Who I Help

Property development companies. Family-owned businesses. Solicitors. Personal clients dealing with estates, gifts and inheritances. Individuals navigating retirement and succession planning.

How I Help

Revenue audits and enquiries. VAT on property. RZLT, Stamp Duty and CGT on property transactions, property partnerships. Capital Acquisitions Tax advice. Estate and succession planning. Severance and termination agreements.

“Tax is more than numbers – it’s about understanding people, businesses and their goals.”

Elizabeth Murphy is a Tax Director at AAB, based in Cork. As a general tax practitioner, Elizabeth works closely with the firm’s Partners to provide clients with practical tax solutions and receives a significant volume of referred work from solicitors. Her practice spans Revenue audits, property taxes, Capital Acquisitions Tax and succession planning, and she is known for combining strong technical expertise with a genuinely personable, empathetic approach to client work.

Sectors/Support

Property Developers. Family-Owned Businesses. Solicitors.

Every Week Looks Different

As a general tax practitioner, no two weeks look the same. I work closely with the Partners to provide tax solutions for clients as quickly as possible, and we are also referred a significant amount of work from solicitors. My work regularly includes Revenue audits and enquiries, providing VAT on property advice, and guidance on RZLT, Stamp Duty and CGT on property transactions. I also advise on Capital Taxes, including CAT, estate and succession planning, as well as tax planning around property partnerships and advising on severance and termination agreements. I also support colleagues across the Accounts and Audit teams on tax-related matters.

Drawn to Research

I always preferred reading to figures. I pursued a career in tax rather than accountancy because of my interest in history and law, and because I enjoy the research aspect of the work. That interest has stayed with me throughout my career and continues to shape how I approach each case, treating every client matter as its own piece of research rather than a routine calculation.

More Than Technical Expertise

A valuable lesson I have learned is that this job is about more than technical expertise. You must take the time to understand a client’s circumstances and be able to communicate in a clear way, often focusing on practical solutions rather than technical detail for its own sake. That approach has become central to how I work with every client I take on.

Listening First

When building a relationship with a new client, I listen. I always try to be empathetic, approachable and personable, and I take the time to understand a client’s circumstances, objectives and any challenges they are facing, so I can provide advice that is genuinely practical and relevant.

One relationship that stands out is a client we supported through a complex Revenue audit that spanned over five years. Throughout the process, we built a strong relationship based on trust, clear communication and confidence in the advice we provided. Beyond the technical work, we supported the client, offering guidance and reassurance along the way, and ultimately achieved the best possible outcome given the circumstances of the case.

Solutions That Matter

The most satisfying aspect of working with clients is building relationships with them and being able to provide guidance that helps them find solutions and achieve their goals. What stands out to me as most rewarding about being part of both my team and the wider AAB organisation is having a team around me to bounce ideas off, support each other, and find solutions together when it matters most.

A recent example that stands out is working with a family on the administration of a close family members estate, who died unexpectedly and intestate abroad. This involved helping them navigate communication between foreign accountants and lawyers, understand foreign tax laws, communicating with Irish solicitors and Revenue, to secure clearance to distribute the estate, all during what was an incredibly difficult period for the family. The greatest compliment a client has ever given me was being told that I make complex tax matters feel straightforward and manageable.

Clearing Up the Numbers Myth

The biggest misconception about my profession is that tax is just about numbers. In reality, it is about understanding people, businesses and the goals behind every decision. My top strengths are my strong interpersonal, communication skills, which I rely on to make complex tax matters clear and accessible for clients. Looking ahead, I am focused on continuing to keep on top of the ever-changing tax legislation landscape, so that the advice I give remains current and reliable.