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Throwback to 2006 and a Trio of Significant Events in Crowleys DFK

2006 was an important year for Crowleys DFK. This year marks the 15th anniversary of a trio of events that would have a major impact on our firm’s continued growth as one of Ireland’s top firms of chartered accountants and business advisors.

Eddie Murphy, James O’Connor & Colette Nagle announcing the merger and Eddie’s promotion to Partner (Oct 2006)

Future Partner of Public Sector & Government Services, David Coombes, joins Crowleys DFK as a Summer Intern (June 2006)

 

 


Introduction of a Future Chief Operating Officer (COO)

In one of the more significant developments in our firm’s history, on 13th October 2006, Crowleys DFK announced a merger with Kinsale, Co. Cork firm Fitzsimons Flynn & Co. The merger saw Colette Nagle join Crowleys DFK as Partner. Innovation is a core value of Crowleys DFK and is key to all services provided by our firm. From her onboarding as Partner in our Financial Advisory Department and her current role as Chief Operating Officer, Colette has led by example.

Graduating from CIT with a BBS in Accounting, Colette joined Fitzsimons Flynn & Co. as an Accounting Trainee where she became qualified as a Chartered Accountant (FCA) in 2001 and as an AITI Chartered Tax Adviser in 2003. In 2004, Colette was made Partner at Fitzsimons Flynn & Co, becoming the youngest female Partner in Ireland at the time. The merger saw Colette join the then 5 Partner and 40 staff Crowleys DFK, bringing with her a team of 6 staff.

Colette’s experience and expertise led to her oversight of the Merger and Integration Teams when Crowleys DFK merged with a further 4 firms between 2008 and 2020. Colette would also manage the office refurbishment projects completed in 2017, the key element of the design being sustainable, environmentally friendly office spaces.

Colette has been recognised for her contributions, having been shortlisted as a finalist in the Services to Accounting & Finance category at the second Irish Women’s Awards in 2020. The same year, she was announced as the Chief Operating Officer of the now 10 Partner, 100 staff Crowleys DFK.

Since then, Colette has been responsible for setting and strengthening robust operational controls and driving innovation and digital transformation that support the goals and overall innovative vision of the firm, while also delivering cloud accounting advisory, implementation, and application across the full spectrum of sectors, helping clients to transform their businesses in the rapidly growing digital era. Colette commented:

Over the past 15 years I have transitioned from accountant to a trusted business advisor. I believe my personal and practical holistic approach helps me to understand my client’s needs and provide them with the strategic advice they require to navigate a pathway whereby they can achieve their goals. Advances in technology and AI will never be able to replace human intelligence and the power of strong relationships.


Leading the Growth of our Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Department

On the same day in 2006, Crowleys DFK announced that Eddie Murphy had been appointed Tax Partner, having been instrumental in the practice area’s growth and the diversity of compliance and tax planning services offered to its wide range of clients, from owner-managed, indigenous companies to international companies locating in Ireland to public sector organisations.

Eddie joined Crowleys DFK as a trainee accountant in 1998. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2002 and opting to continue his career and studies in practice, he qualified as a Registered Tax Consultant of the Irish Taxation Institute in 2005.

Today, Eddie heads our Tax Department and specialises in international corporate structuring, VAT, property transactions, and employment tax issues. As Lead Partner of our Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Services, he also leads a team of specialists who provide companies that wish to relocate to Ireland a “one-stop-shop” service offering and advice at each stage of their lifecycle.

Eddie believes in building strong relationships with clients, and that having a deep understanding of their objectives enables him to provide commercially effective advice. He states:

“Where I believe we excel is spending the time to get to know the investing company and its people and instil in them the peace of mind that their compliance and advisory needs are really being looked after by people who care”.


Future Public Sector Partner Starts his Career Journey

This year also marks 15 years since Partner in the Public Sector & Government Services Department David Coombes joined Crowleys DFK.

David joined Crowleys DFK as a summer intern before his final year of study at the National College of Ireland, where he would graduate with a First Class Honours Batchelor of Arts degree. He later qualified as a Chartered Accountant and held the position of Director within the Public Sector team at Crowleys DFK. Here, he would gain invaluable experience and expertise in leading public sector financial and business advisory assignments in areas such as financial reporting framework implementation, management information system design, strategic finance support, risk management and governance compliance.

In 2019, Crowleys DFK announced that David was appointed as a Partner in the department. Today, David remains in this role, working as an integral member of the leadership team. His work alongside his colleagues has helped to lead the Public Sector Services team to being named as the outright winner in the category of Excellence in Public Sector Services by The Public Sector Magazine in its Excellence in Business Awards for 2020 and 2021.

