DFK International Ranked 6th Largest Association in the World

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DFK International has been ranked as the 6th largest association in the world in the International Accounting Bulletin’s (IAB’s) annual 2022 World Survey Report.

Crowleys DFK has been a proud member of DFK International for twenty-nine years.

The report is based on collective fee income, with DFK International members firms achieving a turnover of $1.532 billion.

DFK has sat in seventh place for 10 years but has moved up the list after achieving a growth rate of 3% compared to the previous year.

The association now has 230 member firms, 1,413 partners, 13,919 staff members and 455 offices in 94 countries.

Martin Sharp, executive director of DFK International, said:

“We are very proud to be among the leading associations worldwide.

Moving up to sixth place demonstrates that despite the pandemic, DFK remains one of the strongest associations in the world and our member firms have continued to grow, which is a fantastic achievement.

We have seen growth across all services lines, particularly in North America, which shows that our members have continued to provide outstanding support to their clients in a challenging environment and in-turn have expanded their practices.

We now look forward to another successful year as we continue to do business and share knowledge and best practice to achieve further growth.”

Being a part of an association with a strong global presence has greatly widened Crowleys DFK’s intellectual resources, allowing us to offer local advice supported by a broader knowledge of international financial reporting.

This breadth of knowledge is a critical resource for our clients, which include leading firms in industries such as information and communications technology, e-commerce, life sciences, manufacturing and consumer products.

These clients find that our expert team provides fundamental advice on structuring their Irish operations, on securing Government funding, and dealing with tax and legal obligations.

As Ireland continues to be a vital hub for international business, our understanding of the challenges faced by companies moving into Ireland will continue to be a critical resource.

Eddie Murphy, Head of Tax and FDI Services at Crowleys DFK, said:

“At Crowleys DFK, we understand the challenges faced by our SME and owner-managed business clients. We are proud of the reputation and long-term relationships we have built with them over the years.

Whether it’s getting advice on taking on two employees in Germany, accessing capital markets in London or New York or helping technology companies expand into San Francisco, we connect our clients with trusted professionals throughout the world.

In many cases our clients prefer to deal with us and in these instances, we instruct the other DFK firms. This means clients can concentrate on their business and don’t need to spend time developing new relationships abroad.”

To learn more about DFK International visit www.dfk.com.

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A Guide to Avoiding the Most Common RCT & VAT Pitfalls for Non-Resident Principal Contractors

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An area that has continued to cause challenges and risks for businesses is the operation of Relevant Contracts Tax (RCT) and VAT.

The most common mistakes we see being made in this sector are by non-resident principal contractors who engage a subcontractor to carry out construction works in Ireland.

This article will focus on the most common pitfalls that we see occurring within this sector by non-resident principal contractors and the steps that can be taken to avoid making costly mistakes.

1. Compliance Obligations for Non-Resident Principal Contractors

When a non-resident principal contractor engages a subcontractor to carry out construction works in Ireland, the RCT system must be applied to payments made to the subcontractor.

The first potential pitfall for a non-resident principal contractor is not taking the reasonable care to familiarise themselves with their tax obligations under the RCT regime. In such a case, the non-resident principal contractor will eventually be contacted by Revenue, informing them of their failure to operate the RCT regime. This usually occurs following the commencement of the works in Ireland, at which point the mistakes have already been made and costly penalties can be imposed by Revenue.

As such, it is very important that a non-resident principal contractor is aware of their tax obligations prior to the commencement of any construction works in Ireland so that the necessary administrative steps can be taken to ensure that they are set up for the RCT system and fully compliant in operating RCT on payments to subcontractors.

The administrative steps to be taken by a non-resident principal contractor include registering for RCT on Revenue’s Online Service (ROS) and operating the RCT regime throughout the duration of the project in Ireland (further detail on this below).

