Elaine O'Brien is a member living and working in New York. Here she outlines for us how she got there. Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I was born and raised in Dublin, went to university in Trinity College Dublin, trained as a Chartered Accountant in KPMG, Transaction Services, and have been working in L’Oreal since 2014 – first in the London office and since 2016, based in New York City.  What made you choose to become a Chartered Accountant?  I became a Chartered Accountant as I saw it as a ‘business passport’ in a sense. I understood that accountancy is more than just the debits and credits and really is a tool to enable business partnership and strategic direction.  Can you tell us a little about how you got to where you are today – both the geographical relocation and career path After training as a Chartered Accountant in KPMG, Transaction Services, I moved to London to work as a Controller in L’Oreal. I spent just under three years in the London office working across Marketing Finance and Commercial Finance on the Lancome, Yves Saint Laurent and Giorgio Armani businesses. In 2016, I transferred to L’Oreal USA based in NYC and took over the Commercial Finance management of the Active Cosmetics Division and also worked on the acquisition and integration team for the CeraVe acquisition in 2017. In 2019, I took over the Head of Finance position in Yves Saint Laurent USA and most recently, I have been leading the Revenue Team in the Luxury Division where I am responsible for the ecosystem of unlocking value to drive market share – this scope includes Wholesale and D2C Sales, Media, Consumer Connections and Supply Chain partnerships.  What do you value most about your membership of the profession and how do you think those benefits can be used to support the economy and society?  I think the Chartered Accountant qualification has given me a seat at the table for all business partnering decisions – I am not purely a financier crunching numbers but am a co-pilot of the businesses I work on. I see the ACA qualification as a global business passport that enables you to partner cross functionally and internationally. Since qualifying as an ACA in 2013, I have worked across the UK and USA and work daily with a diverse range of functions including logistics, marketing, HR, sales etc.    As a member living in the USA, can you talk to us about how your membership has been of value to you globally and what do you value about it now that you’re living overseas (and what would you like to see more of)?  It’s an internationally recognised qualification which is really fantastic! I didn’t have to do any conversion courses to utilise the qualification and my company and business partners understand the merits of this membership. It’s also been a good common denominator with fellow expats in the USA and I have gone to many ACA organised networking events and met fellow ACA members here as a result. It definitely makes the world a smaller place! And finally Elaine, if you weren’t an accountant, what do you think you would you be/have been?   After spending most of my L’Oreal career working in Commercial Finance, I think I would be in FMCG Sales. I love partnering with the retailers on sell in and sell out plans, marketing on launch execution and operations on forecast planning! It’s such a fast paced and exciting division! Elaine O'Brien is Vice President, Finance at L'Oreal USA   

Salahuddin Ghaznavi (or Sal) is a member living in Dubai. Here he tells us more about how he got there. Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I’m originally from Karachi, Pakistan. I often introduce myself as Sal (by my second day in Dublin I realised ‘Salahuddin’ wasn’t going to cut it, and I had to come up with something much shorter and less confusing for most)!  Tell us why you chose to become a Chartered Accountant and how you got here? It was quite incidental – I moved to Dublin from Karachi in 2003, immediately after high-school, as a full-time undergraduate student at the Dublin Business School. I initially enrolled as a Marketing major, with the intention of eventually working in advertising. Thankfully, the first year of the undergrad program at DBS offered common subjects, regardless of your major, and I quite enjoyed accounting / finance – certainly more so than marketing. I subsequently requested the school to shift my major to Accounting & Finance (A&F). Thankfully, that went through, and from my second year at DBS, I was in the A&F program. The natural progression upon completion of my degree was to get a professional qualification. There was absolutely no-doubt in my mind that the Chartered Accountancy qualification was considered more prestigious and respected globally, as opposed to alternative options available. Also, I had always wanted to travel and work around the world, post-qualification, and I viewed the CA qualification as my passport to the global workforce.  Fortunately, I got offers to join the ACA trainee program from a number of accounting firms in Dublin. The graduate milk rounds are structured in a way where you get an offer three months into your final year at college, which essentially means you can spend the next six months focusing on your studies as opposed to applying to secure placements. I ended up graduating with a First Class Honours degree, and joined PwC Dublin as an Associate within the Asset Management group, primarily auditing hedge and private equity funds for the next three and a half years, whilst taking and passing the Institute’s exams, in parallel.    