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Barden’s Recently Qualified Accountants Team (most of whom are qualified accountants, just like you) are here to help you make your very best first step as a qualified accountant.
Below you’ll find out more about each of the team. Drop an email to one of our team, and they will take care of you from there…
Brian O’Connor ACA | Team Lead | Accounting & Finance | Recently Qualified Appointments | Barden Leinster
Brian O’Connor ACA is the Team Lead of the Recently Qualified Accountants division of Barden’s talent advisory and recruitment firm in Leinster.
After completing his BComm and MAcc at UCD, Brian completed his training contract with Deloitte’s FS Audit team. There, he worked on fund and reinsurance audits and achieved his ACA qualification. Post-contract, Brian moved to Melbourne, where he diversified his experience through various industry roles, including financial reporting, project accounting, and fixed assets.
After returning from Australia in January 2020, Brian decided to leverage his ACA qualification in an advisory capacity by joining Barden. He was promoted to Partner in January 2026 and assumes a leadership role, guiding the Recently Qualified Accountants practice with a blend of expertise, insight, and a commitment to delivering excellence. These values extend to serving clients, newly qualified accountants and our partners in CASSI and Chartered Accountants Ireland as well as fostering a culture of growth and collaboration within the Barden team.
Niall O’Keeffe ACA | Business Lead | Recently Qualified Accountants & Aircraft Leasing Advisor | Barden Leinster
Niall O’Keeffe ACA is a Business Lead in the Recently Qualified Accountants team, and Aircraft Leasing Advisor, at Barden’s talent advisory and recruitment firm in Leinster.
Niall successfully qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2021, having completed his training contract with the Audit team in Deloitte Ireland. Before this, Niall completed an accounting degree and an accounting master’s at University College Cork.
Niall works directly with the recently qualified team in Dublin to support recently qualified accounting professionals in Leinster. He also specialises in careers in the aircraft leasing sector.
Jack O’Regan ACA | Associate | Recently Qualified Accountants | Barden Leinster
Jack O’Regan ACA is an Associate in the Recently Qualified Accountants division of Barden’s talent advisory and recruitment firm in Leinster.
After studying Commerce at UCC, Jack began his trainee contract with the Deloitte Dublin audit department. During his time there, he worked with large PLCs, giving him great exposure to complex financial environments and helped him build a strong technical foundation.
Once he had finished his contract and achieved his ACA qualification, Jack moved to Australia, where he worked in two different contract roles in property accounting. On his return to Ireland, Jack became increasingly curious about exploring new ways to apply his qualification beyond traditional accounting roles. Barden’s people-first approach strongly resonated with Jack, reaffirming that Barden was exactly the kind of organisation he wanted to be part of.
Jack works with the recently qualified team in Dublin to support recently qualified accounting professionals in Leinster.
Aoibhín Byrne | Associate Director | Tax, Treasury & Practice | Barden Leinster
Aoibhín Byrne is Associate Director of the Tax, Treasury & Practice division within Barden’s talent advisory and recruitment firm in Leinster. In this capacity, she supports professionals through career transitions while complementing business recruitment strategies across tax, treasury, audit and consulting.
After graduating from UCC with a BComm in French, Aoibhín started her professional journey with KPMG’s tax department. During her time there, she supported multinational businesses across a variety of industries in the provision of corporate tax compliance and advisory services.
Aoibhín joined Barden Leinster in October 2019 as an Associate, progressing into the role of Associate Director in January 2025. She is passionate about helping Barden’s clients build the best teams, actively engaging with them to discern their requirements, preferences, and aspirations while sharing key market insights.
Get in Touch With Us
Barden is where recently qualified accountants go before they start looking for a job.
When you meet Barden you will be meeting Ireland’s most experienced talent advisory and recruitment team, many of whom are themselves accounting and tax qualified.
Your future is too important to leave to chance. Take control, get informed and plan your future with Barden. Drop us an email at hello@barden.ie and we will get in touch to arrange a time and date that suits you to start planning your professional future.