Ireland’s Largest Accountancy Body Elects New President

Feargal McCormack has been elected President of Chartered Accountants Ireland at its 130th Annual General Meeting in Belfast.

Addressing the Chartered Accountants Ireland AGM in Belfast today (18 May 2018), Mr McCormack highlighted the current political and economic uncertainty on the island of Ireland and expressed his view that delivering political stability is the vital factor in securing a positive economic future on the island.

He said: “At present the uncertainty around Brexit and the lack of a functioning Northern Ireland Executive are very challenging. Put plainly, businesses are unlikely to make significant investment decisions in an uncertain environment. This uncertainty is putting jobs, economic growth and prosperity are at stake.

“We must recognise that the one factor which will make the biggest contribution to the international competitiveness in Northern Ireland and on the island of Ireland is political stability. Stability should naturally incorporate an agreement on any Brexit arrangements going forward, given the evolution of the island economy and the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

“We have recently acknowledged the 20th Anniversary of the Good Friday/ Belfast Agreement which attempted to draw a line under the past and to set a vision for the future based on partnership, equality and mutual respect.

“Despite the best efforts of the Northern Ireland political parties and the British and Irish Governments, the reality is that the journey of implementation has been just a complex as Chairman of the peace negotiations, George Mitchell, envisaged they would be.

“Huge progress has been made, not only in terms of lives saved, but the economic and quality of life on the island has been transformed. Therefore, we must support and encourage our politicians to grasp the current opportunity to deliver political stability for the island of Ireland. We owe it to our, and to future generations, to ensure that political stability and mutual understanding are the norm.

Tax Team win Top Honour at Irish Accountancy Awards 2018

Leading island based accountancy and tax consultancy practice AAB have won the Tax Team of the Year Award at the prestigious Irish Accountancy Awards Gala Banquet Ceremony which took place on Thursday 26th April 2018 at the Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin.

In presenting the Tax Team of the Year Award to AAB, the judges highlighted the practice’s Cross Border Tax Centre of Excellence incorporating Irish and UK taxes.

The Awards Ceremony, hosted by Colm O’Regan, critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, columnist and broadcaster, attracted a very influential audience, including high profile leaders from the Irish business and accountancy sectors.

64th Best Company to Work for in the UK, says Sunday Times Top 100 2018

Leading island accountancy practice AAB has scored another milestone success…. after being placed in the prestigious Sunday Times Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work for 2018.

AAB, currently employing 120 plus staff across six offices – 4 in Northern Ireland and 2 in the Republic of Ireland has established a reputation as one of the leading independent accountancy and business advisory firms operating on the island of Ireland.

Annually The Sunday Times assess and recognise the quality and popularity of companies to work for in the UK, across all sectors and industries. Now in its 18th year, the ‘Best Companies To Work For’ ranking celebrates the elite of Britain’s employers across four different categories: The 100 Best Companies, the 25 Best Big Companies, the 100 Best Small Companies and 100 Best Not-for Profit Organisations.

On average around 1,000 companies enter the Awards each year, making it widely acknowledged as the most comprehensive research into employee engagement across the UK.

Places in the rankings are determined by results of a extensive staff survey measuring seven key areas including Leadership; Personal Growth; Team; and Giving Something Back alongside a review of pay, benefits and work-life balance. Ranked 64th in the small-sized business category, AAB attained the maximum 3 Stars accreditation for ‘extraordinary’ levels of engagement. Indeed AAB were the only independent Northern Ireland firm to be recognised in their category.

Padraig McManus delivers keynote speech at AAB Leadership Event in conjunction with Ulster University Business School

These were just some of the thoughts shared with business leaders by former Chairman of Eir and Mincon Group Plc, Padraig McManus, as keynote speaker at the AAB Annual Leadership Talk.

The event was part of the 2018 MLM Management Month initiative, in association with Ulster University Business School held at the Belfast campus.

Born of Northern Ireland parents in Co. Kildare, Padraig McManus graduated as an engineer from UCD in 1973. He then joined the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) following in the footsteps of his father who was also an ESB engineer.

Padraig worked in a number of roles with ESB including serving as CEO for almost 10 years. In 2010, he led the £1bn acquisition of NIE Networks overseeing the financial, political and general stakeholder issues of integrating the business into the ESB Group.

Chairman of Eir (Eircom Holdings Ltd) from 2012 to 2017, he was also Chairman of mining equipment manufacturer Mincon Group Plc from 2013 to 2017.

A Fellow of the Institute of Engineers in Ireland, Padraig is currently President of the Economic and Social Research Institute of Ireland, Chairman of the National Maternity Hospital Foundation and Chairman of the Curragh Racecourse. He is on the Council of Chartered Accountants Ireland and is a former board member of the Irish Management Institute and Business in the Community.

During the one-hour conversation with broadcaster Gerry Kelly, Padraig gave a detailed overview of his career and also talked about the many community projects in which he has been involved including voluntary trips to Ghana to rebuild primary and secondary schools.