Sal, you have lived in many places experiencing many cultures, do you believe that being a Chartered Accountant has helped you to work globally? Absolutely, and in many ways. The Irish qualification is very well respected, globally, no matter what region you are working in, and certainly helps ‘open doors’ which, in the current climate, is more important than ever before. I have worked in multiple jurisdictions – Ireland, Bermuda, Canada, Pakistan, and presently in Dubai, the UAE. And it’s not just geographic diversity that the Chartered Accountancy qualification has acted as major enabler for me, it’s also the nature of the roles that I have held, over the course of the past many years – ranging from audit to corporate finance / transaction advisory, to being the country head of one of the largest solar module manufacturers in the world, to holding charge of vertical CFO, Head of Regulatory Affairs, and Head of Strategic Alliances for a ride-hailing company acquired by Uber for USD 3.1bn (landmark acquisition in the MENA region), to my present role as Managing Director for a cross-border money transmission fintech. Irish chartered accountants are very versatile, and professionally thrive in any role or industry.   What do you value most about your membership of the profession and how do you think those benefits can be used to support the economy and society? Collectively, I feel we (members of the Institute) are very fortunate to be living a life that brings with it all the opportunities that are open to us, especially at a time when the world is going through a very difficult phase -  be it due to the pandemic, on-going conflicts, or the looming recession knocking on our doors. With privilege comes responsibility, and we should take on any and every opportunity we get to give back to society in whatever way we can. This could be in the form of mentoring students from disadvantaged backgrounds, financially contributing towards uplifting people out of poverty, or simply passing on a smile to stranger on the street. And for anyone who does us a favour, no matter how big or small, we must ‘pay it forward’.     After two long years, the world has opened back up for us to travel abroad again, is there anywhere you would really like to go? Japan and Cuba. Also, I would love to bring my boys (aged eight and five) over to Ireland someday and show them what a beautiful country the Emerald Isle is (I haven’t been back since I left, in 2010, so really look forward to making this trip soon).    And finally, Sal, if you weren’t an accountant, what do you think you would you be/have been? I probably would have been working in advertising / marketing.   Salahuddin Ghaznavi is Managing Director, UAE of Taptap Send      

Derek Mernagh FCA is originally from Wexford and now lives in San Francisco where he arrived via stints living and working in Germany and Australia.  Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I'm originally from Enniscorthy, County Wexford and now I live in San Francisco. Tell us why you chose to become a Chartered Accountant and how you got here? It seemed like a good idea at the time! That was back when I was in my final year of college at Trinity College Dublin where there were the “milk rounds” that came by. I quickly realised that working for one of the Big 4 accounting firms would be a great way to start my career.  What do you value most about your membership of the profession and how do you think those benefits can be used to support the economy and society? It has opened up so many doors for me. I’ve had the chance to work in four countries (Ireland, Australia, Germany, and now the USA). I’ve found accountants are more valued than ever, and it’s only getting stronger. Accountants have a unique perspective within companies, and there are few roles that need to interact across functions the way we do.    You are living in San Francisco; can you tell us a bit what life is like there for you professionally and personally. It’s a great place to live. The thing I appreciate most is the weather. You can count on settled weather most of the year and be outside. And I’ve really gotten into the Californian wines. Having Napa valley nearby is so handy and the Cabernets are my personal favourite. Work opportunity is as good here for accountants as anywhere in the world. It’s fast paced and things change quickly so it’s not for the faint hearted. But the rewards when it works out (like taking a company public) can make it worth the extra effort.    Where is the first place you will go abroad now that we can travel again? Other than getting back to Ireland more often, I’d like to explore more of Mexico since it’s so close by, and I haven’t had a chance to visit too many places there. Then Central America after that.    And finally, Derek, if you weren’t an accountant, what do you think you would you be/have been? I’ve always been really into all things aviation so I would like to have been a pilot on long haul routes where I could travel and visit cities. If I got tired of the travel then I’d be happy serving (and tasting) wine.    Derek Mernagh is VP Corporate Controller at Motive, San Francisco.  

