute engagement with members, it is clear that in addition to the unprecedented challenges of inflation and rising energy costs, among the biggest challenges facing businesses are people-related, both attracting them and managing them. Over 60% of members cite competition for talented people as a significant challenge. Costello continued          “Ireland’s investment policy has traditionally been focused on taxation from the employer’s perspective, however in 2022, this focus needs to be widened. In recent weeks, a survey by this Society pointed to continued strong earnings prospects for Chartered Accountants working across Leinster, including for newly qualified members, however in spite of this, accounting has been listed on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s Critical Skills Occupations List since 2016. This is all the more reason that employee needs must be placed at the very core of a successful business environment.” Chartered Accountants Ireland’s Pre-Budget submission, under the auspices of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies Ireland (CCAB-I) contains measures to address some of the most pressing societal issues facing Ireland. It proposes that consideration be given to reforming personal tax allowances so that allowances are ‘frontloaded’ at the outset of a person’s career. The submission suggests that such reform is in line with government policy on FDI and should form part of Ireland’s overall policy to attract and retain talent. In addition to reforming personal tax allowances, the CCAB-I supports the proposal to introduce a third rate of income tax to make the tax system more equitable provided that the entry levels to each band of tax are appropriate. Of equal importance is ensuring that Ireland has a functioning housing market to house its population and attract and retain talent to our shores. In its Pre-Budget submission, Chartered Accountants Ireland noted that the residential property market is in crisis, with not enough houses to buy or rent in the private sector and not enough houses being built by the State for those who need social housing. It proposed the extension of the 25% tax rate enjoyed by corporate landlords to individuals, so that the tax system could be effectively harnessed to encourage landlords to stay in the market and new entrants to meet the supply shortage. ENDS About Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society   Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society is a district society of Chartered Accountants Ireland, representing over 14,950 Chartered Accountants throughout Leinster. Chartered Accountants Ireland is Ireland’s leading professional accountancy body, representing over 31,000 members around the world and educating 7,000 students. The Institute aims to create opportunities for members and students, and ethical, sustainable prosperity for society. An all-island body, Chartered Accountants Ireland was established by Royal Charter in 1888 and now has members in more than 90 countries. It is a founding member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, the international network of over one million chartered accountants. It also plays key roles in the Global Accounting Alliance, Accountancy Europe and the International Federation of Accountants. Chartered Accountants Ireland members provide leadership in business, the public sector and professional practice, bringing experience, expertise, and strict standards to their work for, and with, businesses in every sector. Chartered Accountants Ireland engages with governments, policy makers and regulators on key issues affecting the profession and the wider economy.        

Annual survey from Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society and Barden shows flexible & hybrid working remains key focus for members Salary packages for newly qualified rise by 3% 7 September 2022 – A new survey published today puts the average salary package for a Chartered Accountant working in Leinster at €119,270, representing an increase on average of €7,000 – or more than 6% – on last year. The survey of more than 1,000 Chartered Accountants, launched today by Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society in partnership with Barden, Ireland’s leading accounting and tax recruitment firm, provides the most up-to-date guide to Chartered Accountant salaries and employment prospects in the Leinster region.  Rising remuneration packages The research, conducted by Coyne Research between 14 July and 9 August, shows continued strong earning potential for those entering the profession, with newly qualified Chartered Accountants receiving an average salary package (including base salary, car or car allowance, plus bonus) of €58,967, an increase of more than 3% on last year (€57,164).  Almost 9 in 10 (86%) members say their total remuneration has increased in the past three years, compared to 82% in 2021. More than one third of respondents (37%) said their salary had increased by more than 25% this year. The vast majority (88%) of members have a pension, an increase on previous years (85% in 2021 and in 2020), with employers contributing an average 9% of their salary. After basic salary, pension contribution is the most valued part of their package for 51% of respondents.     Remuneration & bonus expectations  While fewer members expect to receive a bonus this year (60%) compared to last year (67%), the survey shows members’ outlook for the future is overall more positive than in previous years. Some 83% of members still expect their total remuneration to increase within the next 12 months, with almost one-fifth (18%) expecting it to increase by more than 10%.  