Crowleys DFK Recognised in Top 100 Companies Leading in Wellbeing Index 2022

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Wellbeing Index 2022

We are delighted to be recognised in the Top 100 Companies Leading in Wellbeing Index, for a second consecutive year. This index, published by Business & Finance in partnership with Ibec, recognises top businesses of all sizes who lead the way in promoting employee wellbeing. Companies on the index, through their commitment to supporting staff, have enhanced their employees’ performance as well as their physical and mental wellbeing.

Crowleys DFK provides all employees with a positive, healthy and inclusive workplace. To this end, Crowleys DFK has driven initiatives including hybrid working, right to disconnect policies, professional development and training, birthday leave, sports and social activities and employee wellness events. Recognition in the index highlights how impactful these initiatives have been on employee wellbeing, within and beyond the workplace.

Speaking about this achievement, Colette Nagle, COO and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility said:

“It’s fantastic to be included in the Top 100 Companies Leading in Wellbeing Index for a second year in a row. Ensuring the wellbeing of our employees is a core priority for us. We recently launched our Hybrid Working Policy to enable our employees to achieve a greater long-term work/life balance. We look forward to continuing operating with wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.”

Commenting on the Index, Ibec CEO, Danny McCoy said:

“It is encouraging to note the diversity of industries spanning the full breadth and scope of the Irish economy that are represented in this index. These 100 companies that we are celebrating today are leading the way in workplace wellbeing and their commitment to instilling a best practice approach to wellbeing has made a lasting impact on their employees”.

If you are interested in working in one of Ireland’s Top 100 Companies Leading in Wellbeing, you can view our current list of vacancies.

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Guide to Global Mobility – Managing Tax Obligations of Outbound Workers

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Global Mobility - Tax Obligations of Outbound Workers

As the expansion of remote working continues, more employees are no longer obliged to work at their employer’s premises or, indeed, even in the same country as their employer’s premises. This presents a number of opportunities and challenges for employers. In the first of our global mobility series, we will examine the tax compliance obligations for Irish employers with employees working abroad.

Situation One – an Irish employer hires a new employee based abroad

An Irish employer does not need to operate Irish payroll taxes on the salary of an employee who:

  • is not resident in Ireland for income tax purposes
  • was recruited abroad
  • carries out all the duties of their employment abroad
  • is not a director of your company; and
  • has no Income Tax liability in Ireland.

For any employee in these circumstances, an Irish employer does not have to apply for a PAYE Exclusion Order to Irish Revenue and is not required to include the employee on the employer’s payroll submissions to Revenue. Employers should maintain a record of each such employee with a record of any payments made to them each year.

This is a useful exemption for Irish employers who recruit employees to work abroad as it means the non-resident employee does not need to apply for a PPS number.

Situation Two – an existing employee of an Irish employer moves abroad

An Irish employer may find that an existing employee, who lives and works in Ireland, decides to move abroad indefinitely while retaining their existing employment. In this instance, the tax obligations for the Irish employer depends on the employee’s tax residence in Ireland. This must be reviewed each year.

An individual is tax resident here if they are in Ireland for 183 days or more in the calendar year or for 280 days or more across the current and preceding calendar years. An individual is not tax resident in Ireland if they are here for 30 days or less in any calendar year.

a. The employee is tax-resident in Ireland in the year of departure

An Irish employer can apply to Irish Revenue for a PAYE Exclusion Order where an employee:

  • leaves Ireland during the year
  • becomes tax resident elsewhere
  • will carry out their employment duties wholly outside of Ireland, and
  • will be resident outside Ireland in the following tax year.

Once issued in these circumstances, the PAYE Exclusion Order will relieve the employer from the obligation to deduct Irish income tax and USC from that employee’s salary from the date of departure.

b. The employee is not tax-resident in Ireland

An Irish employer can apply to Irish Revenue for a PAYE Exclusion Order where an employee:

  • is not resident in the State for tax purposes for the relevant tax year, and
  • carries out the duties of the employment wholly outside of Ireland.

Once issued in these circumstances, the PAYE Exclusion Order will relieve the employer from the obligation to deduct Irish income tax and USC from that employee’s salary for the full tax year.

