Ciara Finnegan, PIE Audit Partner

Born in Galway, the youngest of four daughters, Ciara’s family soon relocated to Celbridge, Co. Kildare. Her busy stay-at-home mother managed to find time to run a pre-school and later had various jobs outside the home, while her father, breaking from his Mayo farming roots, pursued a technical college degree and a career in translations and localisation. “We were very lucky with our parents; they encouraged us to pursue things we were passionate about and didn’t put too much pressure on us academically,” she says.

During her years in St Brigid’s primary and St Wolstan’s secondary, Ciara thrived both academically and socially. While she excelled in Maths, Business and Accounting, she also enjoyed English and History. She recalls two particularly influential teachers, “David Haughton taught me Maths for the Leaving Cert and he made what could be seen as a boring subject so interesting with his sharp wit and humour. Geraldine, his wife, taught me History and had such an ability to bring the subject to life and bring it back to its substance of people. I think that’s why to this day I love reading historical fiction novels.”

Golf became a great passion of Ciara’s during her school years. “At an early age, all my friends were playing camogie and hockey, and I did try both for a while and really enjoyed them, but they always clashed with my golf at the weekend. My claim to fame is being an All-Ireland Pitch & Putt under-16s champion! My dad used to enter me in tournaments in Ireland and even tried to persuade my mum when I was about 14 to let me go to Texas for a golf scholarship. Obviously, my mum said no!”

In 2008, Ciara enrolled in Maynooth University during the first year of its Accounting and Finance programme. After graduation, she joined Brenson Lawlor, a smaller firm in Donnybrook and spent four years training there. “I got great experience there in accounting and audit and learned a lot, but by the time I had qualified as a chartered accountant, I was looking for a bigger firm with more opportunity for growth and development,” she says.

Alongside her three career-driven sisters, Ciara also credits her late mother-in-law, Bernie McDermott, as a major professional influence. Bernie was the first example she had of a woman who combined a successful career with being a great mother and she became someone Ciara aspired to emulate. When she landed an interview with Forvis Mazars in 2012, Bernie actually helped her prepare.

“Over the past 13 years at Forvis Mazars, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a wide range of people and I’ve learned something valuable from each of them. I’ve been fortunate to work with some truly great colleagues and I think one of the biggest advantages of working with different managers and partners is being exposed to a variety of leadership styles.”

The breadth of work in PIE (public interest entity) audit especially appeals to Ciara. “One day, I’m working with a membership organisation, discussing their risk register, the next, a semi-state body, discussing government funding and the following day I’m working with a large multinational in the manufacturing space, discussing their cost base and inputs into their products.”

For Ciara, it all comes down to the people. Beyond the diversity of clients, she values the firm’s tight-knit culture. “When I joined Forvis Mazars back in 2012, there were about 150 people working here, now there are 1,000 and, despite that huge growth, we’ve still managed to retain that small firm feel and closeness in the team,” she notes.

Away from her professional life, Ciara still lives in Celbridge with her husband Eoin and their two daughters, Georgie (6) and Lexi (3). The two met when they were just 18 through mutual friends at a birthday party. Eight years ago, they married in the South of France, “which was just a dream so, maybe for year 10, we can go back and do it all over again!”

In her spare time, Ciara tries to make time for an occasional game of golf, Pilates and padel. She also took up Gaelic Football in recent years, playing for the Celbridge Mothers & Others team. “It’s just a great way to have some time to myself midweek when the kids are in bed and also take my mind off work when it’s particularly stressful. The M&O’s team is such a fabulous group of ladies from all backgrounds and abilities, so it’s great fun.” Ciara leads by example for her two daughters, showing them the importance of sport and the value of taking the time to pursue things you truly enjoy.