Who I Help

SMEs and family-owned businesses. Businesses operating on the island of Ireland and engaging in cross-border trade.

How I Help

Cross-border tax support. Tax compliance and consultancy. Stakeholder engagement.

“BE CURIOUS, UNDERSTAND THE FULL FACTS, AND TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO REACH THE RIGHT OUTCOME.”

Siobhan McCreesh is a Director at AAB, based in Newry, within the Tax team. Siobhan is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser with over 30 years experience working in practice and in a tax administration across different areas of tax. Post qualification, Siobhan spent 15 years working with family-owned businesses across the island of Ireland on tax compliance and consultancy projects. She then spent over five years sharpening her expertise in Irish taxes with the Revenue Commissioners. Having rejoined AAB, Siobhan now supports SMEs and family-owned businesses navigating cross-border tax issues, bringing a rare mix of practice and administration experience to every engagement.

Sectors/Support

Cross-Border Trade. SMEs. Family-Owned Businesses.

A Week Built Around Cross-Border Clients

As a business secures growth opportunities and enters new markets, an assessment of the associated tax cost and non-tax cost is critical and should not be overlooked. A typical week will  include meeting with clients to understand their business and to provide support and advice, as appropriate, to help  them navigate tax obligations on the island of Ireland. Alongside client work, I collaborate with colleagues and develop networking opportunities with stakeholders.

Full Circle Back to AAB

I always wanted to work in taxation, and after training as a Chartered Accountant, I decided to sit my tax exams. Post qualification, I moved to AAB and over five years ago, I had the opportunity to join Revenue Commissioners as a Principal Officer. In this period, I enhanced my tax skillset, particularly in the areas of audit and compliance, co-operative compliance, tax governance and tax transparency frameworks. This gave me a greater understanding of working in a large modern tax administration and insight into an evolving global tax agenda.  I’ve since rejoined AAB, and look forward to collaborating with our clients, identifying opportunities for them and adding value in what is becoming a very complex tax environment.

Practice and Administration, Combined

Having previously worked in practice and in a tax administration, across different tax areas, I feel I can really help clients identify potential opportunities and navigate any challenges they might have.

To achieve the right outcome, it is important to have the full set of facts and understand every stakeholder’s perspective. Be prepared for the unexpected and keep an open mind.

Trust and Respect, Non-Negotiable

I have two non-negotiables when building a relationship with a new client: trust and respect. Understanding the client’s business, being approachable and available are what make those relationships work.

The most satisfying aspect of working with clients is achieving the right outcome and making a difference. What stands out most about being part of both my team and the wider AAB organisation is the sense of belonging and the collaborative way we work together.

A previous example that stands out was the pragmatic negotiation of a settlement that resulted in a desirable outcome for the different stakeholders involved. The greatest compliment a client has given me was simply being told, ‘Thanks, I couldn’t have done it without you, I can sleep better tonight.’

Navigating a Complex Global Tax Agenda

The greatest challenge in tax at the moment is navigating the global tax agenda and assessing its impact on clients of all sizes; keeping abreast of tax developments is crucial. A common misconception about the profession is that tax is boring, when it’s a constantly evolving, and, genuinely, an engaging field.

My top strengths are my collaborative and holistic approach; I was recently described in my last role as fair, patient and resilient. Looking ahead, I’m particularly focused on developing AAB’s cross-border offering and creating a real awareness of the important role that tax governance plays in the modern tax environment.