Momentous Night for AAB at the British Accountancy Awards

Leading island based accountancy practice AAB with offices in Northern Ireland and Ireland, continued an amazing 2017, when they won the prestigious Mid-Tier Firm of Year Award at the glittering British Accountancy Awards Gala Banquet Ceremony which took place last night (13 October 2017) at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel, in London.

The Mid-Tier Firm of the Year Award is awarded to the firm with turnover between £3m and £25m that demonstrates how the firm has added significant value to its clients and across all service areas. It was acknowledged that AAB provided a range of exceptional services, which had been fundamental in enabling their clients to achieve their business goals. It was noted, as champions of evolutionary change, AAB embrace the ever-changing economic landscape, challenging traditional perceptions and equipping clients to minimise threats, maximise opportunities and advance from reaction and weakness to pro-activity and strength, positioning clients for success.

The Newry headquartered practice was the only firm to have been shortlisted in three national categories at the British Accountancy Awards, the other two categories being: Tax Team of the Year and Accounting Innovation Project of the Year. The Awards Ceremony, hosted by Mock the Week star, Hugh Dennis, attracted upwards of 1,000 guests, including high profile leaders from the UK business and accountancy sectors.

AAB posts record fee income in UK and Ireland

The AAB UK&I network firms have posted an increase of [19%] in their fee income for the year ended 31 May 2017 to £154.8m.

This impressive expansion reflects healthy organic revenue growth across all AAB UK&I members with most firms experiencing double-digit top line increases. The numbers also includes some key strategic mergers by some of the firms.

AAB named Irish Large Practice & Overall Practice of the Year

AAB won the Overall Practice of the year at the prestigious Irish Accountancy Awards Gala Banquet Ceremony which took place on Thursday 18th May 2017 at the Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin.

After winning the Large Practice of the Year earlier in the evening against stiff competition, the final award of the evening, Overall Practice of the Year, was presented to AAB with acknowledgement from the judges that AAB were innovative, caring business advisors with global expertise and local knowledge along with a strong cross border focus.

Anne Heraty – Keynote Speaker at AAB Leadership Talk

“Back yourself, believe in yourself, believe in your idea.” These are just some of the thoughts shared with business leaders by Cpl Resources plc Chief Executive, Anne Heraty, as keynote speaker at the AAB Annual Leadership Talk. The event was part of the 2017 MLM Management Month initiative, in association with the Ulster University Business School held at the Belfast Campus.

Originally from County Longford, and now based in Dublin, Anne Heraty began her career in Xerox where she was one of Ireland’s first telesales workers. A move to Grafton Recruitment began a 30 year career in this sector and the creation of the now international company Cpl Resources plc.

Anne co-founded Computer Placement Ltd in 1989 with the aim of placing people in IT companies starting up businesses in Ireland. Three years later she was the 100% shareholder and by 1999 CPL Resources plc began trading on both the Irish and London Stock Exchanges. Today the company provides recruitment, staffing and outsourcing services through an international network of 32 offices across nine countries.

During the one hour conversation with broadcaster Gerry Kelly, Anne’s passion for business aligned to a clear set of values was evident as she traced her career from telesales to becoming the first female Chief Executive of an Irish company to float on the stock exchange. “Have no fear of failure. Success and failure are two sides of the same coin,” says Anne. “Both are just experiences and each set different challenges for you.”

Anne’s success in the business world has also been widely recognised by a raft of prestigious awards including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2006), Business & Finance Business Person of the Year (2014) and Image Business Woman of the Year (2015). In September 2016 she was elected the President of IBEC, the group that represents Irish business.

AAB Retain Top UK Accountancy Employer Award

For the second year running, AAB won the Accountancy Age Top UK Accountancy Employer Award 2016 at the glittering British Accountancy Awards Gala Banquet Ceremony which took place last night (29 November 2016) at the Brewery, in London. In addition, the only Northern Ireland firm to be shortlisted for the British Accountancy Awards, AAB were also highly commended in the prestigious Top 50 Tax Team of the year Award.

The Awards Ceremony, hosted by Jon Culshaw, one of Britain’s leading impressionists attracted upwards of 1,000 guests, including high profile leaders from the UK business and accountancy sectors.

AAB celebrates Investors in People accreditation

AAB was among 52 organisations celebrating Investors in People (IIP) accreditation at a presentation ceremony held at Belfast Castle on 30 September. Pictured with Head of Investors in People, Paul Devoy and Northern Ireland Commissioner (UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES)) Mark Huddleston are Teresa Campbell and Leanne Foster from AAB.

Paul Devoy, said: “Organisations succeed by realising the potential of their people. The organisations receiving Investors in People accreditation today are proof of that.

“People’s strengths, ambitions and ideas are the engine of success. IIP accreditation signals to customers and employees your commitment to good business and people management excellence.

“If you develop the skills of your employees and improve your employee engagement, success will ultimately follow. Through Investors in People, everything is informed by one principle: good people make a great business.”

Organisations are judged to have achieved IIP standards based on a tried and tested methodology of leading practice and a rigorous process of assessment.