2. Operation of the RCT System

Once a principal contractor is registered for RCT with Revenue, there are a number of steps that must be taken each time a principal contractor enters into a relevant contract with a subcontractor and each time a payment is made to the subcontractor. These steps are summarised as follows:

a. Contract Notification

  • The first step is to input a “Contract Notification” through Revenue’s online RCT system. A principal contractor must notify Revenue each time it enters into a new relevant contract with a subcontractor. The Principal will then receive a contract reference number and an indication of the applicable RCT deduction rate for the subcontractor.

b. Payment Notification

  • Before making a payment to a subcontractor, the principal must notify Revenue’s online eRCT system of the intention to make the payment and provide details to Revenue of the gross amount to be paid. This process is known as “Payment Notification”. This must be done for each payment made to the subcontractor.

c. Deduction Authorisation

  • Revenue will issue a deduction authorisation to the principle contractor which will specify the rate and amount of tax to be deducted from the payment to the subcontractor. This process is known as “Deduction Authorisation”. The principle is required to provide a copy of this authorisation to the subcontractor.

d. Deduction Summary (RCT Return)

  • Revenue’s eRCT system prepares a pre-populated period end return known as a “Deduction Summary (i.e. RCT Return)”, which is based on the deduction authorisations issued during the period. The due date for payment of the RCT withheld is the 23rd day after the end of the period covered by the return.

The most common pitfall we see occurring in practice are inconsistencies in notifying Revenue of each and every payment made to a subcontractor by the principal contractor. This can be a costly mistake for the principal contractor as the penalties Revenue can impose for failure to operate the RCT system in this way range between 3% to 35%, depending on the RCT deduction rate applicable to the subcontractor.

To put this into perspective, if a subcontractor has been assigned a 35% RCT deduction rate and the principal contractor makes a payment of €25,000 to the subcontractor without first notifying Revenue of the payment and deducting the appropiate withholding tax, Revenue can impose a penalty of €8,750 (i.e. 35% of the invoice value) on the principal contractor for its failure to operate the RCT system.

These penalties can become very costly for a business where they fail to operate the RCT system on high value invoices.

3. Operation of RCT and Reverse Charge VAT

Typically, VAT is normally charged by the person supplying the goods or services. However, under the RCT regime, the person receiving the goods or services (the principal contractor) calculates the VAT due on the invoice from the subcontractor and pays it directly to Revenue. This is referred to as Reverse Charge VAT and it is common area in which mistakes are made by non-resident principal contractors.

The following should occur when a subcontractor invoices a principal contractor for construction services that are subject to RCT:

  1. The subcontractor raises an VAT invoice with the zero rate of VAT applied;
  2. The invoice should include the VAT registration number of the principal contractor and include the narrative “VAT on this supply to be accounted for by the principal contractor”;
  3. The principal contractor calculates the VAT due on the invoice value and records it as VAT on sales (Box T1) on its VAT return. Where it is entitled to do so, the principal contractor can claim a simultaneous VAT input credit (Box T2) on the VAT return, thus resulting in a VAT neutral position.

Although the RCT system can seem like a heavy administrative burden on a business, it can be managed relatively smoothly with the proper administration. Our tax specialists look after all administrative issues regarding RCT, provide effective advice and answer questions you may have regarding RCT.

Should you require any assistance, please contact us.

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Crowleys DFK Announces a Series of Key Promotions

Following the launch of our Hybrid Working Policy, in another exciting development for the Firm, Crowleys DFK is pleased to announce some key promotions within the Firm.

Alison Bourke | Digital Marketing Manager

Alison Bourke joined the Firm in 2016 on a six-month college work placement and returned in 2017 as a Marketing Executive in our Practice Development Department. With a Masters in Digital Marketing Strategy, Alison led the implementation of the Firm’s digital marketing initiatives which directly increased Crowleys DFK’s digital footprint across all online platforms.

A result-oriented individual, her promotion to Digital Marketing Manager will see Alison taking a primary role in the continuous development of our digital marketing strategies and aligning them to the strategic goals of the Firm. Alison aims to expand the awareness of the Firm’s wide ranging services across all online platforms and to support the overall growth of Crowleys DFK.

Commenting on her promotion, Alison said: “It’s fantastic to be part of a Firm that is so supportive and values employee development. I look forward to my new role as Digital Marketing Manager.”