PAYE Exclusion Orders have an expiry date. An employer may apply for another PAYE Exclusion Order if the employee continues to work abroad after that date and continues to be non-resident.

It is important to note that the PAYE Exclusion Order does not cover PRSI. Determining the country in which social insurance is to be paid by and on behalf of the employee is a separate issue.

Situation Three – an existing employee of an Irish employer splits their year between working in Ireland and working abroad

This situation is arguably the most complex for an Irish employer. If the employee remains tax-resident in Ireland, Irish Revenue will not issue a PAYE Exclusion Order. As a result, the employer must continue to apply Irish payroll taxes to the employee’s salary as normal.

However, the country in which the employee is working may require the employer to apply local payroll taxes on that part of the salary that relates to work carried out in that country.

Where there is no relief available, employers may have dual payroll withholding responsibilities in both Ireland and the foreign country. They will often run what is known as a “shadow payroll” in respect of an employee’s salary. Shadow payroll is run to ensure that tax compliance obligations are met in both countries without affecting the employee’s net take-home salary.

Running shadow payroll is an extra compliance burden for the employer. Furthermore, the Irish employer must contribute payroll taxes to the Revenue authorities in both countries. This can come as an unpleasant surprise to both employers and employees.

It is therefore crucial that an Irish employer recognises if they will have to operate shadow payroll before an employee carries out any work abroad.

If shadow payroll is required, an employer must establish what is required in both countries and must agree with their employee how any duplicate deduction of payroll taxes can be reclaimed.

Often, to reclaim some or all of the payroll taxes withheld, the employee will be required to submit an income tax return. In this instance, any refund due will issue from the Revenue authorities to the employee. This can leave the employer out of pocket if a clear agreement is not put in place with the employee at the outset.

Conclusion

We have seen here the Irish tax compliance obligations for employers. An Irish employer with employees working abroad should always check their tax and social security obligations in the country where the employee is working. Often, the employer will be required to register for payroll taxes in the employee’s country and apply local payroll taxes on the employee’s salary.

In addition, depending on the number of employees that the employer has in that country and the type of duties that they carry out, the presence of these employees in that country may create a “permanent establishment” of the employer in that country. If an employer has a branch or permanent establishment in a foreign country, it may be obliged to pay local income or corporation tax on the profits of that branch.

For more information, please contact Siobhán O’Hea, Partner, Tax Services.

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Pension Scheme Governance for Trustees

Implications of the Code of Practice for Pension TrusteesThe Pensions Authority has published its Code of Practice for Trustees of Occupational Pension Schemes and Trust Retirement Annuity Contracts (click here to download a free copy of everything you need to know about it).

The Code outlines and seeks to formalise the minimum standard that the Authority expects of Trustees in respect of the governance and internal control arrangements they put in place for their schemes. This may result in some trustees having to take a far more proactive role in the governance, management and administration of their pension schemes than they have been used to.

Monitoring compliance with the requirements of the Code will be the responsibility of The Pensions Authority who will take a far more visible and proactive role in the supervision of pension schemes than trustees may have been used to before now.

Based on the experience of other sectors, for whom Governance Codes and standards have been developed, we can expect the Authority to be much more engaged with schemes and trustees as part of a wider risk-based monitoring programme. The Authority will engage directly with trustees looking for evidence that they have taken all necessary steps to ensure the governance and management arrangements for their schemes are fit for purpose, tailored to their scheme’s particular circumstances and comply with the requirements of the code.

This risk based approach suggests that larger, more complex schemes and Master Trusts will be the initial focus of the Authority’s monitoring programme. The Authority was very critical of the governance of Master Trusts in its June 2021 report and will want to see significant improvement in this area when it begins its monitoring programme.

We therefore expect to see a high level of engagement by the Authority with Master Trusts throughout 2022. Trusts and schemes that fall below the required standard will at a minimum be issued with Risk Mitigation Programmes that set out the corrective actions the Authority require them to undertake.

