Celebrating the achievements of the people, teams and firms that make up Ireland’s accountancy profession, over 50 companies were represented at the Irish Accountancy Awards, and 22 prestigious prizess handed out in the ceremony held on September 1st 2022.
The winners were announced during a live awards ceremony held at The Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, hosted by author broadcaster and comedian Colm O’Regan.
Now in their sixth year, the Awards were supported by leading companies across the finance and accountancy industries. The event was supported by Amárach Research and The Irish Times joined as this year’s communication partner.
Grant Picknell, VP of Accountants in Sage said; “Accountants and bookkeepers have always been the one consistent priority in our 40+ year in the industry and never has that been truer than right now. It is so great to be here at the Clayton hotel, such a fitting venue to celebrate the profession and it’s been great to meet so many unsung heroes - Sage is proud to sponsor the Awards again this year and continue this partnership. Looking forward the industry will continue to evolve.”
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One of the winners at this year’s Awards was FPM. Partner, Malachy McLernon said: “These Awards celebrate the most effective firms in our sector who understand that excellent client service requires an expanding skillset–partnering with clients to maximise opportunities, manage risk and embrace new technologies. We are immensely proud of our team at FPM on receiving this recognition.”
Mags Brennan, head of Business Banking at Permanent TSB, another of this year’s sponsors said: “The Irish Accountancy Awards gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the important service many accountancy and professional practitioners provide to Irish businesses. This support has been invaluable over the last few years and we are delighted to continue to recognise the industry’s outstanding contribution to Irish business.”
FAH Chartered Accountants was another one of this year’s award winners. Their managing partner, Fiona Hickey, said “In today’s environment a business often relies on the expertise and guidance that their accountant can provide them. A business will benefit greatly from an accountant with strategic thinking, future tax planning, innovative processes and a good knowledge of their business.”
Speaking at the awards, Kevin O’Driscoll, director partnership programmes, BusinessRiver said, “Events like this are made possible through the support of sponsors. We are thankful to our 2022 sponsors and professional partners, which include Sage, CPA Ireland, Chartered Accountants Ireland, Axon Outsourcing, Marketing Clever, Permanent TSB, Circit, Xero, and Osborne. Their investment in the awards underlines their commitment and support of this key business area.”
Another winner at this year’s event was the Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone. Trevor Prendergast, head of Department of Accounting, said: “The Department of Accounting at TUS Athlone is delighted to receive this award. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the lecturing team, who strive to ensure that our students receive an education in accounting that is now recognised as being among the best in the country.”
Michelle Hickey, partner at O’Gorman Brannigan Purtill & Co., speaking on behalf of the finalists, said: “As a firm we were honoured to be shortlisted for two awards and delighted for the boost it gave our staff and clients. We are 50 years in business in 2023 so we are looking forward to what the future brings us.”
And with Fitzgerald Power having won the Award for Medium Practice of the Year, their managing partner, Noel Winters said: “We’re thrilled to have won Medium Practice of the Year. Our teams have worked tirelessly over the past 18 months to provide creative solutions in a tricky time. Our motto is ‘Adding Value Always’ – and we think we’ve done just that.”
The 2022 judging panel was comprised of:
Anne Keogh (Judging Co-ordinator) – CFO & COO, Pharmapod
Mary Rose Burke - chief executive officer, Dublin Chamber
Andrea Crean - lecturer in Accounting and programme director MSc International Accounting and Analytics, National University of Ireland, Galway
Evelyn Cregan - company secretary, Institute of Banking
Michael Cronin - managing partner, Cronin & Co.
Joan Curry - board member, International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) / council member, Chartered Accountants Ireland / head of Finance, Department of Transport
Anthony Doherty - chief investment officer, NTR plc
David Endersen - managing partner, White Bear Studios
Pauline Haughey - project manager, Queen’s University Belfast
Oriel Lawton - partner, O’Connor Pyne & Co. Limited
Jack Massey - lecturer, UCD Michael Smurfit Postgraduate Business School
Megan McClurkin-Kane - managing director, M J Kane Recovery Ltd
Denis O’Sullivan - group financial & treasury controller, Keywords Studios PLC
Seán O’Reilly - assistant head of School of Accounting and Finance, TU Dublin
Sean Quigley - non-executive director and executive Coach
The full list of the 2022 winners:
Outstanding Contribution to Accountancy (Sponsored by Chartered Accountants Ireland)
Recipient: Elaine Coughlan
Bookkeeping Team of the Year (Sponsored by Sage)
Winner: Ifac
Excellence in Education and Training
Winner: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Accounting - TUS Midland (Athlone)
Graduate Training Programme of the Year (Sponsored by Chartered Accountants Ireland)
Winner: RSM Ireland
CSR Initiative of the Year
Winner: Back To School - John McCarrick & Associates and The Kenyan Child Foundation Ireland
Client Service Award
Winner: Contracting PLUS
Payroll Team of the Year
Winner: Fenero
Tax Team of the Year (Sponsored by Marketing Clever)
Winner: FPM
Part-Qualified Accountant of the Year
Winner: Julio Domingos - RSM Ireland
Accountant of the Year (Sponsored by Sage)
Winner: John Hannaway - HCA Chartered Accountants
Employer of the Year
Winner: Fexco
Finance Team of the Year (Sponsored by Osborne)
Winner: Combined Facilities Management
Finance Director of the Year
Winner: Michael Sands - Clonallon Laboratories
Advisory Team of the Year – SME Finance (Sponsored by Permanent TSB)
Winner: Paul O’Donovan & Associates
Advisory Team of the Year
Winner: Baker Tilly Ireland
COVID-19 Crisis Response Award
Winner: Fexco
Online Practice of the Year (Sponsored by XERO)
Winner: Accountant Online
Small Practice of the Year (Sponsored by XERO)
Winner: FAH Chartered Accountants
Medium Practice of the Year (Sponsored by Axon Outsourcing)
Winner: Fitzgerald Power
Large Practice of the Year (Sponsored by Circit)
Winner: Contracting PLUS
Global Achievement in Accountancy (Sponsored by The Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland)
Recipient: Geoff Meagher
Practice of the Year (Sponsored by Sage)
Winner: FAH Chartered Accountants