• Current students
      • Student centre
        Enrol on a course/exam
        My enrolments
        Exam results
        Mock exams
        Learning Hub data privacy policy
      • Course information
        Students FAQs
        Student induction
        Course enrolment information
        Key dates
        Book distribution
        Timetables
        FAE Elective Information
      • Exams
        Exam Info: CAP1
        E-assessment information
        Exam info: CAP2
        Exam info: FAE
        Reasonable accommodation and extenuating circumstances
        Timetables for exams & interim assessments
        Interim assessments past papers & E-Assessment mock solutions
        Main examination past papers
        Information and appeals scheme
        JIEB: NI Insolvency Qualification
      • CA Diary resources
        Mentors: Getting started on the CA Diary
        CA Diary for Flexible Route FAQs
      • Admission to membership
        Joining as a reciprocal member
        Conferring dates
        Admissions FAQs
      • Support & services
        Recruitment to and transferring of training contracts
        CASSI
        Student supports and wellbeing
        Audit qualification
        Diversity and Inclusion Committee
    • Students

      View all the services available for students of the Institute

      Read More
  • Becoming a student
      • About Chartered Accountancy
        The Chartered difference
        What do Chartered Accountants do?
        5 Reasons to become a Chartered Accountant
        Student benefits
        School Bootcamp
        Third Level Hub
        Study in Northern Ireland
        Events
        Blogs
        Member testimonials 2022
        Become a Chartered Accountant podcast series
      • Entry routes
        College
        Working
        Accounting Technicians
        School leavers
        Member of another body
        International student
        Flexible Route
        Training Contract
      • Course description
        CAP1
        CAP2
        FAE
        Our education offering
      • Apply
        How to apply
        Exemptions guide
        Fees & payment options
        External students
      • Training vacancies
        Training vacancies search
        Training firms list
        Large training firms
        Milkround
        Training firms update details
        Recruitment to and transferring of training contract
        Interview preparation and advice
        The rewards on qualification
        Tailoring your CV for each application
        Securing a trainee Chartered Accountant role
      • Support & services
        Becoming a student FAQs
        Who to contact for employers
        Register for a school visit
    • Becoming a
      student

      Study with us

      Read More
  • Members
      • Members Hub
        My account
        Member subscriptions
        Annual returns
        Application forms
        CPD/events
        Member services A-Z
        District societies
        Professional Standards
        Young Professionals
        Careers development
        Diversity and Inclusion Committee
      • Members in practice
        Going into practice
        Managing your practice FAQs
        Practice compliance FAQs
        Toolkits and resources
        Audit FAQs
        Other client services
        Practice Consulting services
        What's new
      • Overseas members
        Working abroad
        Working in Australia
        Overseas members news
        Tax for returning Irish members
      • In business
        Networking and special interest groups
        Articles
      • Public sector
        Public sector news
        Public sector presentations
      • Support & services
        Letters of good standing form
        Member FAQs
        AML confidential disclosure form
        CHARIOT/Institute Technical content
        TaxSource Total
        Audit Qualification requirements
        Pocket diaries
        Thrive Hub
    • Members

      View member services

      Read More
  • Employers
      • Training organisations
        Authorise to train
        Training in business
        Manage my students
        Incentive Scheme
        Recruitment to and transferring of training contracts
        Securing and retaining the best talent
        Tips on writing a job specification
      • Training
        In-house training
        Training tickets
      • Recruitment services
        Hire a qualified Chartered Accountant
        Hire a trainee student
      • Non executive directors recruitment service
      • Support & services
        Hire members: log a job vacancy
        Firm/employers FAQs
        Training ticket FAQs
        Authorisations
        Hire a room
        Who to contact for employers
    • Employers

      Services to support your business

      Read More
☰
  • Find a firm
  • Jobs
  • Login
☰
  • Home
  • Knowledge centre
  • Professional development
  • About us
  • Shop
  • News
Search
View Cart 0 Item

News

  • Home/
  • News
☰
  • News
  • News archive
    • 2020
    • 2019
  • Press releases
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
  • Newsletters
  • Press contacts
  • Media downloads
  • Podcasts Chartered Accountants Ireland
  • Budget day news

My Tax Journey: Sinead O’Brien

Aug 17, 2020

Sinead O'Brien is a Chartered Accountant and Vice President of Finance for SkyWorks Leasing Ireland with responsibility for all aspects of finance under the Irish operations. Sinead started her career in PwC where she trained as an auditor. She then joined the finance team in Aer Lingus and moved within the organisation to a role as direct tax manager. While in this role, Sinead completed the Chartered Tax Consultant qualification with Chartered Accountants Ireland. Sinead also lectures for Chartered Accountants Ireland’s Diploma in Tax and Chartered Tax Consultant courses.

