Qualifying as a chartered accountant is a major milestone — but it’s also the point where your career choices begin to expand rapidly. With multiple pathways available across industry, practice, and financial services, how you present yourself on paper and in interviews will play a critical role in shaping your next move.Take Control of Your Early CareerAs a newly qualified chartered accountant, it’s important to approach your career with intent. Think of it as a long-term project rather than a series of short-term decisions. This means planning ahead, understanding different career routes, and thinking two moves beyond your immediate next role.Building a strong professional network is essential at this stage. Connecting with peers and slightly more experienced chartered accountants can provide valuable insight into career pathways and opportunities. Mentors can also play a key role in helping you assess your options and make informed decisions.Your CV: A Strategic Sales ToolYour CV is your personal marketing document. Its purpose is simple: to clearly show the value you bring and secure an interview. As a newly qualified chartered accountant, you should focus on highlighting your achievements during training—client exposure, technical experience, and measurable contributions.Strong CVs are:- Achievement-focused: Quantify your impact where possible.- Clear and concise: Use direct language such as “led,” “delivered,” or “analysed” .- Structured: Show career progression with no unexplained gaps.- Tailored: Adapt your CV depending on the role you are applying for.It’s also important to include relevant details such as your degree results, systems experience, and exposure to different sectors or clients. Always ask yourself after each bullet point: “What value does this show?”Optimising for Modern RecruitmentMany employers now use AI to screen CVs, so your application needs to work for both technology and people. As a Chartered Accountant, ensure you include relevant keywords such as ACA, financial reporting, audit, tax, or FP&A—depending on your experience.Keep formatting simple and professional. Avoid graphics, tables, or overly creative layouts, as these can interfere with automated screening systems. A clear, clean CV is far more effective than a visually complex one.Building Your Professional BrandYour LinkedIn profile acts as an extension of your CV and is increasingly important for all newly qualified professionals. Make sure it reflects your status as a Chartered Accountant and highlights your key achievements and areas of expertise.A strong LinkedIn presence includes:- A professional photo- A clear title and About section featuring key words- Evidence of achievements and skills- Engagement with relevant content and organisationsPreparing for InterviewsAt interview stage, preparation is the key differentiator. Every interview should be approached in a tailored way—understanding the role, the company, and what they are looking for in a newly qualified Chartered Accountant.Focus your preparation around:1 Your key achievements and examples2 Your strengths and areas for development3 How your experience aligns with the role4 Insightful questions for the interviewerPerforming with ConfidenceDuring the interview, your goal is to combine technical competence with strong interpersonal skills. Employers are not only hiring a Chartered Accountant—they are hiring someone who can communicate, build relationships, and contribute to the wider team.Key points to remember:- Listen carefully and engage- Maintain confident body language and eye contact- Bring your personality into the conversation- Clearly articulate your value and ambitionsSetting Yourself Up for Long-Term SuccessQualifying as a Chartered Accountant opens the door to a wide range of opportunities, but success comes from ongoing career management. Keep your CV updated, refine your interview skills, and continue building your network.I hope the above is useful and remember that upon qualification the full suite of Member Services becomes available to you including your Careers Team so make it your first touchpoint post FAE’s and we will help you navigate the market and career decisions going forward.  Dave Riordan FCA Careers Advisory & Recruitment Specialist Chartered Accountants Ireland Dave.riordan@charteredaccountants.ie

