Who I Help

Owner-managed businesses. Family businesses. SMEs. Property & Construction. Charities & Not-for-Profit Organisations. Educational Organisations. Entrepreneurs. Business owners planning growth, succession or restructuring.

How I Help

Audit and assurance. Tax planning. Business advisory. Corporate finance. Strategic planning. Succession planning. Business restructuring. Property taxation.

“Good advice starts with understanding the person behind the business.”

Mark O’Keeffe is a Partner at AAB, based in Cork, and has spent more than three decades helping business owners make better decisions. Having established and led successful accountancy practices for over 25 years, Mark has built his reputation on straightforward advice, technical excellence and long-term relationships. His clients range from entrepreneurs taking their first steps in business to established family companies, property investors, charities and public sector organisations. His work extends well beyond audit and tax, advising clients through acquisitions, restructures, succession planning, business sales and periods of significant growth, combining technical expertise with commercial judgement to help clients move forward with confidence.

Sectors/Support

Owner-Managed Businesses. Family Businesses. Property & Construction. Charities & Not-for-Profit. Education. Public Sector.

Every Client Has a Different Story

One of the things I’ve enjoyed most throughout my career is that no two days have ever been the same. I’ve worked with start-ups taking their first steps, businesses employing hundreds of people, charities delivering vital community services and public sector organisations responsible for significant public funds. Every organisation has different ambitions, different challenges and different personalities.

That’s why I’ve never believed in standard solutions. Good advice starts by listening, understanding what matters to the client and then finding the right way forward.

Looking Beyond the Numbers

People often think accountants spend their time looking backwards. Of course, we need accurate financial information, but that’s only the starting point. The real value comes from helping clients understand what those numbers mean and what they should do next.

Whether we’re discussing expansion, succession, funding or restructuring, my focus is always on helping clients make informed commercial decisions. It’s about giving people clarity and confidence rather than simply producing another report.

Trust Is Earned Over Time

Many of the clients I work with today have been with me for decades, and that’s something I never take for granted. Over that time, I’ve watched businesses grow from small family operations into substantial employers. I’ve seen second generations take over, and I’ve helped clients through recessions, acquisitions, difficult trading periods and successful exits.

When you’ve been part of that journey, you develop a relationship that’s built on trust rather than transactions. Those long-term relationships are one of the most rewarding aspects of the profession.

A Broader Perspective

My career has also given me opportunities outside traditional practice. I’ve managed audit assignments on behalf of the Comptroller and Auditor General, worked extensively with educational and public sector organisations, prepared internal audit reports and served on the boards of several public and voluntary bodies. I have also lectured professional accountancy students, helping to develop future members of the profession.

Those experiences have broadened my perspective and reinforced the importance of integrity, independence and accountability in every engagement.

Keeping Things Simple

The world of business has become far more complex than it was when I started. Tax legislation changes, regulations evolve, technology moves quickly, and clients are faced with more information than ever before. My job is to take that complexity away.

I don’t believe clients should leave a meeting with more questions than answers. If I’ve done my job properly, they’ll leave with a clear understanding of their options and a practical plan for what comes next.

Growing Together

What has never changed throughout my career is the importance of relationships. Technical expertise is expected, but clients also want advisers who understand their ambitions, communicate honestly and are there when important decisions need to be made.

As AAB continues to grow, we’re able to offer clients access to wider expertise, specialist services and international support while maintaining the personal approach that’s always been central to how I work. Business is built on trust, and that’s something that still matters just as much today as it did when I first started advising clients over 30 years ago.