Commenting on his appointment in 2019, David said:

“I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity and feel very fortunate to be part of a firm which offers the best career development opportunities possible for its staff. I see an exciting future ahead for both the firm and the Public Sector Services Department.”

Crowleys DFK Partners (2021)

Eddie also attributes his success to the training and support he received at Crowleys DFK throughout his career. With an open door policy, employee progression and growth is at the forefront of our firm’s goals. The firm continues to offer excellent opportunities for individuals interested in pursuing and progressing a career in business. For further information, please visit our Careers page.

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Crowleys DFK Awarded Excellence in Public Sector Services Award 2021

For a consecutive year, Crowleys DFK has been named the outright category winner of Excellence in Public Sector Services Award by The Public Sector Magazine’s 2021 Excellence in Business Awards.

Public Sector Services Award 2021

The awarding committee deemed Crowleys DFK worthy recipients of the Excellence in Business Award for our consistent high-quality services to the public sector.

Vincent Teo, Head of Public Sector Services commented:

“Winning this award once is a great achievement, but to win for a second year in a row is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our dedicated Public Sector teams. We are very proud of the reputation and long-term relationships we have built with our public sector clients over the years and this recognition from our peers and clients is a great honor.”

Click here to read the full Public Sector Magazine award editorial, featuring commentary from Vincent.

About the award

The annual awards recognise excellence in key providers to the Irish Public Sector acknowledging the professionalism of companies that excel in what they do.

Each year The Public Sector Magazine invites public sector agencies and local authorities to nominate organisations for consideration.  Nominees are judged by a panel of experts drawn from previous award winners and representatives from a diversity of sectors. The top three scoring nominations in each category are shortlisted with the highest scoring nomination as the winner.

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Crowleys DFK Awarded Excellence in Public Sector Services

Excellence in Public Sector Services

We are delighted to have been awarded the Public Sector Magazine’s Excellence in Public Sector Services Award 2020 for our “consistent high-quality services to the public sector”. 

“It is great to be recognised for our work in the Public Sector. Last year we strengthened our Public Sector Department even further by adding another Partner, David Coombes, to our team. This strong leadership has helped ensure that we deliver a seamless and consistent service to our public sector clients.”  commented Vincent Teo, Head of Public Sector Services. 

For more information on our Public Sector Services, please get in touch.  

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An Tánaiste, Simon Coveney Visits Crowleys DFK For 40 New Jobs Announcement

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Crowleys DFK Recruits with Simon Coveney

An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney joined James O’Connor, Managing Partner of accountancy firm Crowleys DFK today at the firm’s recently refurbished Cork office in Lapps Quay to announce the creation of 40 new jobs in Cork and Dublin over the coming two years.

Crowleys DFK is one of Ireland’s leading indigenous accounting, tax and advisory firms. Founded 44 years ago in Cork, the firm has experienced three consecutive years of over 20% growth and currently employs 90 staff across both cities.

Recruitment is underway as the firm looks to fill roles across a range of specialties including Internal Audit, IT Audit, Risk Management, Advisory, Cloud Accounting and Public Sector Services as well as roles in its core Assurance and Tax Departments. Of the 40 new hires, 26 will be filled by experienced candidates with college graduates filing the remaining 14 roles.

James O'Connor Crowleys DFK with Simon Coveney

James O’Connor, Managing Partner of Crowleys DFK, said at today’s announcement: “We are delighted to announce these 40 new jobs across our Cork and Dublin offices. Our business has changed dramatically in recent years. The demand for access to trusted and experienced business advisors has resulted in an increased need for more innovative client solutions. Therefore, in conjunction with these 40 new roles we will also be investing in new technologies and introducing new service lines including Data Analytics, Business Process Improvement and HR and Marketing Consultancy.”

Crowleys DFK’s client base includes indigenous owner-managed businesses, and subsidiaries and European headquarters of overseas SME and multi-national companies. The firm’s national presence in Ireland is supported by their international reach through DFK International. Crowleys DFK has been a member of this global network of independent accounting and business advisory firms since 1993.

An Tánaiste Simon Coveney said: “I’m delighted to be here today for this significant announcement of 40 new jobs. Crowleys DFK is a great example of a local business achieving national and global success through ambition, innovation and a commitment to investing in talent. I’m particularly pleased to see Crowleys DFK provide career opportunities not only for homegrown and overseas professionals but also for our next generation of talent through their graduate programme.”