Looking to the future, four-fifths (79%) of respondents believe the market is buoyant, a sizeable increase on 2021 (67%) and a significant jump on 2020 (25%) when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.   Flexible & hybrid working  The survey points to a lasting shift in flexible and hybrid working options for Chartered Accountants, with employers facilitating staff to work from home as part of promoting work/life balance: A hybrid arrangement is the most popular option with 73% of members saying their employer facilitates this, while 13% of members work from home full time. A hybrid arrangement is the most popular option with 73% of members saying their employer facilitates this, while 13% of members work from home full time. 4 in 5 members say the ability to work from home is a non-monetary way that their employer supports a healthy work/life balance. 74% say that the flexibility to work from home, or being able to work from any location in the future is valuable to them. 74% rate their employer as ‘very good’ or ‘good’ at adapting to remote/hybrid working. More than a third (36%) claim they are working more hours at home than when working in the office, down from 48% in 2021.  Enhanced skills  The survey also highlights some of the positive and lasting impacts felt by Chartered Accountants in their work following the pandemic: 3 in 4 believe the pandemic has not fundamentally changed their work as a Chartered Accountant in their organisation, but ways of working and their skills sets have improved. 3 in 5 believe the move to remote working enhanced the communication skills needed to work as a Chartered Accountant in their organisation. More than half (53%) say that moving to remote working enhanced their finance software & IT skills, while 50% say their presentation skills improved as a result.  Ann Marie Costello, Chairperson of Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society, said:  “This year’s survey shows a number of very positive market trends. It points to continued strong earning prospects for Chartered Accountants working across Leinster, including for newly qualified members. While expectations around bonus payments have fallen back somewhat, overall remuneration packages are rising across the board, and the vast majority of those surveyed remain confident that salaries will increase again in the year ahead and that there is buoyancy in the market.    “The survey clearly shows that employers have adapted well to new ways of working, and the value members place on flexible and hybrid work arrangements cannot be overstated. It’s reassuring to see the balance being struck between remuneration that is both financially attractive and supportive of work-life balance.” Elaine Brady, Managing Partner at Barden, said  “The survey shows real confidence in the accountancy sector, both for those newly qualified and well established in their careers. One of the standout trends for the majority of members is that total remuneration has increased consistently over the past three years, notwithstanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, we are now seeing clear evidence of flexible and hybrid working becoming embedded norms in the workplace, with almost three quarters of respondents rating their employers as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ in adapting to new arrangements.”   ENDS Note to editors The survey was conducted by Coyne Research on behalf of Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society, in partnership with Barden, between 14 July and 9 August 2022.  About Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society  Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society is a district society of Chartered Accountants Ireland, representing over 14,950 Chartered Accountants throughout Leinster.    Chartered Accountants Ireland is Ireland’s leading professional accountancy body, representing over 31,000 members around the world and educating 7,000 students. The Institute aims to create opportunities for members and students, and ethical, sustainable prosperity for society. An all-island body, Chartered Accountants Ireland was established by Royal Charter in 1888 and now has members in more than 90 countries.     It is a founding member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, the international network of over one million chartered accountants. It also plays key roles in the Global Accounting Alliance, Accountancy Europe and the International Federation of Accountants.     Chartered Accountants Ireland members provide leadership in business, the public sector and professional practice, bringing experience, expertise and strict standards to their work for, and with, businesses in every sector. Chartered Accountants Ireland engages with governments, policy makers and regulators on key issues affecting the profession and the wider economy.  About Barden  Barden is a partner led expert recruitment firm consumed with supporting companies that really know the value of their people. Barden’s expertise covers Accounting, Finance, Tax, Legal and Financial Services recruitment. Our people are trained/qualified in their expert areas, and our approach is consultative not transactional.     Barden has proudly partnered with the Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society, for the last five years, to bring you the annual salary survey. Barden also works closely with Chartered Accountants Student Society of Ireland (CASSI) to make sure their members get access to the right information, at the right time so when they qualify they can make the right decisions about their professional future. 

