I wanted to become an accountant because I always enjoyed numbers throughout school, as well as the simplicity and logic of debits and credits. I became ACCA qualified in 2015. I chose ACCA because of its accessibility, and the flexibility that it offers around completion of the qualification and the number of exams sat per sitting.
My first job was as a trainee accountant in FMB, a Dublin-based firm of chartered accountants. I was involved in accounts preparation and audit across a diverse range of sectors and legal forms. During my time in practice, I learned the rules around statutory filing, VAT and corporation tax, problem solving, audit procedures, and how to account for a diverse range of transactions, having worked on a broad spectrum of unique business scenarios.
I moved to the corporate sector in 2006. At this point I was a certified accounting technician. This sector gave me the opportunity to broaden my experience, including group structures and consolidations. This in turn gave me a solid practical foundation that helped with my ACCA exams.
I have enjoyed being actively involved in raising awareness of the ACCA brand and supporting members
My working life has changed for the better since lockdown. Having no commute has allowed for greater flexibility in working hours. Now I have the time to develop other professional activities and skills. I like to go for a walk to take me from the working day into non-work hours. In 2021, I’m most looking forward to travelling for annual holidays, attending ACCA events and having face-to-face meetups with friends.
My involvement with the ACCA Ireland financial services network panel began after a meeting with a fellow ACCA member. They sold me on the many benefits to be had from ACCA membership and the ways in which one could become involved with the association, one of which was panel participation. I have enjoyed being actively involved in raising awareness of the ACCA brand and supporting members.
The biggest lesson I have learned in my career is this: If faced with a technical challenge at work, seek to work with your colleagues to find an optimal solution.