 Modern and functioning infrastructure is critical to the economy and society across the island of Ireland. It is vital to economic resilience and competitiveness, to the decarbonisation of our electricity grid and our transport networks, to building homes, and to the delivery of clean drinking water.Ireland’s record on infrastructureIreland is capable of constructing high quality infrastructure, as can be seen from the successful completion of high-speed broadband connections, state of the art schools, roads and Dublin’s light rail Luas system. The commitment to the Luas project enhanced market confidence to develop and deliver new housing and amenities as the surrounding stops became attractive places to live due to the network’s connectivity.  Between 2011 and 2022, the population within its catchment grew by from 21%-26% and 300,000 jobs within the Dublin Metropolitan Area are now within a 15-minute walk from a Luas stop. Luas commuters have added over €5 billion in Gross Value Added to the economy. In addition at least 10,000 new jobs in the services and technology sectors have located along Luas corridors in the lifetime of the Luas. However, in other instances Ireland’s progress in delivering vital infrastructure has been impeded by under-investment during the financial crisis, as well as by constraints and delays in the approval, planning and procurement processes. Not only have these impacted Ireland’s ability to deliver projects vital for reaching economic, social and environmental targets, they have led to a negative perception of Ireland’s ability to deliver critical infrastructure. This in turn puts Ireland’s ability to attract and retain Foreign Direct Investment at risk, increases the cost to citizens and businesses, and results in poorer services, missed commercial opportunities and environmental degradation.Planning for our futureFurther sustained investment will be critical to Ireland’s success. The delivery of infrastructure is not an issue that can be reserved solely for the public sector and Government. Ireland’s revised National Development Plan commits a record €275.4 billion in public capital investment through 2035. Under this framework, the government has allocated over €102 billion specifically for the 2026–2030 sectoral capital allocations to heavily fund critical utilities, housing delivery, and transport. However, State funding must be augmented by private investment in infrastructure. Attracting this investment requires stronger national and international advocacy from government, businesses, and society to support a positive image of Ireland.Commenting, Head of Public Policy Grant Sweetnam said: “Public discourse around infrastructure must be characterised by ambition and confidence in Ireland’s ability to deliver projects.  We as a country, a society and a business community have a collective interest in getting infrastructure right and we all, from the Government down, need to do a better job making the case for major pieces of infrastructure. The business community needs to stand up and be a passionate advocate for infrastructure projects.”Throughout the lifecycle of infrastructure projects Chartered Accountants Ireland members play an enormous role both in the private sector and public sector. They undertake and assess detailed cost benefit analyses. They identify and quantify risk and examine ways to mitigate it. They provide strategic insight on the most commercially viable options.The Institute’s position: share your perspectivesAs part of our policy work Chartered Accountants Ireland is developing a formal position on infrastructure, with a particular focus on the need to mobilise sufficient finance to support delivery. This work aligns with the objectives of the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce. To inform our approach, we have been engaging with stakeholders across business and wider society to gather insights that will shape a constructive, solutions-focused contribution on behalf of our 40,000 members. We welcome member perspectives. Please email: grant.sweetnam@charteredaccountants.ie or susan.rossney@charteredaccountants.ie to contribute.Panel discussion event next weekWe are also hosting a joint event with The British Irish Chamber of Commerce and Chartered Accountants Ireland with an expert panel discussion on Mobilising Private-Sector Investment in Infrastructure. Members are encouraged to register for the session on Tuesday morning 9 June from 8am–10am in Chartered Accountants House. The programme will include a panel discussion featuring Ashleen Feeney, Partner, KPMG Northern Ireland, Donal Murphy, Senior Investment Director, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, James O'Reilly, Chief Executive Officer, Greenlink Interconnector Limited, Seamus Flynn, Managing Director Ireland/UK, Indaver and TJ Hunter, Managing Director, Perigus Energy.Register here 

 Being an accounting student is challenging. You have to contend with work, lectures, study, the pressure of exams and new ways of learning. At the same time, you may be experiencing personal obstacles. Over time, these duties and responsibilities combined can give rise to sustained pressure, to the detriment of your well-being. Why do people need help?Our lives and past experiences shape us, affecting our mental health, and the factors that can cause a decline in our well-being differ for everyone. Students come to us for help for various reasons, but the primary motivators tend to centre on exam pressure and stress, workplace grievances, poor work-life balance, and other personal circumstances, such as illness, grief or family and relationship matters. In 2025, we witnessed a significant increase in the number of students contacting Thrive for help. Most seek support during study leave or exam periods. It is encouraging to see so many take the brave and difficult step to seek help, but earlier intervention in the student journey is important. We want to help prevent students from becoming too overwhelmed and offer support before they falter under the pressure and demands. Numerous factors can negatively impact our mental well-being. Some we can control. Here are five steps you can take yourself to help your mental health: 1. Nourish your mind and body Good nutrition and regular physical activity can offset and relieve stress and feelings of anxiety. Simple things like staying hydrated, reducing caffeine intake, and walking in nature can help.2. RestThe power of sleep in helping to regulate our stress levels should not be understated. Stress and anxiety can lead to sleeping problems, and a lack of sleep can affect your general well-being. 3. Practise mindfulness and meditation Practising mindfulness allows you to become more aware of your emotions and help manage them. Mindfulness can become a valuable tool for easing stress and anxious thoughts with regular practice. 4. Engage in self-compassion and self-care Be kind and encourage yourself. Being hard on ourselves is an all-too-common pattern. Self-compassion is the ability to treat yourself with the same care and kindness as you would a good friend who is going through a difficult or stressful time. Developing compassion within ourselves can help us cope with adversity and make difficult situations more manageable. 5. Seek out professional services, like Thrive How we feel can become all-consuming. If you are struggling, the best thing you can do for your mental health and well-being is to reach out and talk to a professional. Seeking professional support can help you manage stress and poor mental health. The Thrive well-being hub provides a comprehensive mental health and well-being programme that offers a wide range of services tailored to our students’ well-being. All services are delivered in complete confidence and are available at any stage of your journey with the Institute. For more advice or information, check out Thrive’s dedicated well-being hub. Alternatively, you can contact the well-being team by email at: thrive@charteredaccountants.ie or phone: (+353) 86 0243294.