 

Conor Hallahan | Assistant Manager | Accounting & Financial Advisory

Conor Hallahan joined the Firm in 2017 as a Junior Accountant in our Accounting & Financial Advisory Department. Since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, Conor has become a trusted business adviser providing innovative commercial insights for our SME clients across a broad range of sectors.

Commenting on his promotion to Assistant Manager, Conor said: “Crowleys DFK commits to the growth and development of its employees. I’m delighted to have reached this career milestone and look forward to contributing further to the continued growth of the Department.”

 

Elaine Murphy joined the Firm in 2019 as a Senior Auditor in our Audit & Assurance Department. An experienced and qualified Chartered Certified Accountant, Elaine has particular experience working with our Charity and Not-for-Profit clients.

Commenting on her promotion to Assistant Manager, Elaine said: “I’m very grateful for this opportunity and feel very thankful to work with a Firm that provides excellent career development opportunities for its employees.”

 

Dean McCann | Assistant Manager | Public Sector & Government ServicesDean McCann joined the Firm in 2018 as an Associate and qualified as a Chartered  Accountant in our Public Sector & Government Services’ Department.  Dean has been instrumental in supporting the enormous growth of the Department while continuing to provide bespoke financial reporting and internal controls advisory services to our substantial portfolio of clients in the public sector and central government.

Commenting on his promotion to Assistant Manager, Dean said: “I knew that Crowleys DFK would be a place where I could continue to grow and develop professionally as the Firm continued its own growth and development. I’m proud to be a part of the Firm and see an exciting future ahead for the Department, and for myself.”

 

Kyna Lontok | Assistant Manager | Risk ConsultingKyna Lontok joined the Firm in 2020 as a Senior Internal Auditor in our Risk Consulting Department, from the Philippines. In just the last two years, she has led large scale operational and organisational Internal Audits on high profile National Regulators, Central Government Departments and Local Authorities.

Commenting on her promotion to Assistant Manager, Kyna said: “I’m delighted to have been involved with the rapidly growing Risk Consulting Department. I’m excited to be working with such a dynamic and fast paced team and look forward to continuing to work to broaden the services we offer our clients.”

 

Commenting on the promotions, Managing Partner, James O’Connor said:

“We are immensely proud to announce these new promotions. They are well earned and reflect the values of integrity, respect, and client commitment that our firm holds. Furthermore, we believe that these promotions are another vital step forward as we continue to grow and further strengthen our client services, and further demonstrates our commitment to the long-term development of our staff.”

If you are interested in developing your career with Crowleys DFK, please visit our Careers page.

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Crowleys DFK Launch Hybrid Working Policy

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Crowleys DFK has launched its new people policy regarding flexibility and hybrid working, effective from 7 March 2022.

The policy, which was announced internally on 7 October 2021, has been put in place to ensure that the Firm reaches its goal of building a flexible, purposeful way of working so that our employees can achieve a greater long-term work/life balance.

The hybrid working policy combines elements of home working and office-based working. To enable our employees to work from home effectively, Crowleys DFK facilitated individual risk assessments of employees’ home workspace with our 3rd party provider Capella and provided equipment as needs were identified through the risk assessments.

Criona Turley, CEO & Co-Founder of Capella commented:

“We were delighted to partner with Crowleys DFK in 2020 to carry out ergonomic training and risk assessments for their team while they worked from home. Crowleys DFK continue to use our assessments to proactively ensure that their colleagues working from home are provided with the same level of equipment and technology as if they are in the office, allowing them to work as safely and productively as if they were on site. By investing in Hybrid supports like ours, Crowleys DFK are doing everything they can to ensure a seamless flexible working experience for their staff.”

The policy seeks to empower employees to take responsibility for their own productivity and to facilitate a safe home working environment to do so. Recognising that not everyone’s needs for health, safety and productivity are the same employees can choose to continue to work in the office.

The Hybrid Working Policy follows and operates in tandem with Crowleys DFK’s Flexible Working Policy, and the Right to Disconnect Policy. In line with the Firm’s commitment to the overall wellbeing of our employees and supporting them in balancing their professional and personal priorities in a way that works for everyone, these policies were created to ensure that working patterns do not negatively impact client services, and team working while recognising that every employee is entitled to enjoy their free time without being disturbed.