The introduction of this Code of Practice represents a significant change in the regulatory landscape for the pensions sector, trustees and service providers. It introduces Key Function Holder (KFH) roles including for Internal Audit and Risk Management and requires the appointment of a secretary to the Board of Trustees to assist with meetings administration matters.

These new requirements will lead to additional costs for schemes who are likely to need professional assistance to fill these roles and to ensure they comply with the new Code. Consequently, it is also likely to lead more schemes to consider joining Master Trusts as a more effective and efficient way of ensuring compliance with the new regulatory environment.

Please contact Tony Cooney, Partner and Head of Risk Consulting, if you would like to know more and learn how we can help you.

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DFK International Ranked 6th Largest Association in the World

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DFK International has been ranked as the 6th largest association in the world in the International Accounting Bulletin’s (IAB’s) annual 2022 World Survey Report.

Crowleys DFK has been a proud member of DFK International for twenty-nine years.

The report is based on collective fee income, with DFK International members firms achieving a turnover of $1.532 billion.

DFK has sat in seventh place for 10 years but has moved up the list after achieving a growth rate of 3% compared to the previous year.

The association now has 230 member firms, 1,413 partners, 13,919 staff members and 455 offices in 94 countries.

Martin Sharp, executive director of DFK International, said:

“We are very proud to be among the leading associations worldwide.

Moving up to sixth place demonstrates that despite the pandemic, DFK remains one of the strongest associations in the world and our member firms have continued to grow, which is a fantastic achievement.

We have seen growth across all services lines, particularly in North America, which shows that our members have continued to provide outstanding support to their clients in a challenging environment and in-turn have expanded their practices.

We now look forward to another successful year as we continue to do business and share knowledge and best practice to achieve further growth.”

Being a part of an association with a strong global presence has greatly widened Crowleys DFK’s intellectual resources, allowing us to offer local advice supported by a broader knowledge of international financial reporting.

This breadth of knowledge is a critical resource for our clients, which include leading firms in industries such as information and communications technology, e-commerce, life sciences, manufacturing and consumer products.

These clients find that our expert team provides fundamental advice on structuring their Irish operations, on securing Government funding, and dealing with tax and legal obligations.

As Ireland continues to be a vital hub for international business, our understanding of the challenges faced by companies moving into Ireland will continue to be a critical resource.

Eddie Murphy, Head of Tax and FDI Services at Crowleys DFK, said:

“At Crowleys DFK, we understand the challenges faced by our SME and owner-managed business clients. We are proud of the reputation and long-term relationships we have built with them over the years.

Whether it’s getting advice on taking on two employees in Germany, accessing capital markets in London or New York or helping technology companies expand into San Francisco, we connect our clients with trusted professionals throughout the world.

In many cases our clients prefer to deal with us and in these instances, we instruct the other DFK firms. This means clients can concentrate on their business and don’t need to spend time developing new relationships abroad.”

To learn more about DFK International visit www.dfk.com.

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A Guide to Avoiding the Most Common RCT & VAT Pitfalls for Non-Resident Principal Contractors

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An area that has continued to cause challenges and risks for businesses is the operation of Relevant Contracts Tax (RCT) and VAT.

The most common mistakes we see being made in this sector are by non-resident principal contractors who engage a subcontractor to carry out construction works in Ireland.

This article will focus on the most common pitfalls that we see occurring within this sector by non-resident principal contractors and the steps that can be taken to avoid making costly mistakes.

1. Compliance Obligations for Non-Resident Principal Contractors

When a non-resident principal contractor engages a subcontractor to carry out construction works in Ireland, the RCT system must be applied to payments made to the subcontractor.

The first potential pitfall for a non-resident principal contractor is not taking the reasonable care to familiarise themselves with their tax obligations under the RCT regime. In such a case, the non-resident principal contractor will eventually be contacted by Revenue, informing them of their failure to operate the RCT regime. This usually occurs following the commencement of the works in Ireland, at which point the mistakes have already been made and costly penalties can be imposed by Revenue.

As such, it is very important that a non-resident principal contractor is aware of their tax obligations prior to the commencement of any construction works in Ireland so that the necessary administrative steps can be taken to ensure that they are set up for the RCT system and fully compliant in operating RCT on payments to subcontractors.

