There have been significant developments at Grant Thornton in the three years I’ve been here. The multinational platform established since the merger of the advisory and tax practices of Grant Thornton Ireland and Grant Thornton Advisors in the US has created a great buzz around the company, generating many new opportunities. Grant Thornton prides itself on its workplace culture, which I have found both welcoming and inclusive.
I work with a wide range of clients in many different industries. I enjoy the exposure to different client business functions. Key to the role is ensuring compliance with financial standards as well as supervising and mentoring junior staff. The combination is helping to strengthen my accounting proficiency and leadership skills.
Having recently become an ACCA member, I feel excited and well equipped for my career. The learning I’m most excited to put into practice is around accounting professional standards.
Resilience can turn a low point into a stepping stone for growth
Next year will be about building on my expertise and experience. One thing I have come to appreciate is that self-belief is important but must be supplemented by discipline, fortitude and adaptability. Building relationships is an important element of career development. As a newly qualified professional, I feel there is no better time to expand my network and build connections with others in my field.
The most important lesson I have learned so far is the virtue of resilience. In my earlier days in practice, I perceived failure as a weakness. Now, I see it as an inherent part of growth. Resilience is the catalyst that turns a low point into a stepping stone for growth. My colleagues are probably sick to death of me throwing out a phrase I have come to love: ‘No sailor ever learnt anything in calm seas.’
It is hard to overstate the importance of building relationships with both colleagues and clients. I’ve found that the strongest relationships are those developed away from the digital world. Nothing beats talking face-to-face. This is why I am not the biggest advocate of working from home. In my experience, the appeal of in-person engagement is its potential to foster genuine connection and to remind ourselves we are more than just names on a screen.
My ambition is to help set trends rather than follow them
It’s no surprise that many senior business leaders have a background in accountancy. A thorough understanding of accounting principles is a powerful resource. My long-term ambition is to be one of these financial leaders, someone who doesn’t simply follow trends but plays a part in setting them.
One of my favourite forms of downtime is golf. I love the opportunity to be competitive while relaxing in the outdoors. Of course, the relaxing aspect can be ‘sliced’ away quickly! I am also passionate about history, particularly Irish and European. Currently I’m enjoying a biography of Éamon de Valera.