The Professional Accountancy team and Insolvency Committee has recently published Technical Alert 03 2026 Ethical considerations for Insolvency Practitioners. This Technical Alert is supplementary in nature and is intended to assist members in understanding and applying the ethical requirements of the Code of Ethics in an insolvency context in the Republic of Ireland. This guidance document is not a substitute for the Code of Ethics, and it is intended to highlight certain ethical requirements in the style of Questions and Answers relating to insolvency practice.

In this week’s cross-border trading corner, we bring you the latest guidance updates and publications. The most recent Trader Support Service bulletin is also available as is the latest Brexit and Beyond newsletter from the Northern Ireland Assembly EU Affairs team. Miscellaneous guidance updates and publicationsThis week’s miscellaneous guidance updates and publications are as follows:Apply to claim a repayment or remission of import duty, or reclaim state aid used on ‘at risk’ goods brought into Northern Ireland,Import goods into the UK: step by step,Lost or stolen ATA Carnets or goods covered by a carnet,Destroying goods listed on an ATA Carnet,Destroying goods listed on an ATA Carnet,Transferring an ATA Carnet to another person,How to use your ATA Carnet,Applying for an ATA Carnet,Extending the use of goods abroad when covered by an ATA Carnet,Using the ATA Carnet,Customs prohibitions, restrictions and licences,Replacement ATA Carnets and extensions,Ports, border facilities and logistics,General list of goods,Applying for an ATA Carnet,Legal and regulatory framework,Country specific requirements and variations,Structure of the ATA Carnet, andAdditional forms and procedures.

In this week’s detailed miscellaneous updates which you can read more about below, HMRC has published the latest Spotlight which looks at a property business scheme being marketed to landlords, and a VAT brief of relevance to the further education sector has been published.In addition to the above, readers should also note the following:The minutes of the March 2026 Employer and Payroll Group stakeholder forum, which the Institute participates in, have been published,The National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. This legislation gives HM Treasury the power to make regulations to introduce the £2,000 cap on the National Insurance Contributions exemption for salary sacrificed pension contributions from April 2029,HMRC has published a technical note providing a summary of the new  rules for Inheritance Tax on unused pension funds which will apply to deaths on or after 6 April 2027, and finally,In a landmark case HMRC has lost is argument in the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) case. Last month’s judgment ruled in favour of PGMOL when it held that the contracts of football referees officiating matches in the English Football League were contracts for services and not contracts of employment, and as a result that the referees were self-employed.Latest Spotlight shines light on property schemesHMRC’s latest Spotlight, number 63a, has been published to warn landlords against using a scheme, sometimes referred to as a hybrid business model, which is being marketed as a way to structure a property business in order to reduce tax. Effectively, the model claims to:bypass mortgage interest relief restrictions, thereby falsely allowing increased deductions for mortgage interest for residential properties, andreduce the amount of tax payable on profits from their property businessHMRC’s view is that the scheme does not work. The Spotlight therefore warns landlords who use these arrangements that they could end up paying more tax than they tried to avoid, along with interest, penalties and high fees.The Spotlight explains in detail: how the scheme is intended to work;why HMRC believes that it does not produce the intended tax savings, and what actions taxpayers who have used the scheme should take. HMRC VAT brief for further education institutions HMRC has published Revenue and Customs Brief 3 (2026) following the Court of Appeal  (CoA) decision ‘HMRC v Colchester Institute Corporation [2026] EWCA Civ 363’. In this case, the CoA upheld the decision of the Upper Tribunal that monies received by a further education institution were third party consideration paid by the funding agencies for the supply of education to students. HMRC historically took the view that monies received by these institutions from government funding agencies was a grant and therefore the activity it funded was outside the scope of the VAT system. However, Colchester Institute Corporation successfully argued that the monies represented third party consideration paid by the funding agencies for the supply of education to students.HMRC is not appealing this decision and will consider the decision in consultation with stakeholders. It will announce any policy change in a future brief. HMRC also explains the position for taxpayers who followed the guidance in Revenue and Customs Brief 08/21.  