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

As people across the world condemn the attack by Russia on Ukraine, they also want to show their support through donations and using their influence for humanitarian intervention. Professional accountants will find themselves in positions of influence with many stakeholders including clients, employers, employees, and local communities.  Níall Fitzgerald, Head of Ethics and Governance outlines some practical considerations for accountants and business leaders in this context:    Fundraising for humanitarian or other reliefs People and organisations are looking to help the millions of Ukrainians displaced by the invasion by donating directly or running fundraiser events. Be aware of fraud risk and recommend controls that ensure the safeguard of any monies raised and that they are used for the purpose for which they were raised. Ensure the necessary licences are obtained for any public fundraising activity. Be clear on the purpose for the funds and how they will be channelled to the beneficiaries. Ensure compliance with national charity law and check that charitable donations are only made to a properly registered charity in your jurisdiction. Social media Understandably, many people and corporates are sharing their views on Russia's  invasion of Ukraine via social media. The distinction between when a view is a personal view or that of the organisation where a person works is not always clear. If you are an officer of a company, e.g. a director, chief executive, or the public relations officer, and you are commenting on a matter related to your area of responsibility, then it is very difficult to separate your view from the corporate view. For this reason, many organisations will have clear corporate social media policies in place and that is the first reference point if in doubt. However, before reacting to a colleague's personal post, it is important to also consider their right to hold and express an opinion. There can be a cultural aspect to this within an organisation, especially where respect, tolerance, diversity and inclusion, and psychological safety are highly valued. The specific circumstances of the person expressing the view might also be taken into account, for example their emotional proximity to the issue.  Developing corporate positions Many organisations are using their influence for good by publicly denouncing the invasion of Ukraine, with some going further to withdraw from investments and business operations in Russia, and any dealings with Russian state-owned entities. These decisions are not always the most straightforward to implement. Legal and other expert advice should be sought to consider how an organisation can address contractual obligations, restructure, and relocate operations. Many Russian citizens are against the actions of the Russian Government, and Russian employees, contractors, etc., should receive fair treatment and not be discriminated against. Reporting progress and being transparent on these positions, including any setbacks, is very important as corporates will be held to account by stakeholders and members of the public to honour their commitments. Careful thought should be given before making any wide-sweeping statements. The global economy, with its complex interconnected markets, creates practical difficulties when seeking to divest of everything connected to Russia.   Whistleblowing and speaking up Clearly defined and well-communicated whistleblowing and speaking-up policies and procedures can increase an organisation’s awareness of any weaknesses in it’s internal controls and practices relating to sanctions, anti-money and anti-bribery and corruption compliance. Communicating to employees the organisation’s position in relation to this crisis and reminding them about whistleblowing and speaking-up policies and procedures, promotes a safe environment in which individuals feel comfortable to raise any concerns about the organisation’s actions, or inactions. Corporate reporting While the scale of the impact of this crisis on organisations will differ, it will dwarfed by the impact on millions of Ukrainians. Organisations have important social obligations and responsibilities to corporate stakeholders. Accountants should ensure transparency and accountability in corporate reporting by highlighting the impact of the crisis on the organisation’s operations, asset valuations and exposure to liabilities. Examples of the sources of this impact include: supply-chain disruption; the cost of ceasing operations in Russia or the conflict/invasion zones; rising commodity prices; inaccessibility of certain markets due to trade or travel restrictions; difficulty maintaining required levels of capital reserves; and loss of key customers. Accountants will have a central role in collecting, measuring, and reporting the necessary information and ensuring it is reported in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements and relevant reporting frameworks. They should also understand the limitations to their expertise and call for the involvement of experts where necessary. Directors and senior management will need to consider expert advice when making highly judgemental decisions on values and estimates and in determining the future implications for the organisation.    Boundaries between personal life and professional life Negative emotions, such as anger and fear, increase the risk of self-defeating behaviours. The developing situation in Ukraine will understandably evoke such emotions in many. In this context, it is useful to refer to guidance issued by the CCAB bodies, in July 2021, to help accountants consider and distinguish if their personal behaviour could be viewed as conduct that might discredit the profession. While the facts and circumstances of every situation will differ, the CCAB guidance provides some examples of such behaviours, including the use of seriously offensive or threatening language causing distress, or threatening behaviour, towards a client or a member of the public outside of the work environment.  This non-exhaustive list of considerations may need to be reconsidered as the crisis in Ukraine develops. In many situations, increasing ethical awareness or the ability to address an ethical dilemma requires reflection. Professional accountants may find it useful to refer to, or circulate to professional accountancy staff, the Chartered Accountants Ireland Ethics Quick Reference Guide available from our Ethics Resource Centre. This article was adapted for members overseas from an article written by Níall Fitzgerald on the Institute’s Ethics Resource Centre.