Paula McCann from the Firm’s HR Department said:

“We are committed to putting people at the centre of our firm, our clients and our employees alike. With that in mind, our new policy, like the preceding flexible working and right to disconnect policies, have been developed to ensure the best working environment. The policy was carefully developed with the needs of the Firm, its employees and its clients in mind and we are confident that it will guide us in achieving the most desirable outcomes for all.”

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Introduction of Interest Limitation Rules (ILR) in Ireland

In accordance with the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD), Ireland has introduced the Interest Limitation Rules (ILR) as part of the Finance Act 2021.

The ILR applies to accounting periods that commence on or after 1st January 2022. Their aim is to limit base erosion attempts by multinational companies through the use of excessive deductions and other financing costs. To accomplish this, the ILR limits the rate of interest deductions.

The ILR seeks to limit the amount of allowable net borrowing costs to a maximum of 30% of the tax adjusted EBITDA.

The restriction apples where the interest equivalent expense exceeds interest equivalent income. The term “interest equivalent” has a wide definition and includes interest on all debt plus financial instruments, amounts incurred in connection with raising finance and foreign exchange gains and losses on interest.

As provided by the ATAD, the ILR may be applied using a single entity basis or a by using a “group approach”. This approach will determine the interest restriction at the level of a local group of companies, i.e., the “interest group”. The interest group will include all companies within the charge to Irish corporation tax. This approach should ensure that the profits of all members of the interest group that are liable for Irish tax are included.

The legislation includes a number of important exemptions, which include:

  • Where the taxpayer’s (whether a standalone company or an interest group) net borrowing cost does not exceed €3m,
  • Where the taxpayer is a standalone entity, i.e., no associated businesses,
  • Long-term infrastructure projects,
  • Interest on a legacy debt concluded before 17th June 2016.

Subject to conditions, amounts disallowed as a tax deduction under the ILR may be carried forward and deducted against profits in future years.

ILR will have a significant impact. Many corporate taxpayers will be faced with a complex set of rules and a greater administrative burden.

For more information, please contact Niall Grant, Partner in our Tax Services’ Department.

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Crowleys DFK Celebrates DFK’s 60th Anniversary

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DFK's 60th Anniversary

Crowleys DFK is celebrating global independent accountancy association DFK’s 60th anniversary. We are proud to have been members for the past 29 years.

Reflecting on the 60th milestone, Martin Sharp, executive director of DFK International, said:

“In 1962 the founders of DFK International envisaged setting up an association of independent firms that could support their clients to do business internationally and provide an alternative to the big networks which were being set-up.

Although DFK has grown considerably and the international business landscape has changed, the principles and ethos on which DFK was established still remain.

Beyond this, DFK provides a forum to share knowledge and best practice between like-minded individuals who are keen to support their clients and help fellow member firms.

We have a strong family atmosphere which has grown over the years to give member firms the opportunity to build relationships with people from different countries and different cultures.

This year we celebrate this success and look forward to continuing to build these relationships in the years to come.”

James O’Connor, Managing Partner at Crowleys DFK commented:

“There is no doubt that joining DFK in 1993 has been a significant catalyst in the success and growth of our firm. Since then, we have grown to become a 10 Partner and 115 staff practice and one of the leading independent practices in Ireland.

There is great comfort in being able to connect our clients with trusted friends all around the world when they need help and advice abroad.”

The association provides us with a platform to share knowledge, ideas and best practice as well as information about the latest technology to ensure we remain at the forefront of the sector.

It is also a pioneer in training and development, creating programmes to specifically develop young professionals in the industry as they progress in their careers.

DFK International has 229 member firms which have a combined total of 441 offices across 93 countries.

The association strives for equality, diversity and inclusion, promoting a culture that celebrates difference, challenges prejudice and ensures fairness.

We are proud to have been part of such a magnificent organisation for such a long time and look forward to continuing to be part of the DFK family.

DFK International Conference 2019 in Singapore

Eddie Murphy & James O’Connor DFK International Conference 2019, Singapore

Happy 60th Birthday DFK!

To learn more about DFK International visit www.dfk.com.