Crowleys DFK Recruits with Simon Coveney

An Tánaiste and James O’Connor were joined by Gloria Ramasia and Robert Graham, two new staff members of Crowleys DFK. Gloria Ramasia said: “I am thrilled to be starting my career with Crowleys DFK – it is a company that is really thinking about the future of our industry and I look forward to being part of it”.

“We believe this announcement is an important building block in our future growth. It also highlights our commitment to providing innovative service offerings to help our clients navigate the complex and sometimes challenging issues of today’s modern economy. The continued success and growth of the firm is a testament to the dedication and hard work of all our staff. I am excited with these new developments and what the future holds for Crowleys DFK”, James O’Connor concluded.

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Crowleys DFK appoints new Partner to its growing firm

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27 August 2019 – Crowleys DFK, one of Ireland’s leading accounting, tax and advisory firms, is delighted to announce the appointment of David Coombes as a Partner in its Public Sector Services Department.

New Partner Promtion: David Coombes, Partner, Public Sector Services

Pictured: (l-r) James O’Connor, Managing Partner and David Coombes, Partner, Public Sector Services

David joins the partner group having previously held the position of Director within the Public Sector Services team. David joined the firm in 2006 and is highly experienced leading public sector financial and business advisory assignments in areas such as financial reporting framework implementation, management information system design, strategic finance support, risk management and governance compliance.

Commenting on the appointment, Managing Partner, James O’Connor said, “David’s appointment, along with our other senior promotions announcement last month, reflects the firm’s continued strong growth and our commitment to the long-term career development of our staff. I am delighted to see so many of our people moving ahead in their careers.

I would like to congratulate David on this important career milestone. His appointment is a thoroughly deserved recognition of the outstanding contribution he has made to the growth of the practice over the years and for his hard work and commitment to the firm and to our clients.”

New Partner Promotion: David Coombes and Vincent Teo

Pictured: (l-r) Vincent Teo, Partner and Head of Public Sector Services and David Coombes, Partner, Public Sector Services

According to Vincent Teo, Partner and Head of the Public Sector Services Department, “Crowleys DFK remains one of only a handful of accountancy firms in Ireland with a dedicated Public Sector Department. As the Department reports rapid year on year growth, it is important for us to have strong leadership to carry on this momentum, and to ensure that we deliver a seamless and consistent service to our public sector clients as they navigate the substantial financial reporting, governance and internal control compliance that is placed upon them.

David’s appointment will provide a great boost to the leadership team. He is consistently well regarded by clients and is a great addition to our partner group.”

Commenting on his promotion to Partner, David Coombes said: “I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity and feel very fortunate to be part of a firm which offers the best career development opportunities possible for its staff. I see an exciting future ahead for both the firm and the Public Sector Services Department. I look forward to working closely with the Partners and our talented team to continue to grow the firm and broaden our services to our clients.”

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Crowleys DFK Support Cork SMEs’ Global Success

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Edward Murphy, Head of Tax, was featured in Cork Chamber’s 200th anniversary magazine. He discusses Cork, the local Cork SME sector and it’s success on the domestic and global stage.

You can read the full interview below.

Q:   What’s it like to do business in Ireland’s fastest growing city region?

A:   It’s hard not to be excited by the hive of activity in Cork in recent years – from the myriad of new developments, a growing workforce and a thriving third-level education sector to the region’s continued success in attracting high-value overseas investment. However, it’s the global success of our indigenous Cork SME sector that is, perhaps the most exciting.

Q:   Why have indigenous Cork SMEs been so successful locally and globally?

A:   While Cork has a well-earned reputation in attracting and retaining foreign direct investment, the support it offers homegrown entrepreneurs and SMEs is second to none. Innovation and the ambition to think globally is nurtured through an excellent support ecosystem of start-up incubators, accelerator programmes and research, development and innovation hubs; backed by local business organisations, third-level institutions, and public and private investors.

Q:   What are the key challenges facing SMEs looking to expand overseas?

A:   The continued uncertainty surrounding Brexit is currently the biggest challenge facing SMEs that trade with the UK. However, a constant challenge relevant to all markets is access to local, trusted and reliable professional connections and advice overseas. This is a key step in any global expansion strategy and is often a major stumbling block for many businesses. Understanding how to do business in a new jurisdiction can be time consuming and expensive when you don’t have a local relationship or know where to go to get the proper advice.

Q:   Can you describe how Crowleys DFK can help SMEs with their international growth strategies?

A:   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. They represent a diverse range of today’s most innovative and high-performing industries and sectors, including information and communications technology, life sciences, manufacturing and consumer products.

We have been a member of DFK International since 1993. This worldwide association of independent accounting, tax and business advisory firms has over 220 member firms covering 92 countries. We have a long history of working with other DFK Firms. It’s through these strong relationships that we can deliver a complete international service to clients.

