Here in Barden, we are delighted to be partnering with a well-established and hugely successful Irish business, with a global presence, in their search for a Financial Accountant to join their growing Finance team here in Cork.

This role will report directly to the Finance Manager and the person will have a wide range of responsibilities and an opportunity to work with a global team. Given some exciting growth in the business, you will get an opportunity to get involved in a wide range of finance projects and systems work with the long-term opportunity to progress.

“This person will be a key part of our Finance team and take on a wide range of responsibilities, supporting the continued growth of the business. This would be a great step for someone ambitious looking to progress in their career in the Finance & Accounting space. A fantastic opportunity for someone to expand their skillset” – Hiring Manager

ABOUT THE ROLE:

• Preparation of accounts for the business on a monthly basis;
• Posting of journals and all related transactions and ensure accurate recording and reporting;
• Developing a thorough understanding of the business and industry to adequately assist with efficiency improvements;
• Work closely with key senior stakeholders in the planning and performance of the business to support the continued growth;
• Support of the Corporate tax, VAT and related tasks;
• Liaise with external auditors and support the audit process by providing timely and accurate information and data;
• End-to-end accounting across various parts of the finance function;
• Ad-hoc projects and involvement in system improvements.

ABOUT THE PERSON:

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with 0-2 years PQE;
• Excellent analytical skills;
• Strong technical accounting ability;
• Hardworking, detailed oriented and results focused;
• Strong Excel and systems experience;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to act on own initiative.

Curious? Feel free to get in touch with Siobhán Sexton in Barden (siobhan.sexton@barden.ie) for more information.

Barden are delighted to be working exclusively with a well-established and hugely successful global business in the renewable energy industry, who are looking for a strong and ambitious Senior Financial Accountant to join their high-performing Finance team.

Reporting to a high-calibre Finance Manager and working closely with the Head of Finance, the successful person will have a wide range of responsibilities including month-end reporting, liaising with key stakeholders across the business on commercial activities and ad-hoc tax and project work. This will be a move for the long-term in a progressive and growing business.

“This would be a great move for someone ambitious looking to take the next step in their career, who wants to gain hands-on experience in a rapidly growing business. This person will be a key part of the finance team and we will support someone’s long-term career development here” – Head of Finance

ABOUT THE ROLE:

• Responsible for review and posting of month-end close and accounting transactions;
• Responsible for the accounting and reporting requirements under IFRS;
• Key involvement in the budgeting and forecasting process which will support key decision making for the business;
• Liaise with internal and external auditors and support the audit process;
• The development of strong relationships with key stakeholders across the business;
• Evaluation of processes and recommends and implements process improvements;
• Ad-hoc projects as required.

ABOUT THE PERSON:

• Qualified Accountant with 2/3 years’ PQE;
• Experience with IFRS is desirable;
• Strong technical skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong team player with the ability to interact with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.

Curious? Feel free to get in touch with Siobhán Sexton in Barden (siobhan.sexton@barden.ie) for more information.

Barden have been engaged exclusively by a leading multinational business in Cork to identify a qualified Senior Financial Accountant to join their well-established finance team. Working as part of a large, highly professional team, you will take on a key finance role within the company’s SSC.

“This is a key hire for our team. We’re not just looking for someone to take a job here, we’re looking for someone who can be a future leader in our organisation and wants to work with a company where they can continuously grow for the long-term” – Finance Director

ABOUT THE ROLE:

• Responsible for the General Ledger accounting for one or more entities;
• Responsible for review and posting of month-end close and accounting transactions;
• Responsible for the accounting and reporting requirements under U.S. and local GAAP;
• The development of strong relationships with key stakeholders globally;
• Preparation of key performance indicators and the establishment of a continuous improvement culture;
• Liaise with internal and external auditors and supports the audit process by providing timely and accurate information and data;
• Evaluation of processes and recommends and implements process improvements;
• Responsible for supporting and preparation of the Statutory Accounting Activities for one or more entities.

ABOUT THE PERSON:

• Qualified Accountant with post-qualification experience in industry an advantage;
• Experience working in a Shared Service Centre is an advantage but not essential;
• Experience with US GAAP and SAP is desirable;
• Strong technical skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills – the ability to work effectively across multiple functions and different cultures;
• An effective team player, who demonstrates excellent leadership and negotiation skills.