The deadlines for filing 2025/26 expenses and benefits returns and employment related securities returns are both next month on Monday 6 July 2026. The 2025/26 online filing deadline to apply for a PAYE settlement agreement is Sunday 6 July 2026, with payments due by 22 October 2026 (19 October 2026 if not paying electronically). Here’s a reminder of the key deadlines next month: 6 July 2026: deadline for submitting all 2025/26 P11D(b) and P11D forms (if benefits in kind (BiKs) not processed via payroll) and the employee must receive their copy of the P11D, 6 July 2026: deadline for online reporting of 2025/26 annual returns in respect of employment related securities,19 July 2026: deadline for non-electronic payment of Class 1A National Insurance Contributions (NIC) for 2025/26, and 22 July 2026: deadline for electronic payment of Class 1A NIC for 2025/26. Readers are reminded that from April 2027, mandatory payrolling of most  BiKs and expenses, means that income tax and Class 1A NICs will need to be reported through Real Time Information (RTI) and paid in real time.

We remind readers that Mandatory Tax Adviser Registration commenced last month from 18 May 2026. HMRC has now published updated guidance to help overseas advisers assess their obligations under this legislation which will be of particular interest to our members in Ireland and overseas who may also be required to register for an agent services account. For both overseas and UK based advisers, the first three-month MTAR window may have commenced from 18 May 2026, unless a later start date applies. HMRC has also published a new MTAR manual.After MTAR launched last month, HMRC began hosting weekly stakeholder drop-in sessions for trusted stakeholders, including Chartered Accountants Ireland. The purpose of these sessions is to establish a regular forum to:share feedback on the new service and user experience,highlight any early operational or technical issues, andraise questions or concerns as they arise.HMRC expects these sessions to support early identification and resolution of issues, and to ensure stakeholder insight is captured as the service embeds. These sessions are attended by HMRC representatives from the policy, project delivery, and IT teams responsible for delivering MTAR. Chartered Accountants Ireland therefore encourages members to share their feedback on MTAR with us so that this can then be discussed with HMRC at these sessions.In addition to HMRC’s guidance pages which we have previously shared, HMRC has published a range of additional MTAR resources. An interactive guidance tool is also available in addition to a useful factsheet covering common questions, including: The transition period,The scope of the registration requirement, andThose within businesses (known as relevant individuals) that need to meet the registration conditions.As a reminder, HMRC is introducing the requirement to register in stages. The current timetable to register is as follows:18 May to 18 August 2026New tax advisers, including overseas advisers who do not currently have an Agent Services Account (ASA), or online Self-Assessment or Corporation Tax account. 18 August to 18 November 2026Tax advisers who have an online Self-Assessment or Corporation Tax account, but no ASA. 18 November 2026 to 18 February 2027Tax advisers who solely provide payroll services and who do not have an ASA. 31 December 2026 to 31 March 2027 Financial services organisations with no ASA (a full definition for this group will be set out in secondary legislation).  Tax adviser businesses have three months from the start of their registration window to apply. During this period, and whilst their application is being considered, they can continue to interact with HMRC on behalf of their clients.Those with an existing ASA do not have to register again with HMRC. HMRC will contact these businesses between January and March 2027 so that checks can be conducted against the new registration requirements. To assist members with meeting their obligations under this legislation, the Institute’s MTAR hub contains a suite of resources to help you determine if you are in scope, when you need to register, and what actions you need to take. Further resources on the various sanctions available to HMRC under this legislation will be added to the hub in the coming months.

The European Commission has published a new Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) resource which affirms that all EU Member States must treat Cyprus as having a qualified income inclusion rule under the EU Pillar Two Directive. 

The OECD has published a blog that explores how OECD guidance and the OECD Model Tax Convention help businesses navigate taxable presence and apply international tax rules in a changing, digitalised economy. 

The OECD has published a Consolidated Commentary to the Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) Rules. This commentary now incorporates the various tranches of Agreed Administrative Guidance published by the Inclusive Framework from March 2022 to January 2026. 

The OECD has published a report exploring how tax policy can support a more dynamic and competitive business environment. The report stems from the decline in business dynamism, which is the process by which firms enter, expand, contract, and exit markets.