Become a Chartered Accountant
In this 'Become a Chartered Accountant' podcast series you will hear directly from members and students of Chartered Accountants Ireland and how they decided on the ACA qualification, their journey and how their careers are going.
Episodes
Emma Lericque: From Hospitality to Research Finance
In this episode, Emma Lericque, ACA, CPA shares her non-linear route to becoming a Chartered Accountant: qualifying first as an Accounting Technician, then studying through the Flexible Route while raising two young children and working for her father's insurance brokerage, where she helped steer the high-stakes sale of the family business.She reflects on the confidence knocks of returning to
Ruth McLoughlin: From International Tax to Sustainable Fashion
In this episode, Sinead Fox Hamilton speaks to Ruth McLoughlin, Chartered Accountant, tax adviser, business consultant and fashion rental business owner, about building a career on your own terms. Ruth reflects on her journey from Deloitte and international tax into senior in-house roles, before launching her own consultancy and stepping into retail entrepreneurship with Happy Days. A standout mom
Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill: From Chartered Accountant to Creative Producer
In this episode, Sinead Fox Hamilton sits down with Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill, a chartered accountant whose career now spans film, television and music production, including work on Other Voices. From training in a small Dublin firm to working in KPMG and later moving into media, Iarfhlaith shares how the qualification gave him the grounding, resilience and credibility to follow a creative path. One
Pamela McCready: Leadership, Community and a Career Without Limits
In this episode of the Become a Chartered Accountant podcast, Sinead Fox Hamilton talks to Pamela McCready, President of Chartered Accountants Ireland for 2025/26 and Chief Operating Officer of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Pamela shares a career journey that has taken her from KPMG into senior leadership roles across health, audit and policing, and explains why chartered accountancy is
Shaun McGlade: Building a Business, Balancing Life
From growing up on a family farm to leading his own accountancy practice, Shaun McGlade’s journey shows the power of hard work, adaptability, and vision. In this episode, Shaun reflects on the lessons learned from his parents’ business, the importance of making numbers “real” for clients, and the leap of faith it took to leave a secure job to start SMC Ltd. He shares how the Chartered Accountancy
Nifemi: From Science Lab to Chartered Accountant and Influencer
Nifemi’s career didn’t start in accounting — in fact, she studied science at university before discovering her true passion at a graduate careers fair. In this inspiring conversation, she shares how she made the leap into Chartered Accountancy, topped national exams, and built a thriving career that blends finance, content creation, and mentoring. Along the way, Nifemi busts myths about the profes
Caelinn McGonigle
Joseph Grant ACA
Tom Corry ACA - Every Organisation Needs a Chartered Accountant
Tom has used the freedom of movement that Chartered Accountancy has given him to travel the world and to make friends in places like Bermuda, New York, the Netherlands and Cyprus. He has also used his qualification to pivot from finance to sustainability, where he makes a very real difference.
Amy Abbate ACA - Chartered Accountancy Gives You a Seat at the Top Table
Amy wanted to be an FBI agent when she was a child and followed on to do Criminology at Queen's University. She found that her enquiring mind was perfectly suited to Chartered Accountancy and now she works at BT Northern Ireland as their Finance Lead. Listen to Amy tell her story and explain why accountancy is much more than spreadsheets and numbers.
Aneta Zelazko ACA - How the Flexible Route Can Give You a New Career and a Sense of Pride
Diana Carvalho ACA - A Chartered Accountant Can Work in Any Industry
When Diana Carvalho graduated with a Communications Degree from University of Braga, Portugal, Chartered Accountancy was not in her plans. When she moved to Ireland, she discovered a love of business and decided to change course. In four short years she claimed her proudest achievement: she became a Chartered Accountant.
Sinéad Henry - Using Chartered Accountancy to Advocate for a Better World
Sinéad Henry is a nearly-qualified Chartered Accountant. She is a strong believer in community and social participation. As Vice President for Welfare at Queen's University, Belfast, Sinéad ran campaigns for mental health, consent and sexual health. Sinéad is looking forward to using her Chartered Accountancy as a means to continue to advocate for justice and sustainability in the business se
Peter Gillen ACA - Having the Chartered Accountant Qualification is a passport to work anywhere
The international reputation of Chartered Accountancy has allowed Peter Gillen to work at home and in the United States. He has also leveraged his qualification to move job and work in the sector that is closest to his heart - sustainability.
Irina Yotova ACA - choosing the Flexible Route allowed her to achieve her ambitions.
This episode of 'Become a Chartered Accountant' features Irina Yotova who started her working life in Ireland as a chambermaid and took the flexible route to find the job of her dreams.
For Michael McDermott ACA being a Chartered Accountant can be just what YOU want it to be.
For Michael McDermott, becoming a Chartered Accountant has opened up a world of opportunity. He describes the benefits of the Flexible Route and explains how success for him is about enjoying what you do more than anything.
Meet the Chartered Accountant at the commercial heart of sustainability in Ireland
This episode features Ayo Olabimtan who became a Chartered Accountant and is now at the commercial heart of sustainability in Ireland.
How Catalina Alkhatib transformed her life by studying Chartered Accountancy via the Flexible Route
This episode features the inspirational Catalina Alkhatib who decided to transform her whole life, by studying via the Flexible Route whilst managing a full-time job and her newborn child.
