With over 30 years’ experience in investment management and today a senior portfolio manager at Goodbody, Maura O’Neill FCCA could point to many drivers and influences in her professional career.
She is unequivocal, however, that ‘ACCA was the launchpad of my career, a globally recognised “badge of excellence” that has enabled me to interact with other professionals as I moved through practice, life assurance and stockbroking’.
What ACCA has given, O’Neill has amply repaid. Becoming a member in 1989, she has played a significant role on the ACCA financial services committee, as chair for two years and a member for seven, and has interacted with other ACCA panels since 2013.
Throughout this time, she has demonstrated a tireless determination to create opportunities for others, to bring people together and to advance knowledge in areas that were previously overlooked. It’s an approach that mirrors the ACCA values of inclusion, innovation and integrity, and has seen her named ACCA Ireland’s National Advocate of the Year 2021/22.
Tireless support
Commending her achievement, Stephen Kenny FCCA, chair of ACCA's Financial Services Network Panel, says that ‘O’Neill has worked tirelessly to support the provision of learning events, leveraging her wider network to excellent effect.’
Carol Lynch FCCA, former chair of ACCA's Business Leaders’ Forum, echoes these sentiments, highlighting O'Neill's flair for finding collaborative opportunities and for encouraging ‘involvement in areas such as the Schools Initiative and wider business networking activities’.
‘The traditional concept of the accountant is going through transformation'
Education and opportunity
Education is a particular interest for O’Neill. ‘Being a parent, I appreciate the importance of career choice and development, in addition to educational opportunities,’ she says.
Her contribution has been on many levels: she has advocated for ACCA membership at post-primary career fairs; was instrumental in securing scholarships at PAT (Professional Accountancy Training) for some students of An Cosán, an organisation that provides people of all ages with pathways to education, leadership and enterprise; and has directly enhanced the CPD offering to ACCA members in Ireland.
O’Neill’s commitment to ACCA also gives practical effect to her belief that the role of the traditional accountant is changing and that this should be reflected in the increasing interactions with other professions.
‘The traditional concept of the accountant is going through transformation and accountants have to be aware of other disciplines as we navigate change,' she says. 'As a result, I see ample room to expand the ACCA network in Ireland through contact with other professional bodies, government and other influencers.’
Charity sector challenges
The charity sector, one of O’Neill’s areas of focus, is one such example. As regulatory requirements in the sector increased in recent years, she recognised the challenges this was presenting for financial professionals working and volunteering in the sector.
Through the Financial Services Network Panel, she established the first charity/non-profit sector event for ACCA members. This involved the Charities Regulator, among other stakeholders, and effectively created a forum where directors and trustees could come together to address changes in the regulatory and governance sphere. Such was the response that it is now a regular fixture on the panel’s calendar of events.
‘O’Neill has worked tirelessly, leveraging her wider network to excellent effect'
Maura’s instincts for identifying topics of relevance go beyond her own areas of expertise. She moderated ACCA’s first CPD event with the aviation leasing industry and has been working with ACCA learning providers to support the development of programmes and topics in areas such as fintech anti-money laundering.
Her flair for collaboration was reflected in her work with the Munster panel and the Business Leaders Forum, which led to a rewarding series of joint events. One colleague noted of O’Neill that ‘every event she has been involved with has been a success’.
Opportunities ahead
Now concluding her direct service to ACCA committees and panels, O’Neill hopes her approach will inspire others. ‘Collaboration and innovation will be increasingly important as we address one of our most important missions in the years ahead: the promotion of sustainability,' she says.
A career that has enabled her to interact with ‘many different industries and sectors’ has also shown her the extent to which ACCA is known, respected and trusted internationally. ‘I am proud and honoured to be ACCA Ireland’s National Advocate of the Year 2021/22,' O'Neill says.
'I will continue to encourage ACCA members to see the difference we can make working together and in partnership with others.'
More information
Learn more about becoming an ACCA advocate here.
