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Leadership & Management

A bespoke Leadership & Management Programme was recently completed by 27 members of our management team (senior managers, managers, and assistant managers).

The certified programme, which was delivered by UCD’s Professional Academy, required a significant commitment from the team as it took place over an 8-week period for a total duration of 24 hours.

The course was developed to give participants an understanding of how a successful and productive environment can be established and maintained over the long term through team development and performance enhancement. The broader aim of the course was to help develop quality leaders, who will in turn foster a positive and supportive workplace culture.

“I learned various strategies on how to effectively mentor my team members to be able to produce a quality output while developing their skills.”

– Kyna Lontok, Manager, Risk Consulting

The training took place over Zoom and brought together management from our Dublin and Cork offices for intensely interactive sessions. The sessions comprised eight classes that covered a range of interesting and relevant topics, such as Coaching and Mentoring as Managers, Getting the Best from Your People and Difficult Conversations. The programme made extensive use of case studies to ensure the sessions were applicable to real-world scenarios in the contemporary workplace.

 “The biggest takeaways for me was on communication together with motivation. What motivates me may not always motivate my team. I feel the course has made me more aware of the qualities required to both lead and manage a team.”

Joanne O’Sullivan, Manager, Audit & Assurance

The programme aligns with Crowleys DFK’s commitment to learning and development, which is a key part of our overall business strategy and a core component of our Performance Development Programme (PDP). The firm recognises the value of supporting its management teams, both new and experienced, with ongoing training. Participating in this programme will help our managers more easily navigate daily challenges, handle their varied workloads, and ensure the continued success of their teams.

I gained valuable insight into the various forms of leadership, the difference between coaching and mentoring and the importance of both in developing team members.

Brian O’Donoghue, Assistant Manager, Accounting & Financial Advisory

If you are interested in developing your career with Crowleys DFK, take a look at our career options.

Paula McCann, Assistant Manager in our HR Department, featured in The Irish Times today discussing our mental health programme.

Crowleys DFK is pleased to announce the appointment of Donna Gould as a Partner in its Accounting & Financial Advisory Department along with the promotion of a further 13 employees to new positions across the firm. This exciting news comes as a recognition of the employees’ hard work, dedication, and outstanding performance.

The following individuals have been promoted to their new roles:

Promotions

Managing Partner, James O’Connor, shared,

“We are extremely proud to announce these promotions and recognise the talent, hard work, and dedication of our employees. All have made significant contributions to the continued success of Crowleys DFK and have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and a commitment to excellence. They will provide a great boost to our management and leadership teams and Donna is a fantastic addition to our Partner group.”

Today’s announcement is a testament to the firms’ dedication to employee growth and development and helping its employees reach their full potential.

James concluded,

“We are confident that these promotions will drive the continued growth and success of our company and we would like to congratulate everyone on these important career milestones.”

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

Crowleys DFK Win Best Use of LinkedIn at Cork Digital Marketing Awards

Pictured L-R: Eibhlin Kennelly (Senior Marketing Executive), Alison Bourke (Digital Marketing Manager) & Kim McCarthy (Director of Practice Development)

Crowleys DFK are delighted to be awarded for Best Use of LinkedIn for Business at the 2022 Cork Digital Marketing Awards.

Organised by Cork Chamber, the awards recognise digital innovations and achievements by Cork businesses over the past 12 months and demonstrate the valuable contributions of digital marketing to business growth. Entries were judged by members of the public, through an independent and confidential judging and allocation system.

Crowleys DFK received this prestigious award based on “our understanding of our audience”.

Over the past number of years, the firm’s Practice Development Team has developed a comprehensive digital marketing strategy. A key component of this strategy is to highlight our core values and the people behind Crowleys DFK.  This has resonated with existing and potential clients and potential hires as it highlights the importance, we place on our people and in building a supportive and sustainable workplace regardless of whether we are in the office or working from home.

Our efforts have resulted in the number of people visiting our website via LinkedIn tripling, while followers gained has doubled in 2022.

Kim McCarthy, Director of Practice Development commented:

“It’s a fantastic achievement to be acknowledged by Cork Chamber with this award, especially in such a competitive category.

At Crowleys DFK, we have long recognised the importance of digital marketing in strengthening our brand and growing our business. The Team has worked very hard to showcase what Crowleys DFK is all about, by producing engaging content for our audience.

I am absolutely delighted for our Digital Marketing Manager, Alison Bourke and all the Team that this work has been recognised. We are all very proud of this award.”

Sinead Kennedy hosted the awards night on Friday 21st October in Carrigaline Court Hotel. Crowleys DFK were also a finalist for Best Use of Digital Marketing for the Greater Good.

You can follow our LinkedIn page here!

We are delighted to announce some exciting promotions, highlighting the continued strong growth across the firm. 

Following her appointment to Assistant Manager in 2021, Grace Boto has been promoted to Manager in Risk Consulting. Grace has been instrumental in supporting the growth of the Department, while leading numerous internal audit projects for our substantial portfolio of clients in the public sector and central government. Her promotion further strengthens this core business service and ensures that the Department is well placed to continue to grow.   

 

 

Emma Dunne has been promoted to Manager in Corporate Compliance. She has been with the firm since 2014. Emma has played a central role in growing a team of experienced professionals who help clients fulfill their annual compliance obligations and assist them in navigating complex corporate compliance issues.  

