From the dairy shed to the boardroom

Her parents very early on encouraged her to give farming a miss and follow an accountancy route, based on her mathematical aptitude at school, and she worked with a legal firm while studying to obtain her accountancy qualification. When four children subsequently arrived on the scene, she took a timeout to work in the home, and completed the taxation exams with the Irish Tax Institute. But she always felt that she’d end up back in the workplace.

She spotted a recruitment ad from ifac back in 2008, looking for self-employed bookkeepers, and she jumped at the chance. After working for seven years as a bookkeeper, she took a position as an accountant with ifac Tullamore in 2015. Martina is now a Partner in the Tullamore/Mullingar offices, and spends most of her time physically in the offices in front of clients, which she enjoys hugely.

“The farming sector is probably one of the most challenging of all, and it’s really heartening when you can identify solutions for your clients that can help them work smarter, with a greater focus on the bottom line”. Apart from loving face-to-face meetings with clients, she also relishes meeting and workings with colleagues from the broader ifac organisation, and says that “the recent 50th Anniversary Celebrations were a great opportunity to catch up people I otherwise might not have crossed paths with.”

Asked to cite what she believes the biggest strength of ifac is as an employer, she believes it’s the focus on Continuous Professional Development. “You’re always free to explore other avenues if you want, although it’s perfectly fine if you just want to stay focused on your core area of expertise and pursue excellence in it.”

She also praises the culture of teamwork at ifac. “You always feel that the people around you are supporting you, and are looking to help you succeed. If you’re under pressure with a work deadline and a holiday looming, you only have to ask your colleagues and they’ll row in behind you to get it done on time.” She also welcomes initiatives such as the regular Partner Sessions, which happen in a neutral venue and give partners a chance to mingle and share their experiences.

Martina is lucky enough to live in the countryside, and enjoys walking, running, cycling and camping and generally enjoying the great outdoors. When she’s not supporting clients or colleagues, Martina enjoys nothing more than spending time with her husband and family.