Where the work is real, and the people are real too.

Before ifac, Dylan was an audit senior at a large international firm, working on a wide range of clients, from small charities right up to entities turning over billions. It was a broad mix, but over time he found himself drawn to one type of client in particular. “In my previous role I worked on a huge variety of clients, but I felt that the domestic management-run client was where my calling was – it was the work I enjoyed the most. When you’re auditing a business, you really have to get to know the client thoroughly, I probably tend to delve even deeper than the average auditor, and this comes much more naturally with those kinds of businesses, and for me it makes the job so much more enjoyable.”

The right culture, at the right time

When Dylan decided to make a move, he interviewed at a number of businesses. Most left him with the same feeling that the culture was very much about living to work. Then a conversation with a former colleague who had joined ifac’s Kilkenny office changed things.

“I knew from talking to him that the culture sounded like what I was looking for. When I spoke to Dermot [ifac’s Head of Audit] it compounded that. From day one I got the feeling that this is what I was looking for.”

A year and a half on, that first impression has held up. For Dylan, what sets ifac apart isn’t hard to identify, it’s the culture, and the fact that it’s led from the top.

“One of the things that stands out to me about working at ifac is the culture – and it’s implemented from the top down. There’s no expectation to work every waking moment. Management genuinely encourages us to have a work-life balance.”

Getting out of the four walls

Audit is one of the most client-facing roles in any accounting firm, and that’s a big part of what Dylan enjoys about it. His day-to-day involves managing audits from start to finish – planning, risk assessment, testing, financial statements preparation – often on larger group audits that run anywhere from four to eight weeks.

“You get to go out into their offices, deal with different people in their business, and get to know the business and its people inside out. You’re talking through issues, working together to resolve them. And sometimes you’ll spot things they’ve missed – a compliance issue or maybe something that could save them money – and you can give them recommendations that actually make a difference. The client-facing aspect is what makes the job so interesting. I wouldn’t be one for being stuck looking at the same four walls.”

There’s also the satisfaction when a job crosses the finish line. “Audit is very deadline-driven – one job needs to end before the next one begins. But when the accounts are signed and the client is happy, that’s the most satisfying part. You know you’ve done your job.”