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Crowleys DFK Announce Continued LauraLynn Partnership for 2022

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Crowleys DFK LauraLynn Partnership 2022

Following the success of the Casa Christmas campaign which raised over €2,100 for LauraLynn, Crowleys DFK is delighted to announce that its partnership with LauraLynn will continue in 2022, for the third year in a row. As the only children’s hospice in the Republic of Ireland, we are proud to continue to support LauraLynn’s requirements, so they may continue to provide specialised hospice care to children with life limiting conditions and their families all across Ireland.

We hope that by continuing our partnership with LauraLynn for a further year that we will get more chances to volunteer, meet some of the incredible LauraLynn staff and have some fun as well.

Managing Partner, James O’Connor commented:

“LauraLynn is a great Charity. It’s disappointing that our involvement coincided with all of their in-person events being cancelled. Hopefully, we will soon be able to take part and support in-person in events with them and see firsthand the incredible work they carry out to support children with life-limiting conditions and their families.”

LauraLynn’s recent announcement to expand services bringing care and support closer to home for children and families in Munster in 2022 with a satellite service based in Cork should also give us further opportunities to show our support.

Over the last two years, we at Crowleys DFK have been involved in some great initiatives for the benefit of LauraLynn, such as:

  • Casa Christmas Light Display, where COO and Financial Advisory Partner, Colette Nagle and ICT Manager, Justin Nagle transformed their home into a magical Christmas light show and raised over €2,100.
  • Christmas Jumper Day and Christmas Gifting, which saw each of our 100 employees and 10 partners give up part of their Firm Christmas Hamper in lieu of a monetary donation to LauraLynn, raising over €5,500 over the last two years.
  • On the 11th of December 2021, 15 volunteers from Crowleys DFK helped out with LauraLynn’s first live event after almost 2 years. Volunteers assisted with the running of Ray D’arcy’s Half & 5K in Phoenix Park, including stewarding around the event site and car parks, manning water stations, staffing the main registration area, giving out goodie bags and refreshments, and the clean up afterwards.
  • Win a Day off Work raffles, which encouraged our staff to donate to LauraLynn and earn raffle tickets. Together, these raffles have raised over €2,000 over the last two years.
  • Wear Your Face Mask, which saw partners and employees of Crowleys DFK receive a handmade face mask of their choice in exchange for a €10 donation to LauraLynn, raising over €3,000.
  • In June 2020, 71 partners and employees of Crowleys DFK and their families each ran, walked, or jogged a minimum of 100 km and used their combined distances to complete a virtual walking tour of the US and Canada to visit as many fellow DFK firms as possible, raising €9,266.85 in the process.
  • In February 2021, 50 members of our firm completed 14,000,000 steps and raised €4,021.13. Later, in September 2021, our 10km Challenge raised an additional €1,612.11.

Commenting on the announcement, Kerry McLaverty, CEO of LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice said:

“We are thrilled that Crowleys DFK have chosen to extend our partnership into its third year in 2022 – a year in which our services expand to include a presence on the ground in the Munster region where many employees of the firm work.  Partnerships such as this are a vital part of the LauraLynn Community of Care.  We cannot provide our services without the generosity of the public and businesses like Crowleys DFK.  The funds and awareness the firm raise have an enormous positive impact on the children and families that LauraLynn support. So thank you to everyone involved – you should be very proud of yourselves and please keep up the great work!”

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Christmas Light Display in aid of LauraLynn

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Casa Christmas Light Display

This December, Crowleys DFK will take part in a unique campaign in aid of our Charity Partner LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice. In keeping with the festive spirit of the season, our COO and Financial Advisory Partner Colette Nagle and our ICT Manager Justin Nagle have created a Christmas Light Display, “Casa Christmas”, at their home.

From the 1st of December until the 6th of January, the vibrant Casa Christmas light display will run every morning and evening. Visitors will be encouraged to make donations to LauraLynn using the collection box stationed at Casa Christmas, or via the QR code that will allow people to make a digital donation. All proceeds raised during the campaign will go to LauraLynn.

