The 80:20 Accountant Neil O’Brien

Fiona is lead partner in the Cork office of Forvis Mazars. With over 20 years of experience, she led the James Byrne & Co practice in Cork before joining Forvis Mazars in 2024.

Fiona has extensive experience in addressing accountancy, audit and taxation challenges for a broad range of SME clients across the manufacturing, retail, medical, nursing homes, hotel and food manufacturing sectors, and also advises many international companies investing in Ireland. Prior to her role with James Byrne & Co, Fiona spent nearly a decade with KPMG.

Fiona holds a degree in law and accounting from the University of Limerick and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2004, a Tax Consultant in 2006, and a Chartered Tax Advisor in 2010. She is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland (FCCA) and a member of the Irish Taxation Institute.

An established business leader, Fiona is passionate about developing and mentoring colleagues. She firmly believes in the value of external perspectives from industry peers and that strong client relationships are crucial to every successful business.

As an industry advocate, Fiona has represented SME accountancy practices as a member of the Cork branch of Chartered Accountants Ireland and is frequently invited to participate in Irish taxation forums

What happens the income and lifestyle of a typical business owner when they want to step away from their business?  Over 50% of business owners have no plan in place for when they step away.   Claire Evans and Richard Brewin from AllinPlace talk about this issue and how they have developed a solution to this very serious challenge.  This is essential listening for all business owners. 

Aynsley Damery.........Serial entrepreneur, former accountant, founder of Clarity software and much much more. 

And more recently #1 International best selling author of 'The Drift' - Why Small Businesses Fail and How to See it Coming.

Aynsley is a 5th generation entrepreneur so it's no surprise that he travelled this road when he grew up immersed in business. 

Gareth is a serial entrepreneur and after running and selling the hugely successful E-pub business, after spotting a gap in the market for owners looking to sell their business, he has now set up Bizmark AI. 

Alan Farrelly is one of the founding directors of UHY Farrelly Dawe White Limited and has been instrumental in shaping the firm’s growth and success since its establishment more than 35 years ago. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation as a trusted adviser, helping business owners and organisations navigate challenges, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions with confidence.

 Known for his practical approach and ability to listen carefully to clients’ needs, Alan has developed long-standing relationships across a wide range of industries. His experience spans business advisory, strategic planning, corporate governance, and helping organisations adapt to an ever-changing business environment.

 Alan has also made a significant contribution to the accounting profession in Ireland and internationally. He is a past President of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland and has served on numerous regulatory committees, helping to shape professional standards and governance.

 Beyond Ireland, Alan has played an active role within UHY International, one of the world’s leading networks of independent accounting and consulting firms. He was elected to the UHY International Board of Directors in 2018 and became Vice Chairperson in 2024. He also chairs the organisation’s global Training and Education Working Group, where he has helped drive initiatives focused on professional development, leadership, and talent growth across the network.

Surviving in business for 38 years is some achievement. Martin Johnson has not only survived that long but thrived. And now it's a second generation business as David, his son, is now evolved.  He's working with his Dutch suppliers for 38 years. Both Martin and his suppliers have a wealth of knowledge and his customers benefit hugely from this. Here is Martin's fascinating story.  

Ann Marie has been on a fascinating journey from accountant to M.D. working with both multinationals and SME's. And if that wasn't enough variety, she is about to launch her own consulting business.  

Jennifer is a Partner at Fitzgerald Power in our SME department. Since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, Jennifer has advised business owners on financial and taxation matters.

 Jennifer has a passion for working with SMEs in a cross-section of sectors. Through her commitment to excellent customer service and extensive knowledge of the sectors in which she works, Jennifer has built long-standing and committed relationships with her clients. She specialises in providing outsourced, online financial services and enjoys working with companies continuously to empower business owners and management through the provision of accurate, real-time financial information.

 Jennifer qualified as an Accountant and was admitted as a member to Chartered Accountants Ireland in 2010. She graduated with a Master’s in Strategic Management and Planning from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and a Bachelor of Business Studies from Waterford Institute of Technology.

 Outside of Fitzgerald Power, Jennifer loves spending time with her family and enjoys nothing better than hitting the beach with her husband and three daughters. She is a keen runner and is currently trying her best to swim in the Irish Sea a little more (although wouldn’t mind if the temperature rose a little!!).

David Swinburne .......Chartered Accountant, Advisory Partner at Forvis Mazars, Honorary Secretary and Board Member of Cork Chamber, Board Member of Cork Simon and Chair of Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. 

Richie was one of the first Xero accountants in Ireland and he has merged his keen interest in tech with his accountancy background to provide his clients with the kind of service that is the envy of many of his peers.

Timely monthly reports with dashboards and forecasts into the future give those business owners the information to make better decisions.

Stronger reporting = better decisions and more profitable businesses = happy clients