The administrative steps to be taken by a non-resident principal contractor include registering for RCT on Revenue’s Online Service (ROS) and operating the RCT regime throughout the duration of the project in Ireland (further detail on this below).

2. Operation of the RCT System

Once a principal contractor is registered for RCT with Revenue, there are a number of steps that must be taken each time a principal contractor enters into a relevant contract with a subcontractor and each time a payment is made to the subcontractor. These steps are summarised as follows:

a. Contract Notification

  • The first step is to input a “Contract Notification” through Revenue’s online RCT system. A principal contractor must notify Revenue each time it enters into a new relevant contract with a subcontractor. The Principal will then receive a contract reference number and an indication of the applicable RCT deduction rate for the subcontractor.

b. Payment Notification

  • Before making a payment to a subcontractor, the principal must notify Revenue’s online eRCT system of the intention to make the payment and provide details to Revenue of the gross amount to be paid. This process is known as “Payment Notification”. This must be done for each payment made to the subcontractor.

c. Deduction Authorisation

  • Revenue will issue a deduction authorisation to the principle contractor which will specify the rate and amount of tax to be deducted from the payment to the subcontractor. This process is known as “Deduction Authorisation”. The principle is required to provide a copy of this authorisation to the subcontractor.

d. Deduction Summary (RCT Return)

  • Revenue’s eRCT system prepares a pre-populated period end return known as a “Deduction Summary (i.e. RCT Return)”, which is based on the deduction authorisations issued during the period. The due date for payment of the RCT withheld is the 23rd day after the end of the period covered by the return.

The most common pitfall we see occurring in practice are inconsistencies in notifying Revenue of each and every payment made to a subcontractor by the principal contractor. This can be a costly mistake for the principal contractor as the penalties Revenue can impose for failure to operate the RCT system in this way range between 3% to 35%, depending on the RCT deduction rate applicable to the subcontractor.

To put this into perspective, if a subcontractor has been assigned a 35% RCT deduction rate and the principal contractor makes a payment of €25,000 to the subcontractor without first notifying Revenue of the payment and deducting the appropiate withholding tax, Revenue can impose a penalty of €8,750 (i.e. 35% of the invoice value) on the principal contractor for its failure to operate the RCT system.

These penalties can become very costly for a business where they fail to operate the RCT system on high value invoices.

3. Operation of RCT and Reverse Charge VAT

Typically, VAT is normally charged by the person supplying the goods or services. However, under the RCT regime, the person receiving the goods or services (the principal contractor) calculates the VAT due on the invoice from the subcontractor and pays it directly to Revenue. This is referred to as Reverse Charge VAT and it is common area in which mistakes are made by non-resident principal contractors.

The following should occur when a subcontractor invoices a principal contractor for construction services that are subject to RCT:

  1. The subcontractor raises an VAT invoice with the zero rate of VAT applied;
  2. The invoice should include the VAT registration number of the principal contractor and include the narrative “VAT on this supply to be accounted for by the principal contractor”;
  3. The principal contractor calculates the VAT due on the invoice value and records it as VAT on sales (Box T1) on its VAT return. Where it is entitled to do so, the principal contractor can claim a simultaneous VAT input credit (Box T2) on the VAT return, thus resulting in a VAT neutral position.

Although the RCT system can seem like a heavy administrative burden on a business, it can be managed relatively smoothly with the proper administration. Our tax specialists look after all administrative issues regarding RCT, provide effective advice and answer questions you may have regarding RCT.

Should you require any assistance, please contact us.

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Crowleys DFK Announces a Series of Key Promotions

Following the launch of our Hybrid Working Policy, in another exciting development for the Firm, Crowleys DFK is pleased to announce some key promotions within the Firm.

Alison Bourke | Digital Marketing Manager

Alison Bourke joined the Firm in 2016 on a six-month college work placement and returned in 2017 as a Marketing Executive in our Practice Development Department. With a Masters in Digital Marketing Strategy, Alison led the implementation of the Firm’s digital marketing initiatives which directly increased Crowleys DFK’s digital footprint across all online platforms.

