A head for numbers drew Sinead O’Neill into a career in accountancy. Read how she became a Forensic Accountant and Associate Director at Grant Thornton.
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
I started my career as an accountant, initially in corporate finance at another global business advisory firm before moving into insolvency and forensics and joined Grant Thornton’s specialist forensic’s team five years ago.
What was your favourite subject at school?
As you might expect, maths and business studies were high on my list of favourites but I also loved music and enjoyed playing the clarinet.
Did you go on to further/ higher education, if so what did you study and where?
I studied Accountancy and Economics at Queen’s University, Belfast before taking Advanced Accountancy as a post-graduate at Ulster University and then following the Chartered Accountancy route.
How did you get into your area of work?
In my previous job, I developed a great interest in forensic accounting and found I was skilled in this area. Grant Thornton was expanding its forensic and investigations operations into Northern Ireland so making the move made perfect sense. It has been a major growth area for the firm, with significant investment having been made in Northern Ireland in recent years to ensure we lead the market and get in front of the evolving digital challenges both in UK and the Republic of Ireland.
With access to the latest digital forensic technology, we can deal with huge volumes of big data. This allows us to carry out forensic investigation expeditiously and robustly, whilst other services include expert witness, asset tracing and cyber security.
Most people have a very black and white view of accounting and that all accountants have the same roles – this is far from the reality. Of all the people I went to university or trained with I can’t say any of our accountancy jobs are the same.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
I can’t say my 10 year old self dreamed of becoming an accountant, however as I progressed through school and university it was clear I had a head for maths and a desire to work in the corporate world. In terms of wanting to work in Forensics, this emerged a few years into my accountancy career and it was from that point that I knew this was the accountancy path I wanted to specialise in.
Were there any essential qualifications or experience needed?
Obviously Chartered Accountancy is essential, while I have also gained a forensic accounting diploma which is hugely beneficial in my particular area of expertise.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
The role involves working with a broad range of sectors in what is a very niche area of expertise. My team of forensic accountants is made up of individuals who have come from various industries bringing with them relevant experience. All are either fully qualified accountants or are on that path.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
The ability to pick things up quickly is so important as you can be working on time sensitive cases for clients across a broad spectrum of sectors, from sports to film companies or financial institutions.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The best part of the job is the sheer variety of cases that we are involved with, and I enjoy gaining a deep understanding of a wide range of businesses and industries. There can be challenges however, as when you commence an investigation, you don’t necessarily know from the outset where it is going to go, but, in these cases, reaching a conclusion is all the more satisfying.
Why is what you do important?
A lot of our work involves assisting in the preparation of expert witness statements. We have a duty to the court to do so in an independent and impartial manner that aids the judicial process. It is a huge responsibility that illustrates the importance of our role. Often when we are asked to carry out an investigation it is to identify what and why something occurred within an organisation and our investigations not only identify these elements but also, and arguably more importantly, assist the organisation in preventing the issues reoccurring. Often my role involves drawing on my experience in investigative matters to provide assistance and support to local and national business during distressing times.
How has COVID-19 impacted your business/role and what adjustments have you had to make?
There is no doubt COVID-19 has made an enormous impact on businesses across the globe. Thanks to advances in technology, it has very much been a case of business as usual for Grant Thornton. Online meetings and calls have allowed us to maintain close ‘face to face’ contact with clients while we are also now, returning to the office in stages, and are helping firms across all sectors to do the same, advising on a range of issues to ensure they can get back to business safely and sustainably.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
My advice to anyone following any career path is to not be tied to a specific preconception of what any job entails. If you see a particular area of interest within your wider area of expertise, find out more about it, explore it, and then grasp any opportunity that arises.
If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?
That goes back to my love of music and I originally wanted to be a sound engineer – until the numbers took over.
Describe your ideal day off.
Having taken up golf before the COVID crisis, it would be getting some (much needed) practice on the course followed by dinner and drinks with family and friends.
What is the key to a successful job search?
Above all, do your research on the role to find out more about it and those you will be working with, so you are well versed when it comes to interview. This will not only allow you to perform well at interview but also give you an insight into what the role entails to allow you to be sure that the move is the right fit for you, particularly if it is in a new area.
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