Members will be aware that President Paul Henry, accompanied by Council member, Pamela McCreedy as chair of our Advocacy and Representations Board, and Institute Directors Dr Brian Keegan and Brendan O’Hora have concluded outreach events in the US cities of New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Boston.    Attending 12 events; meeting over 100 members; engaging with three senior Ministers and opposition leaders from the island of Ireland; Congressmen and women; envoys from this island to the US; and businesses eager to foster new connections, a lot was achieved in a packed schedule.    The trip had three primary objectives;    First and foremost, the Institute wanted to reconnect in person with, and represent, the 700 members based in the US at a time of year when the eyes of many in the US turn to the island of Ireland. The shift online over the last two years had the positive effect for this Institute of creating a greater sense of belonging among members around the world, and the team wants to harness that and preserve it in the face-to-face environment. On arrival in New York, approximately 70 members gathered at Ireland’s Consulate General, and this strong turnout was replicated in other locations. We were delighted to meet member and Minister, Michael McGrath T.D., along with other members during his time in San Francisco.    Second, the Institute wanted to showcase the strength of the profession in the US, and the economic and social contribution that Chartered Accountants Ireland’s members make in the country. The range of industries represented among this cohort is a superb example of the many directions that members can go with their qualification. The achievements among our membership at some of the highest levels of American business, social, and cultural life are a source of great pride for the Institute.   Third, as an all-island organisation, the Institute worked closely in the lead up to, and during the trip with businesses, industry groups and state agencies, including Enterprise Ireland and Invest NI; and the diplomatic community from right across the island of Ireland so that our presence could be as impactful and productive as possible for members and the profession. In so doing, we leveraged the collective power of Irish America, growing existing relationships, and seeding new ones, with a view to supporting growth and prosperity on the island of Ireland.  Photographs from the trip can be viewed here.  

As a newly qualified Chartered Accountant, Paul Barron ACA was offered a position in Costa Rica. He packed his bags for Central America and now reflects on his experience - with some insights and advice for others in the same position. I trained as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG, qualifying in 2014. Shortly after finishing my training position, I took up a position with Fyffes (the banana people!) as an internal audit manager. This position involved travelling to the various Fyffes locations worldwide, performing controls testing as well as inquiring and then reporting back to the Board of Directors with my findings. After nine months in this role, I was offered a longer-term position as Financial Controller in Costa Rica. It seemed like a great opportunity to have a new experience and progress my career, so I went for it. I was nervous of course, but I spent three years in this role before returning to Head office in Dublin in March 2020.  Overall it was a great experience and I am very glad I did it, and here are my thoughts on the benefits and challenges of working abroad as a Chartered Accountant. Benefits and opportunities Excellent work opportunity – I managed a team of 12 people and was a central part of our operations in Central America. My willingness to relocate afforded me the chance to have a very stimulating and dynamic job which I don’t think I would have been considered for, at that stage of my career (1-year PQE), in companies of a similar size had I remained in Ireland. I got valuable management experience and really had to hit the ground running, which has stood to me since. Experience and exposure to interesting, varied work. I think I might have been exposed to some of these in a standard setting but going abroad to Costa Rica meant I was doing standard work in a non-standard (for me) environment like a large-scale farming operation or getting to see the tangible links between the finance team and the operation itself. During my three years in Costa Rica, I: got hands-on FC experience reviewing a large farming operation had the opportunity to manage a cross-cultural team was exposed to and given the opportunity to manage large capital projects interacted with most of the departments within the business and learned more about how they work Experience of a new culture and a new language Spanish was the language in the office and the operation, so I took classes and worked extremely hard on getting to a conversational level in my first six months working in Costa Rica. I like languages and have French in my primary and master’s degrees, so this was very enjoyable but also tiring and a big challenge I lived and worked in an area of the world about which I knew very little before relocating – it was enjoyable getting to know about a new culture, food, people and traditions and I’ll always have a nice connection with Costa Rica and  friends made along the way. Challenges The first nine months were exhausting with getting to grips with a new job that entailed a lot of responsibility; learning a new language; settling into a new home and trying to make new friends. I’d recommend a long holiday after about six months if you are considering relocating.  It takes some time to adjust to working within a cross-cultural team. I enjoyed the different outlook as time went on, but at times different approaches to tackling problems surprised and sometimes frustrated me. It was definitely a learning curve I was lucky that I had some Irish colleagues in the Costa Rican office. This certainly helped but integrating into a very different culture was tough and isolating at times and should be considered before relocating.  In summary Overall, I am really glad to have done it. I feel privileged to have been offered the opportunity to experience working in Costa Rica. Going to a different language, culture and climate all give rise to moments of culture shock and homesickness, but also moments of real enjoyment. You do need to be realistic about the pros and cons but also resilient and somewhat brave.  Having the comfort of my ACA qualification and Institute membership, my Irish colleagues in Costa Rica and my company support both there and at home all made the move much more accessible. I could have come up with as many reasons to not go as to go, so I have no regrets but am happy to be home! The experience in Costa Rica did definitely help me to establish and progress within my career and I know will continue to stand to me. I may still keep my eyes and ears open for other international opportunities. Institute supports I found the Career service very helpful throughout. I spoke with Karin Lanigan on average three or four times a year and still do on my career development. It has been extremely useful to help me plan my career and also have a sounding board when decisions have to be made. It is a great and unbiased service which has been a real help to me. In particular, it helped me plan my move home - which can be as challenging a transition as the initial move.

