Eight questions with… Sinead Fox-Hamilton

For Sinead Fox-Hamilton, Relationship & Professional Development Manager at Chartered Accountants Ireland, people are her passion, and she credits that passion to her Chartered Accountancy qualification

Ten years ago, where did you think you would be now? Have you lived up to your own expectations?

A decade ago, I was in a banking role and had already gained experience in practice and industry as a Chartered Accountant. I enjoyed the variety of work exposure but was still figuring out my journey. 

The most fulfilling part of my roles was always working with people, so I went on to work in recruitment, which was centred on relationships and brought me closer to the world of career advancement, training, and lifelong learning.

One thing that was always constant through my student training and career was being involved in the Chartered Accountants Ulster Society (various roles across several of the sub-committees) – I loved the people, supporting career development, organising events and taking an active role in the profession’s community. I often joked that I wished my time volunteering was my day job. 

Fast forward to 2018, and a role became available at Chartered Accountants Ireland that literally ticked so many of the boxes – it was fate, and the rest, as they say, is history. 
I am thrilled to now be working for my Institute showcasing the profession, curating learning solutions and engaging with the wonderful community we have!

What has been the biggest challenge of your career?

I found getting through the ACA exams to be extremely challenging. I completed a law degree, so I didn’t have a finance background. I am more of a literary person and storyteller naturally, so it was hard to engage my brain to think differently, but I was able to find crossovers and transferable skills. 

While the study didn’t come easy to me, I knew it would be worth it, so I stuck at it. I’ll admit I had a few failures along the way and had to face some repeat papers, but I was determined to qualify. Thankfully, I got there in the end! 

I will never forget my FAE results day – it was amazing. Qualifying is absolutely one of my proudest achievements!

What do you wish you had known earlier in life?

I wish I had known that you don’t have to have it all figured out immediately. Life and careers are journeys, and there are great opportunities to learn and grow along the way! 

Framing any setbacks as lessons can really help with the fear of failure. Also, being realistic about what is achievable is important – I think we can often set our standards very high. Does perfection really exist?! Being the best version of yourself is enough. 

In my younger years, I also naively would have thought ‘success’ was defined by job title, status or salary. I have grown to learn that purpose and job satisfaction are much more valuable to me. 

I am energised and motivated by doing things I enjoy and that I feel add value – fulfilment and happiness come with this, and that is success for me now.

Where do you see yourself this time next year?

I would like to still be working for Chartered Accountants Ireland supporting the wonderful community and of course continuing to showcase the profession to the next gen. I feel really passionate about debunking the myths that exist, like it’s boring or it’s just number crunching and maths based or it’s not very accessible! All completely untrue – so I want to continue on my crusade to demystify the career and show the reality of Chartered Accountancy careers!

Who inspires you, personally and professionally?

Personally, I would say my dad. He has a real ‘can do’ attitude and drilled into me that there is no such thing as can’t – this positive problem-solving approach has taught me a lot. His confidence, drive and work ethic are something I’ve also always admired.

Professionally, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many great leaders who inspire me, so it’s genuinely hard to narrow it down. The benefit of working in the profession is the opportunity to be exposed to some of the most talented business minds from whom I have had the privilege of learning so much.

How has being a Chartered Accountant changed your life?

Qualifying as a Chartered Accountant was a game-changer for me in so many ways. 
I entered a career where there was an abundance of varied opportunities, which suited someone like me as I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to be when I grew up (such a hard question to answer as a young person, I feel). 

I was attracted to the idea of working in business, but I didn’t know what exact path to take. Being a Chartered Accountant opens so many doors, and you can work in any sector in both traditional finance and non-traditional roles. 

I’ve enjoyed this luxury first-hand. 

But the biggest win has been the relationships I’ve built. There is a real family feel to the profession and I have made lifelong friends, and I even met a husband along the way. 

A lot of my socialising is done with fellow Chartered Accountants, and it’s lovely to have the opportunity to create such meaningful connections with like-minded people. It truly is such a special community to be part of!

If you weren't a Chartered Accountant, what do you think you'd be doing? 

I feel like I’ve found my fit in the role I do – it combines commercial and marketing aspects, but the beauty of being a Chartered Accountant is you can work right across the business. 

I love the flexibility of the career. The skills you develop are transferable right across the market, and employers want to hire Chartered Accountants, so they are always in demand, which is brilliant for job security, stability, and reward. 

Thinking completely aspirational and outside of the box, my younger self aspired to be an actress (but the pragmatic side of me didn’t think that was a realistic option) – I do scratch that itch by enjoying some amateur drama activity in my spare time, though.

What advice do you have for those who will soon qualify as Chartered Accountants? 

It’s such an exciting time – once you qualify, you truly grasp the full potential the profession can offer, whether it be in terms of career variety and reward or the fact you can travel the world because it is an internationally recognised business leadership credential. 

Be curious and enjoy exploring the career variety. A top tip would also be to build a good network – it is invaluable to the opportunities that can come your way via connections. An easy way to do this is by getting involved in your local District Societies and attending events – I have benefited from amazing experiences and opportunities by being an active participant in the Ulster Society. 

There are also so many services and supports available from the Institute – I would encourage newly qualified Chartered Accountants to engage with these and enjoy the full benefits of being a member.