Nano brennan

CPA PROFILE

CPA Profile Nano Brennan

Nano brennan
COMPANY:

Local government Audit Service iATi & CPA

QUALifiCATiONS:

Another important reason was the fact that it was the only one where I actually got to meet a staff member from the Institute to obtain enough information to make my decision. That ethos of good accessibility for members to the Institute continues to flourish and makes CPA stand out from the other institutes.

what is your view on business

My view on business is that Ive always admired the risk takers. When they are doing well I feel good on you and when things go wrong for them, I feel annoyed when I hear them being vilified. Many of the risk takers and the investors of the celtic tiger years gave great employment and investment opportunities for everyone. One of the knock on effects of this is that the young of that generation were extremely well educated, during those years with no expense spared. This was a good investment, which will give a good return in time. They may be a generation that is faced with a lot debt, but they are extremely well educated to rise to the challenge. I dont think we should throw out the baby with the bathwater when it comes to government policy. Tax incentives are good to encourage research and development in areas where there is a deficiency or scarcity of supply. Such tax incentives need to be monitored carefully, however, and as soon as the target is reached the incentive should be wound down.

how has being a CPA benefited your career?

Once I was qualified, I was immediately taken more seriously, and I went from trainee auditor, to assistant auditor to Local Government Auditor in a few short years. It gave me a new confidence in my own ability and in my own judgement.

Career
Can you give us a brief history of your career so far?
My very first job was in the accounts office in Kilkenny Hosiery Company, and then on to South Eastern Health Board, Smithwicks Brewery, Committee of Agriculture, ACOT, Teagasc and finally Local Government Audit Service where I started as a trainee auditor. Here I progressed to assistant auditor and subsequently to my current position of Local Government Auditor.

You recently joined the CPA Council, what are your key objectives while on Council?
Initially I will be on a learning curve and will improve my understanding of the Institutes policies and its ambitions for the future. I will commit to preparing for and attending all the meetings, agree to stick to the majority decision, support fellow council members and staff and act as an advocate for the Institute. During my time on the committee of the Leinster CPA Society I was always conscious of the public profile of the Institute and seized any opportunity I got to promote it. I hope to get more opportunities while on Council to continue in this area.

Life
what motivates you?
Changes in dynamics of any project Im working on, challenges and deadlines, and most of all pride in any task I take on.

what inspired you to become a CPA?

Having done the IATI I was interested in pursuing a career in accountancy. Back in 1989 the economic situation was not very promising and I managed to get an offer of a temporary assignment in the Local Government Audit Service. As the only one in the audit service at that time, who was not a qualified accountant, I quickly realised I was going nowhere without being a member of a recognised accountancy body. I researched three and made my decision to go for CPA for a number of reasons but mainly because of the flexibility.

business & the Profession

what changes have you seen in the profession over the last couple of years?
A greater emphasis on the prudence concept and a return to the basic principals of sound business! A renewed appetite for regulation and tighter controls.

3 wishes:
I only have two: health and happiness I can work for the rest!

ACCOUNTANCY PLUS. ISSUE 02. JUNE 2011.