Curious? Feel free to get in touch with Siobhán Sexton in Barden (siobhan.sexton@barden.ie) for more information.

Barden are delighted to be exclusively appointed by a large Irish Business to identify a commercially focused Financial Controller to lead the finance function. This is a key appointment for the company and will form part of the Senior Leadership team within the business.

Reporting to an impressive Finance Director, you will be responsible for leading a large team of finance professionals with full ownership of all Financial Control related activities. There is a wide remit in this role where you will partner with internal and external stakeholders to deliver high-quality financial reporting and drive operational excellence.

If you are interest in learning more about this opportunity and would like a conversation in confidence, please contact Caroline Frawley (caroline.frawley@barden.ie) or Denis Galvin (denis.galvin@barden.ie)

ABOUT THE ROLE

• Lead, develop and mentor a large team across financial control, operations, AP/AR, payroll, and treasury
• Own end-to-end accounting processes, including management accounts, balance sheet, and financial controls
• Deliver high-quality statutory reporting across legal entities; liaise with auditors and the board
• Manage all tax and regulatory compliance, acting as primary contact with taxation authorities
• Drive the budgeting and forecasting process in collaboration with senior stakeholders
• Oversee group reporting including financial, regulatory, and ESG disclosures
• Champion ongoing systems and process improvements to enhance efficiency and reporting quality

ABOUT THE PERSON

• Proven leader with 7+ years’ experience in financial control and team management
• ACA/ACCA qualified with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Commercially focused with a track record of delivering results and meeting KPIs
• Effective communicator with the ability to influence at all levels
• Highly motivated, energetic, and adaptable under pressure
• Technically proficient with Excel, MS Office, and ERP systems
• Strong collaboration skills with a hands-on, can-do mindset

ROLE:                                Director Finance Transformation

REPORTING TO:           CFO

LOCATION:                     Dublin

 An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced ‘Director Finance Transformation’ to join a high-performing finance leadership team. This newly created role will be responsible for designing and delivering future-focused finance operating models, leading digital finance initiatives, and managing large-scale transformation programmes. The overall objective is to enhance agility, scalability, and commercial value across the wider organisation.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The below broadly outlines the core responsibilities for this role – key objective is creating an agile and dynamic finance function:

• Lead and execute large-scale transformation projects, focusing on process improvement, automation, and digital integration.
• Drive the development and implementation of next-generation finance operating models across core functions, including procurement, order management, financial reporting, and planning.
• Assess and optimise existing finance workflows, facilitating the shift to more efficient, centralised or shared service models where applicable.
• Leverage advanced technology solutions (ERP, RPA, process optimisation tools) to automate processes, enhance forecasting capabilities, and streamline reporting functions.
• Maintain strong internal controls and ensure compliance throughout the entire implementation and transformation process.
• Improve financial forecasting, performance analysis, and decision-making through revamped financial planning and analysis (FP&A) processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align finance operations with overall business objectives and strategic goals.
• Spearhead change management initiatives and ensure strong stakeholder engagement throughout the transformation journey.

ABOUT THE PERSON:

Experience and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field (MBA or Master’s preferred)
• Professional finance qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) desirable
• +10 to 15 years’ experience in finance, with a minimum of 5 to 6 years leading transformation programs. Strong knowledge of core Finance operations is a must for this role.
• Experience working cross functionality and strong stakeholder engagement across areas including commercial finance, supply chain & finance operations.
• Familiarity with shared services models, outsourcing, or GBS is a preference for this opportunity.
• Background in a transformation consultancy or Big 4 advisory across finance transformation, GBS.
• Experience with sustainability/ESG reporting desirable
• Strong data and analytics orientation with knowledge of finance BI tools such as Power BI, Tableau, etc.

Barden are delighted to be working with one of Ireland’s most successful businesses to identify a Commercial Pricing Manager. This is a strategic role with a strong pricing focus. The ideal candidate will have an energetic attitude, be a strong communicator and commercially savvy.

The role includes detailed pricing and scenario modelling, contributing to key business decisions. The role has a lot to offer in terms of senior stakeholder engagement, strong precedent for progression opportunities as well as being highly commercial in nature.