A result-oriented individual, her promotion to Digital Marketing Manager will see Alison taking a primary role in the continuous development of our digital marketing strategies and aligning them to the strategic goals of the Firm. Alison aims to expand the awareness of the Firm’s wide ranging services across all online platforms and to support the overall growth of Crowleys DFK.

Commenting on her promotion, Alison said: “It’s fantastic to be part of a Firm that is so supportive and values employee development. I look forward to my new role as Digital Marketing Manager.”

 

Conor Hallahan | Assistant Manager | Accounting & Financial Advisory

Conor Hallahan joined the Firm in 2017 as a Junior Accountant in our Accounting & Financial Advisory Department. Since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, Conor has become a trusted business adviser providing innovative commercial insights for our SME clients across a broad range of sectors.

Commenting on his promotion to Assistant Manager, Conor said: “Crowleys DFK commits to the growth and development of its employees. I’m delighted to have reached this career milestone and look forward to contributing further to the continued growth of the Department.”

 

Elaine Murphy joined the Firm in 2019 as a Senior Auditor in our Audit & Assurance Department. An experienced and qualified Chartered Certified Accountant, Elaine has particular experience working with our Charity and Not-for-Profit clients.

Commenting on her promotion to Assistant Manager, Elaine said: “I’m very grateful for this opportunity and feel very thankful to work with a Firm that provides excellent career development opportunities for its employees.”

 

Dean McCann | Assistant Manager | Public Sector & Government ServicesDean McCann joined the Firm in 2018 as an Associate and qualified as a Chartered  Accountant in our Public Sector & Government Services’ Department.  Dean has been instrumental in supporting the enormous growth of the Department while continuing to provide bespoke financial reporting and internal controls advisory services to our substantial portfolio of clients in the public sector and central government.

Commenting on his promotion to Assistant Manager, Dean said: “I knew that Crowleys DFK would be a place where I could continue to grow and develop professionally as the Firm continued its own growth and development. I’m proud to be a part of the Firm and see an exciting future ahead for the Department, and for myself.”

 

Kyna Lontok | Assistant Manager | Risk ConsultingKyna Lontok joined the Firm in 2020 as a Senior Internal Auditor in our Risk Consulting Department, from the Philippines. In just the last two years, she has led large scale operational and organisational Internal Audits on high profile National Regulators, Central Government Departments and Local Authorities.

Commenting on her promotion to Assistant Manager, Kyna said: “I’m delighted to have been involved with the rapidly growing Risk Consulting Department. I’m excited to be working with such a dynamic and fast paced team and look forward to continuing to work to broaden the services we offer our clients.”

 

Commenting on the promotions, Managing Partner, James O’Connor said:

“We are immensely proud to announce these new promotions. They are well earned and reflect the values of integrity, respect, and client commitment that our firm holds. Furthermore, we believe that these promotions are another vital step forward as we continue to grow and further strengthen our client services, and further demonstrates our commitment to the long-term development of our staff.”

If you are interested in developing your career with Crowleys DFK, please visit our Careers page.

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Crowleys DFK Launch Hybrid Working Policy

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Crowleys DFK has launched its new people policy regarding flexibility and hybrid working, effective from 7 March 2022.

The policy, which was announced internally on 7 October 2021, has been put in place to ensure that the Firm reaches its goal of building a flexible, purposeful way of working so that our employees can achieve a greater long-term work/life balance.

The hybrid working policy combines elements of home working and office-based working. To enable our employees to work from home effectively, Crowleys DFK facilitated individual risk assessments of employees’ home workspace with our 3rd party provider Capella and provided equipment as needs were identified through the risk assessments.

Criona Turley, CEO & Co-Founder of Capella commented:

“We were delighted to partner with Crowleys DFK in 2020 to carry out ergonomic training and risk assessments for their team while they worked from home. Crowleys DFK continue to use our assessments to proactively ensure that their colleagues working from home are provided with the same level of equipment and technology as if they are in the office, allowing them to work as safely and productively as if they were on site. By investing in Hybrid supports like ours, Crowleys DFK are doing everything they can to ensure a seamless flexible working experience for their staff.”

