Our client base isn’t typical of most accountancy firms. Our work with businesses is on specific transactions rather than as their principal accountant. We have a particular focus on the needs of privately owned businesses, individuals, professional service companies and employers, as well as practitioners such as accountants and solicitors.
We like to say we remove the complexity in tax and make it simple and understandable. The tax aspect of the practice focuses on advising SME shareholders and directors on the sale and succession of their company or companies. On the accounting side, we provide payroll, VAT and RCT compliance support.
Tax has been the mainstay of my career. Prior to establishing Brown & Lombard in 2012 in Dublin as an independent tax and accountancy firm, I worked in a major law firm and, before that, in the taxation practices of Big Four accountancy firms. Over the years, I’ve built up particular expertise in direct and transactional taxes, and in advising family and privately owned businesses on tax matters. As a result, I now work on a significant number of merger and acquisition transactions each year.
I have yet to see a killer AI app
In terms of work satisfaction, nothing quite beats the feeling of finishing a project. Our tax practice is primarily project-based and will typically involve working with external solicitors, valuation specialists and company secretaries in addition to the client themselves. Each project is complex and multifaceted, with many different moving parts, and will usually take a couple of months to complete.
One of the challenges of working in taxation is the increasing amount of legislation around it every year. No small firm can provide a full service in every area and we have honed the areas that we will advise on over the years. When Brown & Lombard was first established, we engaged in some international taxation work. With the advent of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project, and some related EU changes, we decided to take a step away from this to focus on privately owned domestic businesses instead. We engage with overseas specialists when an international dimension comes into play in our work.
Like other firms, we are looking with interest at what AI can offer. To date, we have adopted more of a watching brief. While I do use the technology in limited circumstances I have yet to see a killer app. Most of the seminars I have attended, or articles I read, related to AI are quite generalist, and I have seen nothing terribly relevant to our practice. This could all change very quickly of course.
In terms of my own growth and learning, 2025 has been about maintaining momentum. I’ve also been focused on keeping up to date with technical and technological developments and building new relationships. You’ll find me walking, reading, spending time with family and planning holidays to get away from it all.
The most important business lesson I have learned is never to burn bridges behind you. The world is a small place, and Ireland is smaller. You may meet the same people again.