If you would like to hear more on this opportunity, please get in touch – caroline.frawley@barden.ie

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is a key role in ensuring that pricing strategies are competitive, profitable, and sustainable, while also providing value to customers.

Typical duties include but are not limited to:

• Play an integral role in the development and execution of the pricing strategy, ensuring relevance to market trends and consumer needs
• Analysing market trends and awareness of competitors pricing strategies, providing insights to guide commercial decisions
• Support campaigns and strategic projects, engaging across the wider business
• Liaising regularly with cross functional departments and building strong relationships with key stakeholders
• Drive initiatives and activities which will promote income generation
• Become a central point of contact between Finance and the wider business

ABOUT THE PERSON

• Strong commercial acumen ideally with experience in pricing
• Highly analytical, with a natural numerical aptitude
• Excellent communication skills
• Proven ability to influence at all levels in the organisation

Barden is working with a rapidly growing pharmaceutical company to identify an Accounts Payable Specialist to join their finance function on a 12-month contract basis.

Reporting to the Head of Finance, this role offers an opportunity for a high-level AP professional to add value across a busy AP function and take ownership of processes.

Based in Dublin City with opportunities to work a very flexible hybrid model in place.

ABOUT THE ROLE

• Oversee procurement and supplier payment operations across multiple entities.
• Maintain streamlined invoice processing practices to ensure timely payments to vendors.
• Coordinate and execute regular supplier payment runs.
• Reconcile vendor accounts and address any discrepancies promptly.
• Ensure the purchase ledger is closed in accordance with monthly financial reporting schedules.
• Review internal purchase requests and issue corresponding purchase orders.
• Manage the company expense system, handle reimbursement cycles, and ensure compliance with reporting requirements.
• Manage bank entries and reconciliation processes, ensuring outstanding items are resolved before month-end.
• Post required journals to ensure all bank transactions are accurately recorded by reporting deadlines.
• Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities, including collaboration with internal and external auditors.
• Oversee payroll-related payments, ensuring timely submission of salaries, pensions, and tax contributions.

ABOUT THE PERSON

• Detailed understanding and knowledge of full cycle Accounts Payable processes.
• At least 3 years’ experience working in a multi-national or EMEA AP function.
• Comfortable with ERP systems.
• Skilled at identifying and implementing process improvement.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work alongside senior members of finance and the wider business.

Barden have been engaged by a leading multinational business in Cork to identify a qualified Financial Accountant to join their team. Working as part of a large, highly professional team, you will take on a key finance role within the company’s SSC.

 “We have one of the top finance teams in Ireland. We’re not just looking for someone to take a job here, we’re looking for someone who can be a future leader in our organisation and wants to work with a company where they can continuously progress”  – Finance Director

ABOUT THE ROLE:

• Responsible for the General Ledger accounting for one or more entities;
• Responsible for review and posting of month-end close and accounting transactions;
• Responsible for the accounting and reporting requirements under U.S. and local GAAP;
• The development of strong relationships with key stakeholders globally;
• Preparation of key performance indicators and the establishment of a continuous improvement culture;
• Liaise with internal and external auditors and supports the audit process by providing timely and accurate information and data;
• Evaluation of processes and recommends and implements process improvements;
• Responsible for supporting and preparation of the Statutory Accounting Activities for one or more entities.

ABOUT THE PERSON:

• Qualified Accountant with post-qualification experience in industry an advantage, but not essential;
• Strong technical skills;
• Experience working in a Shared Service Centre is an advantage but not essential;
• Experience with US GAAP and SAP is desirable;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills – the ability to work effectively across multiple functions and different cultures;
• An effective team player, who demonstrates excellent leadership and negotiation skills.

Want to find out more? Feel free to get in touch with Siobhán Sexton in Barden (siobhan.sexton@barden.ie) for more information.

Ireland is a global leader in Aircraft Leasing. It all started in 1975, when Guinness Peat Aviation(GPA) was established in Shannon and went on to become the world’s largest commercial aircraft lessor in the 1980s.

Fast forward to 2025, and 14 of the Top 15 aircraft lessors are headquartered in Ireland, with Irish lessors owning and managing $150 billion of assets. And yes, these Lessors need newly qualified accountants.

Below, I outline current trends in the Aircraft Leasing market in Dublin and Ireland, as well as Top Tips for Newly Qualified Accountants eager to work in this industry.