This article is part of a package of events and resources forming the Young Professionals careers week running 14-18 February 2022, kindly sponsored by PeopleSource. You can see all that is planned for the week here. Given the hard work and determination required to become a Chartered Accountant, it is gratifying and reassuring to know that your qualification truly is an international passport that will open up career opportunities for you right across the globe. This is evident from our member data that tells us that of our over 30,000 members just under 5,000 are based overseas in locations dotted all around the globe. Almost 70% are based in the UK, US and Australia with more based across Europe and others in Hong Kong, Malaysia and New Zealand. Chartered Accountants can end up in many interesting places.   Your qualification will open doors for you globally - International recognition  Chartered Accountants Ireland has established mutual recognition agreements with many other Chartered Accountancy bodies worldwide to support the global mobility of the qualification.  As a Chartered Accountant, you are also automatically members of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network USA. Chartered Accountants Ireland is part of the Global Accounting Alliance.   Profile of our members working abroad From our member data it is evident that our members overseas are benefiting from the opportunities that their qualification has provided. We can see that they are working across a range of sectors and industries with over 70% working in business and a high proportion of members are in senior level roles.  We know from our engagement with members overseas that they are enjoying successful careers and making the most of the opportunities both professionally and personally. It is really interesting to see the diverse range of career paths they have followed and to hear about their lived experiences abroad. We constantly receive feedback from members telling us how much they like to hear about the career paths and experiences of other members, so we have started building a library of members profiles. Click here to learn more. Maybe your story can feature soon?  Leveraging the Chartered Network Chartered Accountants Ireland has a growing number of network groups globally and in recent years this network has seen a fourfold increase. For example, we now have active District societies and network groups in London, Europe, USA, Australia, UAE with the most recent groups being set up in Wellington, Switzerland and San Francisco. If you are planning to travel you can access a network of other Chartered Accountants in a wide range of locations.  See international networking in action: coffee roulette Australia has always had great appeal for Irish Chartered Accountants, and there is a thriving network there always eager to help newcomers to settle in. If you are considering the move “down under", you may be interested to see how these networks work in practice. The Australian society are hosting a coffee roulette on 24 February at 8am (Irish Time). The topic this time is "The Career Landscape in Australia” and you can join the conversation here. The format is an informal yet focused 30-minute chat over coffee. Barry Dempsey, CEO Chartered Accountants Ireland will join the chat on the day and would be delighted to meet you.  You can register for free for this event here. Benefits of the virtual world In recent years it has become easier than ever to source a role overseas. It is now even possible to secure a role before you travel thanks to the prevalence of virtual interviews. Employers are now much more open to making hiring decisions following a virtual interview. You can also gain access to a wide network of Chartered Accountants via our networks and LinkedIn before travelling. Through the virtual delivery of our CPD and diploma programmes you can keep up to date with your CPD requirements easily too. You can also subscribe to a regular newsletter specifically for members living overseas from us keeping you up to date on recent developments and upcoming events.   Supporting you at every stage of your career The Institute’s career development and recruitment team can help you to prepare in advance of seeking a role abroad. They will provide you with advice and guidance on the steps involved and can help with your CV and interview preparation. Through our mentor programme you will also be able to speak with other members living and working abroad.  The world is your oyster If you are interested in travelling and working overseas your qualification offers you the opportunity to do just that, whether it is a short term or indeed a long-term move. You have the potential to explore a world of opportunity and we will be here to support you as you do so.  Resources available:  Overseas Members News   Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW)  CAW Network USA   GAA  Career Development and Recruitment Service 

