UHY Farrelly Dawe White is an audit, tax and advisory practice in Ireland with a drive to achieve a better future for our people, our clients and our communities. The firm has 80 employees and a wide range of clients, with our head office in Dundalk and offices in Balbriggan, Newry and Dublin. We are a member of UHY International, a global accountancy network ranked in the top 20 networks worldwide.
As a director, I have primary responsibility for regulatory, legal and compliance, in addition to my own portfolio of clients. Through the practice’s litigation support services, I work alongside legal firms dealing with family and shareholder disputes. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities, with work far removed from the stereotypical image of accountants that used to be out there.
Overseas graduates seeking a career in accountancy see Ireland as an attractive place
Providing accounting, legal and advice solutions to our clients is deeply rewarding. I also take pride in ensuring that we as a firm are up to date with legislation and regulations, and in compliance with the UHY International network. I derive a great deal of satisfaction in supporting our firm’s development, learning and growth in the face of continuing challenges.
The rapid advance of technology such as AI is something we need to keep a vigilant eye on to continue to serve our clients’ needs. As a firm we are investing in the latest technology, developing new service lines and upskilling our people to ensure we stay ahead.
The fall in the number of graduates pursuing a career in accountancy in general and in practice in particular is a cause of concern. We are fortunate that many overseas students and graduates seeking a career in accountancy see Ireland as an attractive place to work and live. We have been successful in attracting high-quality talent from overseas to our firm.
There is evidence of a slowdown and concerns about warehoused tax debt
Looking to the year ahead we see general optimism but also caution among our clients. There has been considerable growth in terms of new work in the past 12 months and strong performances across all the main practice areas. However, there is evidence of a slowdown in certain sectors and concerns about tax debt warehoused since the pandemic. This will lead to restructuring in some form or another and inevitably there will be casualties.
My pressure valve release is certainly my mornings at the gym, which is more about keeping my head cleared than anything else. I play guitar in my spare time – a passion reignited in recent years as I watched my eldest son master several instruments. My two younger sons also share that passion for music.
The most important business lesson I have learned is that every single day is a learning day. You should never stop learning. New opportunities to do so present themselves every day.