 

 

Aga Pankau | Assistant Manager | Payroll Services

 

Agnieszka Pankau has been promoted to Assistant Manager in Payroll Services. She joined the firm as a Payroll Executive in 2020 bringing with her over 10 years’ experience. A highly experienced payroll professional, Agnieszka has an excellent understanding of payroll systems, employer obligations and employee entitlements. She provides reliable payroll services to clients in industries ranging from retail, technology, and transport to the public sector.   

Andrew Thompson | Assistant Manager | Audit & Assurance

 

Andrew Thompson has been promoted to Assistant Manager in Audit & Assurance. He joined Crowleys DFK in 2019 as a Senior Accountant. An experienced and qualified Chartered Accountant, Andrew works closely with clients operating in sectors such as not-for-profit, SME, retail and financial services, in preparing their financial statements, ensuring compliance with Company Law, Irish GAAP (FRS 102) requirements and IFRS (as adopted by the EU). 

 

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

“These promotions underline the hard work and dedication of our employees. I know each one of them will continue to be a tremendous asset to the firm as we continue to provide excellent client services while remaining focused on our commitment to our people.  

To demonstrate our dedication to providing career progression opportunities for our employees, we recently launched our revised Competency and Career Paths Development Framework and Learning & Development Programme.  The aim is to offer multiple growth and career opportunities that align with employees’ strengths and interests 

We strongly believe that investing in our employees is an investment in our future, and these latest promotions are a clear indicator of that. I wish to congratulate every one of them on their well-deserved promotions and wish them continued success in their new roles.” 

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

 

Sustainable Leader

Natalie Kelly, Partner in our Audit & Assurance Department, featured in The Irish Times today discussing our sustainability initiatives.

At Crowleys DFK, investing in our employees is an investment in our future. Our policy is to nurture talent from within, by providing employees with the time and resources they need to pursue their professional development. As employees realise their ambitions, their growth becomes part of the firm’s growth.

To this end, Crowleys DFK has modernised its Competency Framework through the creation of a new Competency and Career Paths Development Framework. This will provide a diverse range of career progression opportunities for our employees, providing a clear guide for choosing a potential career path or for measuring progress down their current path. The aim is to offer multiple growth and career opportunities that align with employees’ strengths and interests, empowering them to move to higher level or specialist positions, or to discover entirely new roles for themselves.

To support this new framework, Crowleys DFK also has established a Learning & Development (L&D) Programme to ensure our employees always have the opportunity to learn. Over time, our learning culture gives employees the knowledge, skills and experience needed to become new leaders in the firm. This is a fundamental part of our overall Performance Development Programme and maintains an environment in which progress is a constant. Having found their pathway to the future in our Competency Framework, our L&D Programme will assist employees on their journey there.

Describing the career progression environment at Crowleys DFK, Managing Partner James O’Connor has said:

“I am very proud to see our new Competency Framework & L&D Programme come into effect. Our commitment to creating a learning and career progression culture is so important to us as a firm, that it is one of our core values. We know that the firm is successful only when our people are successful. With these developments, we can ensure that everyone is getting the opportunities they deserve.”

If you are interested in a career with us, please check out our careers for experienced professionals or our graduate programme.

We are delighted to announce a series of promotions and role changes across Crowleys DFK.

Karen Murphy | Director | Operations & Innovation

 

Karen Murphy has been promoted to Director of Operations & Innovation. Karen will have the responsibility for leading the implementation of the firm’s operational strategies and for the continuing modernisation of our business through innovation and new technologies.

 

 

James O’Connor, Managing Partner, commented:

“I would like to congratulate Karen for her richly deserved promotion. In a short number of years, we have achieved a lot to transform our business processes and implement new technologies.  I am excited to see what we can achieve with continued innovation.”

Ruma Faltado | Assistant Manager | Risk Consulting

 

Ruma Faltado has been promoted to Manager of Risk Consulting. Ruma joined the Firm in 2021 as an Assistant Manager in our Risk Consulting Department. In just the last 18 months, she has led multiple large scale operational and organisational Internal Audits on a number of high-profile National Regulators, Central Government Departments and Local Authorities.

 

Ernest Mendoza | Assistant Manager | Risk Consulting

 

Ernest Mendoza has been promoted to Assistant Manager of Risk Consulting. Ernest joined the Firm in 2020 as a Senior Internal Auditor in our Risk Consulting Department. Within the last two years, Ernest has contributed greatly to his role, delivering workable solutions to our clients and fulfilling their enormous demands for risks and compliance audits.

 

 

In another exciting change within the Risk Department, Dr Conor Dowling has taken on the new role of Research & Policy Executive. This will see Conor conduct research on existing, new, and emerging legislation and EU Directives, surveys and benchmarking analysis on Internal Audit assignments.

 

Ruma and Ernest’s well-deserved promotions and Conor’s new role are a reflection of the continued strong growth and success across the Department.

Vincent Teo, Partner and Head of Public Sector and Government Services Department commented:

“Our Risk Department has seen unprecedent business growth in just the last 2 years. Our team have worked tirelessly to support this expansion and to ensure that our service delivery remains to the high standards of quality that our clients are accustomed to.

To that end, our firm remains steadfast in acknowledging and awarding employees’ efforts and their commitment to the firm. I’m proud of Ruma, Ernest and Conor for hitting all the KPIs on our Competency and Career Paths Development Framework and are now being promoted. We have no doubt they will continue to brilliantly represent Crowleys DFK and shine as part of our management team.”

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

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.

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.