Become a Chartered Accountant

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• Ian Browne: AI, Adaptive Learning and the Evolution of the ACA 10.07.2026 36min

  There is more change happening in Chartered Accountancy education right now than at any point in the profession's history. In this episode, Sinead Fox-Hamilton is joined by Ian Browne, Director of Education at Chartered Accountants Ireland, to step through it all. Ian explains how the ACA syllabus has been transformed for the modern workplace, with AI, data analytics, automation and sustainability now sitting alongside the technical core, and why skills such as critical thinking, professional...
• Emma Lericque: From Hospitality to Research Finance 07.07.2026 12min

  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 the job market, the mentoring and support from Chartered Accountants Ireland that helped her find he...
• Ruth McLoughlin: From International Tax to Sustainable Fashion 28.05.2026 15min

  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 moment comes when she shares the striking statistic that 1.7 million sequined garments are sent to l...
• Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill: From Chartered Accountant to Creative Producer 14.05.2026 28min

  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 of the standout moments is when he describes chartered accountancy as “the great enabler”, a foun...
• Pamela McCready: Leadership, Community and a Career Without Limits 27.04.2026 26min

  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 about much more than technical ability. One of the most powerful moments comes when she describes...
• Shaun McGlade: Building a Business, Balancing Life 12.08.2025 10min

  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 qualification opened doors, why flexibility matters for both students and professionals, and how ...
• Nifemi: From Science Lab to Chartered Accountant and Influencer 12.08.2025 11min

  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 profession, explains how her skills are transferable across industries, and offers practical advice for...
• Caelinn McGonigle 21.08.2024 9min
• Joseph Grant ACA 21.08.2024 11min
• Tom Corry ACA - Every Organisation Needs a Chartered Accountant 02.08.2023 14min

  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 02.08.2023 12min

  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 28.07.2022 7min
• Diana Carvalho ACA - A Chartered Accountant Can Work in Any Industry 22.07.2022 7min

  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 18.07.2022 6min

  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 sector.
• Peter Gillen ACA - Having the Chartered Accountant Qualification is a passport to work anywhere 11.07.2022 8min

  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. 23.08.2021 7min

  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. 16.08.2021 7min

  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 04.08.2021 9min

  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 04.08.2021 6min

  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.