Ireland’s impressive economic revival continues to gather pace, driven by further growth in the labour market and an uplift in private investments.
A significant positive development is the rising employment across the country. Even the west, where recovery has lagged behind the rest of the county, is registering robust job growth, with 5,100 new jobs on the market over the past 12 months.
Growth is also very evident within our accountancy firms, who are concentrating on exploiting our economic revival as much as possible. There are great opportunities to help clients capitalise on indigenous and international business opportunities, and practice accountants are working hard under the radar to add real value by making informed decisions. This has led to increased demand for commercially astute accountants who have strong business acumen and are able to work with clients in a consultative capacity.
Intense competition for candidates
The increasing complexity of reporting standards in Ireland, coupled with changes to audit requirements, has put additional pressure on small to medium sized practices. They currently face intense competition to secure technically strong, well trained accountants in a market where public practice firms are paying a premium to secure suitably qualified candidates.
Clear career paths for practice professionals
For those who decide to stay in practice in Ireland, career paths tend to be well defined and reasonably transparent. In order to attract and retain the best people, progressive practices are enhancing their benefits packages as well as focusing more on delivering effective CPD, providing a high level of client exposure and helping staff develop business acumen.
As the role of the practice accountant evolves from a mainly statutory reporting position into a more consultative role, those at manager level and above are enjoying fulfilling careers where they are able to add tangible, measurable value to clients whilst also driving the growth of their practice.
So, if you’re considering a new opportunity within an accountancy practice firm in Ireland, don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing
dublin@markssattin.com. There hasn’t been a better time to make your move in the last decade - the economy is buoyant, wages are increasing and inflation hasn’t dramatically increased.
If you’re not considering a new opportunity in Ireland but know of someone who is, we're are offering a €1,000 referral reward for any successful referrals*. Please reach out to dublin@markssattin.com to find out more.