The policy seeks to empower employees to take responsibility for their own productivity and to facilitate a safe home working environment to do so. Recognising that not everyone’s needs for health, safety and productivity are the same employees can choose to continue to work in the office.

The Hybrid Working Policy follows and operates in tandem with Crowleys DFK’s Flexible Working Policy, and the Right to Disconnect Policy. In line with the Firm’s commitment to the overall wellbeing of our employees and supporting them in balancing their professional and personal priorities in a way that works for everyone, these policies were created to ensure that working patterns do not negatively impact client services, and team working while recognising that every employee is entitled to enjoy their free time without being disturbed.

Paula McCann from the Firm’s HR Department said:

“We are committed to putting people at the centre of our firm, our clients and our employees alike. With that in mind, our new policy, like the preceding flexible working and right to disconnect policies, have been developed to ensure the best working environment. The policy was carefully developed with the needs of the Firm, its employees and its clients in mind and we are confident that it will guide us in achieving the most desirable outcomes for all.”

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Introduction of Interest Limitation Rules (ILR) in Ireland

In accordance with the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD), Ireland has introduced the Interest Limitation Rules (ILR) as part of the Finance Act 2021.

The ILR applies to accounting periods that commence on or after 1st January 2022. Their aim is to limit base erosion attempts by multinational companies through the use of excessive deductions and other financing costs. To accomplish this, the ILR limits the rate of interest deductions.

The ILR seeks to limit the amount of allowable net borrowing costs to a maximum of 30% of the tax adjusted EBITDA.

The restriction apples where the interest equivalent expense exceeds interest equivalent income. The term “interest equivalent” has a wide definition and includes interest on all debt plus financial instruments, amounts incurred in connection with raising finance and foreign exchange gains and losses on interest.

As provided by the ATAD, the ILR may be applied using a single entity basis or a by using a “group approach”. This approach will determine the interest restriction at the level of a local group of companies, i.e., the “interest group”. The interest group will include all companies within the charge to Irish corporation tax. This approach should ensure that the profits of all members of the interest group that are liable for Irish tax are included.

The legislation includes a number of important exemptions, which include:

  • Where the taxpayer’s (whether a standalone company or an interest group) net borrowing cost does not exceed €3m,
  • Where the taxpayer is a standalone entity, i.e., no associated businesses,
  • Long-term infrastructure projects,
  • Interest on a legacy debt concluded before 17th June 2016.

Subject to conditions, amounts disallowed as a tax deduction under the ILR may be carried forward and deducted against profits in future years.

ILR will have a significant impact. Many corporate taxpayers will be faced with a complex set of rules and a greater administrative burden.

For more information, please contact Niall Grant, Partner in our Tax Services’ Department.

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Crowleys DFK Celebrates DFK’s 60th Anniversary

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DFK's 60th Anniversary

Crowleys DFK is celebrating global independent accountancy association DFK’s 60th anniversary. We are proud to have been members for the past 29 years.

Reflecting on the 60th milestone, Martin Sharp, executive director of DFK International, said:

“In 1962 the founders of DFK International envisaged setting up an association of independent firms that could support their clients to do business internationally and provide an alternative to the big networks which were being set-up.

Although DFK has grown considerably and the international business landscape has changed, the principles and ethos on which DFK was established still remain.

Beyond this, DFK provides a forum to share knowledge and best practice between like-minded individuals who are keen to support their clients and help fellow member firms.

We have a strong family atmosphere which has grown over the years to give member firms the opportunity to build relationships with people from different countries and different cultures.

This year we celebrate this success and look forward to continuing to build these relationships in the years to come.”

James O’Connor, Managing Partner at Crowleys DFK commented:

“There is no doubt that joining DFK in 1993 has been a significant catalyst in the success and growth of our firm. Since then, we have grown to become a 10 Partner and 115 staff practice and one of the leading independent practices in Ireland.

There is great comfort in being able to connect our clients with trusted friends all around the world when they need help and advice abroad.”