How has your work and home life changed since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic?

The biggest change is the lack of structure. Like a lot of people, we have to balance full-time jobs with full-time childcare. With two active toddlers, this has been challenging to say the least.  We are very lucky in that we have a lot of family around who usually provide support if the childminder is unavailable. During the pandemic, this support has been removed making it very difficult to balance it all. Luckily, both of our employers are very understanding, however, at the end of the day, the work still needs to get done. This has resulted in a lot of very late nights and early mornings. It has been difficult to switch off from any of it.

What is the biggest tax and accounting challenge you are currently facing?

The pandemic has brought so much uncertainty to most sectors and this has really made cash flow the key focus for businesses. Cash flows are now reviewed daily. The budgets put in place at the beginning of the year constantly need to be reassessed and updated given the ever-changing landscape. Due to the unprecedented times we are in, there is just so much uncertainty, which makes forecasting challenging to say the least.  In terms of tax, it is about continuing to meet compliance obligations while keeping up to date with the various support measures offered by the Government.

What has changed for the better in the profession since you started working as a Chartered Accountant?

Over the last couple of years, I think employers have become much more flexible when it comes to remote working (actual remote working not the COVID-19 kind!) and working days. When I started, that flexibility was not there, and the location of businesses would play a major part in even applying for a role. Nowadays, most people I know in the profession have a level of flexibility in structuring their working day. I think this is a real positive for both employees and employers in the workplace.  

What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?

I work in a very team orientated organisation. Everyone shares the same vision and we work hard to achieve this. It is really rewarding to get to the end of a project and to know that you made a real contribution as part of a team. COVID-19 has brought its own set of unique challenges, but it really does feel like we are working together to get through this.

If the Minister for Finance would grant you one wish for the next Budget, what would that be?

Tax support for childcare! As we all know, it is an essential service for working parents however it can be a huge financial burden on families. Making such payments tax deductible would be a simple measure which would provide relief to those using this service, streamline the industry and stimulate the local economy through increased spending power.

With the added strain of recovery from the pandemic, do you think that the Irish business community is ready for Brexit?

Over the past few months, I think that Brexit has been put to the back of many people’s minds. For example, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s initial 31 July deadline for an agreement with the EU has been and gone with little or no progress made. The threat of no deal is looming, something I do not think Irish businesses are fully prepared for. The focus for many businesses, particularly in hospitality, has been reopening post lockdown. A no-deal Brexit would require a huge outlay on processes and procedures. A recent positive is the €5 billion buffer fund announced by the European Council to deal with the unforeseen impacts of Brexit. Ensuring access for Irish businesses to this fund is crucial. Without this, a no-deal Brexit following the pandemic could result in large scale closures, especially amongst SMEs.

The latest news to your inbox

Useful links

  • Current students
  • Becoming a student
  • Knowledge centre
  • Shop
  • District societies

Get in touch

Dublin HQ

Chartered Accountants
House, 47-49 Pearse St,
Dublin 2, D02 YN40, Ireland

TEL: +353 1 637 7200
Belfast HQ

The Linenhall
32-38 Linenhall Street, Belfast,
Antrim, BT2 8BG, United Kingdom

TEL: +44 28 9043 5840

Connect with us

Something wrong?

Is the website not looking right/working right for you?
Browser support
CAW Footer Logo-min
GAA Footer Logo-min
CCAB-I Footer Logo-min
ABN_Logo-min

© Copyright Chartered Accountants Ireland 2020. All Rights Reserved.

☰
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy statement
  • Event privacy notice
  • Sitemap
LOADING...

Please wait while the page loads.