The Casa Christmas creation process has been a true labour of love, taking about four full days to build and a hundred hours to program, as well as a few days to build new props and fixtures. The displays are made up of 7398 pixels (bulbs), and while 4096 of these have been pre-built into two LED panels, the remaining 3302 pixels come in strings of one hundred which have been cut and joined as needed to build the display.

Justin commented,

“As a trained electrician I naturally love creating a Christmas Light Display each year. Although it takes time, it’s so rewarding to see the Christmas cheer it brings. This year is even more special as we hope to raise some much-needed funds for LauraLynn.”

With the festive season upon us, Christmas Gifting to LauraLynn will take place again this year. For the second consecutive year, each of our 100 employees and 10 partners have given up part of their Firm Christmas Hamper in lieu of a monetary donation to LauraLynn.  This combined donation will help LauraLynn gift each family with a Christmas Experience from a beautiful Advent Box that is interactive and brings daily excitement in the run up to the big day.

Additionally, on the 11th of December, 15 volunteers from Crowleys DFK will help out with LauraLynn’s first live event after almost 2 years.  Volunteers will assist with the running of Ray D’arcy’s Half & 5K in Phoenix Park, including stewarding around the event site and car parks, manning water stations, staffing the main registration area, giving out goodie bags and refreshments, and the clean up afterwards.

The Casa Christmas campaign, along with the additional Christmas Gifting and Volunteering, caps off another wonderful year of our Partnership with LauraLynn which has enabled us to highlight the magnificent work they do and raise much needed funds for the organisation.

Claire Shiels, Corporate Fundraiser at LauraLynn commented,

“Our corporate partner Crowleys DFK are a creative bunch when it comes to fundraising. With Casa Christmas they continue to pull out all the stops. Everyone that visits this beautiful piece of Christmas magic will get a much needed lift this December. A big Thank You to Colette and Justin Nagle, and all the team at Crowleys DFK – for your thoughtful ideas and initiatives. We are lucky and proud to be working with you, and so grateful on behalf of the children and families in our care.”

If you would like to visit Casa Christmas or to make a donation, please visit our iDonate page to find out more information.

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Code of Practice for Trustees of Occupational Pension Schemes and Trust RACs

The Code of Practice for Trustees of Occupational Pension Schemes and Trust RACs, published 18 November 2021, sets out the Pension Authority’s minimum expectations for the conduct and practice of funded occupational pension schemes and trust RACs and other regulated entities. Its purpose is to provide further explanation, where necessary, of how to comply with specific requirements.

Trustees should always remain mindful of their fundamental duty to act in the members’ best interests. But how should they carry out their duty?

The Code sets out the Authority’s expectations in six chapters, one of which (Chapter 5) is devoted entirely to requirements for defined benefit (DB) schemes. The remaining five chapters of the code, summarised below, describe in detail the five main elements of practice:

  1. General governance requirements
  2. Administration
  3. Internal control system
  4. Investment
  5. Fit and proper requirements

We have put together a guide to help you understand your obligations under the Code.

Enter your details below to download a free copy of everything you need to know about the Code of Practice for Trustees of Occupational Pension Schemes and Trust RACs:

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Throwback to 2006 and a Trio of Significant Events in Crowleys DFK

2006 was an important year for Crowleys DFK. This year marks the 15th anniversary of a trio of events that would have a major impact on our firm’s continued growth as one of Ireland’s top firms of chartered accountants and business advisors.

Eddie Murphy, James O’Connor & Colette Nagle announcing the merger and Eddie’s promotion to Partner (Oct 2006)

Future Partner of Public Sector & Government Services, David Coombes, joins Crowleys DFK as a Summer Intern (June 2006)

 

 


Introduction of a Future Chief Operating Officer (COO)

In one of the more significant developments in our firm’s history, on 13th October 2006, Crowleys DFK announced a merger with Kinsale, Co. Cork firm Fitzsimons Flynn & Co. The merger saw Colette Nagle join Crowleys DFK as Partner. Innovation is a core value of Crowleys DFK and is key to all services provided by our firm. From her onboarding as Partner in our Financial Advisory Department and her current role as Chief Operating Officer, Colette has led by example.