The association provides us with a platform to share knowledge, ideas and best practice as well as information about the latest technology to ensure we remain at the forefront of the sector.

It is also a pioneer in training and development, creating programmes to specifically develop young professionals in the industry as they progress in their careers.

DFK International has 229 member firms which have a combined total of 441 offices across 93 countries.

The association strives for equality, diversity and inclusion, promoting a culture that celebrates difference, challenges prejudice and ensures fairness.

We are proud to have been part of such a magnificent organisation for such a long time and look forward to continuing to be part of the DFK family.

DFK International Conference 2019 in Singapore

Eddie Murphy & James O’Connor DFK International Conference 2019, Singapore

Happy 60th Birthday DFK!

To learn more about DFK International visit www.dfk.com.

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Crowleys DFK Announce Continued LauraLynn Partnership for 2022

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Crowleys DFK LauraLynn Partnership 2022

Following the success of the Casa Christmas campaign which raised over €2,100 for LauraLynn, Crowleys DFK is delighted to announce that its partnership with LauraLynn will continue in 2022, for the third year in a row. As the only children’s hospice in the Republic of Ireland, we are proud to continue to support LauraLynn’s requirements, so they may continue to provide specialised hospice care to children with life limiting conditions and their families all across Ireland.

We hope that by continuing our partnership with LauraLynn for a further year that we will get more chances to volunteer, meet some of the incredible LauraLynn staff and have some fun as well.

Managing Partner, James O’Connor commented:

“LauraLynn is a great Charity. It’s disappointing that our involvement coincided with all of their in-person events being cancelled. Hopefully, we will soon be able to take part and support in-person in events with them and see firsthand the incredible work they carry out to support children with life-limiting conditions and their families.”

LauraLynn’s recent announcement to expand services bringing care and support closer to home for children and families in Munster in 2022 with a satellite service based in Cork should also give us further opportunities to show our support.

Over the last two years, we at Crowleys DFK have been involved in some great initiatives for the benefit of LauraLynn, such as:

  • Casa Christmas Light Display, where COO and Financial Advisory Partner, Colette Nagle and ICT Manager, Justin Nagle transformed their home into a magical Christmas light show and raised over €2,100.
  • Christmas Jumper Day and Christmas Gifting, which saw each of our 100 employees and 10 partners give up part of their Firm Christmas Hamper in lieu of a monetary donation to LauraLynn, raising over €5,500 over the last two years.
  • On the 11th of December 2021, 15 volunteers from Crowleys DFK helped out with LauraLynn’s first live event after almost 2 years. Volunteers assisted with the running of Ray D’arcy’s Half & 5K in Phoenix Park, including stewarding around the event site and car parks, manning water stations, staffing the main registration area, giving out goodie bags and refreshments, and the clean up afterwards.
  • Win a Day off Work raffles, which encouraged our staff to donate to LauraLynn and earn raffle tickets. Together, these raffles have raised over €2,000 over the last two years.
  • Wear Your Face Mask, which saw partners and employees of Crowleys DFK receive a handmade face mask of their choice in exchange for a €10 donation to LauraLynn, raising over €3,000.
  • In June 2020, 71 partners and employees of Crowleys DFK and their families each ran, walked, or jogged a minimum of 100 km and used their combined distances to complete a virtual walking tour of the US and Canada to visit as many fellow DFK firms as possible, raising €9,266.85 in the process.
  • In February 2021, 50 members of our firm completed 14,000,000 steps and raised €4,021.13. Later, in September 2021, our 10km Challenge raised an additional €1,612.11.

Commenting on the announcement, Kerry McLaverty, CEO of LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice said:

“We are thrilled that Crowleys DFK have chosen to extend our partnership into its third year in 2022 – a year in which our services expand to include a presence on the ground in the Munster region where many employees of the firm work.  Partnerships such as this are a vital part of the LauraLynn Community of Care.  We cannot provide our services without the generosity of the public and businesses like Crowleys DFK.  The funds and awareness the firm raise have an enormous positive impact on the children and families that LauraLynn support. So thank you to everyone involved – you should be very proud of yourselves and please keep up the great work!”

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