Who I help:

SMEs. Multinational groups. Sole traders. Retail. Entertainment. Tourism. Owner-managed businesses.

How I help:

Corporation tax compliance. Cross-border VAT support. Personal tax advisory.

“We take the pressure off, so clients can focus on running their business.”

Business Advisory Manager, Donna, is based in our Dublin office and works across a broad and varied portfolio within our team. Her role spans corporation tax, VAT compliance, and personal taxation, supporting clients from SMEs through to multinationals with a presence in Ireland.

A broad role with plenty of variety

“My week can look very different depending on the clients I’m working with and the time of the month, which is one of the things I enjoy about the role. Some weeks are dominated by VAT work, whereas others we’d be reviewing personal taxation, or entrepreneurial tax supports.

I review the accounts prepared by our team, oversee the VAT and prepare the returns based on the information clients provide. That can include the VIES (VAT Information Exchange System) and OSS (One Stop Shop) returns, so there’s a strong compliance element to the role.

Outside of that, a lot of my time is centred around corporation tax returns, personal income tax and CT600 filings for UK-related clients. Because the portfolio is so broad, there’s always a lot of variety in the work and in the industries I’m exposed to.”

Making finance easier for clients

“I think one of the most important parts of the role is being able to communicate clearly.

Clients tend to be experts in their own field, but they may not have a financial background. Sometimes they are managers within a business who simply need someone to explain the process in a straightforward way. If you can do that well, it makes everything easier for everyone.

My job is not just to prepare returns. It’s to help clients understand what is needed, why it matters and what they need to do next. Once you get that clarity in place, the whole relationship works better.”

Bringing an industry perspective

“Working in industry before moving into practice has really helped me.

It gave me a strong understanding of how businesses operate internally, the commercials, and what pressures they face. I can often anticipate what a client will need before they ask.

It also means I know what to look out for and what recommendations are going to be useful in the real world, not just technically correct. That helps build trust.”

Relationships built on accessibility

“For me, strong client relationships come from being approachable and being available.

I like clients to know they can pick up the phone if they have a question or if they are unsure about something. That openness makes a significant difference, especially for clients who may feel overwhelmed by the financial side of running a business.”

Early identification is critical

“One recent example involved a client expanding their sales across the EU. As part of our review, we identified that they were approaching the thresholds for OSS registration.

I worked closely with them to assess their position, guide them through the registration process, and support the integration of the necessary changes within their systems.

That’s where the role adds real value — helping clients stay ahead of requirements and putting the right structures in place to support their growth.”

Looking ahead

“Tax is always evolving, so staying up to date is essential.

Whether it’s legislative change, new VAT rules or developments in technology, the job requires constant learning. AI is a big part of that conversation now, and I’m interested in how it can improve efficiency and help us provide an even better service to clients.

At the same time, the human side of the job remains just as important. Clients want expertise, but they also want clarity, responsiveness, and someone they can trust to take the pressure off.”