Meet Pádraic

As a Partner within PwC Ireland’s Domestic & International Outbound (DIO) Tax practice, I primarily focus on large Irish corporates and public limited companies (PLCs). My responsibilities include working closely with our clients’ group tax functions to manage their tax affairs, expand their international presence, undertake mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions, and fund their operations through equity and debt structuring. Our team collaborates daily with overseas PwC network offices and directly with our clients. Although it may sound cliché, not one day is the same. The volume and complexity of new laws and regulations in the international tax space place unprecedented demands on our clients, requiring us to spend a lot of time problem-solving and collaborating across various industry sectors.

Our team is packed with dedicated specialists, technical and policy experts, and a diverse group of client-facing professionals. We combine deep technical know-how with practical insights into implementation and compliance. Thanks to our international network and experience at the OECD and government levels, we make sense of complex legislation. Our team’s hands-on experience, including stints with multinational organisations and Irish PLCs, ensures we tackle real-world commercial, legal, and accounting challenges in financing, corporate restructuring, transfer pricing, and international expansion

In terms of my background, I graduated from University College Dublin (UCD) with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Accounting from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. I joined the tax practice at PwC straight out of college in 2009, working with some of the same faces today as I did on day one! After completing my training contract and exams with Chartered Accountants Ireland and the Irish Tax Institute, I stayed with PwC until I became a manager. I then moved into industry, working in the group tax function for a large multinational corporation in Dublin. This role opened my eyes to the practical issues businesses face daily and the significant role group tax plays across various functions, including the C-suite, group finance, group reporting and group treasury.

I also worked as a finance manager in a private equity firm, where I was responsible for tax. This role provided valuable insights into how tax can be crucial in investment decisions and the practical implications of applying tax legislation in real-time scenarios. After several interesting years in industry, I realised my long-term future was in the tax world. I rejoined PwC in 2019 and haven’t looked back since.

When I initially decided to join PwC, the firm’s reputation as one of Ireland’s top accounting training firms and its excellent graduate and junior training programmes were significant factors. The 3pm finishes on Fridays during the summer also didn’t hurt! The support from our Learning and Development team when undertaking professional exams is unparalleled. Having experienced joining PwC both as a new graduate and as an experienced hire, I can attest to the seamless onboarding process and the swift integration of new joiners’ skill sets and experience.

One of the main attractions of PwC is the power of our global network, which offers opportunities to work on international projects and gain global experience. Our ‘together anywhere’ policy is a fantastic initiative that allows us to work overseas for up to 30 days each year, which I took advantage of while travelling with my family over the summer.

The firm’s ‘empowered working day’ policy supports a healthy work-life balance, allowing us to manage our daily schedules to suit our clients, team, and personal lives. It’s one of the best perks of our job, enabling us to integrate our lives outside of work seamlessly. When I first returned to PwC, I was still playing football in Cavan, so it was great to have the flexibility to start work early on days when I needed to leave the office earlier to beat the traffic. Although my football days are behind me, the flexibility still allows me to adjust my schedule, such as coming into the office later if I’m on crèche drop-off duty or leaving early for crèche pick-up.

We also continuously seek ways to improve personally and professionally through continuous learning opportunities, mentorship programmes, and career development initiatives. We recently undertook training on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues to understand the pressures businesses face from external stakeholders and investors to operate sustainably. We also explored how artificial intelligence (AI) can transform our work and that of our clients. These training opportunities, along with international tax conferences as part of our global PwC network, provide excellent avenues for learning and continuous growth.

Overall, the best thing about working at PwC is the people. ‘Care’ is one of our core values and is ingrained in our culture. We work as a team, always supporting and helping each other wherever possible . This sense of togetherness is crucial when solving complex problems or meeting deadlines.

If someone I know were considering joining PwC, I would encourage them to go for it. PwC offers rewarding clients and projects, excellent on-the-job training, and the encouragement to be the best version of yourself. The firm’s global reach and industry leadership also make it an ideal place for career growth.