Current Trends:

It was noteworthy that the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, mentioned AerCap’s high volume of purchases of Boeing airplanes when he met US President, Donald Trump, on St. Patrick’s weekend.

This, following the continued success of the Airline Economics Growth Frontiers Conference in Dublin in January, where thousands of aviation delegates took over Stephen’s Green for four days, has firmly put the industry into the global spotlight.

Furthermore, I attended the ICBE Commercial Aviation Outlook 2025 webinar in March, with the consensus being that current market trends are very positive for Lessors in Ireland.

The key takeaways were twofold –

1. The market is deemed to be back to “pre-COVID rental levels” – approximately 16,000 aircraft are spread amongst circa 180 leasing companies worldwide, and the demand for aircraft is strong, and the pricing of aircraft is relatively strong.
2. “Anything that can fly, is flying,” as there is a “shortage of new aircraft supply, with a long lead time.” Due to this limited supply, 90% of leases on aircraft are now being extended instead of being transitioned. As airlines are finding it difficult to source new aircraft and waiting longer for them to be ready and operational, there is an increasing trend of holding onto older aircraft, which they would have otherwise retired, which is very good for Lessors.

Top Tips – Newly Qualified Accountants:

Typically, you’re going to spend over 90,000 hours of your life in work. By the time you finish your training contract, you’ll have about 7,500 of those hours banked. The decisions you make over the next two years will fundamentally impact the next 82,500 hours… that’s a lot of hours! And if you have an interest in the Aircraft Leasing sector, you need to consider the following Top Tips:

Have you audited Aircraft Leasing clients? If so, mention these in your CV using a client table. If worried about confidentiality, the often-used workaround is to write, for example, ‘Large Aircraft Leasing client, with net assets of circa €x million’. Also, make sure to mention any technical areas you worked on, such as IFRS 16 or Consolidation Reporting on Group Audits.

Barden has a sample Newly Qualified Accountant CV template, illustrating the above – feel free to reach out for a softcopy.

It may be the case that you have not audited Aircraft Leasing clients but really wish to work for a Lessor. What can you do to boost your chances?

Although Lessors generally tend to favour newly qualified accountants who have audited Lessors, there are steps you can take if you have come from a non-Aircraft Leasing audit client base to help bridge that knowledge gap.

For example, lots of newly qualified accountants take a month or two off after their training contracts to unwind, travel, etc. You can use this time to upskill on Aircraft Leasing knowledge – 2 short term courses which I recommend are:

1. John McMahon (Former Chair and CEO of Genesis Lease Limited) carries out a 1-day Aviation Leasing Online Course a couple of times a year – his most recent one was on the 8th of April.
2. City Colleges offer a fully Online Diploma in Aviation Leasing and Finance, over a 12-week period.

Firstly, you need to figure out what type of aircraft leasing company you would like to work in.

For example, would you like to be working in the large companies, such as AerCap and Avolon, or the mid-sized Lessors such as Sky Leasing or smaller Lessors such as White Oak Aviation. To note, a financial accountant/analyst role in a large Lessor will be very different in scope of responsibilities to a similar role in a small Lessor.

Furthermore, you may need to broaden the net and consider Corporate Service Providers, that provide an outsourced accounting function for Lessors. For example, Walkers and Maples. Financial Accountant roles in these companies can be a good stepping stone to ultimately securing a role in a Lessor in 18-24 months’ time, especially if you are coming from a non-Aircraft Leasing audit background.

Also, make sure to listen to podcasts and attend webinars related to Aircraft Leasing in Ireland – the more up-to-date you are on current trends, the more you will impress at interview stage.

There’s no getting away from it. If you haven’t already, it’s time to embrace, build and promote your online presence. As a newly qualified accountant, your LinkedIn profile is your online personal brand.

Make sure to use your summary title (the title under your name) and your profile summary to communicate your skill-set fully. For example, instead of placing ‘Audit Senior’ in your title, what about saying “Audit Senior, Aviation Advisory | Exam-Qualified ACA Accountant – 1st Time Passes” – the more keywords the better.  You have 120 characters so use them!

Be accurate and be conscious that your profile is public – ensure all dates of employment are correct and that your dates mirror those on your CV. The last thing you want is a discrepancy between your CV and LI profile.

