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Tell us about your career pre-Barden
I completed a degree and Masters in Accounting & Finance at DCU, then joined KPG, where I completed my ACA training contract. After that, I did the typical travelling thing many accountants do in their 20s, spending 18 months abroad before returning to Ireland in 2009 at the height of the recession.
On my return to Ireland, I joined Ardagh Group plc in the Group Finance department, where I worked for four years before moving to EY to take up the role of Senior Manager in the FAAS department. I was subsequently approached by Ardagh to return as Financial Controller and to set up a new Finance Department. I was promoted to Finance Director and also worked as Company Secretary and Director for their Irish entities. I spent 13 years working with Ardagh before transitioning into a career in talent advisory with Barden.
How has your background in finance helped you in your role at Barden?
I joined Barden in 2022, bringing my extensive real-world experience to share with talent to help guide finance professionals on their journey, inform their options, and help shape their futures. I have walked a similar path to many of the people I speak with, giving me a unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities of career paths.
It also helps me support clients, which I believe is a real differentiator. My background in finance enables me to go beyond being functional and to quickly gain an in-depth understanding of their needs, requirements, and pain points. As a long-time hiring manager myself, I can assess talent beyond keywords, ask meaningful technical questions, and quickly spot true capability over surface-level experience.
What does it mean for the Barden business to have a Partner focused solely on Senior Qualified Finance & Accounting appointments?
At Barden, we work closely with finance professionals at every stage of their careers, from newly qualified through to senior leadership and CFO level. Our focus is on building long-term relationships, taking the time to really understand people’s experience, ambitions, and what matters to them, rather than simply matching CVs to roles. The recent Partner appointments across both Senior Qualified and Newly Qualified practices reflect this commitment, ensuring individuals have the right level of support, guidance, and market insight throughout their careers, not just at the point of moving roles.
I believe this really reflects Barden’s continued investment in the senior finance market and our commitment to delivering specialist, advisory-led recruitment at the highest level. As a senior finance professional, I bring firsthand leadership experience to Barden, enabling me to understand the technical, commercial, and cultural demands of senior finance roles, as I have operated in them myself. I feel that my unique position and experience give me a different perspective, and I believe this has enabled me to make a real impact since I joined Barden, and I have thrived.
What are you hoping to achieve in your new role? What excites you the most?
I’m thrilled to step into my new role as Partner, leading our Senior Qualified Finance & Accounting practice. I want to continue developing market-leading, advisory-led offerings that are recognised for their depth, judgement, and long-term impact. I’m excited about working closely with senior finance leaders to shape appointments that genuinely strengthen organisations, while partnering with finance professionals on career decisions that truly matter.
I’m also deeply motivated to contribute to the broader finance profession. We work closely with Chartered Accountants Ireland, and I currently serve as Deputy Treasurer of the Leinster Society. The Barden team and I regularly engage with professional bodies through events and initiatives, reflecting our shared commitment to supporting the profession’s future and making a meaningful, lasting impact.
What excites me most, though, is the people. Being part of a team where honesty, creativity, and relationships come first is incredibly motivating. Every day, I see the passion our team brings to supporting people in their careers and putting long-term relationships ahead of transactions. That’s what I love most about my role, and it’s what excites me about the future of Barden and the impact we can continue to make together.
Connect with Ornaith on LinkedIn>>> or at ornaith.giblin@Barden.ie