We look back at some of this year’s AB interviews, which showcase members’ wide range of roles and skills, together with many fascinating career and life experiences. Here are some of the highlights of the past 12 months.
‘If you put 100 accountants in a room, very few will have the same job’
Louise Johnston FCCA
Finance director for Northern Ireland’s Strategic Investment Board, and current ACCA Ireland chair
‘If you put 100 accountants in a room, very few will have the same job. That’s what I love about what our qualification does.’
Johnston moved from the private sector to a range of public sector roles, finding ‘great satisfaction in the more meaningful and purposeful work’.
And she’s used that learning for the benefit of others, with voluntary work with the Belfast International Arts Festival. ‘When you can take the skills and experience you’ve gained from previous roles and apply them to different challenges and sectors, it is hugely rewarding.’
‘It’s jaw-dropping sometimes to see the impact we can have’
Martin Hannigan FCCA
Director of finance, IT and governance at Barnardos
‘The people you work with aren’t doing it for the money; they are here because they love what they do. It’s jaw-dropping sometimes to see the impact we can have; this is what keeps me in the sector.
‘You are involved in everything from governance to legal to IT. You have to be sure that whatever area your organisation is getting into, there is adequate funding and support to maintain it. When you are forming contractual arrangements to deliver a service, they have to be watertight.
‘I use my whole toolbox of experience in this role, and everything is called on every day.’
‘You might be asked if you eat chocolate all day’
Michelle Vance FCCA
CEO of Lily O’Brien’s
‘When you first meet people, a certain fictional character is often mentioned, and you might be asked if you eat chocolate all day.
‘We all have our favourites, but we have a saying: “If you can avoid the tasting table until lunchtime, you’ve done well!”
‘Affordability is key to our success. We are cognisant that consumers have a certain budget. You either hit that point or you miss your market.’
‘If you give them what they really want, they will pay more for it and come back’
Tim Whyte FCCA
COO and CFO of Choice Hotel Group
‘What I loved from the start of working in hospitality was the sense of camaraderie and fun. You can’t work in a silo in this business.
‘It’s about focusing on what the customer wants. If you give them what they really want, they will pay more for it and come back for the experience again because, more often than not, they are not getting it anywhere else.
‘ACCA isn’t just about finance; it’s about ethics, sustainability and leadership. The CPD programme and the feeling of being part of a wider network that sees issues through a social as well as a finance lens is really important to me.’
‘You have to really care about the people for whom you’re fighting’
Helen Redmond FCCA
Director of finance and support services at the Irish Heart Foundation
‘Working for an NGO is a bit of a vocation. You have to really care about the people for whom you’re fighting.
‘Covid-19 had a huge impact. All our existing services effectively stopped overnight. We had no choice but to take a leap into the digital world. One of the great things about providing support remotely is that we can reach a lot more people and this remote offering continues today alongside our in-person support.’
‘You wear a lot of hats when you’re in a credit union’
David Woodward FCCA
Finance director at Savvi Credit Union
‘There’s a lot of ongoing work around operational resilience, ESG, digitalisation, loan participation and sector-wide collaboration. You wear a lot of hats when you’re in a credit union.
‘As a board member I work on risk, compliance, HR, audits, work plans and staffing, but it’s the success stories that I love to hear: families, husbands, wives, mothers and fathers thanking us.
‘For some people, the burden of debt can be overwhelming and impact their physical and mental health. Responsible borrowing is as important as responsible lending.’
‘We know from our clients that a whole world of independence opens up’
Tim O’Mahony FCCA
CEO of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind
‘Having a guide dog or assistance dog is simply life changing. We know from our clients that a whole world of independence opens up.
‘In the case of a family of a child with autism, it means the ability to enjoy family time such as visits to Santa, which were previously impossible. People find it’s a lot more social, and the companionship that develops between the dog and client is powerful.
‘I’ve always believed in a continuous improvement mindset and applying the science of process to the issues we face. There are a lot of moving parts that need to be managed in the constraints of limited resources and with the support of volunteers.’
‘I needed a key and ACCA provided it’
Lucky O’Loughlin FCCA
Finance director, UK and Benelux with Verve, the Live Agency
‘I come from a family of doctors and my parents wanted me to study medicine. However, I’ve always been very good with numbers and had an interest in finance.
‘To achieve my goal of becoming an international finance professional, I needed a key and ACCA provided it. I have heard ACCA described as an international passport and I totally agree.
‘If I was to give advice to anyone unsure of their career path, it would be to embrace change and the unknown. I see the future as a magic box – why would you want to give up and miss out on seeing what’s inside it?’