Remember that it is a networking tool and could be a main method of building a professional network that will be hugely valuable to you in the future. Make sure to leverage your current network and send connects to those who you have crossed paths with in the past – for example, someone who was your Audit Senior on an Aircraft Leasing job early on in your training contract – and is now 2 years into a Financial Accountant role in a Lessor.

Finally, don’t forget to include a (professional) picture! Not a selfie…definitely, not a selfie.

The above is only the tip of the iceberg in relation to advice to newly qualified accountants looking to make that move to the Aircraft Leasing industry – if curious to find out more, as well as having your draft CV reviewed, getting advice tailored to your own personal situation, having a comprehensive interview preparation session, seeing what roles are available, etc – then, feel free to reach out.

Connect with Niall on LinkedIn or email niall.okeeffe@barden.ie

“Corporate Finance” – a career that attracts those seeking a truly fast-paced, ever-changing, and challenging work environment. However, corporate finance isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ career because it’s not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ service.

Corporate finance encompasses a broad spectrum of activities, and different firms offer varying services to their clients, thereby providing you with multiple career paths.

Let’s take a look at the different areas and specialities that a career in corporate finance can entail.

Capital Advisory

Capital Advisory focuses on advising clients on how to utilise their wealth best in order to increase growth and profit. This includes advising clients on the best way to manage existing capital or ensuring capital is strategically structured to achieve medium-long-term business goals.

Capital advisory professionals also assist their clients in analysing and selecting the optimal method of raising capital for business expansion, i.e. for a new venture, to accelerate growth or to raise funds for an IPO. Whether it’s selling stock, seeking new investors, or choosing from a range of borrowing options, clients rely on their capital advisors to identify the option best suited to their business.

Transaction Services

This one almost explains itself – these teams provide a ‘service’ during a ‘transaction’! The transaction is almost always a sale or purchase of a business, so teams will be working with either the buyer or the seller. Due diligence accounts for a large proportion of TS teams’ work, as it is an extremely important part of a transaction. For a seller, due diligence prepares the business for sale by forecasting potential future profits and growth and preparing data to answer questions that interested buyers are likely to ask. For a buyer, comprehensive due diligence is vital in order to evaluate the risks and opportunities of the proposed transaction accurately.

Valuations

These teams are often highly focused on numbers, as they utilise complex financial models to help their clients accurately determine the true value of their assets.  Valuation teams calculate the worth of fixed assets, intellectual property, or complex financial instruments, among many other things. Clients can use these valuations to make key strategic decisions, so precise and accurate models are essential to ensure these teams help their clients make informed business decisions.

Deal Advisory

Deal advisory itself can cover a wide range of activities that tend to span the entire lifecycle of a transaction, hence can often be referred to as executing a transaction ‘from cradle to grave’. A client may want to sell part of their business and will rely on their deal advisors to perform an economic and market analysis to determine whether it is a good or bad time to sell.

Deal advisory teams can be involved in seeking out potential buyers for their clients or, on the other hand, identifying strategic opportunities for their clients to acquire a new business with strong growth potential. These teams are usually involved in the actual negotiations of a transaction, and their clients place their utmost trust in their advisors to achieve an optimal deal.

Restructuring

Restructuring services are usually most sought after when a business is experiencing financial turmoil. It involves assessing the various options available to the client to limit further financial losses, modifying their debt structure, devising a strategic plan to enable the business to recover, and mapping out a way for the business to get back on track and resume growth in the medium to long term.

In this article, we have touched on just some of the key areas that fall under the corporate finance umbrella. Teams can offer even more bespoke and niche services than those outlined here. Additionally, different firms have different names for their teams; for example, one firm’s ‘Deal Advisory’ team is referred to as another firm’s ‘M&A’ team, while a ‘Valuations’ team might be called a ‘Financial Modelling’ team elsewhere.

Beyond that, each area mentioned contains various nuances and differences, depending on the firm/team you join.

Sound like a bit of a minefield!?

Our advice – Do your research; find out what you will actually be involved in and what exposure you will gain to each of the firms you are considering. And definitely talk to one of our specialist Barden team members who can help you navigate the best corporate finance career path for you.

Connect with Aoibhín on LinkedIn or at aoibhin.byrne@barden.ie