"I value most the practical training we received". Can you tell us where you're from? I'm originally from Midleton, Co. Cork And why did you choose to become a Chartered Accountant? I chose Chartered Accountancy as I saw it as the best professional qualification with which to start my career. What do you do now and how did you get to where you are today? I work as a senior manager controlling in a chemical company in Switzerland. What has helped me most throughout my career is to focus on delivery to my customers whether internal or external and to continually be open to new challenges and learn through various means.  What do you value most about your membership of the profession and how do you think those benefits can be used to support the economy and society?  I value most the practical training we received. For example creating financial statements from incomplete records may not have been glamorous work but it provided lessons one never forgets. The qualification helps one to guard and value assets - something that sometimes gets lost in society. I am also enthused how I can use my experience in the ESG world. One of our next steps is to put a value on natural assets e.g. whales etc... and to guard these as we would "normal“ financial assets.  As a member living overseas, can you talk to us about how your membership has been of value to you globally and if there is anything you would like to see your institute do more of to support members overseas?  I have been in Switzerland 11 years and it has not been very clear that finance people here understand the Chartered Accountant qualification. One is acknowledged as a qualified accountant but the brand is not seen as it is in Ireland and the UK. I do think we can better support the brand especially in the Switzerland : Germany area. And finally Michael, if you weren’t an accountant, what do you think you would you be/have been? When I was at school I also thought of doing law or journalism. Yes I could definitely have seen myself in a court room.  View Michael's LinkedIn profile here.  

Christopher McKnight is a Chartered Accountant originally from near Newry and now living in Dubai, still waiting for the call-up to an international squad! He works for Now Health International and we caught up with him recently. Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about where you're from? I'm Christopher McKnight and I'm from a place called Killeavy in South Armagh, just outside of Newry. Tell us about why you chose to become a Chartered Accountant... I wanted a profession that would allow me to have access to the greatest number of opportunities across all industry sectors and all types of business. From growing up and seeing my dad's accountant helping his family business, to seeing how a significant portion of the largest companies in Ireland and the rest of the world had Chartered Accountants as their CEOs and key management, really made my decision an easy one. ...and how did you get to where you are today? I have a degree in Accounting from Queens University Belfast and completed my training contract with BDO in Belfast, becoming a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland in 2016. I really enjoyed my time in BDO Belfast but had a strong desire to move abroad and try something different as that was a big factor in choosing to become a Chartered Accountant in the first place. I moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in September 2016 after considering several options. I had some close friends living there already and had been several times on holiday visiting them. I moved across with a role in KPMG Dubai and worked there for six months before an opportunity in my current company came up that I couldn't turn down - we were a start-up international private medical insurance provider with 14 offices in nine countries, servicing members in almost every country in the world. The opportunity to work closely in a small and dynamic finance team directly with the most senior management to build something big was really appealing. I have been with the Company for five years now and am the International Group Financial Controller. What do you value most about your membership of the profession and how do you think those benefits can be used to support the economy and society?  The most valuable part of being a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland is definitely the platform that it gives to gain access to opportunities in industries and markets both at home and across the world. I've seen first-hand how valuable the membership is and how employers hold it in such high-regard. I believe that the path to becoming a member of the Institute sets you up for the real world of business and helps you to build on certain principles and attributes beyond just the technical stuff, that can be applied to almost any industry and any business across the world. As a member living overseas, can you talk to us about how your membership has been of value to you globally and if there is anything you would like to see your institute do more of to support members overseas?  The memberships value to me has largely been its recognition for producing many business leaders across the world. It's a sought after qualification and something which many employers are keen to recruit into their organisations. Membership also gives you that link to other members in the same situation as yourself and a professional community that you can lean on when necessary. For example, on several occasions, myself and many other Chartered Accountants Ireland members have helped others making the move to Dubai with information and contacts to help get them on the right track for making the move abroad. There are also some informal member catch up social events that take place during the year for those who wish to attend, which helps keep the feeling of a professional community from home when abroad.  Although not as feasible in the current climate, but perhaps in the future, some formal face to face events with the Institute or in person CPD events would be a good way to further reinforce that sense of global community. And finally Chris, if you weren’t a Chartered Accountant, what do you think you would you be/have been? Totally unrealistically - a professional footballer or golfer. More realistically (and a lot more boring) - a commercial real estate agent/broker. View Christopher's LinkedIn profile here.