Nicole Brandley | Graduate Accountant Career at ifac

Home team success stories nicole brandley

I didn't have to choose between home and a career.

Nicole Brandley grew up around farming and contracting in Williamstown, Co. Galway. When it came to choosing a career, the pull towards the business side of that world was strong and staying close to home mattered just as much.

Two years into the Graduate Programme at ifac's Roscommon office, a 20-minute drive from home, Nicole hasn't had to choose between the two. "ifac was a perfect fit for me, as I still get all the exposure of every type of client. Not wanting to move away from home, ifac Roscommon was a no brainer. No city commute, no compromise on the work, just farmers, hairdressers and SMEs like pharmacies, all in one varied day. The graduate programme at ifac is so varied that no two days are the same."

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Her day-to-day now spans accounts, tax and VAT returns, prepared to draft stage and reviewed with her partner. She's on the phone or emailing clients daily, working through their queries. "It feels great to put my own knowledge to work." She also helps interns and newer trainees find their feet, a role reversal from where she started.

"I first started checking in clients and doing the bookkeeping side of things." The basics came first. Once she'd mastered them, and shown she could hold good client relationships, things moved quickly. Nicole now reviews junior trainees' work, brings bookkeeping files through to draft accounts and income tax stage, and once a partner or mentor has signed off, submits the returns to Revenue herself.

"One of the things that stands out to me about working at ifac is the support. There's a lot of internal training throughout the graduate programme, along with paid study leave for exams and professional fees paid." She checks in regularly with an assigned mentor on her progress and the milestones she should be hitting. The in-house training in Kilkenny has stood out in particular, backed up by regular updates via Teams and email.

"I can see great potential for my career in ifac. There is a clear path for becoming a partner in the office."

"We can see across the country that ifac is backing career progression, with partners being elected at a young age. My partner is always backing me to progress my career. The best thing about working with the ifac team is that everyone pulls together. Whether it's advice from our tax team, farm support, audit, payroll, HR or pensions, there's always a friendly face."

Nicole describes ifac as very much like a family. In the Roscommon office, everyone gets along and looks out for each other, and no question goes unanswered. The specialist teams are quick to respond too, which she says takes a lot of the stress out of the job.

What she enjoys most, though, is the clients. "I feel like I am an extended part of their business, and want them to succeed." It's the relief on a client's face when a stressful tax issue gets sorted that sticks with her. "The relief that a client gets knowing they are in good hands can transfer over, and we feel that relief as well."

"There is always a helping hand throughout ifac."

Outside work, she's usually at the gym or out walking in the evenings before settling in to study. Her advice for anyone weighing up ifac: "If you're looking for a place where you can build strong skills while working closely with clients, ifac is worth considering. People who thrive here are those who want to build relationships with clients, communicate clearly, take initiative and enjoy working as part of a team." Nicole recommends the graduate programme without hesitation for its high-standard training, broad scope of work, and a mentor in your corner the whole way through.

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