The Leinster Society are delighted to announce 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 28 September 2022 Mortgage advice for 2nd time buyers - Recording available on request Aine Cullen, of Ask Paul Wednesday 19 October 2022 Excels hacks you can't live without - Recording available on request The Leinster Society  Wednesday 23 November 2022 Pensions and Investments Explained - Recording available on request Rory Gillen, of Gillen Markets  Wednesday 11 January 2023 How to save energy and be more sustainable at home - Recording available on request SEAI  Wednesday 15 February 2023  Career Considerations - Recording available on request Shane Power FCA & Lisa Foley ACA CTA of EMPOWERMENT Financial Recruitment  Wednesday 22 March 2023  Sustainable Fashion & Workwear Essentials  Orla Sheridan, personal stylist  Wednesday 12 April 2023 Preparing for retirement; financially and mentally  Paul Kenny, former Retirement Ombudsman Wednesday 10 May 2023  Personal Tax tips  Mairead O'Driscoll, The Tax Nerd 

The Leinster Society elected Ann-Marie Costello as the 94th Chairperson at the AGM on Friday 10 June. Des Gibney was elected alongside Ann-Marie as Vice Chair for the 2022 / 23 term. Ann-Marie tells us about herself and her plans for her term as Chairperson: Having grown up in a family of medical professionals in Galway, I am somewhat of a ‘blow in’ to accountancy and to the Chartered Accountants Leinster Society. I chose to study Commerce with German (NUIG) and undertook a Masters in Accounting (UCD), before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2008. I spent my training contract in the Corporate Recovery team in KPMG, and after a period of time spent traveling around the globe, joined Grant Thornton and am currently a Director in the Corporate Finance team. On a more personal note, I am a mother to Finn (two years old), married to Fabio, a keen traveller and a fair-weather runner and cyclist.  I was introduced to the Chartered Accountants Leinster Society a number of years ago and was keen to have the opportunity to pay it forward and get involved in representing members’ interests. I am honoured to be elected the 94th Chairperson of the Society and am delighted to be in the driving seat for what promises to be a great year ahead.  As society opens up again, there appears to be a great appetite to get back to face-to-face socialising and networking. In line with this demand, we are making plans for all our pillar events to be in-person this year - the Horse Show, the Published Accounts Awards, the Christmas Lunch and the Rugby Lunch. We are also planning to host a number of Business Lunches throughout my term, with well-known keynote speakers. However, we know that the situation in terms of Covid-19 is fluid, and will be mindful of any change in circumstance as the year progresses.  Over the last two years, we have found that our virtual events allowed us to reach a wider audience and had considerable uptake. We therefore plan to offer a series of more bite-sized virtual sessions over the course of the year, which will offer members more flexibility and sustain high engagement levels.  We are working on an excellent programme of events for the year ahead under the topics of Wellness, Family and Inclusivity. The first events of the year include our upcoming Pride event (in conjunction with the Young Professionals) and an inaugural hike which is open to members, their families and friends. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Jilly Harvey on a fantastic year as Chairperson of the Society and to introduce Des Gibney, our incoming Vice Chairperson. Special thanks also to the wonderful committee behind the Society, as well as Susan Waldron and Ruth McNally, who coordinate and deliver all the events and help to make the year possible. I am really looking forward to the year and hope to welcome as many members as possible to the various events. The door is always open so feel free to reach out to myself, or any of the committee members, at any stage over the course of the year.  - Ann-Marie  

The Published Accounts Awards 2022 are kicking off again! The Leinster Society returns to The Shelbourne Hotel for this year's awards ceremony, which will take place on Thursday 10 November 2022. Incoming Leinster Society Chairperson Ann-Marie Costello will host the awards, alongside a special guest MC who will be revealed soon.  Entries are welcomed across all types of reporting bodies – whether large, listed companies, or small not for profit organisations. Entries must be in respect of financial years ended on or before 31 March 2022.  This year entries close on Friday 15 July 2022.  For more information on how to enter, visit the Leinster Society web page or contact the Leinster Society office at paa@charteredaccountants.ie for more information.