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.

We have all the right connections to help businesses achieve their ambitions – locally and globally.

Contact us today for expert advice on growing your SME.

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Skydive Raises Over €6,500 for Cork ARC

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10 brave souls from Crowleys DFK took to the skies last month in an effort to raise funds and awareness for Cork ARC Cancer Support House.

Crowleys DFK have been working with Charity Partner of the Year, Cork ARC, since the beginning of 2019. Cork ARC offer invaluable specialist professional services and emotional support to people with cancer and their families. The majority of their running costs are based on voluntary donations and fundraising efforts. Witnessing first-hand the fantastic work of Cork ARC, inspired 10 Crowleys DFK employees to take to the skies and plunge 10,000ft from an airplane at a speed of 200km per hour. The goal of this skydive was to raise awareness and funds to help Cork ARC continue providing their services free of charge.

The group took the leap for charity at the Irish Parachute Club in Offaly in June 2019. Setting out with an initial fundraising target of €2,600, their incredible efforts have raised over €6,500 for Cork ARC.

For many of the group, it was their first skydive and there are already plans to make it an annual event!

A big well done to all participants and sponsors for getting involved in such a worthy cause.

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Crowleys DFK Launch New Website

Crowleys DFK are excited to announce the launch of our new website.

With a fresh look and feel, the new site offers visitors the opportunity to navigate through the service offerings with ease. This has taken a few months of hard work to complete which was supported by all staff in the firm and they are delighted with the results.

Director of Practice Development, Kim McCarthy, said;

“Our re-launched website provides a better user experience for connecting with our new and existing clients. It helps users to quickly and easily navigate through the website. This launch reflects the continued development and growth at Crowleys DFK.”

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Crowleys DFK Announces Key Promotions

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Crowleys DFK today announced a number of senior promotions to Director and Manager positions across the Firm.

Shane Moloney and Donna Gould have been promoted to Director while Emma Hanifin, David Stuart and Rosalyn Banua have all been promoted to Manager roles.

Managing Partner, James O’Connor, said: “We are delighted to announce these exciting new promotions. They are well-deserved and reflect the hard work, professional growth and commitment of all those promoted.”

New Directors Shane Moloney and Donna Gould joined Crowleys DFK as Chartered Accountant trainees in 2012 and 2010 respectively.

After qualifying, Shane moved from audit into the firm’s advisory team, specialising in Cloud Accounting and Business Process Improvement Services. Recently he has led a number of high-level client advisory assignments, including implementing business outsourcing and performance improvement projects for clients across a range of sectors.

Previously a Manager in the firm’s Accounting Services Department, Donna played a central role in the expansion of the Department in recent years. She is highly regarded by clients in both the public and private sectors and her promotion to Accounting Services Director further strengthens this core business service and ensures that the Department is well placed to continue to grow.

Emma Hanifin also joined the firm as a Chartered Accountant trainee. Her high quality project management skills and dedication to exceptional service delivery sees her promoted to Advisory Manager, specialising in Project Advisory Services.

David Stuart has been promoted to Manager in our Accounting Services and Outsourcing Department. A Chartered Certified Accountant and Xero accredited to the highest achievable level, David will manage our Cloud Accounting Services.

An experienced Internal Auditor, Rosalyn Banua has been promoted to Manager of the firm’s Governance, Risk and Compliance Department. Since joining the firm in 2015, Rosa has worked with an extensive portfolio of publicly funded bodies, semi-state agencies and private sector organisations.

James concluded: “We believe that these promotions are an important building block in our future growth ambitions and the further enhancement of our services to clients. It also highlights our commitment to the long-term career development of our staff.”

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Crowleys DFK wins DFK UK & Ireland’s Firm of the Year 2018

Crowleys DFK was awarded the DFK UK & Ireland Firm of the Year 2018 at the recent DFK UK & Ireland Annual Conference in Glasgow.

DFK International is a major international association of independent firms and business advisors that has been meeting the needs of clients with interests in more than one country for over 50 years.  The association has over 400 offices in over 90 countries. The firm has been a committed member of the association since 1992.

Crowleys DFK was recognised for its positive contribution to DFK UK & Ireland over the past year.

Managing Partner James O’Connor commented, “We are delighted that Crowleys DFK have been recognised by our colleagues for our commitment to servicing our clients’ needs internationally.”

Crowleys DFK is a seven partner firm with offices in Cork and Dublin and has grown significantly in recent years.

James stated, “Our international affiliation is a distinctive feature of the firm and provides our clients with an integrated and robust global delivery mechanism across the world.”

 

 

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