Graduating from CIT with a BBS in Accounting, Colette joined Fitzsimons Flynn & Co. as an Accounting Trainee where she became qualified as a Chartered Accountant (FCA) in 2001 and as an AITI Chartered Tax Adviser in 2003. In 2004, Colette was made Partner at Fitzsimons Flynn & Co, becoming the youngest female Partner in Ireland at the time. The merger saw Colette join the then 5 Partner and 40 staff Crowleys DFK, bringing with her a team of 6 staff.

Colette’s experience and expertise led to her oversight of the Merger and Integration Teams when Crowleys DFK merged with a further 4 firms between 2008 and 2020. Colette would also manage the office refurbishment projects completed in 2017, the key element of the design being sustainable, environmentally friendly office spaces.

Colette has been recognised for her contributions, having been shortlisted as a finalist in the Services to Accounting & Finance category at the second Irish Women’s Awards in 2020. The same year, she was announced as the Chief Operating Officer of the now 10 Partner, 100 staff Crowleys DFK.

Since then, Colette has been responsible for setting and strengthening robust operational controls and driving innovation and digital transformation that support the goals and overall innovative vision of the firm, while also delivering cloud accounting advisory, implementation, and application across the full spectrum of sectors, helping clients to transform their businesses in the rapidly growing digital era. Colette commented:

Over the past 15 years I have transitioned from accountant to a trusted business advisor. I believe my personal and practical holistic approach helps me to understand my client’s needs and provide them with the strategic advice they require to navigate a pathway whereby they can achieve their goals. Advances in technology and AI will never be able to replace human intelligence and the power of strong relationships.


Leading the Growth of our Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Department

On the same day in 2006, Crowleys DFK announced that Eddie Murphy had been appointed Tax Partner, having been instrumental in the practice area’s growth and the diversity of compliance and tax planning services offered to its wide range of clients, from owner-managed, indigenous companies to international companies locating in Ireland to public sector organisations.

Eddie joined Crowleys DFK as a trainee accountant in 1998. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2002 and opting to continue his career and studies in practice, he qualified as a Registered Tax Consultant of the Irish Taxation Institute in 2005.

Today, Eddie heads our Tax Department and specialises in international corporate structuring, VAT, property transactions, and employment tax issues. As Lead Partner of our Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Services, he also leads a team of specialists who provide companies that wish to relocate to Ireland a “one-stop-shop” service offering and advice at each stage of their lifecycle.

Eddie believes in building strong relationships with clients, and that having a deep understanding of their objectives enables him to provide commercially effective advice. He states:

“Where I believe we excel is spending the time to get to know the investing company and its people and instil in them the peace of mind that their compliance and advisory needs are really being looked after by people who care”.


Future Public Sector Partner Starts his Career Journey

This year also marks 15 years since Partner in the Public Sector & Government Services Department David Coombes joined Crowleys DFK.

David joined Crowleys DFK as a summer intern before his final year of study at the National College of Ireland, where he would graduate with a First Class Honours Batchelor of Arts degree. He later qualified as a Chartered Accountant and held the position of Director within the Public Sector team at Crowleys DFK. Here, he would gain invaluable experience and expertise in leading public sector financial and business advisory assignments in areas such as financial reporting framework implementation, management information system design, strategic finance support, risk management and governance compliance.

In 2019, Crowleys DFK announced that David was appointed as a Partner in the department. Today, David remains in this role, working as an integral member of the leadership team. His work alongside his colleagues has helped to lead the Public Sector Services team to being named as the outright winner in the category of Excellence in Public Sector Services by The Public Sector Magazine in its Excellence in Business Awards for 2020 and 2021.

Commenting on his appointment in 2019, David said:

“I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity and feel very fortunate to be part of a firm which offers the best career development opportunities possible for its staff. I see an exciting future ahead for both the firm and the Public Sector Services Department.”

Crowleys DFK Partners (2021)

Eddie also attributes his success to the training and support he received at Crowleys DFK throughout his career. With an open door policy, employee progression and growth is at the forefront of our firm’s goals. The firm continues to offer excellent opportunities for individuals interested in pursuing and progressing a career in business. For further information, please visit our Careers page.

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