I studied Commerce & French in NUIG, specialising in accounting and tax.  My third year was an Erasmus which I spent in Marseille.  After my degree I completed a Masters in Accounting, also in NUIG.

You did a summer internship at college – tell us about that?

Yes, I did a summer internship in KPMG, Galway during college and also spent a few weeks in the tax department.

This is where I saw first-hand what a tax career was like and the kind of work tax professionals do on a day to day basis.   I really liked that the job was so varied, for example working on a tax computation or researching tax case law.  This variety keeps the job interesting.

I was fully decided on a career in tax following that summer!

So what happened after college?

Well, I applied to KPMG for a training contract through the "milk round" process.  This was a 3 year contract during which I completed both my Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification and ACA Chartered Accountant qualification.  When I completed my training contract I was promoted to Tax Senior in KPMG.

What was it like studying for the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification?

Well firstly, I chose the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification as it is the most widely recognised and best regarded tax qualification in Ireland by employers.

I really liked how the syllabus was so practical and relevant to my day to day job – what I was learning at lectures, I was putting in to practice!  A large part was that the lecturers were very approachable and helpful.

The Professional Skills Workshops were a great preparation for exams and for work also.  They provided an opportunity to work on specific problems in a group environment and to learn from both the tutor and fellow students.

You now work at Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard – tell us some more about that?

I report directly to the Chief Financial Officer. I am responsible for looking after the corporate tax and VAT obligations of the company, as well as it's domestic and international tax strategy.   This means I advise on all aspects of tax law and would regularly be liaising with tax and law firms and the Revenue Commissioners.

It’s so encouraging to see the value that I can add to my workplace as a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA).  The tax advice I give is critical in so many business decisions and I really enjoy being part of that.

What skills do you think you need for a career in tax?

Good communication skills! Communicating effectively is critical for a tax professional and the ability to explain complex issues to a tax ‘layman’ is very important.  I would also say teamwork skills are key – as a tax professional I am frequently working as part of various teams.  I also find that I use my numerical and analytical skills on the projects that I work on.

Finally Lorcan, what advice would you give someone who may be considering a career in tax?

I would strongly recommend a career in tax if you are thinking about it.  Tax professionals are in high demand by employers and can add real value to any business.  It is a challenging and rewarding career, which can place you at the heart of business decision making.  It can also be an excellent springboard to other careers in finance.