I have a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting & Finance from AIT Business School, graduating with a first class honours degree.

When you were in college, did you do any research about a career in tax?

I spoke with a number of senior accounting professionals to ensure I had a keen understanding of the wide variety of career paths available to me upon graduation. I travelled to Dublin to meet face to face with Directors and Partners at the Big 4 and medium sized firms to discuss their firm, their careers and typical day. At that point I was resolute that I wanted to specialise in tax.

I choose BDO as they afforded me the option to join their tax group directly and the opportunity to pursue the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification.

I am also a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) where I made the honour roll in the final taxation paper (joint 2nd in Ireland and 10th worldwide).

So what area of tax do you work in?

I work at KPMG in Canada in the Financial Services industry group where I have a particular emphasis on the banking, asset finance and investment fund sectors. The firm has a local, national and international presence in the Financial Services industry.

I provide a full spectrum of corporate tax services including tax planning and minimisation strategies, tax controversy and dispute resolution, complex tax compliance issues, research, tax accounting and M&A. I advise a large portfolio of financial institution clients of varying sizes, ranging from international banks to boutique investment firms.

I am also actively involved in client management, practice development, new client marketing and development, liaising with tax authorities and advising on accounting policies.

Aside from work, tell us about some other personal achievements?

I have been recognised by KPMG for my commitment to mentoring new Canadian immigrants through ACESS Employment, Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council, and informally throughout the Irish ex-pat community in Toronto. As part of my role, KPMG supports me to engage in the community in pursuit of organisations and causes that reflect my personal passions. KPMG recognises that our opportunity to have a positive impact extends beyond our client work.

I have also been recognised by KPMG for my commitment to both knowledge sharing within the firm and the development of thought leadership within the Canadian marketplace. My diverse background has enabled me to position myself at the forefront of the current global trends in BEPS and tax transparency.

Would you recommend the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification to someone interested in working abroad?

As a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) working abroad I have experienced first-hand the role that the qualification can play in developing a career in tax internationally. As such, I am a fervent advocate of the Irish Tax Institute to young Irish tax professionals who are considering a tax career abroad.

Finally, Ronan, what piece of advice would you give someone thinking about a career in tax?

The tax world is constantly changing and that brings many opportunities for professionals who provide value and clear solutions to their clients. As tax has moved from a time when it was considered in isolation to being more deeply integrated in an organisation's operations and culture, it is a very exciting time to embark upon a career in tax.

About KPMG

KPMG LLP, an Audit, Tax and Advisory firm (kpmg.ca) and a Canadian limited liability partnership established under the laws of Ontario, is the Canadian member firm of KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”). KPMG member firms around the world have 155,000 professionals, in 155 countries.

The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International, a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity, and describes itself as such.