Who I Help

Family-owned SMEs. Family-owned businesses. Group company audits. Owner-managed companies. Growing practices. Our people and teams across the firm. Organisations navigating growth, change and regulatory compliance.

How I Help

Practice management and operations. Audit services. HR and compliance oversight. Staffing and resource planning. Regulatory compliance with Chartered Accountants Ireland. Client relationship management. Team leadership and development. Group audit services.

“It’s about connecting people and solving problems to create shared success.”

Oriel Lawton is a Partner at AAB, based in Cork. While Oriel holds a small portfolio of clients, much of her time is spent on the operational side of the practice, working closely with the internal HR/operations manager and practice accountant to ensure fee targets are met, staffing needs are reviewed, and compliance with Chartered Accountants Ireland is maintained. Drawing on 20 years of experience with the firm, Oriel brings a practical, people-first approach to both practice leadership and client relationships, helping the business and the people within it grow with confidence.

From Trainee to Practice Leader

I fell into this role as the practice grew. I joined in 2005 as a trainee accountant and worked in audit. When I qualified in 2009, there wasn’t a full-time role for a newly qualified accountant, so I filled my time assisting the partners in marketing and promoting the practice. As the firm grew, I found myself spending more and more time running the practice and dealing with compliance and HR, which allowed the other partners to focus solely on client-facing work.

I have learned a lot in my 20 years with the firm; how it grew, contracted, and then grew again. We have had to navigate finance facilities, HR challenges, and all the same issues SME companies encounter. When advising clients, I can bring this experience to the conversation.

Building Relationships That Last

To build a strong relationship with a new client, I try to identify with them, find some common ground, be responsive when they need support, and always be at the end of the phone. Actions speak louder than words, and I mainly build client relationships by demonstrating my commitment to providing an efficient service. The challenges come when you’re constrained by resources to deliver within tight timelines, which is why clear communication, both internally with the team and with the client, is so important.

I love to see clients growing and doing well; I get a great sense of satisfaction supporting them on their journey. The greatest compliment a client can give me is thanking me for turning something around quickly, providing an efficient service gives me real job satisfaction.

Growing With Integrity

The biggest challenge in my career has been balancing the rate of growth of the practice while continuing to maintain high professional and ethical standards and dealing with constant change in the regulatory environment. The only way to overcome this is to ensure that lines of communication within the practice are strong, and that a commitment to professional integrity forms part of the culture of the firm.

Audit is a heavily regulated area, and I support the practice when it comes to regulation so the additional support that comes from being part of a larger group is very welcome.

People, Not Just Numbers

A common misconception about my profession is that accountants mainly work with numbers. Most of the role involves understanding people and relationships, being a problem solver, not always in the numerical sense, and communicating complex information clearly.

I can build relationships, communicate effectively, and adapt to change management, and I have a collaborative leadership style. The most rewarding aspect of being part of my team is seeing people grow and succeed together, and I enjoy creating an environment where people feel valued, supported and encouraged to contribute their ideas. Being part of AAB gives us even more opportunity to connect with a wider group of colleagues with diverse skillsets and specialisms, meaning we can deliver stronger, more innovative solutions for clients while continuing to learn from each other.

Looking to the Future

Leveraging AI to automate routine tasks has to be top of the list when it comes to where I see our profession heading. Continued use of cloud accounting technology and more powerful analytical tools will also be key, and cybersecurity is another area which is of utmost importance.

Ultimately, my role is about connecting people and solving problems, whether that’s within our own practice or for the clients we support, to create shared success.