From filling a cement mixer to becoming one of our most valued Tax Consultants, Keith has taken the road less travelled.

Keith O’Rourke is another member of our tax team who has quite a bit of life experience to draw on when dealing with his clients. He did two years of a law degree back in the Celtic Tiger days, but then took the opportunity to go travelling, and also worked in the construction industry, but eventually came to recognise that filling a cement mixer wasn’t for him and so he made the bold decision to go back to college in 2007 to finalise a law degree and go on to complete his Masters.

He spent the best part of ten years working in Dublin and then moved back west when Covid struck. “My wife is a dietician and when she got a job in Galway, where both she and I had studied, the choice was clear. It’s a place that’s very dear to both of our hearts.

The move to ifac came in early 2024, and Keith took up a role as a Tax Consultant within our dedicated Tax Team, which is a central part of our overall client offering and contributes hugely to their financial success.

Although a relative newcomer, he’s already made up his mind about the ethos at ifac.

“I love that it’s very much a pro-family and a pro-work/life balance organisation. Lots of companies claim to be these things, but often it’s just lip service. At ifac, you see it in action every single working day, and it creates a fantastic blend of work satisfaction and family enjoyment.”

“I also think that when you work with one of the big Dublin firms, often you’re little more than a number. But in rural Ireland, employers seem to treat their employees much better and ifac are proof positive that you don’t have to work in the capital to advance your career. In many ways, I think that ifac is the best road out of Dublin for many. In the past, the thinking was that people needed to work in bigger cities to thrive, and many stayed in Dublin or Cork when they would have would gladly have moved closer to home if only there were opportunities open to them there.

"Since the onset of Covid and the rise in remote working, those opportunities are alive and well at ifac and elsewhere, and you can get top-class experience in Taxation, Financial Planning or pretty much any specialisation that interests you.”

“As a full-service firm, you can fully learn and hone your craft here, working for some of the most interesting and innovative clients in the country. I think ifac is definitely ahead of the curve in opening up this prospect in locations right around the country. It’s not just a benefit to staff, but a societal benefit as well, as local talent is not forced out of Irish towns in search of opportunity. We live in Galway city, but we could just as easily be based in Athenry, Carrick on Shannon or anywhere really.”

Outside of work life, Keith dabbles in a bit of five-a-side soccer and is also a runner, with a particular love of ‘sea to summit’ type challenges. He’s also big on sci-fi reading and really appreciates the fact that he has the time to enjoy personal pursuits “without being constantly tied to the office.”

Success Story

A world traveller who found her path and purpose in Mallow.

Niamh Murphy, Partner

Read Niamh Murphy's Insight